Can you see this being a boot grip?

[45flint]

Just picked up these mammoth ivory scales to make some boot grips.  Love the way they look like a stag horn with bark.  These should be interesting.

[MR_22]

YES!

Very, very, VERY COOL!

[OV-1D]

 45 Flint those are going to be awesome ................... as usual . Just gotta see the end results . 

[45flint]

May try a build thread where I go step by step. (I'm on a guitar forum where guitar builders will do this) It's not hard to do just time consuming.  A lot of the work is done when you buy these raw knife scales.  One flat surface and you can kind of see what the surface will look like, but that can change as you work it down.  Part of the fun.  This might keep me modivated to do it!   Steve. 

By the way those scales cost me $60.  And for mammoth that really isn't bad.  Why it's hard to do these for sale: the materials cost more than most grips.  It may modivate one of you to make the grip of your dreams.   There is just something crazy cool about holding a piece of 40,000 year old Mammoth! And because of the mineral staining from being in the ground their is such a varity of affects and colors. 

[OV-1D]

 Hey there 45Flint if I may so bold to ask just who do you use for a supplier , the sites I've found are more expensive . Thanks , strictly for personal use mind ya . Would love to make a set of boots with those pieces .

[45flint]

http://www.fineturnage.com/shop/home.php?cat=256

Here is I think the best place I have found to get mammoth scales.  He is out of Texas, I found the scales I used on the grips now on my Sidewinder here.  What I like is he has great pictures and a lot of different price points.  Make sure you get the scales wide enough.  For boots I like to get 1 1/4 wide.  For regular size you can get away with less.  Be aware you will probably sand off a lot of the surface so what you see may only be a hint of what you end up with.  The Sidewinder scales really didn't look that great but I knew I would grind away the ungly surface.

[OV-1D]

  Many thanks 45Flint  I'm sure to use them . 

[OV-1D]

  Well thanks allot there 45Flint you just made me spend money , I bought the brown-blue cracked pairs , now I can't wait . Good site they have plenty to choose from . 

[45flint]

  Well thanks allot there 45Flint you just made me spend money , I bought the brown-blue cracked pairs , now I can't wait . Good site they have plenty to choose from . 

Cool, mammoth that is stained blue is more valuable and pretty!  His site show you the almost infinite variety of mammoth.

[OV-1D]

 Hey Steve I seen where your pair were listed looked for another similar but nothing close . I like the cracked pairs for they kinda adds character 1-1/16th one pair the other 1-1/8th should just about make it enough . I'm going to try and use excess material for between filler on boot style or a piece of elephant ivory . Boone Trading co. out of Washington State seems to have the elephant ivory wrapped up , can order whatever size you want along with other materials . Thanks again . 

[45flint]

I had marked 7 pairs a couple of days ago and started to go back and forth.  Was going to buy more than one and then chickened out!  I bought a set last year that isn't made yet. Now I have two. Getting lazy!

[OV-1D]

 Steve we think exactly the same and pretty much seem to do the same , ME TOO . HaHaHaHa . I have two sets of petrified wood going , forever, three blanks of some gorgeous exotic woods , have a set of elephant ivory on the way now these two sets of Mammoth ivory................. I was going to ask you to finish HaHaHa . And here I bought a set of Sambar and Mammoth from Chuck Spressor go figure . Ha . 

[Dinadan]

45flint - those are some interesting scales. I also think that there is something incredible about using ivory from an extinct animal that lived tens of thousands of years ago. Like when I pick up a flint shard that someone flaked off centuries or millennia in the past, and just hold it in my hand and wonder what that man's life was like, what he was doing the day that he scattered those shards. I am tempted to order some of that mammoth myself, I think I would feel the same way about it. I have made a few pair of grips, but I am not ready to start a new pair. BTW and off topic, but I really like those over size boot grips you had on the Sidewinder: however, I think they look better proportioned on the Earl.

[45flint]

Hey Steve I seen where your pair were listed looked for another similar but nothing close . I like the cracked pairs for they kinda adds character 1-1/16th one pair the other 1-1/8th should just about make it enough . I'm going to try and use excess material for between filler on boot style or a piece of elephant ivory . Boone Trading co. out of Washington State seems to have the elephant ivory wrapped up , can order whatever size you want along with other materials . Thanks again . 

I never really thought of a ivory filler or spacer.  Thanks for that thought.  Pieces of ivory thick enough are expensive, I looked at Boone Trading.  I bought some very solid moose antler over the summer may try that.  Any white antler will give a total Mammoth look.  Want to do something special here. 

