Like stag grips ? Help me with your opinions.

[bigmtnman]

I've been making Elk antler grips for 15 years now ( Colt, S&W and Ruger SA revolvers only). I have always left them in their natural state except for the occasional darkening of the "bark" striping. I have been getting questions and/or requests for making the grips look aged. Grips on some vintage guns like the New Service pictured (with natural and "aged" ) may look more "appropriate" with an aged look.
I am currently experimenting with "aging" some of my grips. I would really like some feedback. Is it sacrilege to add any artificial coloring to the natural antler ? Do you prefer the natural look or the aged look on the appropriate revolver. Does this current effort on aging look decent or YUCK ! (I'm still working on getting it right) . PLEASE do not ask how or what I am using.

Whatever you think would be helpful.

 

[walkin jack]

Toss up between 3 and 5

 

[CQB27]

Well since you asked, I don't like the aged look. Looks more like something spilled on the stocks than age. In all fairness I am a big fan of Elk Stag in it's natural state.

 

[the ringo kid]

Toss up between 3 and 5

I like all variants--very nice work-and in Nr 1--reminds me of having grips made with Maple.

 

[Watchdog]

I've been making Elk antler grips for 15 years now...I am currently experimenting with "aging" some of my grips. I would really like some feedback.

Whatever you think would be helpful.

Okay. I think artificially aged stags look artificially aged. Not just yours...anyone's. I've seen some that look as if they've been painted. And some that look like plastic.

If I'm going to get elk antler stags, I like them pretty much natural, although I do like the white polished. And those with no bark at all, I definitely like a good polish on them.

Would I knowingly buy artificially aged elk antler stags? No.

 

[glenwolde]

It's so hard to discern color on computer monitors. They don't look quite right to me though. But from what I'm looking at it seems the aging isn't as even as I would expect, and is the wrong shade of yellow.

I have a couple of sets of vintage stag grips. One set I bought around 1980 (doesn't really seem vintage to me, but sadly I have to admit many would say so), the other set is from the late 50's and came from my Grandfather-in-law. Those you can see in post #27 in this thread...

BBQ gunleather Karma! - Winner Posted!!!

I have no idea what animal horn was used to make mine, differences in material may make it very difficult to reproduce. I remember reading somewhere that tea was used to fake-age ivory, don't know if that would work for stag?

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have four sets of elk antler stocks, three with 3/4 bark and one polished. I personally do not care for the yellowish "aged" look, natural or artificial. That color turns me off of Sambar stags too.

I have seen 1911 stocks made from camel and giraffe bone that I like.

 

[-db-]

Big fan of stag and don't care for the artificially aged stuff. It doesn't fool anyone truly familiar with vintage grips and comes across as a cheap, if not dishonest, item. I like your work and wince at the thought of doing this, although I understand there is demand for such things.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I have a set of no-bark Executioner stags (pure white) on my RM and an understudy K.22 Masterpiece...... a cased set ...... both are 98% guns IMO they look real good.................

I have a set of half bark (?) on a 4" 90% shooter grade 27-2...... gun has "character"...... stocks look new and a bit out of place. Actually they looked better on my +95% model 28

Full bark on a couple of .22s; pre 18 (nice) and 17 (very nice) ..... they look OK and "correct" ........the more bark the more character

 

[boykinlp]

I like the look of naturally aged grips, but artificially aged, not so much. BTW, do you ever use Sambar Stag?

 

[bigmtnman]

I like the look of naturally aged grips, but artificially aged, not so much. BTW, do you ever use Sambar Stag?

Sambar is pretty much unavailable or way too expensive.

 

[Old_Cop]

I don't care for the yellow cast of the "aged" grips. The aged stag on glenwold's Colt have a more translucent look, which will not be easily achieved.

 

[Straightshooter2]

I don't care for the aged look but I will say I like the really dark colored bark on stag grips (hinted for a set for my 1911 Government model for anniversary/Fathers Day but didn't get them).

 

[D Brown]

I like both styles. I guess my choice would ultimately depend on the gun.

 

[Walter Rego]

I am not trying to be insulting, but at least on my monitor the color looks like it was done with a yellow highlighter. Too fluorescent looking. I would look at a bunch of photos of naturally aged Sambar stag and try to match that which is more amber than yellow.

 

[hittman77]

I am not trying to be insulting, but at least on my monitor the color looks like it was done with a yellow highlighter. Too fluorescent looking. I would look at a bunch of photos of naturally aged Sambar stag and try to match that which is more amber than yellow.

This is what I was thinking too.
They look "yellow" which to me translates to maybe being dirty instead of "old".
If your aging process was more brown in color ...... that may be the ticket.

 

[Bob L]

I agree that the natural just looks better.

 

[doublesharp]

I like them both. I've purchased several sets of your grips over the years and they are aging well with no noticable color change. I prefer the yellowish look of sambar but am not offended by the added color shown here. I've heard of soaking the grips in coffee or tea to give them an aged look but I've never tried.

These are yours from about 10 years ago

 

[Tyrod]

Victorian Brits loved their ivory. They had an ample supply of ivory being the peak of ivory harvesting and tea. I know they used tea to artificially age ivory for the affluent Victorian posers. Since I don't have any ivory or cut antler material to compare the texture I can't honestly say if tea would work. Hot or cold, concentration, duration and species of tea would all vary the effect. I do think vacuum processing such as they do on stabilized wood may drive the tea deeper. Just substitute tea for the plastic material.

 

[BearBio]

My taxidermist used brown paste shoe polish. I've used it on a couple of knife handles and it does turn out more "brownish" and less yellow.