Mammoth Ivory Grips
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This mammoth ivory tusk is over 15,000 years old and came
directly from Siberia.
I brought this 105 pound tusk back to Springfield in
October of 2004 and began to cut it to make grips for single action six-shooters.
Unlike the mammoth ivory we get in Alaska which has been exposed to moisture
and the elements, thus cracked, this tusk was frozen solid in the permafrost
of Siberia and is as solid as elephant ivory but with the beautiful colors
of the earth as is classic in mammoth tusk.
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During the Pleistocene Epoch (1.6 million to 10,000 years ago), mammoths could be found in grassland habitats throughout the northern hemisphere. From their Eurasian homeland they entered North America early in the Pleistocene by way of the Bering land bridge. Paleontologists have learned a great deal about these ancient elephants by studying their bones and teeth. In addition, the discovery of complete frozen mammoths in Siberia have given scientists the extraordinary opportunity to study the actual soft tissues of these extinct animals. And finally, Cro-Magnon humans have left us a kind of prehistoric field guide to mammoths in the dramatic cave paintings found on the walls of some western European dry caves. |
| This tusk measured 8 1/2 feet on the curve, was 18 inches around the base and 14 inches around the tip. It didn't cut as easily as we anticipated. I have cut mammoth from Alaska but this ivory from Russia was much more solid and larger than anything I had cut before. My grip maker, Bill Murrell, and I started on the band saw but ended up cutting the tusk with a skill saw and then a hand saw for the finale cut. |  |
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Mammoth ivory is much harder than elephant ivory but
has the same general structure as elephant tusk. It has the long grain
pattern along the tusk and the herring bone criss-cross pattern on the
cross cut as does modern elephant.
The color of mammoth runs from a rich cream color to a red/brown on the outside "bark" of the tusk with an occasional green or blue where influenced by metallic minerals. In the siberian ivories, the permafrost has changed some of the structure of the ivory through the freezing process. There are areas in the tusk, mostly in the center, that have an opaque or opalescence appearance. |
| It hurt me in my soul to make the first cut in this beautiful
tusk. I would have liked to set it in my shop and just watch it's effect
on all who came near. To put your hands on a piece of ancient tusk from
such a powerful animal
gives one a thrill. But, as my wife (who is my accountant) tells me again and again, this is a business! We made the first cuts and just a few days later we had the first complete grips to show. |
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Once cut and polished the color in the ivory jumps out at you. Mammoth Ivory is, by far, the most beautiful ivory of all with it's rich colors and character. It will run from a pure white to cream to the brown and reds seen here with the green and blues streaking through the cracks. |
| The grip to the right is as white as elephant ivory but, with the hardness of 15,000 years, it will take and hold a much higher polish. It is perfect for scrimshaw and will take a very fine engraving because of it's hardness. I will, on occasion, have scrimshawed ivory grips for sale or can have custom scrimshaw done for you. | 
White to Cream Grip |
High Grain Grip |
Please keep in mind that these grips are a natural product that we have cut and shaped from a fossilized tusk. Each and every piece is different and yet perfect in it's own unique way. No two grips are alike, even those in a pair. There will be a difference in color and grain and cracks are a part of the beast. The natural cracks in the ivory have let the color seep into the tusk and is a great part if the natural beauty. Cracks are sealed, if they need to be, and are guaranteed not to split. After all, it has lasted pretty well for the last 15,000 years- what are you going to do to hurt them. |
| Cost of the Grips
We will be cutting grips for the Ruger Vaquero as so many of us own one or more. Vaquero grips vary in size very little and can be sold "off the shelf". I will have them in my showcase at shows as I travel around the country at Cowboy Shoots and also here in my shop to ship to you when you call. The Ruger grips will cost $350 for the white to cream colors and up to $450 for grips with the most color and character. Grips for all other guns will have to be made on the frame of that gun as frames vary in size for every gun, even of the same brand and year, like Colts and all the clones. Most single actions will run about $50 more per gun to custom fit to that frame. Please call for availability, price and turn around time. Keep in mind that I am on the road often at shoots around the country. (See my shows page.) If you e-mail or call and don't hear from me for a week or two, I will contact you when I return from my trip. |
Grip from the Mammoth Bark |
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Scrimshaw
Scrimshaw has always had a special place on custom ivory gun grips and "Dance Hall Girls" have always held a special place in the hearts of cowboys. Howard Thomas, a scrimshander from Fort Wayne IN, has combined the two, in fine detail, in his series "Ladies of the cowboy night". Each engraving is a unique, hand done, collector piece. Howard does only one grip a month for the series, never repeating a "Lady". These grips are available on the finest cream colored Mammoth Ivory, scrimed on one side of the grip pair, sized for the ruger vaquero and will cost $650. Grips for other guns, colts and the clones, need to be made on the frame and then sent to Howard to scrim. Typically the hand fitted grips are $50 extra, please call for a firm price. |
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