The bolt handle on my CZ 550 Safari Mag. is begging for a piece of ivory to fit into the bolt handle. Is this legal and where can a guy get something like this for the hole in the bolt?

I made a wood plug to fit my Brno ZKK 602 that I took on my first trip to Zimbabwe. The wood was a scrap I picked up in Zim. I then checkered the wood plug, then I drilled a 3/16" hole in the center of the plug and inserted a turned piece of Warthog Ivory I had shot on that first trip. Looks rather neat if I do say so myself.

If the ivory is legally in this country, it is legal to use. As to where to get it...do a search of knifemaking supplies. I believe there is a site called AJH knives or something like that, that lists all the custom knifemaking suppliers. Someone on one of those sites should carry some ivory.
Second, contact a custom pistol grip maker..collinscraft is one that comes to mind, as he does do custom ivory grips. There is also Eagle grips, and a person who used to advertise in the GUN LIST, or whatever it is called now, that made custom ivory grips. One of these people may have a scrap piece big enough to fill the hole. Someplace I used to have a website written down that dealt with all sorts of ivory: mammoth, elephant, walrus, warthog, etc. for custom knives. If I can find or remember it I will post it here. Hope this helped.

Boone Trading Co.

These folks might work for ya...

A nice piece of warthog tusk is ivory and will not yellow like some other ivories and is completely legal and can be had from a bottle opener trinket and ....

Brent

quote:

Originally posted by Brent:
A nice piece of warthog tusk is ivory and will not yellow like some other ivories and is completely legal and can be had from a bottle opener trinket and ....

Brent

Brent, I'm thinkin' your bucket's leakin' a little!

Thanks gentlemen, for the advice.

I'm really curious as to what is wrong with warthog tusks as an ivory source. Last time I was in Zim the curio shops in Bulawayo were full of cheap trinkets such as bottle openers with warthog ivory handles. In fact our camp cook had some nice ones for sale for a couple of bucks. It does not yellow as does some other ivories so I've read. I think Taylor preferred it for front sights.

Peg,
My bucket ain't leakin' so much as I just don't have a lot of time for complex stories. Zim is right. It's superiour stuff, preferred for front beads and other purposes. A $3 bottle opener will provide you all you need.

Brent

How about Tagua nut or giraffee bone instead. here's a pic of one.

Nice looking watch, what kind is it?

Mike

It's a Tutima Titanium Air Force Nato Chronograph.
Lemania 5100 movement.

Rich

better pic.
http://home.pipeline.com/%7Eshootz/tutima/tutima-alb-cr-1.jpg

A medium-sized warthog tusk is only a few bucks at a knifle-maker's supply house. I bought one once to make a pacifier handle for a friend's new-born son to start him out right. Unfortunately, his wife was not cooperating. I think Jeffe has it now.

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
The bolt handle on my CZ 550 Safari Mag. is begging for a piece of ivory to fit into the bolt handle. Is this legal and where can a guy get something like this for the hole in the bolt?

Yes it's legal and I've learned that almost anything can be found on ebay.....even mammoth tusks and kudu horns and Ivory

The only experience I have is with a piece of Ivory inletted into a skelton grip cap. It shrunk!

Pegleg,

Ivory was used on lots of guns 30 to 40 years ago. I have used it in bolt handles, inlays for the grip caps, inlays in the bottom of the forearm, and made pistol grips. I never liked to work with ivory because of the smell. It will make my gag when I get a good sniff. When using ivory always cut a groove into the edges so glue has a place to lock into the ivory below the show line. I never had one to come out.

Send me a PM