does mammoth tooth ivory also work for gun grips?

S

steviesterno

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Aug 27, 2012
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hey all,

not sure if this is the best place to share. I've been trying to convince my knife maker buddy to get into 1911 grips for a while now, but his knife business is keeping him way too busy. He's been working on a cool technique to stabilize mammoth tooth ivory much the same way as stabilized wood, so it's less brittle, easier to work with, and should hold up to every day carry and use.

The work turned out beautifully! he's got a bunch of pieces right now more than big enough to make full size 1911 grips, officer grips, and probably for high powers or CZs.

I really want a set for a full size and an officers 1911, but i'm not sure they would hold up to use and edc carry. I know they make great handles for knives that spend most of their time in the kitchen, but would a fancy material hold up to light-moderate duty edc? I want something different than the "tacticool" colors that are all the rage these days.


I'm leaning towards set number 118 or 119 here at this link :
http://hhhcustomknives.com/product-c...rby=price-desc
 
I think they would fare ok but personally I wouldn't put ivory on a duty weapon if I thought it would get dropped or tossed around much
its just not going to be appropriate IMO. You also need some pretty big slabs.
 
I'd be afraid of it chipping or cracking if dropped given the weight of a 1911.
 
Not a chance unless it's just for show. I've a number of grips for my 1911 but mostly use rubber. Great grip and almost indestructible.

IMO asking this question is like asking if mammoth handles would work on a bush crafter knife? They would look nice but you would not take such a knife into the field.

The OP looks a bit like an ad for the site link?

Mike
 
skyhorse said:
I'd be afraid of it chipping or cracking if dropped given the weight of a 1911.
Click to expand...
do you think it would matter that I'm leaning towards a light weight CCO sized 1911? looking at the sprig field RO compact.


I've tried rubber grips and it aggravates my "tactical recoil absorption pouch" too much, and g10 rips up my skin. I thought something natural might be nice. I like wood, but with open carry coming to Texas this winter, it might be nice to have a little something to show if I decide to carry outside the waste band.

Might be a good way to dray attention I don't want though :/
 
Its your gun.
If its tough enough for a knife, it should be tough enough for a 1911.

Its your gun, if thats what you want, do it, should look cool.
Wont be anymore slick than nice smooth wood grips.

I'd carry it, my guns for me, not for somone else to approve of, besides odds are if someone sees it it wont be from an angle where the grips will be visable, and that wont be what they are gonna focus on.
 
I would not recommend mammoth tooth for gun grips or knife handles. I carve mammoth teeth and have had knives with tooth handles. It is a beautiful material but it will not hold up to hard use. It does not have a grain. On the other hand mammoth ivory that is properly cured and applied will last for ever. I have sold over 30 tons of tusks and ivory in the last 30 years. I have a knife with mammorh ivory handles that has butchered 25 moose and is still in excellent condition.
 
I don't know anything about mammoth tooth, but if all you want is pretty, natural grips that aren't rubber or G10, I like stag.
I had these grips custom made for my 1911 and Python from Grashorn Gunworks:


From grashornsgunworks.com (not affiliated with the maker, just a happy customer. Mods feel free to remove link if not allowed.
 
No it wont work and neither will mammoth ivory unless you use them for show. They crack when being fired. I change my grips when shooting them or you will waste a lot of money. KT
 
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