Ivory Grips

[clang444]

I picked up a set of K Frame Round Butt magna style grips that were claimed and look to be made of Ivory. On the inside stamped in red is the following:

AJAX
#
GRIPS


Custom built by:
AJAX CUSTOM GRIPS
15229 COX LANE
DALLAS, TX 75234


"20M" is hand written in black after the # sign. The stamps are blurry and the finish on the back of the grips is ruff, so I may have a couple of digits wrong.

They are definitely not polymer and look to be real ivory to me. They have a little natural color variation and some crazing at the bottom.

I know Ajax offers imitation ivory grips, but does anyone know if they ever sold genuine ivory grips?

Thanks,
clang

 

[clang444]

I picked up a set of K Frame Round Butt magna style grips that were claimed and look to be made of Ivory. On the inside stamped in red is the following:

AJAX
#
GRIPS


Custom built by:
AJAX CUSTOM GRIPS
15229 COX LANE
DALLAS, TX 75234


"20M" is hand written in black after the # sign. The stamps are blurry and the finish on the back of the grips is ruff, so I may have a couple of digits wrong.

They are definitely not polymer and look to be real ivory to me. They have a little natural color variation and some crazing at the bottom.

I know Ajax offers imitation ivory grips, but does anyone know if they ever sold genuine ivory grips?

Thanks,
clang

 

[sackpeterson]

They have definetly offered real ivory grips over the course of time.

 

[Dan M]

Some of the best priced real ivory grips I have got off of Fleabay before they banned, were advertised as Ajax fake/imitation. Try the old heat test with a needle and if you smell hair burning its the real deal.

Dan

 

[diamonback68]

Sound real to me and Ajax used to make them.
Crazing is the giveaway, fake onwa don't have that.

 

[clang444]

Thanks Gents,

I tried the hot pin on the back and got the burnt hair smell.

I'm guessing the $100 I paid for them was a pretty good deal. What are they going for nowadays?

clang

 

[diamonback68]

For K-frames around $250-300.

 

[spearcrow]

I may not be looking in the same places, but I haven't seen any ivory grips, especially big enough to fit a K frame, in the $250 range in a long time. I checked around real quick and saw none on the more popular grip sites anywhere close to that. I'd say double that figure and you'll be a lot closer. You got those at a steal. Here is a link to some that Don Collins has for sale on his site. He's got some for several different handguns...looks like his K frame magnas are going for $515...
http://www.collinscraftgrips.c...Elephant+Ivory+Grips

 

[rburg]

What's not to like!

Within reason, checking or the beginning of it is pretty desirable. Its how us old fools identify them. Once it starts the trick is to keep them in a humid enough atmosphere to keep it from spreading or running, but still not rust the gun!

The conventional wisdom is to use baby oil on them. Just oil them up, paying particular attention to the area where the crazing or checking has taken place. If you use great care, you can even scrub out any dirt that seems to have worked its way into the cracks. You can also clean them with warm water and mild dishwashing detergent. Rinse well. If you're lucky, the warm water will close up any gaps.

I once bought a nice knife. Its a Randall Kit knife, with an elephant ivory handle. It was cheap because it had a 1/32" gap from stem to stern. Worse, it had some dirt in the crack. I went to work on it. Hint: handling a really sharp knive in water with wet, soapy hands requires care. I did manage to get almost all the dirt out.

I was tired, I'd just got home from a gunshow and had to care for my new toy. So I put it in the knife safe and went to the living room. The next night I remembered to ask my wife to pick up the smallest size bottle of Johnson & Johnson's baby oil. She forgot. Then a couple of weeks later she remembered and brought it home. Then I forgot all about it after taking it to my gun room. About 3 months later I saw the bottle on my workbench (I have no idea why its called a workbench, its got so much crap on it you can't work.)

So I retrieved the knife and the bottle and sat in my easy chair. Funny thing, there was no crack open at all. I could see where it was in a couple of places because I failed to get all the dirt or grime out. But most of the crack was invisible. I'm guessing my knife safe has a higher humidity level than the guy I bought it from. He was probably one of those guys who demanded a golden rod, and then a big can of dissicant.

If you live in the desert, you'll want to treat your fine grips with baby oil. If you live in a tropical rainforest, it might not be necessary.

 

[clang444]

More Great Info - Thanks,

The crazing is very slight on the bottom, I kind of like how it looks too. I think somewhere ("Traveling Road Show" maybe), I saw an expert of collectable ivory say the best thing you can use to protect ivory is to use the oil from your face. Just wipe the side of your nose with your fingers and handle the ivory to transfer it.

Baby oil sounds a little less gross....

 

[2152hq]

Nice find! Great price...
Baby oil is good. I've used Mineral oil also.
The facial oil trick is often told but it can transfer everything else from salt from the sweat glands to unwanted dirt to the ivory surface.
Keep ivory away from intense dry heat sources if possible,,,wood fire, forced air heat vents, etc. They will dry and crack ivory in very little time. Sometimes as little as a few hours and it ain't pretty!

 

[Onomea]

Nose oil!

Man, I love the tips we get here! Hot needles and burning hair smell to ID ivory! Dentists and fake tooth ceramic for your pearls! Baby oil for your ivories! Pantyhose (after removing your wife or GF) for your walnuts!

Now: Nose oil! Ah-ha!

I tell ya, boys, we gun owners have the most creative minds out there!

 

[Muley Gil]

Nose oil!

That's also an old fisherman's tip. When you are putting your two piece rod together, rub the male end on the side of your nose before putting it together.

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by Onomea:
Pantyhose (after removing your wife or GF) for your walnuts!

Hey, thats my line! And the truth is it can be more fun if you don't, but only if she's willing.

The nose oil trick is also used frequently in photograph printing. If you've got scratches on the negative (usually B&W), it will fill them enough so they won't print on the enlargement.

And another use is on rocks (where's GLL when we need him?) Some gemstones in the rough show no color at all when dry. Water works, but tends to evaporate. Rockhounds have learned that nose oil brings out the color if there is any. Particularly with opal. It can also make the banding in agate show up.

 

[Onomea]

Originally posted by rburg:

Hey, thats my line!

Actually, Dick, I think every one of those tips -- with the exception of the nose oil (kudos to clang444!) -- are your lines. Re the "more fun" approach: Okay, you first! Let us know how it goes!

 

[Deathompson]

Originally posted by Onomea:
Nose oil!

Man, I love the tips we get here! Hot needles and burning hair smell to ID ivory! Dentists and fake tooth ceramic for your pearls! Baby oil for your ivories! Pantyhose (after removing your wife or GF) for your walnuts!

Now: Nose oil! Ah-ha!

I tell ya, boys, we gun owners have the most creative minds out there!

The hot needle is not for the smell... Plastic/polymer will melt ivory will not.

Here is a link they tell it better than I.

Ivory Test

 

[Onomea]

Good link there, Deathompson. Thanks! (It does smell like burnt hair tho, in addition to not melting! I like ivory a lot.)