Ajax faux ivory

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CAS700850

CAS700850

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Following up on my previous thread about guns for the bench...I've pretty much settled on one of my Blued Smith revolvers (leaning towards Model 19 w/ 2.5" barrel, though considering my 586 with 6" barrel - big style and intimidation). Anyways, I'm thinking that Ajax faux ivory grips with the polished blue finish would look great. Anyone have any photos so I can see what I might be looking at? I'm curious about the grip shape and the color-contrast between the blued steel and the ivory grips...
 
Yah you're in luck. The fit leaves something to be desired, though, and the faux ivory grips from Ajax for my Hi-Power had a big black smear on them. These are on a M10. Now that I've had them on there, I think I prefer the service grips.

1201.jpg


jmm
 
tegemu, I got the ones pictured for $35 + shipping. Otherwise, wouldn't have been a good deal.

jmm
 
I have some Ajax faux ivory on a Ruger Bisley-Vaquero. Everyone here is right about the looks, but I tried a fix that ends up working pretty good. Even Dave Clement liked my grips when he saw them!

First of all, my fit was a little sloppy too, fortunately it was over sized in a place or two, and just barely under sized in a couple of spots. I fixed the over sized areas with some careful file and sandpaper work, and don't fret too much about the under sized as it wasn't all that bad. Luck of the draw.

Second, scrub the grips down with one of those sponges that has a scrub pad on one side. I did it in the sink, and ran them under running water every so often. That is the whole trick. It knocks off the shine, gives it a natural matte appearance, and also hints at grain a bit.

It will look 100% better, honestly.
 
Ajax grips are good. I recently put some Ajax Grips S&W K, L-Frame Square Butt Pearlite White on my Model 19 4".

I like the look alot, I am going to do the scrub routine with a light scour pad and water to take off the sheen. Issues I had were....

Brass screw was 1/8 too long and needed to be filed down so it would not stick my palm. They do not hold as tight as I would like even with a lock washer. There is just a littlle bit of pivot back and forth on one panel, about 1/10 inch. Not a big deal, but not perfect. Changed the grip enough ffrom the stock target grips, that I had to practice for awhile till I could shoot the gun as accurate as before, sob story, I know but I had to throw that out in the interest of full disclosure.

Otherwise, I like the change alot. It made the gun so much easier to CCW, allowing me to preserve the lnib stock wood, and made the gun as a whole a touch more attractive.
 
Grimjaw, that is one nice looking Model 10 you have there.

Hawkeye, alas, it was turned out to the legions at a gunshow two weeks ago, never to be seen again. I'm hoping to find a 6" bbl version eventually to replace it. Otony, thanks for the tips. I still have the grips for the Hi-Power, so I'll try it out.

jmm
 
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grimjaw said:
Grimjaw, that is one nice looking Model 10 you have there.

Hawkeye, alas, it was turned out to the legions at a gunshow two weeks ago, never to be seen again. I'm hoping to find a 6" bbl version eventually to replace it. Otony, thanks for the tips. I still have the grips for the Hi-Power, so I'll try it out.

jmm
Click to expand...
What a shame. Had I known, I would have made you an offer. Who knew back in the 70s when you could still get them like that that in the new millennium we'd be wishing we'd bought one. Back then they were just cop guns. Funny how your perspective changes if you live long enough.
 
Skip the Ajax grips, I have ordered exactly two sets of grip panels from ajax for smith and wesson revolvers.
Both were of very poor quality, neither fit the gun properly.

Hogue makes a much better grip at a better price if you shop around, hogues fit the gun too.

www.hogueauction.com

These are seconds and you may be able to find a pair here at a great price.
 
I liked the look of my faux ivory grips but they developed cracks on my .44 Vaquero... and I don't shoot hot loads through it.

I'll post some pics to illustrate.
 
I shot these without a flash but you can see the visible cracks in both grip panels. Not sure if these were caused by solvents, recoil or what... fit to the revolver was slightly oversized and I took time to sand them down to fit. Like I said, they were pretty but have since been replaced with Buffalo Horn.
 

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Second, scrub the grips down with one of those sponges that has a scrub pad on one side. I did it in the sink, and ran them under running water every so often. That is the whole trick. It knocks off the shine, gives it a natural matte appearance, and also hints at grain a bit.

This does work! I scrubbed the Hi-Power grips I have with a dish scrubbing pad for only five minutes, and it took the shine (and black marks) off the grips. Other than pimping the gun, though, I'll keep the Pachmayr's on.

jmm

1595.jpg
 
I've got some faux ivory grips and I, too, was of the opinion they looked and felt like plastic, which of course they are. Of all the fake stuff out, Pearlite is the best of the best of the fake grip material. I LOVE 'em for the look they give and they're so much more durable than real mother of pearl. I love the look of mother of pearl anyway and pearlite is cheaper and much more practical to actually use.

If I were into ivory (not a real fan of the look) I'd go for the real thing, not the fake. The fake is just too fake. I particularly like stag grips, though, especially on single action revolvers. I got a pair of Indian Sambar stag grips from Ajax when I had my .45 Colt Blackhawk engraved. They ran 90 bucks at the time, or there abouts. They've gone up, though, listing at $250 now. :eek: They age a little like Ivory does.
 
Ivorene

My experience pretty much mirrors Dr Rob's. I had a pair on my 44 Vaquero (shot with light loads 7-9 grains Unique & 250 cast) and they cracked and 1 panel later split completely. Threw them away and went back to wood. Not worth the $40 I paid a few years ago. Looked and felt like plastic, to each his own.

If you get them, be careful not to overtighten the screw, I have heard of them cracking around the screws or ferrules too.

captainkirk
 
Tried the scrub pad trick and it did work great. Grips actually looks like ivory instead of the original shiny plastic look. Thanks for the tip.
 
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