I am looking to dress-up a post-war N-frame revolver with a set of pre-war grips such as those in the photo below. Can anyone suggest a supplier who could execute these in ivory?

Thanks.


Bullseye

You might be able to talk Dan Collins into it. He says he does not like working in ivory anymore, because he finds it stressful, but he might make an exception.

Paul Persinger might do it, too. He does a lot of ivory work. And, perhaps, Keith Brown, tho I have not seen a full set of grips in ivory from him, that design would be a simple way to get started at it -- I mean less complicated than a target grip or even magnas...

I wouldnt give Dan Collins the time of day after the short correspondence I have had with him, but I believe Keith Brown would be the man I'd go to.

Onomea,

Can you or someone else provide me with Paul Persinger's contact information?


Thanks!



Bullseye

Sure.

I've got 915-821-7541, or paulpersingerATyahoo.com, or 10441 Mackinaw, Dept AH, El Paso, TX 78824, for him.

I would and can give a strong recommendation of the high quality of workmanship{actually artistry} of both Paul and Keith. Their work is second to none. As an aside, Onomea, I can not wait to see your Colt DS Special project, Paul said the stocks turned out great. I am preparing to send him a US Firearms custom 3 1/2 in. barrelled single action for Mongolian Stag stocks. Sorry to slide away from the original question, but, again I cannot say enough good about Paul's work in Ivory. You will not be sorry!

I just saw this post and thought I should jump. I've not personally met or talked to Mr. Persinger but his reputation is tops in this type of work, I'm sure you would be well pleased with his product. I have worked with small pieces of ivory and have checkered two sets of Ivory targets, slow and hard work with my hand tools and not something I really want to do more of without the aid of a power tool. Also underway at the moment is my first set of Ivory magna grips for a friend, I'm learning as I go and enjoying the process. Ivory is truly a beautiful material that no photograph ever really captures completely, it must be felt in the hand. Thanks to all for the mention of my name along with Mr. Persinger's.

Keith

Executioner (Patrick Grashorn) Home
normally works with stag or bone (and does awesome work). He told me he would make any of his grips in ivory if I supplied the material and took all responsibility if something went wrong. Judging by the K and N magnas I got from him (which he installed my supplied medallions), I think he would do great work with ivory, too.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

As the owner of three sets of Keith Brown walnut Hand made stocks and three sets of Paul Persinger made Ivory stocks, I can say without doubt that both of them are truly masters of their art. And, as you can see by the above post by bis45,aka Keith Brown, they are both humble men. They are both very fine gentlmen and an absolute pleasure to to business with. They most certainly are "Good People". All my best, Joe.

Not sure why we're trashing Don Collins. I've purchased probably a half dozen sets of his elephant ivory grips over the last 10 or 15 years. He's a fine gentleman and he does excellent work. By design, he doesn't fit his grips to your gun. He doesn't have an FFL, and he understands quite well the differences in frames. Because of that, he always made his grips just a shade larger than standard frames. What it means is you'll be fitting your own grips to your gun. To some of us, its an advantage because many prewar grip frames were oversized one way or another. If you could use a fingernail file (the one women use with foamcore centers work great), you could have a set that looked like a factory install.

There are some problems with ivory. The biggest one is legal. Technically, you can't even move a set in interstate commerce unless you've got the original import documents proving the material was imported into this country before the ban took place. Elephants were endangered, and in all its wisdom, our government just prohibited importation. The better makers send you your grips and along with your invoice is a photo copy of the customs document. I've received that with other ivory products, including knives.

Any craftsman is putting his neck on the line when he produces an object from a prohibited substance. It doesn't matter if its been supplied by the consumer or by the workman. One big additional problem is if the workman actually handles and hand fits the grips to your gun. To do that requires an FFL. He's doing gunsmithing work, by definition. It doesn't matter if the grips are wood, ivory, or plastic.

With newer guns, the grip frames are pretty much the same. Prewar guns are only rarely the same. A set that fits one of my RMs probably won't fit one of my 3rd model 44s. So it means to get that "perfect" fit, you'll probably end up doing some minor fitting. With elephant ivory, its easy. If you've got a Dremel tool and some Flitz or Simichrome, you can make it look great.

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Dick Burg

Yes, let me add that I too have previously purchased a set of ivory N-frame magnas from Don Collins, and they were exquisite in figuring and fitting.

I found this photo in another thread that shows a Model 58 wearing the kind of grips I am interested in -- and made by Don, so he clearly has the expertise and experience to do this.





I have worked a lot with artists over the years, and part of the territory is the requirement to bend to their way of doing things. These folks are not stamping out widgets. It takes the investment of personal energy into each creation to make it right, and that can be taxing. I have found that if you respect the idiosyncrasies of these very skilled people, and let them do the work the way they need to do it, you will be rewarded with an outstanding creation. This is one situation where the customer may be right, but needs to put that in the back seat and let the craftsman work his or her magic.

