Where To Buy Custom Grips?
 

Anyone know of a good custom shop for grips? I'm thinking ivory grips with wired aces... now that I think of it, is the ivory trade still in tact or have they gone the way of dinosaurs?

I do beleive that there is a world wide ivory trade embargo (ahem, when I say world wide, I mean the western world) currently. I've seen some super mother-of-pearl ones. Have you checked the thread about "How's about nice grips"? I'm sure you have. Fwiw, there are some strong plastics out there that look like ivory. I think tango can help you with some napalm if you like the smell.

Natural elephant Ivory is still available, it just has to be "pre ban". I have a couple of slabs sitting on my dresser. I'm almost afraid to cut them after what I paid for them. There are alternatives however, if you don't want to pay the relatively high price for ivory. Camel bone resembles ivory, but you have to pick the scales carefully as it can range from all white to more of an aged look to a down right mastadon ivory look. Of course, there are a number of simulated ivory's out there.
There are a number of makers out there as well.
Hope this info helps, and good luck in your search!
Sarge

If you'd like to try local shops, they seem to have a good knowledge of where you can find the materials you need or sellers locally of grips. Its how I came upon mine.

I wonder how many skilled artisans that deal with such materials for the purpose of making pistol grips actually exist in the world?

PM Sarge43.

http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f57/how-about-nice-grips-thread-10387/

So how much does pre-ban ivory go for these days?

I found some 1/4" scales that were just big enough to use for a set of grips and make them fit the frame well, and they were $165 raw. They are beautiful, but geeze, I'm almost afraid to cut into them. :rolleyes: Most natural Ivory grips I've seen are $250 and up. There are also at least 3 different grades of Ivory. From consistent and "clean" down to colored and fissured. Obviously, the quality stuff is the most expensive.
There is a list of grip makers that work with natural Ivory on another board, but since it IS another board, I won't plaster it here. If someone is interested, just PM me and I'll give you the addy.
Sarge

Now, I've seen that thread with all the grips. Am I to understand that Sarge MADE all these??? OMG. You are brilliant!

He has a website that you can purchase them from.