The Low-down on Ivory Grips

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ilikeoldguns

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My dad has a Ruger Vaquero; which I believe is of the later manufacture (Post-50-###XX serial number, 1/2" back-strap). He is interested in getting some alternate grips for it in Ivory. But everywhere we has]ve looked online only has simulated polymer. What's the deal with that? Is real Ivory unobtainium? Verboeten?

IS the polymer any good? The reviews I am saying say it feels like cheap crap.

Thanks for your time.
 
Ivory can be legally obtained and traded. It just has to have been harvested and imported to canada prior to 1990. Real pain in the ass to prove but I've never had any sort of inspector ask for documentation.

Source: I sell antiques for a living. Sometimes they are made of ivory.
 
I had a set of fake ivory colt 1911's one for a few years, felt fine, but on a service gun a bit too smooth.
But it was on a " display" gun versa my shooter.
real ivory will cost more then the gun is worth these days.
Put a ad in the EE guns parts and see, maybe some one has a set kicking around.
I seem to remember ruger blackhawks with "ivory" grips years ago.
You know to tell the difference between real and fake?, with a hot pin.
 
Altamont Grips is another choice. Very reasonably priced. The company features a variety of grips for Ruger revolvers.
 
I shot my Buddy's Ruger SA with Bisley "ivory" grips. They looked really nice and felt great but a little slick in the hands.
That said....I'm partial to my "stag" grips for both looks and feel.
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Ivory is verboten these days. Unless it’s existing material in the country since the last century, it’s VERY illegal to possess. Mammoth ivory is available fairly easily, has much more character I think, and makes beautiful grips. I’m a long time knife collector, and have several knives with Mammoth scales on them, beautiful stuff
 
Well you won't get it from the US, Obama made all trade in ivory across state lines illegal - now no one in the US can/will do ivory grips. It's currently illegal for ivory to travel within the US let alone across the international border.

It's so bad that i'm told 100+ year ivory bead front sights are getting guys in trouble...
The fellow i spoke with referred to an 1880's winchester 1876...
 
FranksPop said:
Ivory is verboten these days. Unless it’s existing material in the country since the last century, it’s VERY illegal to possess. Mammoth ivory is available fairly easily, has much more character I think, and makes beautiful grips. I’m a long time knife collector, and have several knives with Mammoth scales on them, beautiful stuff
Click to expand...

Not true you can hunt numerous species that have ivory and still import it into Canada, just need to do the paperwork. Any legal hunted animal can be imported to Canada.
 
Hmmm, Okay; so what does one look for in good, simulated Ivory grips then? Are you looking for weight, texture, some other feel, so to speak? What appearance is appealing/not?

I'm certain he'd want them to *look* real and for the weight and feel to be "right".

Thanks for the great replies so far.
 
The US has been like that for years, I collect Stanley tools, had a couple ivory / silver rules, 1890's, 20yrs ago ,I could not sell those to US.
The same thing now with Rosewood on tools, sometimes it will ,make it down, other times it is sized and destroyed, so I am told by dealers, I don't sell into the US.
I have seen Mam. ivory used by knife makers, nice, don't have a clue on price.
 
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