Scrimshaw: Colt 1911 Grips, ivory.

[John B.]

Thanks for this setup, Sam.
Here are a set of Colt 1911 pre ban ivory grips.
These are done in a heavy scrim style to give some wear.
For Elephant ivory these were exceptionally hard and most of the cutting was done with a cobalt 90 degree hand pushed graver.
Best.

 

[Peter E]

VERY nice John. Would you know if Colt 1911 grips fit a Gold Cup 80 Series MKIV?

The scrim looks great.

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

They are looking very nice John, don't understand how they can be that hard?
I though ivory always cut more easy than metal. isn't it?

arnaud

 

[fegarex]

Very nice John!
You are a man of many talents!
Rex

 

[John B.]

Peter, I believe 1911 grips will fit it OK but check with the grip maker to be sure.
I have done several sets for Gold Cups and the also fit a standard 1911.

Arnaud, they are only hard when compared to the usual ivory I cut.
Nowhere near as hard as metal but harder than most ivory is expected to be.

Thanks Mr. Rex, You're the guy of many talents. I wouldn’t want to take on the NACAR trophies you engrave, and on short notice.
Besides that......you keep us all in line!

Best.

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Beautiful work John. You are multi talented.

 

[John B.]

Thanks Mike.
But talking multi talented you are way ahead with all the things you do in your jewelry making.
To say nothing of your cooking and talent as a maker of great wine and salami.
Best.

 

[JBrandvik]

Beautiful grips, John. It makes me wonder if there is anything you aren't good at!
Best,

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi John

Great looking grips!!!

And yes, John has forgotten more than most of us will ever remember. Multi talented alright!!

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Leonardo]

Hey John I like that grips very much!
Have you made the grips also?
By the way, my Colt .45 Auto used to broke the left grip around the bottom screw. It happened three or four times until I bought a pair of nice Hogue ones.
Kind regards,
Leonardo.

 

[Ron Smith]

I don't think there is a much better reward than being a good teacher, and John is just that, as well as being a great artist of many skills and much knowledge.

Lettering is not so easy for a lot of engravers, but the grips are beautiful John.

For those who have not tried to "engrave" ivory as of yet, it is a tricky substance, grainy, chipy, and slick in some cases, and it is a different game than engraving metal.
Bravo John!

Ron S

 

[monk]

john: the 1911 in dark black finish, with those grips ---- wow !

peter E : maybe 40 or so years ago i owned a gold cup "national match". that particular one would take the 1911 grip panels.

 

[Titian]

I love scrimshaw and Colt 1911 very much.

 

[Montejano]

Friend John :

The engraving on the ivory is very beautiful.

My congratulations and thanks for showing it.

a hug

Antonio

 

[John B.]

Thanks to all for looking and the kind words.

Leonardo, sorry to hear of your grip cracking problem.
If the grips don't fit perfectly on center to the grip screw bushings that can happen.
Especially on ivory or pearl or any other brittle material. Depending on the grain structure, wood will crack too.
I have made a lot if ivory 1911 and SAA grips in the past but didn't make this set.
They were the customers grips and a rather strange, hard ivory.

Best regards to all.