Ordered a pair of very good condition original Ruger Single Six grips today.
They look pretty much unused, but the photos aren't that great. The medallions are intact, which is a big plus.
My grip frame is a XR3 RED but I don't think its original to my Single Six. Could be a transitional model.

I came close to getting a set of Buffalo horn grips, They were on sale fairly cheap, but I just don't much care for black grips on a revolver.
The grips of my FN 1922 are made from steamed and pressure molded Goat's horn. They didn't have any sturdy plastics in those days.

 

Picked up a set of vintage Dan Chesiak elephant ivories. He’s the one that made them for the Colt custom shop decades ago. The seller didn’t know what he had and I scored.

 

How does one know/prove that their ivory is legally obtained?

 

I will just say they are pre-ban grips, because they are bud.


Btw all, had the 19 yr old Thunder Ranch out. Pics don’t really show, but all controls are an amazing plum patina.

Les Baer in 45 acp, as God intended:

 

I've been wondering about possible conversion kits for the 1911 to allow one to switch out chamberings , say from standard .45 ACP to .38 Super or 9mm and back again.
I know my Browning designed . 380 FN 1922 can be converted to .32 ACP by simply replacing the barrel, in this case the magazines are basically the same for these calibers other than the number of witness holes.
Just academic of course. Though in some countries military style weapons in firing condition can only be kept by civilians if chambered for a cartridge not in use by a modern military.

 

@Professor I’ve seen many 38 Super/9mm conversions using only a barrel change, same with 10mm/40sw . I can’t recall a 45acp with anything other than 400 Corbon. I think it has to do with diameter of barrels with the slide internal size. I know if one could do it without a slide change, it would have been done. I don’t know if any platform has as much customization available the 1911 has.

 

Recently finished building a DD Mk18 pistol

 

Oh my! Those are gorgeous!

 

Easy, when you deal with a reputable dealer that ONLY deals in pre-ban or mastodone ivory he has a reputation as such and will stamp his mark on the back of the grips. Mine are from Boone Trading, a well known "Legal" dealer of pre-ban or Mastodon ivory. Thanks to Obama, Mastodon is the only ivory that can be sold across state lines. You can still sell pre-ban all day long within your state or out of state if it's attached to the gun when sold. Mastodon can still be shipped state wide. The Schreger lines can prove if it's Mastodon from what I've read. I'm sure this mandate is surly saving 1000's of already dead elephants. This is for those that don't live in the US or just don't know the legalities today, I am not an attorney, but only want to be in compliance with the law.

 

One of my High School teachers was the daughter of Missionaries and had lived in pre WW2 China when young.
One day she brought a collection of art objects given to her family by wealthy Chinese patrons.
Among these was a large ball of Ivory which had been hand carved into many nested open work balls from a single piece. I think it had some astronomical significance, the orbits of planets perhaps.

 

I do like the look of ivories.

 

38 Super can also be converted to 38 Special with a Colt drop in kit. This is a Jim Rose Custom.

 

Yeah that's the key. If its an integral part...ie part of something larger or can't be used without it...so grips qualify and things like a cane with an ivory head. Had to figure this out myself as I have a number of antique ivory bits, but can still be tricky so basically outside of firearm grips I'm not selling anything...its too easy to trip over these regulations.

 

Not in hand yet, but those ivories will be installed on this Guncrafter 45acp I have incoming. Turnbull blue with dlc barrel.

 

Awright! Got it back together, finally....Win 1873 in 38-40 from 1882(137yrs young!). Functionally perfect...very little wear anywhere. I polished the sear and hammer notches, and threw some oil in, that's it. The unfortunate thing with antique levers is that the muzzle crowns are usually toast from cleaning...as is this one. I have to look at counterboring as the wear goes in about 1/2 inch into bore before normal dimensions are found. Anyway, though, can't wait to shoot it....

 

That's an early .38-40. Will be fun to read of the shooting results.

 

Liked only because there's no LOVE button! 45acp no name slide, I would love to have a Guncrafters one day in their 50cal, as useless as it may be. lol
I do have this that may interest some.
Colt Wiley Clapp 45acp Commander Lightweight. Everything you need, nothing you don't.

 

@03Hemi very nice. I want a WClapp, in 45 ltw like yours.

 

I've played with the idea of picking up a Wiley Clapp on a few occasions. I just haven't seemed to find the space for one yet.