Don doesn't like phone calls because they intrude on his getting his work done. He responds via email promptly and finished the work shown below at light speed.


Bullseye

Well, Dick, I'd say we are not trashing Don. We have one respected member who had one unpleasant interaction with Don. It happens. Sometimes guys don't get along, or one fella gets outta bed on the wrong side one particular day, or whatever. Don't mean much, in my view. It happens.

I will say that I have two sets of Don's ivories and they are excellent work, and that my interactions with Dan have been pleasant. He is one heckuva grip/stock maker.

Keith's humilty impresses! You guys who have not seen his work don't know what you are missing. Absolutely gorgeous! He works, so far as most of us have seen, in wood -- but man-o-man! Talk about gorgeous. I appreciate the humility, Keith, it speaks well of you, but you have every right to stand tall with the best there has ever been when it comes to stocks/grips. No question.

Joe, the stocks Paul made for my DS, the nude motif he calls "Goddess" are very nice indeed. I was gonna photograph 'em last summer, but did not get around to it. DS and stocks are now off with Weldon Lister, Jr., for a year. (Oh boy-o-boy-o-boy-o!! )

PS: Bullseye, that is well said, the point about respecting artists' and craftsmen's idiosyncracies. I agree!

I guess it's just me. Over the years I keep seeing glowing reviews of Persinger's work but about 6 years ago my wife bought me a set of ivories from him and I would have sent them back except I didn't want to hurt the wife's feelings. So I bit my tongue and said nothing about how bad they are. Very disappointing. I expected much better for $500.

Well, oft shown, but here's some Persinger work:





Put yours up, Sax. Let's see 'em.

I don't know if anyone wants my opinion. I like the grips you have pictured on the gun. I think that is an awsome combonation there. I would be proud to have that gun with those grips.

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M.J.Hanna

Bullseye:

The grips on the nickel Outdoorsman you posted were made several years ago by Don Collins. I own a number of his grips and have had great relationship with the gentleman !

I love his magna grips. As you can see in this photo they are distinctly "fatter" than factory and fit my hand very well !

Jerry

About 6 or 7 years ago I asked Don to make me a set of magna's using bark ivory. He said he'd do it, but it'd take a while. Back then he was coming to the Louisville shows, but his wife hated it.

When he started making my grips, she threw a fit about no one wanting something like that, and how he'd have been better off using the good bark ivory on Colt SAA grips. Like all good husbands, he took the abuse and didn't tell her the details. He just finished up the grips.

When the gun show rolled around, we were busy setting up. When I got a few free minutes, I walked over to see his offerings. They were great. So I pealed off $100 bills, paying his asking price (he was always very fair, and often cut me a little price break.) Apparently he didn't bother telling her he was selling them, so when she noticed they were gone, he just told her (the truth), the first guy who looked at them bought them!

Don isn't getting any younger (like us.) They didn't like the travel, the overnight in a motel, the packing up to leave, you name it. The promoter is a royal jerk at the shows. He just stopped traveling.

If you meet him sometime, you'll like him. We became friends years ago when he had tables next to ours.

Yes, I know and like Keith, too. These are good guys, and they probably aren't really competing against one another. Different style products.

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Dick Burg

Gentlemen, I think we can all agree that we like "nice" things. We also have some great artisits to work with. We have had good relations with them and look forward to doing business with them again and as mentioned above we have several of them who are contributing members of our favorite forum. I myself have several sets of stocks from Paul, as well as our own Keith and Patrick and quite frankly I could not be more pleased with their work and the men themselves. We do not need comments attacking someone else to build up a particular favorite. I have not had the pleasure of doing business yet with Mr. Collins however that will be changing in the near future. If Dick recommends him,that is good enough for me. Now, let's see some more pictures of some GREAT stocks from a variety of artists. All My Best, Joe.

Don Collins N-frame ivory magnas:



Keith Brown American walnut pre-war magnas:



Keith Brown French walnut Ropers:



Roy Fishpaw, Dahl sheep horn:

Onomea, as always, I stand in awe of your Photo Abilities. Thanks for the great pics. Joe

Thanks, Joe, but I should say the Fishpaws photo is by the fella I bought 'em off, and as for the others, my technique is to take several hundred photos and hope I get lucky. Sometimes, very rarely, I do!

Onomea, do you know if Roy is still working? I had heard that he had stopped taking new orders or had at least slowed way down.

Joe, I know Hamilton Bowen says he is no longer available, and one of my forum buddies told me that he's been on Roy's waitlist for a couple of years. So I'd not be optimistic.

But... ya never know until you give it a shot. I would not be surprised to learn, for example, that Fishpaw is just so backed up that he has stopped taking orders from new clients. If so, maybe some serious wheedling might work...

Onomea, I had been on his list for Ivory's for my two conversions from Hamilton until I saw your photo of Paul's work. Needless to say I could not have been more pleased with the outcome. I would ,however, still like to have an example of his work. We shall see. My next conversion from Hamilton gets a set of Keith's Ropers that I have waiting.