I have several pairs of micarta single action grips that I would like to "age" ...... a "aged" ivory appearance. I've previously seen instructions on the aging process using coffee as a stain, but can't find that rreference anymore.

Any help would be appreciated.

Dan

You can also use tea. I just dropped the grips in the tea, and experimented for longer times (eventually overnite) until they looked good. Unfortunately unless they are real ivory or true ivory micarta they may not take any stain or "aging" treatment well, meaning they may not darken. When mine (ivory polymer)were done, the stain didn't penetrate, (even tried leather dye) and after some handling they were about the same as before they were done. The true ivory micarta grips are about $65. They age beautifully, even without help.

I've been trying to find something that works well for a long time. I've tried tea, I've tried tumeric, I've tried wood stain. But tonight I hit on the right stuff! I used Fiebing's Professional Oil Dye, Light Brown. I use this for dying leather (I'm into holster making). I put some on a pair of Ajax fake ivory grips, let it set for about 30 minutes and then wiped them down good. I was surprised how little came off. They now have a nice yellow color, and look very close to the old ivory grips in the book "Packing Iron - Gunleather of the Frontier West". I also tried it on a pair of plastic pearlite grips. I used just a little and wiped it off after only about 2 minutes because I didn't really want to yellow the pearlite - just wanted to tone down the stark white "fake plastic" look a bit. They look terrific. Time will tell if the finish will wear off from handling, but right now I can rub like **** with a cotton cloth and not remove any more color.

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the help. One of the micarta grips are custom made for my revolver and cost $200 and the other pair has $180 worth of scrimshaw work, but both have a very white appearance that distracts. I've always admired the "aged: grips on John Wayne's revolver......do you suppose he could have afforded the real thing?

The artist that did the scrimshaw warned me to take the grips off when I cleaned the gun since petroleum based products could remove the permanent ink. So I'll try tea on those grips and see if I can find some of the leather stain referenced for the other pair.

Thanks again,

Dan

I emailed the artist that did the scrimming and asked about aging the grips after scrimshaw was applied.

Their web site "http://www.pistolgrips.com/index.html" used to contain information for aging grips, but it is no longer posted. Her response explains why. By the way, they do outstanding work.

"Unfortunately if you try to do anything to the grips after they have been scrimmed you will ruin the artwork. Whatever you put on the grips will go into the etching and basically it will be a mess. My advice is love them as they are. (Have a look at the Scrimshaw info page on the site. Click SCRIMSHAW GALLERY, then you'll see the link for the INFO page. CAre instructions are there. You will also have had a care card in with the grips when you got them.)

Otherwise the best thing on those older bonded bone grips is to use leather dye. Tea is the WORST and takes forever. The problem with tea is that you have to soak them for a long time and it is absorbed unevenly. We don't even have the old bonded material any more. Discont by mfg. New material can't be aged so we took the instructions off the site as it caused problems with people wanting to try to age the new materials."

Dan

I'm being a smart donkey here. Tongue firmly in my cheek

Find some oak kegs, put the grips in the kegs and store them in a dark place for 3 to 12 years.
Works on wine and bourbon?
Jim

I'm being a smart donkey here. Tongue firmly in my cheek

Find some oak kegs, put the grips in the kegs and store them in a dark place for 3 to 12 years.
Works on wine and bourbon?
Jim



Sounds about a good as using tea.....but at my age, 3 to 12 years would be pushing it.

Dan

DOK, if they are true Ivory Micart instead of Ivory polymer, just being exposed to sunlight will darken and yellow them. You can experiment with the back side to see if it's practical. Ivory Micarta was dropped from production a number of years ago, and Ivory polymer was all that was available. However I believe that ivory Micarta is again being made. A buddy mentioned it, then I saw some grips in the brownells catalog recently. I may be out of date or mistaken, but I believe it is available again. I have a Randall knife with an Ivory Micarta handle and over the last 20 some years of being carried and used it has turned a very nice yellow/orange like aged Ivory. Has the grain like Elephant Ivory as well. Luck with the grips Dok, Scrimshaw looks nice on grips

DOK, if they are true Ivory Micart instead of Ivory polymer, just being exposed to sunlight will darken and yellow them. You can experiment with the back side to see if it's practical. Ivory Micarta was dropped from production a number of years ago, and Ivory polymer was all that was available. However I believe that ivory Micarta is again being made. A buddy mentioned it, then I saw some grips in the brownells catalog recently. I may be out of date or mistaken, but I believe it is available again. I have a Randall knife with an Ivory Micarta handle and over the last 20 some years of being carried and used it has turned a very nice yellow/orange like aged Ivory. Has the grain like Elephant Ivory as well. Luck with the grips Dok, Scrimshaw looks nice on grips

Malamute,

Appreciate the info and suspect I should contact Blu Magnum (who produced the grips for me) and find out just what the material really is. He lists it as Micarta, but as you indicated, it could be something a little different.

Dan

[ I have used tea coffee and wine and various combinations. Test and mix and good luck