Let's see your ivory grips!

I'm thinking of having a set made if I can locate the gun i want... a 29 4" Blue.....

Who makes them these days for the Smiths? Who made yours?

SHOW us!

These Ivory grips were made for me by the late Saul Weisenfeld (Gun Art Co.) 22 years ago for this Jim DeMunck engraved Pre-Model 27. After the grips were made by Mr. Weisenfeld Jim inlaid the large pre-war silver S&W medallions in the grips, and made special 14KT diamonds which he inlaid around the grips screw holes. The diamonds and grip screw are also engraved.


Here is also a Model 60 Jim DeMunck engraved for me 30 years ago with Ivory grips.

I like Ivory om blue steel. I do not own enough of it.

Several of my 1911s have Ivory






My S&W 559 has some nice carved Ivory on it

Here's some of my handguns that have Ivory Grips on them. I only have one S & W with Ivory Grips and that is on a S & W .38-44 (Pre-Model 20).
Nutmeg Sports has done a vast majority of my Ivory Grips including the one for the S & W.
Sorry for the poor quality photos that I have.....

Attached Images

	Colt 45 25.jpg (71.8 KB, 693 views)
	Colt SSA.jpg (60.8 KB, 363 views)
	IvoryPistols003-copy.jpg (41.3 KB, 494 views)

I have several Colts with ivory but only one S&W.

Thats good stuff guys!

I had these ivories on my Colt.... Made up by Nutmeg. Wish i had not sold them! STUPID!!!

Elephant ivory Magna stocks with S&W monograms made by Don Collins a few years ago and a 44 Magnum with a pair of walrus ivory grips.

Bill

That made my day! Wow... I LOVE those grips!!

Is "Magna" that name of the shape of these? I really like that shape (or a round butt) on a carry gun like this! Very nice!

What "dash" is that gun? It's pinned but is it recessed? The first pic almost looks like it's not recessed.

WOW though.... such an awesome looker!

Here is my S&W M-657 and a set of Don Collins Ivories.


And a Wayne D'Angelo engraved STI 45 Auto with another set of Don Collins Ivories.

The first revolver is a 1950 Target 44 shipped in 1955 (Pre-Model 24). This model did not have a counterbored cylinder. The second revolver is a Model 29-2.

Magna stocks were first introduced by S&W around 1935.

Bill

Now I've got to clean the drool off of the keyboard again...

Man those are some beautiful firearms!

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Andy

These are on my K22.

Attached Images

	IMG_0614.jpg (69.4 KB, 410 views)
	IMG_0612.jpg (73.9 KB, 408 views)

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Mark

Don Collins still makes grips. I've got several sets of his work. He's even honest and sends you a copy of the import documents to show where he got the tusk. Ivory is a touchy subject, maybe subject to some federal regs. I'd guess you can see some of his work if you google "collinscraft grips". He used to post all kinds of pics. I trust him because I know him and have done business with him for a fairly long period now.

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Dick Burg

A few Rugers & Smiths

Very nice Dan!!

I really like the look and feel of Ivory grips. It's a wonderful material!

I have this set on a old hi-standard HDM.

My K22 with ivory.

When you order a set of ivory grips, do you have to send the gun to the maker so the grips will fit well, or will you have to fit them yourself?

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

It depends on the maker. Don Collins doesn't have an FFL, which is required if he takes the gun to fit the grips. He just makes them a shade oversize (or has in the past with ivory) and you get to do the final fitting.

Years ago I bought a set of grips for a Python from Jim Alaimo. He laughed at my hesitation to do the final fitting. He told me unless I was a total klutz, it was easy. He was right. He even supplied me with a tool kit do to it. Just a few women's nail files/emery boards. The ones with foam core centers. Ivory works like ivory soap. The biggest problem is the constant fitting and removal.

I learned to "work scared". Never more than a few strokes and test fit them again. Then the polish can be Flitz or Simichrome. With a dremel tool and cloth wheel, it looks like polished plastic it comes up so fast. A thing of beauty.

