Guys, I agree with the advice about not removing the grips. Tempting as it is to see what is stamped into the butt, I'm not sure it's worth the risk of damaging the ivory.

If this was my gun, I'd be talking to a professional conservationist; preferably someone with deep experience in the handling of ivory. These people are out there, and for a gun of this rarity and grade it would be well worth the investment. Any effort to do anything other than preserve (such as *gasp* repairing them) would be deleterious to both the historical and monetary value of the gun.

In the meantime, my sole focus with this gun would be storing it properly, such that it is preserved for future generations of Pam's family to enjoy, and secondarily for the benefit of historians that care so deeply about these artifacts.

Mike