In 2024, I took a little drive down to Louisiana to see the folks at Lipsey’s. I found they wanted to show off their new collaboration with S&W on the Ultimate Carry J-frame revolvers and reintroduction of a 32 H&R Magnum to the S&W line.
The new S&W Black Rubber UC High Horn stocks above as they appear on the S&W M&P340. Below, a pair of UC revolvers with the harder, less forgiving VZ Grips high horn stocks.
The guns were fitted with “high horn” stocks – not the original “Magna” type nor a remake of the justifiably famous Craig Spegel High Horn Boot Grips, but an original design from VZ Grips.
They were great to hold, but shooting experience varied with the load (regardless of the caliber). It was a great step forward and most of the shooters in attendance had no problems with them.
Since then, the “high horn” movement has picked up steam. So what are they and why do they matter?
When Smith & Wesson created the Centennial, they did so to answer a call to return to a gun that had some of the advantages of the old “Safety Hammerless” (sic) revolver, a small gun with a hammer hidden inside the frame, inaccessible to the shooter, and with a grip safety. Without the exposed hammer, the shooter could get his hand up higher on the gun, effectively lowering the bore axis. With no hammer to snag on the draw or for the shooting hand to get in the way of, it was quick and follow-up shots were relatively fast.
In Mexico one time, the story goes, Rex Applegate found out how fast he could shoot the Safety Hammerless during a contact weapon attack. Sadly, it took all five rounds of 38 S&W ammo to put the attacker down.
In another rendition of the tale, the Mexican Army officer accompanying Applegate put the machete-wielding attacker down with a 45 Auto after Rex emptied the revolver.
Regardless, Applegate told S&W they needed a modern Safety Hammerless in 38 S&W Special, a more powerful cartridge. They agreed and we got the Centennial.
With the increase in power, the higher available grip on the gun gets the best use of the weapon. Sadly, when the Centennial line was brought back after having been discontinued, the only “grips” issued with them were “hip huggers.”
That didn’t kill the utility of the little personal protection gun, but a number of us knew we could do better.
One response to "hip-hugger" Centennial stocks like the Crimson Trace Lasergrips on the M&P340 was the Hogue TAMER. While having an odd attachment method, the stocks reach the top of the 'recoil hump' of the frame and allow a high hold on the Centennial revolver.
S&W listened to the concerns of some about the relative lack of comfort with the hard VZ product. While the guns were likely to be carried a lot and shot only periodically, they could have ignored it.
Companies have done that before.
Now, on “Shop Smith & Wesson,” we see this:
Black Rubber UC High Horn - ULTIMATE CARRY/RUBBER UC GRIPS
They’re also available on guns like the 642UC 38SPL 1-7/8" 5RD NS SS
The Lipsey’s/S&W Ultimate Carry line – 642/442, 432 – are now available with “Black Rubber UC High Horn” stocks, SKU: 14692.
Seeing this activity, I wondered, is the rubber vastly different from the excellent VZ Grips High Horns?
The only way to find out was to find out. The stocks are available from Shop Smith & Wesson, online here. The cost? $35.
According to the factory, the stock “Fits Hammerless (sic) J Frame round butt S&W revolvers. (642 / 442 / 632 / 432 , 940, 640 style). Will not fit revolvers with exposed hammer. S&W ECOMM Exclusive."
I attached them to the latest M&P340 I’d gotten to back up the older, with-lock original. Smaller than the Crimson Trace Lasergrips I’d had on it, it took some getting used to in just handling.
Craig Spegel’s boot grips, nice and round, made in high horn format for Centennials, were ideal, scarce and pricey. A small maker, Hamre Forge, makes a Spegel approved analog – the American Fighting Revolver UnderCover grip.
The S&W product is available.
I have the Hamre Forge stocks, they’re good. Hogue OverMolded Rubber Tamer Grip for the J-frame Centennial are also good. In this enlightened age, now we add the S&W product.
Shorter than the Hogues, I have to curl my small finger under the frame with the UC High Horns. The acid test is to shoot them with defense ammo.
I took the gun to Integrity Elite Firearms’ range with Speer Personal Protection “Short Barrel” Gold Dot 135gr. +P ammo. This is not recently obtained ammo.
I fired on ½ sheet of copy paper at 21 feet, five rounds right-handed and five rounds left-handed. All hits were on the sheet, producing a group just under the sights (“ball” buried in the “bucket”), measuring 2 7/8”.
The recoil wasn’t brutal – but it was only ten rounds. With the covered backstrap, I was concerned that I’d have trouble reaching the trigger. The stocks are small enough that it’s not an issue.
As an internet commenter noted, “… good level of ‘grippiness,’ while not tacky, snagging the fabric of your pocket.
There’s good friction in the right place and, surprisingly, there’s some “give” to the rubber.
We’re blessed to live in the age of revolver resurgence and that includes accessories.
- Rich Grassi