Need help finding large bone scales

M

Maverick44

Joined
May 18, 2016
Messages
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Howdy folks, sorry if this doesn't belong here but I didn't know of a better place to ask. I have a customer who wants a set of grips for his revolver. He's not too picky about what type of bone he wants, but I'm having trouble finding anything. The grips need to be at least 4.5"x3.25"x1". I've looked at giraffe, camel, buffalo, and even cow. I see revolver grips made out of bone all the time, where are those makers getting their supplies?
 
Don Hanson III said:
I have never seen a set of bone scales that wide (3.25")? Is it an extra large revolver?
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It's a Uberti reproduction of a Colt 1872 Army Conversion "Open Top".

CA916-OpenTopArmy-7-45LC-RT-Horiz_1.jpg
 
No larger than a Colt 45 I guess. I used to cut walnut scales for Colt grip and I don't remember cutting them that wide. But I don't know the size as it was years ago. Maybe some one else with chime in and be more helpful.
 
You may be able to get some large enough pieces at an pet store. I have cut and prepared scales from these stores in the past.
Frank
 
Contact Culpeper or one of the giraffe bone scales people. They can cut you a set of large scales.


It has been a while since I bought one, but I used to get whole giraffe leg bones on eBay.

If you want to process your own white bone, go to a butcher shop or meat packer. They can even cut the bone into sections for you.
After cleaning, degreasing, and drying the bone, have it stabilized.
 
I'll bet your customer thinks "bone" is stag (antler.)
Better check with him to see.
 
Stag is not off the table, but I know how much that stuff costs....

He specifically mentioned Giraffe, Camel, and Buffalo. I don't think he was too into the cow even know he mentioned it too. He wanted something a little denser. I did find a big piece of Giraffe bone on ebay that might be just big enough. It's not cheap, but he may go for it.

Thanks fellas.
 
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He went for the Giraffe Bone, so I bought a 13.5" section of leg bone off fleebay. The narrow end looks to be 3" wide at least, and the end with the joint is a bit wider than that. :D
 
Giraffe bone is a good material for your task. One caveat is to wash the bone and disinfect it well, and wash your hands well after cutting and sanding it. It is often covered with staph bacteria from natural decay of the animal.

After cutting it into oversize and flattened blanks, have the pieces stabilized.
 
I haven't done any cutting yet, but this stuff seems pretty dense as it is. What will stabilizing it do? What should I stabilize it with? Thin CA glue?

I'll be sure to give it a good cleaning. :)
 
Stabilizing bone will make it polish shinier and fill the pores to prevent polish, sweat, and dirt from staining the bone handles.

Professional stabilizing on bone is usually just a very thin CA. If you rough shape the handles and soak/flood with CA, that will do a similar thing. Let dry overnight, sand down some more, repeat. After about three or four of these soaks, the surface pores should be filled. Finish sanding to the final shape, and if desired, give one last coat then sand that away.
 
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Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Stabilizing bone will make it polish shinier and fill the pores to prevent polish, sweat, and dirt from staining the bone handles.

Professional stabilizing on bone is usually just a very thin CSA. If you rough shape the handles and soak/flood with CA that will o a similar ring. Let dry overnight, sand down some more, repeat. After about three or four of these soaks, the surface pores should be filled. Finish sanding to the final shape, and if desired, give one last coat then sand that away.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try. :)
 
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