Example of what a scale can look like when they arrive and then after they are finished. They can change a lot!

[OV-1D]

Doesn't it just kill ya to not be able to use every little piece of scrap , it's almost an injustice to the beast they came from but I guess they won't be using theirs (tusks & antlers) anymore . 

[45flint]

Doesn't it just kill ya to not be able to use every little piece of scrap , it's almost an injustice to the beast they came from but I guess they won't be using theirs (tusks & antlers) anymore . 

I still have the scraps from the above cuts,  be surprise how little was left.  Of course some ends up dust.  The absolute weirdest thing was cutting the scales on a jig saw and you can smell organic horn!  Its 40,000 years old, freaky.

[OV-1D]

  Hope you don't start some 40'000 year old epidemic and kill us all off .  Especially before I finish the dozens of sets I got planned .

[45flint]

They're home and very cool, ivory is glossy white and more will be exposed as I sand them down to shape.  Will be very similar to working the fiquire of horn bark.  As you can see I need every bit of the width to make boots.  Would love to be able to make the spacer from the scrapes but life usually is not that kind.

[OV-1D]

 You know what I've done in the past Steve is save the dust so you can make a thick filler paste and it works great for minor fill-ins . Either use clear two part epoxy or fiberglass resin , being the epoxy is easier to work with . I've sold the grips years back for larger calibers that I've done this with or I'd show you . Looks like you have enough to use for spacer material there though . Can't wait to see the finished product , good luck .

[Uncle_Lee]

They will be Outstanding....
As usual.
I wish I could make grips like that.
I can see things in my mind, but they won't come out through my fingers.....

[Bluelitenin]

45, What overall dimensions do I want. It looks like 3/8" thick is a minimum? is that correct. I have never attempted to
make any grips and this looks like something I would like to try.

[45flint]

45, What overall dimensions do I want. It looks like 3/8" thick is a minimum? is that correct. I have never attempted to
make any grips and this looks like something I would like to try.

As you are sensing, selection of scales is the most important step.  There is no set answer to thickness.   I try to shoot for 1/4 thick, but I have used 1/8 and maybe 3/8.  The trouble with too thick is you will end up sanding off a lot of surface, so all that nice staining and figure may be gone, and you have a nice white grip?   The one I got above is 1/4 thick, it is about ideal.  Some figure will be gone but lots will stay.   It is very helpful if the seller  gives you an end photo so you can see the texture.   You may think you want to err on the side of too thick?  That can be a mistake.  Also if you want boots 1 1/4 inch width minimum.  If you have any questions just ask, I have made all the mistakes and have a system pretty well down.  I was hoping this post would encourage others to give it a try, it's very satisfying.  I have made grips from raw horn, using knife scales saves you a lot of time and headache.

[Bluelitenin]

Just ordered three different scales. Cant wait to see them in person, and hope I have
the ambition to complete this project.

[45flint]

Just ordered three different scales. Cant wait to see them in person, and hope I have
the ambition to complete this project.

That's the other thing you need, as I sit here and look at my scales!!

[heyjoe]

  Hope you don't start some 40'000 year old epidemic and kill us all off .  Especially before I finish the dozens of sets I got planned .

ha ha

[Bluelitenin]

They arrived today and look very cool.

[OV-1D]

  Very nice choices Blue ............... now for the ambition just don't be in a hurry I have some aged walrus ivory for twelve odd years now , call me chicken 

[45flint]

Very nice, one at the far right looks very much like how my large Earl grip started.   Good luck.   Steve

[45flint]

Ok three of us with new mammoth scales.  First one to a finished grip is the winner.  I am still looking at mine!!  I need motivation!! Lol
Steve

[OV-1D]

45, What overall dimensions do I want. It looks like 3/8" thick is a minimum? is that correct. I have never attempted to
make any grips and this looks like something I would like to try.

I found it helpful to start on wood pieces till you start feeling the ropes to say . Some of these scales are quite expensive to make any mistakes with so wood is the best and cheapest to begin on . That's my opinion for what its worth .

[OV-1D]

Ok three of us with new mammoth scales.  First one to a finished grip is the winner.  I am still looking at mine!!  I need motivation!! Lol
Steve

I'm also a slow starter but once started I'll be done in pretty quick , that motivation thing comes in to play , besides I love looking at them as they are also . 

[Bluelitenin]

Yes I will not start mine right away. I round like to practice on something else first. I just wanted to go ahead and get them while it was fresh in my mind, you know that CRS think.