Gun Digest – August 2019

(^22) | GunDigest the magazine AUGUST 2019 gundigest.com
MODERN GUNNERY // STAFF REPORT
The Giant Within
Pachmayr’s Guardian Grip: A quick fi x for extending the grip on your compact revolver.
O
vershadowed—plain
and simple. It happens
sooner or later, even to
the best. It’s simply a
factor of the irresistible
march of time, progress
and taste. Really, snubnose revolvers
didn’t have a chance.
This is said tongue-in-cheek, because
it’s simply not true. Too handy, too con-
venient, too dependable; there are too
many “toos” to list in why the age-old
design has far from run its course. How-
ever, when thumbing through most
gun publications, it might seem they’ve
been demoted to mere curiosities—or,
at best, backup options.
It’s unfair, to say the least, given that
with proper considerations, the snub-
by and other small revolvers still hold
their own if, for no other reason, that
they’re sized right. This means you’ll
carry them consistently. And, that’s
rule number one of going armed.
That said, convenient-to-carry re-
volvers have their issues. More-mod-
erate defensive calibers are probably
the most popular debate point.
We’ll let you hash that out with the
brain trust on your next trip to the
barber shop. What we’re concerned
about here is the grip—or, in many
cases, the lack thereof.
Tiny as they are, their handles don’t
exactly facilitate dead-nuts shoot-
ing. Or comfort. And, unlike highly
modifi able polymer semi-autos, they
don’t offer a wealth of options to fi t
your mitts—that is, while still cutting
a small profi le.
It’s not exactly the easiest conun-
drum to tackle ... until perhaps now.
Going Big, Staying Small
If you’re a revolver shooter, the Pach-
mayr name should sound familiar. This
company makes some solid grips—and
it has since wheelguns were the hottest
things around. Pachmayr’s Decelera-
tor Grips are plum classics, making the
more unmanageable revolver calibers
quite a bit more bearable.
Now, the company has turned its
attention to the other end of the spec-
trum, making smaller shooters a bit
more wieldy with the Guardian Grip.
Essentially, it’s a grip extension for
small-framed revolvers. Yet, it doesn’t
interfere with the overall profi le of
these highly concealable handguns.
Counter-intuitive, right? After all, the
height of a handgun has a great deal
to do with how well you can keep
it under wraps. But, as you’ve most
likely guessed, Pachmayr cooked a
surprise into the Guarding Grip: The
extension isn’t around until you need it.
Essentially, the pinky-width wedge
remains tucked away in the butt until
you push an integral button in the top
fi nger groove. Then, snap! You can take
a full three-fi nger grip on your revolver.
Pretty slick. And just the thing for a lot
more control over a small heater.
Getting a Grip on the Guardian
Similar to most grip switches, the
Guardian poses a few problems. It’s
Allotting more control over a small-framed revolver while maintaining its concealable profi le,
the Guardian Grip enhances these popular defensive handguns.