Does anyone have any experience with Bonded Ivory Grips? They look nice and are a lot more affordable than the real thing. I like the look of them but they're obviously not the real deal.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance.

Altamont makes them, but they look like plastic, fake, to me. I don't like them.
Smith & Wesson | Altamont Company

I have an older set on a 4" Model 28. The bonded ivory has aged, and has a much better "look" than when new. I like the grips.

I agree with TAC

When you mix plastic with ivory dust all you get is ivory colored plastic. What a great marketing idea......call it "Bonded Ivory"

The real thing is expensive, but gorgeous.

The range of color, the grain and the feel can not be recreated in polymer and dust
If you have something that you feel deserves Ivory and can not afford it at the moment. Save your money on the plastic copies. Every time you look at them you will be thinking about real Ivory. Instead drop $10 each week into your sock drawer, that is hardly more than one visit to Wendy's or Starbucks these days.

You will be surprised how quickly you can save up for a set of grips that you will never have to ask if they look Good Enough.

I have lotsa Ivory, nothing is like it to me. BUT, if you want any, hurry up. The government is after it. The state of Mass just put Nutmeg Sports out of the Ivory business. I have done many deals with this great place with many engraved and Ivory stocked Colts. NO MORE, they now are subbing with giraffe bone. Nice, but not the same. Problems also with some interstate shipping of Ivory. Get some you will never regret it.

A Ruger Blackhawk I owned was stolen in 1995 and recovered in 2015, it had some white Altamont checkered "ivory" grips on it . They were just white plastic , no color , no grain just white plastic. They fit well, the checkering gave a good grip, but that plain white color was just awefull looking.... I took Rit Dye and dyed them black , I think they look much better than the plain white.
Looking at Altamonts other aged ivory grips....they really dont look that good. The only faux ivory grips I have owned that did look good were made with real elephant ivory dust , no longer available I'm sure, and grips made from ivory Macarta...these look nice.

Oh , I did have real elephant ivory grips made for the Ruger Blackhawk in the early 1970's , but they weren't on the gun when it was stolen. The grip company that made the real ivories sent me a set of the ivory dust bonded grips they were starting to market, the grain/pattern on them didn't match each side but they looked and felt good and those were on the RBH when it was stolen. Would like to have another set of those ivory dust bonded grips if anyone is making them again !
Gary

I recently bought a set of bonded ivory round butt K frame grips from Altamont, they fit well and feel good in the hand but honestly I can't tell if they are really bonded ivory or just white plastic. They seem to have a "smoother" feel then just plastic, maybe if they had a more broken in look I would like them better. Here they are on my 3" nickel M13.

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

Try Boone Trading Company at Boone Trading Company

They sell bonded ivory that's "antiqued" colored to look aged.

Not the real deal but the best copy I've found.

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2B1ASK1

I have a set of the "ivory" grips for a 696-1.
I thought at first they were Boone's but now know they are the Altamonts from the markings inside.
They are heavy and very smooth.
Any sweat on your hands and they will be slippery.
I went with the Altamont K-AH round-square conversion grips instead.
The "ivory" picture was taken without flash and the color was all wrong.
I have attempted to correct the color but it is not completely true.
The paper towel in the background is white and you can see that the grips are not quite white but are a little "cream" colored.
After carrying and shooting with these grips a couple of times they are now "on the pile".
Not really recommended.
The K-AH (what they now call "Altai") are MUCH nicer in the hand and, for me, point much more naturally.
Recommended.
Smith & Wesson K/L Frame Round Butt Revolver Grips | Altamont Company

Attached Images

	696-1AltamontIvoryColorCorrected-3.jpg (273.3 KB, 185 views)
	L-Frame-44-Trio3.jpg (273.1 KB, 119 views)

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

I have looked for someone selling the grips that were made with real ivory dust , without finding any. I think the company was having trouble getting matching grain/ patterns with each batch.
The ones I had felt like ivory , had a nice grain , but the left grip didn't match the right grips grain/pattern. They even yellowed with age.
The grain/pattern they had was much more pronounced than the grain of my real elephant ivory grips...which isn't much, it's there it just doesn't stand out that much .
For some reason the ivory Micarta grips I've seen run $200.00 which , to me , is pricey for a man made material.
Gary

I own a set of targets for K framed gun in but, they just lay on top of my dresser.
Steve

These don't look quite as white in person, I'm not a great photographer,and using my iPad for a camera. But... I have several sets of ivories, these are on my 27-2:



I love the look of ivory with blue steel, but it also looks pretty good with nickle or even stainless steel. I don't think that I would ever be happy with imitation ivory, I would rather have the original walnut or other beautiful wood stocks than plastic, even if mixed with real ivory dust.

But Billy makes a good point, the antis are doing their best to ban Ivory, and the current administration has banned interstate sales of ivory except under almost impossible conditions. Their big demonstration a year or so ago where they destroyed tons of ivory reminded me of the taliban or Isis blowing up historic shrines because of radical political or religious zealotry.

As Billy says, get them, while you can.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

i have a set of K frame classic bonded Ivory from Altamont on a K-22, they're pretty white, thinner than the factory Magnas and the contour is slightly different. I took a set of Tyler T grips off a Combat and there was a gap at the radius. On one of these sites these a link on aging these grips with a urinary tract infection med. that works pretty well, but it's not for the faint of heart. I bailed out early thinking they were going to be too yellow. Good luck in your efforts.

Thanks for that, I got a set of their aged on the way and will have a good thread comparing them to the Altamont Ivory ones.

The only real ivory I have is a set of dominoes that were handed down from one of my grandparents.

I do have one set of bonded ivory grips. It is J frame but works well on my improved I frame Model 30. Yes, they do look more like white plastic than anything. If you are wanting the look of ivory you may as well spend the bucks and get real ivory. I, on the other hand, was more interested in a set that gave me a good hold and the grips I got do that. They fit my hand extremely well.

Um. Is the drug Gantrasin (SP)? And do you run it through your kidneys to prepare it for use?

OK, another question. The Feds say you can keep and sell your gun if you can meet some nearly impossible conditions. None seem to apply to commercial interstate sales. Do those same conditions apply to bonded ivory? How can you even go about weighing them to meet the 200 gram limit?

Not that any logic ever gets in the way of the government, but.. If the bonded ivory particles are ivory from old dead elephants, its still ivory. I wonder if burning them will bring the elephant back? Or will it appease the lefties that occupy the government?

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Dick Burg

You can try running it though your kidneys first, but I'm not going to to put them in the solution for you. Your on your on.
There should be no restriction on bonded ivory as its a man made product.