I've got one 83 in 475 and one in 454.

How will ivory grips hold up on these heavy-hitters, or does recoil really matter?

I would think as long as you don't rest the grip on a hard surface and that they are fitted correctly they will last. But ivory is prone to splitting with age from what I've been told.

I would not put real ivory on a heavy kicker. Chances are you will break them.

I have had Ivory Stabilized when I was still making knives.Other wise it is prone to crack.

I remember reading an article many years ago on the subject. I belive the method was to soak the Ivory in a fiber glass resin first, or something similar to that.
You might check with John Linebaugh to see who he uses for his grips.

quote:

Originally posted by Lar45:
I remember reading an article many years ago on the subject. I belive the method was to soak the Ivory in a fiber glass resin first, or something similar to that.
You might check with John Linebaugh to see who he uses for his grips.

Yes some do it under pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by Lar45:
... might check with John Linebaugh to see who he uses for his grips.

I noticed that he had put ivory on a 500, but maybe the ivory micarta would be a safer bet.

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
I have had Ivory Stabilized when I was still making knives.

Did you "stabilize" it yourself, or have someone do it for you?

Isn't Mastadon ivory is "stabilized" in some capacity?

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
I've got one 83 in 475 and one in 454.

How will ivory grips hold up on these heavy-hitters, or does recoil really matter?

I had the exact same question Chris. I'm thinking of getting an 83 in 454 and wanted to put Ivory on it.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
I had the exact same question Chris. I'm thinking of getting an 83 in 454 and wanted to put Ivory on it.

I think I'll give it a try, but also talk to the grip maker to see what he says.

Let me know if you're interested, and I'll send you some pictures of my 454. It's a 6" premier with Express Sights, replacable forcing cone, and it has the ivory micarta grips from FA. Like all of them, it shoots great. It and the 475 are practially the same configuration, and I don't really need one of each.

John Linebaugh is doing his own wood grips once again but he still uses his son Dustin for the ivory and possibly ivory micarta grips. Dustin will be putting ivory grips on a 500 Linebaugh he is working on for me. A lot of it is in how well the grip maker fits the grips to the frame. Guys like Dustin, Roy Fishpaw and Paul Persinger do such a fine job of fitting that I would not be concerned about ivory on a gun they stocked.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
I have had Ivory Stabilized when I was still making knives.

Did you "stabilize" it yourself, or have someone do it for you?

Isn't Mastodon ivory is "stabilized" in some capacity?

No I sent it out.

Mastodon gets saturated with different minerals that give it different coloration.It still is prone to splitting unless it was fossilized.

I have ivroy micarta on my .500 Linebaugh and .38-40 Linebaugh Custom revolvers. It's a good bit tougher than ivory and for my use is a better material.

I have ebony micarta on my FAs. Fell off a four-wheeler once and landed on my revolver. The grip panel was scratched, but Freedom was able to buff it out and it doesn't show.

Properly fitted ivory is pretty tough but if it were mine I'd switch the stocks if I was shooting the big guns much.

Dick