The problem with sending your gun away is its costly, like UPS next day can be $50 each direction. And then the worker may not have you first in line. Meaning it might take him months to get yours finished.

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Dick Burg

Elephant Ivory service grips on a 17-4, unfortunately the only K Frame I have on hand to model them on.

that just says it all.

GREAT lookin grips (and the guns attached)

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Brud

No doubt! I was leaning towards Elk Grips for my inbound 29-2 (New in Box) but...... every time I look at these ivories, I feel like I just need to get some!

Another Don Collins set.
Need to be fitted a little as the horns are too proud for a speed loader to pass or ejecting empties.

These are on my 4" pre 29.

I do not know who made them but it appears from how much they've yellowed they are quite old, and the fit perfectly.

OK, I'll bite--what's a set of N-Frame Magna's made of Ivory worth these days ? Just trying to learn.

Steve

Around $500,give or take.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

230grfmj--

Those are just beautiful--the yellowing, the texture in the ivory, and the aging cracks in the butt-ends. Just about the nicest ivory stocks I've ever seen. Real class. They're on the perfect firearm, too. Wow.

I too had some ivory grips (Colt 1911, Colt SAA, Colt Govt 380) made by Mr. Weisenfeld years ago. He did a fine job. Seems like he used to work for the Colt Custom Shop for years before he (retired?) and started making them privately.

No apology needed for a long barreled 17,ivories and Tyler T. It looks like something Elmer Keith would own. My highest praise.

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Idaho , Elmer and Milt

These are the BEST I have seen for my tastes.

Got these service style ivories from Nutmeg.

Now looking for a Python to put them on.

Oh those poor toothless elephants. (Snicker)

With credit to 230grfmj, here once again is the pre war 38/44 OD converted to .44 3rd Model Target by Hamilton Bowen. The barrel is from a 5” pre war .44 HE 3rd model that Bowen fit to this frame. It did not have to be rebored or re-rollmarked to 44 Special. The front sight originally was the normal forged half moon shaped sight used on fixed sighted guns. Bowen milled off the half moon, made a Patridge blade and installed a gold bead to resemble a “Call” gold bead sight, and then pinned it to the forged base while not disturbing the original shape of the base. The grips were made by Roy Fishpaw and were hand fitted to this frame and numbered to it as well. The emblems are pre war (.500") in mint condition, never re-nickeled or any other type of refinishing. The entire project required a little over a year to complete.

This is a magnificent example of custom gunsmithing and stockmaking, an elegant tribute to the venerable Smith & Wesson N-frame.

Attached Images

	grip left.jpg (100.8 KB, 285 views)
	grip medallion left.jpg (76.7 KB, 233 views)
	grip backstrap.jpg (59.0 KB, 241 views)
	grip butt.jpg (54.6 KB, 250 views)
	right.jpg (101.3 KB, 311 views)

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

I've had this set of Elephant ivory on one of my 1905 4th. M&P Target models forever.

My 1 and only set of Ivories... and on an "off" brand at that!

It is a Sept. '56 (1st month of 2nd Gen. production) SAA that was "born" as a 5.5" .38 Spl. and (I) bought for $300 in '95. It then had a trip through the C*** Custom Shop where it turned into a 4.75" .45 Colt (and with a second cylinder: a .45 ACP) wearing the 1-piece elephants. I paid $444 just for the tusks, but now they would set me back $815 from the same C.C.S.

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Bill - SWCA #2327

230grfmj:

Those are the most spectacular ivory handles I have ever seen.

I don't care who they were, whoever made them was a true artist. I'm guessing Mastadon Ivory.

I wish you would tell us some more about them.

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Mitch
SWCA 2438

My educated guess is that Jim at Nutmeg did them. He was the custom shop manager for years and still does the ivory for the custom shop.

