Aged My Ivory. Wink! Wink!

[dao]

Hey both sets look good Bird. Very authentic. I knew that Boone Trading charged a lot for their wares, which is why I don't own any, but I had no idea they'd charge so much for real authentic imitation naughahyde, er I mean ivory. Were it me and my budget I think I'd go with the real bone and try to figure out a way to penetrate the top layer enough to get it to take the coloring. Maybe a dremel with one of those very pointed and sharp (and painful) little burr removers? As always, you do good work Sir!

[kenemoore]

So...just for conversation. I have never held a pistol or revolver with real ivory grips. I do have a BBQ grade 1911 (.38 Super), Nickel plated, with faux ivory grips. Rumor has it that ivory is both smooth and grippy at the same time. Is it true?

[BirdsThaWord]

Hey both sets look good Bird. Very authentic. I knew that Boone Trading charged a lot for their wares, which is why I don't own any, but I had no idea they'd charge so much for real authentic imitation naughahyde, er I mean ivory. Were it me and my budget I think I'd go with the real bone and try to figure out a way to penetrate the top layer enough to get it to take the coloring. Maybe a dremel with one of those very pointed and sharp (and painful) little burr removers? As always, you do good work Sir!

Thanks dao. Those little dremel tips you speak of are on my radar. That little RIA project will have me doing metal stippling, so the tips are a must. Looking forward to practicing. Going to start on scrap metal.

[BirdsThaWord]

So...just for conversation. I have never held a pistol or revolver with real ivory grips. I do have a BBQ grade 1911 (.38 Super), Nickel plated, with faux ivory grips. Rumor has it that ivory is both smooth and grippy at the same time. Is it true?

I've only handled the elelhant ivory on the little SA CCO to fondle I've taken them off before shooting so as to save them. I will say these bone grips, once sanded, did take on a velvety, yet very grabby texture. I could see how what you said would be true.

[Bawanna]

I've made a couple sets of Ivory grips. A member here years ago sent me a Hippo tooth. He figured I could get 3 sets out of it. One for him, one for myself and one to donate etc. He was correct but I misunderstood and tried to keep the outer skin of the tooth. He wanted pure ivory so he could get it scrimshawed. Anyhow the outer skin was tough, hardest grips I ever made. Cutting on a bandsaw it threw sparks. Hard stuff. Once the outer layer was filed off it wasn't bad, not easy but much better.
The thing about ivory and fortunately I'm glad I researched. You can't get it hot. If it gets too hot to touch, eventually it will crack. So you have to work kind of slow. Can't just whip out the bench grinder and grind away.
He sent me a picture of the set I made, I'll try to find it. He was an military officer and he had the names of his men that he lost scrimshawed on the grips. Turned out very nice. He also sent me a very expensive knife that I still have. Didn't realize at the time how costly it was. He won it in some shoot contest as I recall.
Here's a shot of the hippo tooth as it arrived.


And my set which I managed to save after the miscommunication.


I'm told most people don't shoot their guns with ivory as they can be delicate. I don't know for sure. Mine seem plenty solid and dense. I think they would be ok. Revolver grips being thicker I assume would be ok too but got nothing to back that up with.

I didn't make this set obviously, they came on it but I kind of like em.

[BirdsThaWord]

I've made a couple sets of Ivory grips. A member here years ago sent me a Hippo tooth. He figured I could get 3 sets out of it. One for him, one for myself and one to donate etc. He was correct but I misunderstood and tried to keep the outer skin of the tooth. He wanted pure ivory so he could get it scrimshawed. Anyhow the outer skin was tough, hardest grips I ever made. Cutting on a bandsaw it threw sparks. Hard stuff. Once the outer layer was filed off it wasn't bad, not easy but much better.
The thing about ivory and fortunately I'm glad I researched. You can't get it hot. If it gets too hot to touch, eventually it will crack. So you have to work kind of slow. Can't just whip out the bench grinder and grind away.
He sent me a picture of the set I made, I'll try to find it. He was an military officer and he had the names of his men that he lost scrimshawed on the grips. Turned out very nice. He also sent me a very expensive knife that I still have. Didn't realize at the time how costly it was. He won it in some shoot contest as I recall.
Here's a shot of the hippo tooth as it arrived.


And my set which I managed to save after the miscommunication.


I'm told most people don't shoot their guns with ivory as they can be delicate. I don't know for sure. Mine seem plenty solid and dense. I think they would be ok. Revolver grips being thicker I assume would be ok too but got nothing to back that up with.

I didn't make this set obviously, they came on it but I kind of like em.

Honestly man, out of every recollection I’ve read of yours, that has to be the coolest. The sparks flying, the scrimmed names of the lost brothers, him sending you the prized knife. Some of the best of humanity all laid out in just a few sentences, with a lesson on working with hippo teeth tied in.

[Bawanna]

I'm trying to find a picture of his finished handles with the scrimshawed names. They were gorgeous. It might be left on my old computer. I got a deal that supposedly can get the pictures out of it but I haven't tried to figure it out yet.
Hoping I can find them.

[dao]

Colonel are the grips on your Classic as it rests in between those teeth from those teeth? Regardless, what a work of art! You do good work too, just like DaBird

[Bawanna]

You mean between the original teeth? No those are stabilized box elder burl, one of my favorites. Originally I tried to work the hippo tooth from the inside out and leave the outside, kind of like stag or antler etc. Fortunately I shared my plan and he straightened me out. His set turned out perfect, mine has a slight indent on the left side up near the take down lever, but it doesn't hurt a thing and adds a bit of character. I can't recall what happened on the third set. I don't think they made it. I kept all the little scrap pieces figuring on using them for an inlay or something. Don't think I've done any yet, I know they are around here someplace.

[BirdsThaWord]

I'm trying to find a picture of his finished handles with the scrimshawed names. They were gorgeous. It might be left on my old computer. I got a deal that supposedly can get the pictures out of it but I haven't tried to figure it out yet.
Hoping I can find them.

That’s what I always dread about a new computer or phone. You always lose some photos.