Love Me Some Sambar Stag!

[JH1951]

Here's a 1947 K-22 that was sporting sambar stags when I found it. In the box were magnas that number match the revolver. I assume the stags are about the same vintage as the K-22. Sambar really ages with grace.

And here is a pair crafted by Ken of caribou on a Chiefs Special. I am quite pleased to have gotten these. They are every bit as nice as ivory ones I have. And Ken's work cannot be beaten.

 

[boykinlp]

The Sambar on the Colts are tremendous! The Elk is really nice too!

A buddy gave me these because he got them in a trade and didn’t like them. No accounting for taste. My old .38/40 sure likes them, though.

Dad gum, a good friend to have, even if he is crazy!

Those are GORGEOUS high end "popcorn" sambar for sure !! I've only had a few pieces of sambar to make grips with over the years ........

Ken, the grips you made from the Sambar Stag look amazing. So you seriously got into grip making after the “unlimited” Sambar Stag days? I have a pair of your fine Elk grips, as well as, being lucky enough to get a pair of your Moose grips too! You are a Master at your craft!
Larry

 

[Truckman]

I have a pair of your fine Elk grips, as well as, being lucky enough to get a pair of your Moose grips too! You are a Master at your craft!

Better hang on to them, Larry...I heard a rumor that some ne'er-do-well put together a secret stash of Bigmtnman grips in an undisclosed secure location hoping to corner the market someday......Ben

 

[boykinlp]

Pre-war S&W .38-44 HD with the sambar it came to me with:

I bought an old-style Ruger Bearcat a number of years ago. LGS owner asked if I'm interested in a set of stags for $75.00 to put on there. That took about a split second for a decision.

However, I'm not as fond of "popcorn" as some of y'all which is why I have these elks by bgmntmn:

ISCS Yoda, the pair on your .38-44 are premium to me, because I do like popcorn and full matching bark. I just believe that is what makes Sambar Stag different from Elk. I, too, like Ken’s Elk grips very much. ISCS Yoda since you prefer a “less rough/gnarly” grip, you are lucky because you can still find that in Elk, and the “no bark” grips actually have a look of Ivory.

I consider myself very fortunate to have 3 pairs of Ken’s (BigMtnMan) grips.

I think you are correct! It is getting harder and harder to find talented craftsman who make these fine grips we crave so much. Better get some while the getting is good.

Here's a 1947 K-22 that was sporting sambar stags when I found it. In the box were magnas that number match the revolver. I assume the stags are about the same vintage as the K-22. Sambar really ages with grace.

View attachment 693891

And here is a pair crafted by Ken of caribou on a Chiefs Special. I am quite pleased to have gotten these. They are every bit as nice as ivory ones I have. And Ken's work cannot be beaten.

View attachment 693894

JH1951, those Sambar Stag grips on your K22 are spectacular! You also mentioned something that I have always wanted to know. I wonder how long it actually does take for Sambar Stag to take on that nice mellow brown/gold look that is another characteristic of that type grip. Some folks try to even force that look, some with nice results, and some not as good. I figure handling them probably speeds up the process, but I have always wondered if you put a pair of Sambar Stag grips in a drawer where they wouldn’t receive sunlight or handling, would they still turn that nice color just through the aging process, and how long would it take? I didn’t get any of his Caribou grips, and yours do resemble Ivory, but did get some of his Moose grips, and they kinda resemble Sambar to me. Both are BEAUTIFUL!
Larry

 

[bengal fan]

I’m a sambar stag fan also!

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[paplinker]

I’m a sambar stag fan also!

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Paul, What a great group of grips you have!

Really nice you have some prewar N frame length sprinkled in.

Do you do any maintenance to prevent shrinkage? Can that happen on stag?

 

[younggun22]

I am a sucker for bone grips. Stag or Jigged or Giraffe I really don’t care.

In fact I like all high quality grips which is likely why I have boxes of grips without a home.

While not stag or even bone for that matter here’s a set of Mammoth Tooth grip panels for a 1911 that are quite unique.

 

[LEO918]

I have few. I tend to ad them when a gun comes with something other than original grips.

 

[boykinlp]

I’m a sambar stag fan also!

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Paul, you might have the nicest collection of PREMIUM Sambar Stag grips that I have ever seen! Seriously, it is quite amazing! Were you lucky enough to obtain these years ago when you could pick out awesome grips for great pricing? I asked before, and maybe you can answer this question if you did get these grips years ago. I was wondering approximately how long it may take for Sambar Stag grips to turn that terrific mellow color that your collection has.

I notice that you have some jigged bone grips too. I haven’t ever had any of those. Thanks very much for sharing your considerable collection of Sambar gems!
Larry

 

[firebreather]

Those grips are beautiful. I love the looks of stag grips, especially on blued guns, but can't find a happy median between too smooth to grip well and too rough to be comfortable to shoot.

 

[boykinlp]

I have few. I tend to ad them when a gun comes with something other than original grips.

Nice grips, LEO918. Thanks for sharing.
Larry

 

[bengal fan]

“Do you do any maintenance to prevent shrinkage? Can that happen on stag?”

paplinker, sorry for the delay in responding. I honestly do not know if they can shrink. I assume it’s possible. However I do nothing to treat them. Maybe a little remwax sometimes when I’m waxing the gun, but nothing else. They’ve done pretty well on their own so I’m not messing with them

boykinlp,
Thank you so much for the compliment!
I’ve been acquiring stag grips since 2013 when a friend sold me a beautiful pair for a Colt Officer Model. I regrettably sold that set in a moment of weakness & I’ve not made that mistake again!
I’ve purchased the majority of them online & I’ve bought guns just to get the grips a few times also.
I know many may not agree, but a beautifully aged pair of sambar stag grips are as nice as any Roper you can find. Especially on a pre-war N frame working gun with some honest wear.

 

[turnerriver]

I have a couple nice sets and have always liked the look of Sambar stag. Your new set is outstanding.

Regards,

 

[sigp220.45]

This thread is good luck. Some new sambar shoes came along for this M&P .32/20 4”.

No clue as to the maker. The only mark is a penciled “K”.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

As long as we're at it, this is a Muela Orix with a stag handle:

And this is an Ulu, it's not stag but what the hey, I'll drop it in here - the base is deer antler and the handle is either mastodon ivory or mammoth ivory, I forget which. I think I'm supposed to call it "antique".

 

[StrawHat]

I have many elk grips but only one I believe is Sambar, shown here on one of my Model 1917s,

Kevin

 

[Truckman]

Turns out I had some Sambar after all......Ben

 

[19leben]

The only set of Sambar I own. I got them to replace a set of N Frame Target stocks my Combat Masterpiece came with.

 

[dobegrant]

There are some really great looking guns here in this string, might have to find a set of these.

 

[boykinlp]

This thread is good luck. Some new sambar shoes came along for this M&P .32/20 4”.

No clue as to the maker. The only mark is a penciled “K”.

sigp220.45, glad your luck was good. That’s a great pair!

I have many elk grips but only one I believe is Sambar, shown here on one of my Model 1917s,

Kevin

Kevin, if that is your only pair, it’s a super nice pair! What is the engraving on the right side plate of your revolver?

Turns out I had some Sambar after all......Ben

Ben, if you didn’t even know that you had that superb pair of Sambar Stag grips, maybe you should just send them to me for safe keeping! I definitely won’t misplace something as nice as that.
Larry