This is a great thread, thanks to all for posting the pictures. Gila bender, that is a beautiful revolver and the Fishpaw ivory's are the perfect finishing touch. 230grfmj, that's about as good as grips could ever look, the mellow color and checking on the butt are fantastic. Did I mention this was a good thread! Thanks

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kbgrips.com

I used to count Jim Alaimo as a friend. I still kind of do, but I haven't seen him in a few years now. He stopped coming to gun shows. One of his most outstanding character "flaws" was he was unselfish. He helped me along greatly in my confidence and gave good instructions. He was also just a nice guy. He helped me along in my grip fitting experiences.

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Dick Burg

This may be a dumb question but how can you tell if the grips are real
ivory ? I have a very old S&W copy that has what looks like ivory grips. Is there any way to tell for sure ?

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millbilly

GOT it figured out !!! I'll use the hot pin trick !!!

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millbilly

Here are grips I had made in Africa in the 1950s when I was working in Belgian Congo. My Dad sent me S&W/Colt grips that I had local ivory carvers copy. I had them made 1mm larger to allow for some fitting. Cost was about $6 pair. I had about 15 pairs. The after-work on them is mine, SAA, K-22 both sides, S&W .44 DA Topbreak, Triple Lock & another .44 DA.

Nice grips at ridiculous prices. Looks like some nice "scratched up" guns that they are hooked to.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Most impressive weapons and beautiful grips. I have always been intrigued with ivory grips. Thanks guys for showing them.

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J. Mark McCarver

A forum member asked about shoeing his Bowen 45HD - Transition. Therein lies the challenge

I too have a Bowen 45HD, built on a transition 38/44HD 5" (S65402) acquired in February 2009. I asked Bowen if he would send it to Roy Fishpaw but was told that Roy was not accepting work for new clients and had a tremendous backlog. He offered a set of Keith Brown grips that he had in stock, which I accepted and later returned because they were not fitted to the gun. They were awesome grips, to be sure, but Transition guns are notorious for being difficult to fit if they are not in the hands of the stock maker.

I went through about six sets of diamond magnas before finding a set that fit reasonably well. Then, last December, Dan M hooked me up with a set of aftermarket ivories shown in this post. They do not have the maker's mark, and they aren't Fishpaw's, but they are good enough to properly dress a Bowen 45HD. Got a nice old Lawrence flap holster for it, too.

Attached Images

	Bowen 45HD ivory 002.jpg (87.1 KB, 198 views)
	Bowen 45HD ivory 003.jpg (89.2 KB, 175 views)
	Bowen 45HD ivory 004.jpg (82.0 KB, 161 views)
	Bowen 45HD ivory 005.jpg (83.2 KB, 158 views)

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Just bought these J Frame round butt grips.

Hope to get them mounted one day.

stocks on Ruger .357 are from Gunnart almost 30 yrs. ago,on the USFA .45 from Nutmeg Sports

OK, here we go:

K38 Masterpiece:


K22 Masterpiece:


S&W 22:


S&W 32Mag:


S&W 38Spl:


S&W 38 Spl:


Colt & Randall:


Colt Detective Special:



Colt Detective Special:


Colt Cobra:


Colt Service Model 22:


Colt SAA 45:


Colt SAA 32WCF:


Colt SAA 44WCF:


Colt Bisley 32WCF:


Colt SAA 45:


Colt SAA 38WCF:


Colt NF 44Spl:



Colt 25:

From the lower left:
Cased Colt M 1849 with carved Mexican Eagle and Snake grips.
Rare Colt M 1849 3" bbl. with rammer.
Tex. Gun Collectors Assoc. Commemorative SAA with gold inlays and carved steer head grips.
Very early .38 Super M1911 that shipped with ivory from Colt to my Wife's grandfather who was a TX Sheriff.
Early Triple Lock with contemporary ivories.
1st Gen. SAA .45 Colt that was my paternal grandfather's when he settled in Texas in late 19th Cent.

Bob