Friends,

Ever since I saw LTG George S. Patton Jr's personal handguns in a museum display, I've wanted IVORY GRIPS on my handguns.

SADLY, I'm FAR FROM RICH but I can afford BUFFALO or GIRAFFE BONE grips for some of my pistols, at about 33.oo per pair.
(My 1st experiment in "coloring bone" will be put on my 1927 Brazilian-contract .45ACP S&W revolver.)

Do any of you KNOW how to "simulate" years of HONEST USE/WEAR & the WARM/RICH "YELLOWISH" LOOK of REAL VINTAGE IVORY??
(ALL of the bone grips that I've seen recently seen for sale are nicely made BUT are BRIGHT WHITE in COLOR, which to my eyes just LOOKS WRONG, on a Pre WWII to 1980s "using" handgun.)

When I look for a GOOD process to "yellow" BONE GRIPS on the WORLDWIDEWEIRD, I've found all manner of suggestions from "soaking in strong tea", "soaking in cold coffee", dyeing with RIT clothing dye & even "bathing the new grips in swimming pool acid".
Unfortunately, NONE of those "bright ideas" actually "fill me with glee", given the number of other comments/responses that say, "That doesn't work." OR "I can't tell any difference after a week of soaking" OR "did not work" OR (even worse) "I ruined my new grips.".

Member's advice, who have "aged" bone grips, is therefore solicited.


THANKS for reading this new thread, satx

I have a set of Elk grips from Patrick Grashorn. I used potassium permanganate to color the grips. You'll have to google how to mix it as I have forgotten the procedure. I believe using oil based leather dye works too. Sorry I can't be of much help.

Try soaking them in some hot tea for awhile and if you want them darker use coffee. This is buff soaked in coffee

Just buy some Mastodon tusk grips with 10,000 year old aging on them already from Boone Trading? The more you handle them the nicer they look too!
From Boone Trading Co., but these are from antique ivory tusk when he could sell them nation wide.
They're not as expensive as you think.

Attached Images

IMG_20140215_123950_259.jpg (99.4 KB, 75 views)

__________________
Dave Ramsey Cultist

Use some thinned walnut colored wood stain or brown leather dye. Thin it first with alcohol or mineral spirits. Better too light than dark.

After application to the back of the grip, let it dry and see if it is dark enough for your tastes, and apply a second coat if desired.

The usual mistake in "aging" something is to over-do it. Less is more, in this type of project.

I hung a pair of bonded ivory on a fence in my yard where they got lots of sun. after two years they were where I wanted them. put them on a model 10-5. love the result. Patience is a virtue.

I live in western Michigan. we get the fewest sunny days per year of any state. My guess is that in say Az. it would take less time. or if you want less fade it would also take less time.

Maybe a sun tanning light would work.

Attached Images

model 10.jpg (102.9 KB, 63 views)

opr1945,

At 74YO, I probably don't have the TIME to wait TWO YEARS.

yours, satx

03hemi,

FYI, the Boone's Trading grips cost AS MUCH or MORE USD than any of the S&W (AND the other handguns) revolvers that I own.
(I paid 60 bucks for the 1927 Brazilian out of a VA estate sale some decade or so ago, so 350.oo or more for only a set of grips seems "just a bit excessive" to this "friendly neighborhood cheapskate".)

THANKS anyway, satx

Tea bags or coffee grinds have been reported to work well-just check often so you don’t go past your desired results.

He also has some called "American Ivory", not the bonded junk that actually has the Schreger lines on the end grain and actually look like real ivory and not fake looking poo like bonded. yuk
at $125 for a set is steal too!
Look at this stuff, amazing, can you imagine this is imitation.

You should check those out.

Attached Images

	american-ivory-ruger-vaquero-grips_1_5253f91b-220d-4230-8c7c-dba3be98f793_compact[1].jpg (2.2 KB, 30 views)
	american-ivory-ruger-vaquero-grips_ends[1].jpg (28.3 KB, 24 views)

__________________
Dave Ramsey Cultist