Ivory and substitutes

[CraigC]

I posted this on another forum and thought it'd make a good topic here. I've always been nuts about ivory but have never been able to afford it until recently (four sets and counting!). So I've had a lot of time to experiment with all the substitutes. I took a few pics showing some of the different materials that may be used as ivory substitutes. I left out most the cheap stuff that has no grain.

On the left is the newer antique linear paper micarta from Sheffield Knifemaker's Supply. I've got several sets made from this stuff on SA's, DA's and autos. It's good looking stuff but no one would mistake it for real ivory. The "grain" is completely uniform and the "end grain" bears no resemblance to Schreger lines and should settle any discussion about what it is. The big draw to micarta is that it is probably the most durable material to make grips from. It's impervious to weather, nearly impossible to stain and it will never change color. (grips in pic are not one-piece but two-piece with a blind screw)

In the middle is the real thing, a set carved by Paul Persinger. No explanation needed.

On the right is BarS TruIvory. It's a synthetic substitute that comes closest to the appearance of ivory. It has subtle "grain" structure and only lacks Schreger lines. Problem with this stuff is that not only is the status of BarS in question but the material is not very durable.

 

[CraigC]

This is pic does the best job of showing what you get with the paper micarta.



Eagle UltraIvory is similar to TruIvory but the "grain" is even less obvious. It's impossible to pick up in a picture so I don't even try.



American holly is a wood that is often used as a substitute and it's a good one. It also yellows like ivory but it's a bit soft.



Smooth bone or stag were also mentioned. IMHO, they make beautiful "white" grips but no one will be fooled about what they are. These are smooth stag.



This is the newer micarta that has no grain whatsoever. I don't even care for the color.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks! What are the whatever lines in ivory and why are they like that? I've never heard of it.

 

[CraigC]

They're called Schreger lines and I have no idea how they're formed or why but so far, they've been unable to reproduce them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schreger_line

https://curatorialtrainee.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/schreger-lines-and-narwhal-tusks/

 

[gotboostvr]

I REALLY like that set of micarta on your DA Smith, I think I've mentioned it before.
But I REALLY like those stocks.

 

[CraigC]

Me too! You ever have one of those rare occurrences when you want something for a long time and then when you finally get it, it's actually better than you imagined? That's me and my DA micarta.

 

[gotboostvr]

I just popped over to Sheffield's sight, prices for the material don't seem too bad, who'd you send it to to have the grips made?

Also, how thick of a piece would one need?

I think I'd like a few sets made for myself. I'm very much tempted to use Arhends.

 

[CraigC]

I had the DA grips made by John Culina. He said he was thinking about making it a regular offering but it's not his favorite stuff to work with. The SA grips were made by Cary Chapman. I've bought both 5x12 and 15x12 slabs, 1 1/8" thick.

 

[horsemen61]

Very cool thanks for the pics and the lesson I would love to have a 1911 with ivory grips for me it would be a commander size

 

[yugorpk]

I like the paper Micarta for what it is although it really looks nothing at all like real ivory. It can stand on its own though and is actually still available .

The Giraffe bone is a good "substitute" for ivory but also looks nothing like real ivory.

I'm going to pick up a few blocks of the "alternative" ivory and make a winter project out of making up a few grips.



http://masecraftsupply-com.3dcartstores.com/Alternative-Ivory-bars_c_270.html

 

[bannockburn]

CraigC

Thanks for the pictorial! I can't afford real ivory so I have had to make do with Tru-Ivory from BarS and with American Holly grips from Private's Custom Grips. Both are decent buys for the money (though I'm not sure BarS is still in business). I have also heard good things about Paul Persinger from over on the SASS forum.

 

[gotboostvr]

I've always liked the look of Culina's stocks. He does very good work.

He's a real friendly guy on the S&W forums yoo.

 

[RecoilRob]

I've got a set of Eagle faux-ivory on a Schoefield and man...is that a handsome piece! Nobody would probably mistake if for real ivory, but they feel great in the hand and are alittle fatter than the stock grips which was a good thing to me. Priced right, if you don't mind trimming them a bit to fit better they're pretty nice.

 

[BobWright]

I'm old, hardheaded, and set in my ways. If I can't get ivory, don't want plastic substitutes.

I'll have stag, bone ~ even bone jigged to simulate stag ~ or wood. And not plasticized wood, either, but oil finished, maybe varnished, wood.

And blue steel guns, maybe with a touch of brass, but no aluminum or ZAMAK. And certainly no polymer! (I spit at uttering the word.)

'N' leather holsters, no formed plastic.

By Gum!


Bob Wright

 

[Barry the Bear]

My bisley sports Buffalo Horn, not quite as nice as Mr. Craigc's offering but I like em.

 

[Paddy]

I was under the impression ivory was illegal

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

They're called Schreger lines and I have no idea how they're formed or why but so far, they've been unable to reproduce them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schreger_line

https://curatorialtrainee.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/schreger-lines-and-narwhal-tusks/

I suspect that Schreger lines are growth lines, given that Ivory comes from the teeth/tusks of animals...which grow and have layers

 

[yugorpk]

Nope. It is not legal to buy and sell in a couple of states but its federally legal to own and until next month to transfer interstate. After that the rules change and its going to be illegal to sell "new" ivory across state lines. Lots of good old fashioned loopholes in there though.

 

[hso]

You can find "creamy" mammoth and mastodon ivory as well as walrus made into grips that are hard to tell from elephant ivory (although most fossil ivory users desire the bark and staining that comes with fossil ivory).

 

[CraigC]

You can find "creamy" mammoth and mastodon ivory as well as walrus made into grips that are hard to tell from elephant ivory (although most fossil ivory users desire the bark and staining that comes with fossil ivory).

Yep, I've seen a good bit it that you would never know was fossil ivory but you're right, most are after the darker stuff.

 

[RA40]

Beautiful! The look of ivory or mammoth type is IMO unmatched. I have variations of linen that age nicely but not like real ivory.

I'd picked some mammoth ivory up from osofamoso a spell back for some knife projects. He sold half, full rounds and bark sections.

 

[Traffer]

I like cheap imitation mother of pearl. The luster...wow.

 

[MrBorland]

To keep this thread on topic and from further derailment, and I deleted a fair number of posts about the ethics of ivory/elephant hunting. From this point on, let's stick to the OP's subject - ivory and substitutes, as it relates to grips.

 

[22-rimfire]

The new regulations go into effect on July 6, 2016. Gun owners are generally not impacted as long as it is pre-ban (1990) ivory other than in selling a particular firearm with ivory in certain states. Fossil ivory has been excluded at a Federal level, but not necessarily at a state level. The new regulations allow for more exceptions than the previous US Fish & Wildlife rule.

 

[CraigC]

Thanks for the house cleaning!

Gun owners are definitely impacted. We can no longer have grips made from raw ivory. Whatever is existing on July 6th, that will be it. I managed to use the raw ivory I'd already bought to have two more pairs and a knife made before the deadline.