S&W model 12 airweight grips

rgillis · August 2, 2021, 10:59 AM

I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
I'm having a time trying to find replacement grips for a square butt Model 12 snubby air weight.

I did buy a replacement set on ebay thinking that all K-Frame square butts are the same, but apparently, the Model 12 frame is slightly smaller than the other K-Frame Smiths. A lot of material had to be removed to get them to fit without a very significant gap between the frame and the grip.

So am I correct in thinking there is a difference in frame size or is this just an example of poorly designed grips?

Thank you

burrhead · August 2, 2021, 01:13 PM

The grip frame is about a 16th of an inch narrower on the first three generations of the M12. The 12-4 model started using the same thickness as the other K frames but the early grips are almost unobtainium. My dash 1 has the narrow profile.

Good luck

Tamara · August 2, 2021, 03:41 PM

What burrhead said. The aftermarket is nearly non-existent and original stocks bring blood money on auction sites.

At this point you're as likely to strike gold by browsing the offerings of that one old guy who sets up at your local gun show with a bunch of tables full of old grips and magazines as anything else.

Jim Watson · August 2, 2021, 04:59 PM

Now I have to run look see what dash mine is. It has Pachmayrs anyhow but I don't know if they fit or are just squashed on.

12-3
The Pachmayr Compact grip has a bit of a gap at top right but it does not affect the handling.

smee78 · August 7, 2021, 09:43 AM

Great, now I need to go check my model 12 lol.

**Mike Irwin** · August 7, 2021, 11:04 AM

Not sure but I think mine is a 12-1...

It's going to continue to wear the original wood grips.

mlw270win · August 8, 2021, 09:11 PM

Went thru the same thing a few years ago with a 12-3. I finally got a old set of K frame grips and some sandpaper and sanded them down. Make sure the sandpaper is on a flat surface and take your time and sand a little off each grip until you get them where you want them. When I got thur sanding I refinished the grips. They really turned out nice and you could not tell them from a set of factory grips.

dgludwig · August 10, 2021, 07:16 PM

My 12-2 has the original walnut grips but if I had to replace them for some reason, I'd follow mlw270win's advice.

Jcon72 · December 25, 2021, 01:53 PM

Interestingly, approximately a year ago I bought 3 sets of S&W grips (stocks) on GunBroker which were advertised as being for K-frame. Well, one of them certainly was not, and after doing a bunch of measuring, research and question-asking I discovered they were original Magnas for a model 12 as you described. During the course of this research a well-known world-renowned expert on snub-nose revolvers and self-defense tactics messaged me about them. He offered to buy them but by then I had listed them on eBay, received at least one bid and was obligated to let the auction run its course. He ended up being the high bidder, but they surprisingly only sold for about $50. It would not have surprised me if they had gone for $70-80.

**Mike Irwin** · December 26, 2021, 10:48 AM

It would be interesting to try 3D printing a set of grips for the Model 12.

August 2, 2021, 10:59 AM	#1
rgillis Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2005 Posts: 349	S&W model 12 airweight grips I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I'm having a time trying to find replacement grips for a square butt Model 12 snubby air weight. I did buy a replacement set on ebay thinking that all K-Frame square butts are the same, but apparently, the Model 12 frame is slightly smaller than the other K-Frame Smiths. A lot of material had to be removed to get them to fit without a very significant gap between the frame and the grip. So am I correct in thinking there is a difference in frame size or is this just an example of poorly designed grips? Thank you

August 2, 2021, 01:13 PM	#2
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	The grip frame is about a 16th of an inch narrower on the first three generations of the M12. The 12-4 model started using the same thickness as the other K frames but the early grips are almost unobtainium. My dash 1 has the narrow profile. Good luck __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended. Last edited by burrhead; August 2, 2021 at 01:20 PM.

August 2, 2021, 03:41 PM	#3
Tamara Moderator Emeritus Join Date: March 11, 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 16,002	What burrhead said. The aftermarket is nearly non-existent and original stocks bring blood money on auction sites. At this point you're as likely to strike gold by browsing the offerings of that one old guy who sets up at your local gun show with a bunch of tables full of old grips and magazines as anything else. __________________ MOLON LABE! 2% Unobtainium, 98% Hypetanium. The Arms Room: An Online Museum.

August 2, 2021, 04:59 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Now I have to run look see what dash mine is. It has Pachmayrs anyhow but I don't know if they fit or are just squashed on. 12-3 The Pachmayr Compact grip has a bit of a gap at top right but it does not affect the handling. Last edited by Jim Watson; August 2, 2021 at 05:19 PM.

August 7, 2021, 09:43 AM	#5
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	Great, now I need to go check my model 12 lol. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

August 7, 2021, 11:04 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	Not sure but I think mine is a 12-1... It's going to continue to wear the original wood grips. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 8, 2021, 09:11 PM	#7
mlw270win Member Join Date: May 1, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 16	Went thru the same thing a few years ago with a 12-3. I finally got a old set of K frame grips and some sandpaper and sanded them down. Make sure the sandpaper is on a flat surface and take your time and sand a little off each grip until you get them where you want them. When I got thur sanding I refinished the grips. They really turned out nice and you could not tell them from a set of factory grips.

August 10, 2021, 07:16 PM	#8
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	My 12-2 has the original walnut grips but if I had to replace them for some reason, I'd follow mlw270win's advice. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

December 25, 2021, 01:53 PM	#9
Jcon72 Member Join Date: September 18, 2015 Posts: 35	Interestingly, approximately a year ago I bought 3 sets of S&W grips (stocks) on GunBroker which were advertised as being for K-frame. Well, one of them certainly was not, and after doing a bunch of measuring, research and question-asking I discovered they were original Magnas for a model 12 as you described. During the course of this research a well-known world-renowned expert on snub-nose revolvers and self-defense tactics messaged me about them. He offered to buy them but by then I had listed them on eBay, received at least one bid and was obligated to let the auction run its course. He ended up being the high bidder, but they surprisingly only sold for about $50. It would not have surprised me if they had gone for $70-80.

December 26, 2021, 10:48 AM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	It would be interesting to try 3D printing a set of grips for the Model 12. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.