Ivory and its substitutes

[CraigC]

I started to do this as a post but the deeper I got, the more I thought, this needs to be an article. And so it is.....

http://www.sixgunner.org/ivory.html

 

[Kleanbore]

Wonderful article!!!

 

[.38 Special]

Thanks for that, Craig. I also am an ivory fan but have more-or-less missed out. I take it that the sheephorn grips are holding up under recoil?

 

[CraigC]

Thanks for that, Craig. I also am an ivory fan but have more-or-less missed out. I take it that the sheephorn grips are holding up under recoil?

Oh the sheephorn is bombproof. It's tougher than ivory and they push over trees and fight with that stuff.

 

[horsemen61]

Thanks at @CraigC i can’t wait to read it!


It was a good read and as always I love seeing your fine sixguns!

 

[Rio Laxas]

Great article.

A Randall Made Knives dealer recently recommended David Warther imitation ivory for a Randall that I was ordering. He told me that it is the most realistic stuff he is aware of, and that Randall used to stamp the knives "A/I" so that it wouldn't get confused for the real thing. I picked up a set of 1911 grips from them just to see what it's like. I know very little about real ivory, so my opinion doesn't count for much, but I think they look and feel pretty good.

https://guitarpartsandmore.com/productCategory.php?Resin-Ivory-trade-SAA-Revolver-Grip-Panels-116

 

[JFrank]

I bought my Elephant Ivory grips from Dave Boone before the Liberals took over the fish and game dept.

Check their website out.
sorry for the link problem the address is

boonetrading.com

 

[earlthegoat2]

Wonderful article!!!

Yep. Nailed it for sure.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Great article.
Agree 100% on your thoughts about the American Holly grips. That's what's on my Super Blackhawk and the reason I got them was because I wanted ivory, but couldn't justify spending the $600 at the time.
You're spot on about the softness of them. My SB gets carried all throughout deer season through the woods, in and out of deer stands etc. They certainly have character dings on them now. Not that I mind a lot, as they do look good for the money. But it is real.

 

[Kleanbore]

Back during Ike's first term, I used to spend a lot of time looking at ivory and stag grips for handguns in The Shooter's Bible.

Little did I know that when Shane said "a gun is a tool, Marion", he was foretelling the glue-gun-like handguns we carry today

Beautiful grips...engraving...charcoal bluing...the things I miss today.

Even my OWB CCW holster is made from something synthetic.

 

[Frulk]

Craig....Thanks for the article and the pics. I actually like some of those aged synthetics appearance.

Years back I was on a humanitarian medical mission in Alaskan native villages. We were staged out of Koetzbue and flew into Kivalina and other villages. One of the things I was hoping to find was some ivory to be used for a set of grips. I was ignorant of the laws at the time. As soon as we got to the first village a local engaged me and wanted to sell me native crafts. I told him I was only interested in trying to find some ivory. It was May and the pack ice was breaking up.

I saw him early the next day throw a rifle of some kind in a tiller powered Lund and head out. Luckily he never came back with any ivory. I found out in the next village just how much trouble that can get you in with the Feds.

 

[wcwhitey]

Well done!

 

[doubleh]

Excellent read even if a person thinks like I do. I have never found any warmth for ivory grips. Maybe I'm weird or something but I just prefer really nice wood or stag.

 

[StrawHat]

Nice article Craig. I was not aware of the Magna tusk material. I will look into that stuff.

Here is some old ivory on a new S&W.



Next up is smooth elk antler, what I call, American Ivory.


Some newer elk.


This is what S&W offered as a substitute, I believe it is a plastic/polymer material, not as dense and has not discolored in 5 decades. Shown on a 1917 Commercial Model

An aftermarket white grip, shown on a Model 25-2.


Apparently there is a limit on how many files can be attached.


Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

Linen micarta on a Dan Wesson CCO.



My first set of smooth elk on a Jaeger Single Action.



Some old and new elk to show how it ages.



Anyway, kind of apparent I like smooth elk. I have several slabs of holly to work into stocks for revolvers. I prefer a material that shows age.

Kevin

 

[bannockburn]

CraigC

A most excellent article sir! Great photos too of the various materials out there, especially when compared to the real thing. I love the look of ivory grips on just about any gun; blued, plated, or stainless steel.

 

[Redranger]

Great article. Thanks.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Walrus ivory and baileen can legally be purchased from native alaskans so long as it is “art work,” meaning it has been carved or etched or whittled on I guess.

 

[ArkieVol]

Here's a variety of grips:
Faux ivory from Standard

Ivory from Colt

Ivory and griaffe bone

Ivory

Shreger lines found only in real ivory

L to R: ivory, ivory, ram's horn, ivory, Sambar stag, Sambar stag, Giraffe bone,Giraffe bone, ivory, ivory
bottom: ivory, ivory

 

[bannockburn]

ArkieVol

Awesome collection...simply awesome!!!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Wolfman0125]

Here are my Ivory grips I just installed on my 1873.



I got these from Arizona Grips Manga Tusk. Made from real solid Ivory Block and UV aged. They can take lots of abuse and will age naturally, they don’t chip, crack or break and will develop a patina with use. A perfect fit. They feel great and are heavy. I absolutely recommend them. They are on Ebay. Better than the real thing for a fraction of the price.

 

[ms6852]

Great article, very informative, thank you sir.

 

[Wolfman0125]

Thank you.

 

[CraigC]

Better than the real thing for a fraction of the price.

How are they better than the real thing?

 

[CraigC]

@StrawHat Now that right there is what it's about!