I recently took possession of a 38 Hand Ejector M&P with a 1924 ship date. The gun is heavily worn with great "patina." It came with a set of elk horn grips that are quite possibly as old as the gun. Was wondering what the grips are worth.

Here are some photos:

That does not look like natural bark. They appear to be smooth elk horn or steer bone that has been jig boned which was quite popular in the old days. They might be worth a $100 or so to the right buyer.

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Dick

I have no idea how much they are worth, but I really like them.
If you decide to give them up I would like first chance.

Wingmaster

Wingmaster, I'll keep you in mind.

I originally got the gun for the grips. Had never seen anything like them.

After a little TLC, the gun looks great (in my opinion); heavily worn finish with a smooth shiny bore and tight lock-up.

It was a rust bucket. Fortunately, mostly surface rust with only minor pitting. It has a six inch barrel. When I handle it, I get visions of a cowboy riding the range. In reality, it was probably somebody's truck gun. But, what are we without our dreams?

I'm a revolver fan and have some pretty nice ones in great condition. This gun touches something in me. It has major character and still, when you pull the trigger, it feels like "buttah."

Will try to take some photos and post them later this afternoon.

Here's a feeble attempt at taking a photo of my gun:

THAT gun has character !

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NRA Instructor

Man... if that gun could talk... I'd love to hear the tales it could tell!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

You oughta keep those grips and that gun together. It'd be a shame to split them up after all these years.

Those grips belong on That gun.

Pure shooter in the very best sense.

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I Love This Site

My feelings exactly. I tried a different set of grips on it and they couldn't do it justice. They're staying where they are. They even have a part of the gun (rust) on the insides.

For sure!!!

My .44 spl. came with those type of grips. I've seen a few others but I don't have any info about them.

Nice grips. Looking at the color of the grips, and what appears to maybe be dark stains on the back, I was wondering if maybe something like tea or coffee was used to age them??

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

The dark stains are rust deposits. That's why I previously said that part of the gun would always be with the grips.

Nice gun, Combat.

Very nice, wish it were mine. Love those stocks.

What you have is 'Jigged Bone'. Very common at that time. Knife companies used it often, calling it 'second cut stag'. It tends to be a little more stable than stag. Less likely to shrink or warp.

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Field Researcher. IGC

The back sides of the grips on a gun I have look almost identical to the pictures Babalooie posted. The frame under the grips showed some discoloration which cleaned up nicely but the rust on the grips is almost impossible to remove. Looking at the pictures I think Babalooie's grips were most likely aged...well, by age.

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Regards, Ty

Look a lot like a set of jigged bone stocks I have. (Can't find a pic ATM.)

Here's a different set in jigged Sambar Stag:





Interesting pattern.


Regards,

Pat

I guess when you get right down to it, it doesn't matter if they're jigged bone or jigged elk horn. They still look good on that gun.

I love those old Jigged Bone Stocks..!

I am also hoping to find a nice pair one of thes days.

However they got the color they had then, I do not know, but I really like it.

Modern ones do not have the same mood or character.

As an aside -

Technically, Stags or Elk, Deer, and so on do not posess Horns, they have Antlers.

Horn is a Keratin material like Fingernails...Cow/Bull Horns being this way.

Antlers are Bone.

[QUOTE=Oyeboteb;136306069
Technically, Stags or Elk, Deer, and so on do not posess Horns, they have Antlers.

Horn is a Keratin material like Fingernails...Cow/Bull Horns being this way.

Antlers are Bone.[/QUOTE]

I'm learning all soorts of things. Love this forum!!

Great looking revolver and the grips are very nice and unique

You may be able to remove the rust with hydrogen peroxide and a q-tip.

Yep, the pilgrim nailed it.

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S&W Forum Member #721

I agree,jigged bone. Here's a pair on an early k-22 OD. Had these for a loooooong time.



f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I was just thinking the same thing! I have elk stag, elk bone, caribou, sambar, and sheep but this is my first exposure to jigged bone. Suppose I've seen them before but hadn't heard the term or viewed them up close. Could be detrimental to my wallet, I like them!

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SWCA #1917

Since they're staying with the gun, I'm leaving them just as they are. It's something they have "in common."

Jigged bone grips on a M&P 4th model 32-20 from around 1940.

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