Author Topic: yellow micarta grips?? (Read 1758 times)

sureshot2040 · « **on:** August 30, 2005, 12:38:23 AM »

anyone have any experience with these??
im thinking abt buying a set and for 100 bucks i want to know all i can abt em
good/bad??
thanks,
sureshot

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2005, 08:27:04 AM »

I think it was General Patton who said that only a New Orleans pimp would carry a gun with mother of pearl grips (maybe it was ivory) and I'd guess he'd say about the same for any type of yellow grips as well! :grin:

sureshot2040 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2005, 11:41:31 AM »

he said that abt mother of pearl
he carried a colt saa with ivories on it
john wayne carried a yellowed ivory gripped colt saa
and anyone who told me something like that abt my shooter might had better have a shooter in their hand and be very proficient with it :wink:
theres a reason they call me: " sureshot"

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2005, 02:22:01 PM »

Go here first. http://www.truivory.com/

The micarta that yellowed with age like ivory was white linen micarta. It was only available from a single processor of phenolic resins in the 1970's and 80's and they went out of business a number of years ago. A good number of grip (and knife) makers are still crying. No other company was ever able to duplicate it for anywhere near a reasonable price. None of the other phenolics were as durable or "aged". Cost, color and durability; those are the reasons everyone is looking more to the polymers.

sureshot2040 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2005, 03:00:50 PM »

i found a pard that has some old westinghouse micarta and some aged yellow micarta
he wants 100 bucks for a set of the aged yellow stuff
may give him a try
sureshot

6Shooter · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2005, 10:11:08 AM »

My father has a Colt SAA pre-war with real ivory grips. The grips are about 100 years old now I guess.

Shorty · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2005, 07:09:29 AM »

Just FYI, real elephant ivory is white when new and only turns yellow when stored out of natural light. That old gun with yellowed grips was kept in a drawer or closet for some time. A new gun with yellow grips may look old, but also an unused old. :wink:

armory414 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2005, 02:34:57 AM »

IF you want it for looks, then great. But I don't like the way they handle--too slippery in the hand, so I went back to wood. If you go that way, you might want to have them checkered for better purchase when handling them.

sureshot2040 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2005, 11:05:14 AM »

hey armory
you dont happen to still have that pair laying around do ya/?
let me know
thanks,
sureshot

targetshootr · « **Reply #9 on:** September 22, 2005, 12:56:26 PM »

The white linen micarta is still available but I didn't know the color turned with age. I bought a sheet from a place called Sheffield (I think) but the guy who made the grips had to glue 2 pieces together to get enough thickness. They look nice and appear seamless and replaced the yellow micarta that came with the gun that I wasn't too crazy about.

sureshot2040 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2005, 10:58:49 AM »

targetshooter
what gun did you have those grips made for??
do you still have the yellow micarta grips/?
sureshot

targetshootr · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2005, 12:11:14 PM »

They were on a #5 grip frame made by Clements Custom Guns which is the only thing they'll fit.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2005, 03:12:35 AM »

All Micarta falls into two catagories, UV stabilized and non UV stabilized. Most older Micarta will age when exposed to a UV source like the sun or a UV light. I have "aged" or yellowed white line Micarta grip panels by placing it under a garden variety black light for two weeks. I would check it regularly as intensity of bulbs vary.
UV stabilized Micarta is impervious to oil, stains, and pigments and will not yellow or change in exposure to UV. What you see is what you get.