Ivory ?

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Any of the craftsmen here have experience working with ivory, as inlays and such where the piece will ultimately be stained when finished.

 

[hoochiepapa]

I know, it's not hc/pc, but it's a family tradition to put a "b" somewhere on the rifle.
I cut this one out of "mammoth ivory" that I got from my dad, everything went smoothly and I accraglassed it in. Ivory is very brittle, at least this was, so it's a trick to get it inlayed, 'cause you can't tap on it for fear of it cracking.

 

[rabjr]

It's wonderful stuff! :thumbsup:
http://www.nimrodsplace.com/nesquirrelrifle12.html

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Excellent, thank you both for the pic's.

How were the respective rifles finished, stained, aqua-fortis, alcohol or oil based?

What kind of finish was applied, were there any special considerations with respect to working around the ivory?

 

[hoochiepapa]

Once it was inlaid, I just sanded it and treated it like a normal inlay. My stock was stained with way too much aquafortis, that's why the dull whitish look around the carving. But it's too late now, I may try to refinish it, it's my rendition of Schroyer's work, and I really like it.

 

[rabjr]

Roy used Aquafortis on that Apple wood stock. The biggest thing to remember when working with Ivory, is heat. You cannot heat Ivory at all, ever! It will get brittle if heated. Roy used a shield, not sure if it was a piece of brass or something else but when he blushed the stock, he shielded the ivory from the heat.

 

[gmarc]

There are several types of ivory in common use; Elephant, Walrus and Hippo tooth. Elephant is the most porous, while Hippo is the densest.

I suspect Elephant, being porous, woild be the most amenable to flexing/bending. Hippo tooth makes an excellent knife handle. I have not used super thin sections of these materials, but they must be handled carefully in flexing in any small sections, like curved inlay. I usually test any natural material for flexion/workability before I commit to altering a project to add it.

 

[gmarc]

Wow....very nice buttstock. I like the scalloping of the cheekpiece

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

This is perfect, just the kind of information needed to work with this stuff.

Back in '07/'08 before the morons at e-bay got all freaked out I purchased a couple of lots of pre-ban elephant ivory scraps from a museum, then a friend gave me a bag of mamoth ivory.

Wanting to get started with some projects and do appreciate the input, as well as any more information that may be out there.

My first project is a tapered ramrod with an ivory tip for my trade gun.

 

[rabjr]

I have an Ivory tip on my .36 cal squirrel rifles ram rod. I turned Roy onto Ivory a couple years ago and hes made a few things with it. Heres a side plate I cut out and sent him to do something with, he put it on a small smoothbore...

 

[chance]

That is Awsome!!!

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Thats a nice sideplate,

is it epoxied in place or is it removable, are the lock bolts threaded to stop on the lockplate so as not to crack the ivory when cinching them up,

or are you just careful.

Do you have any pictures of the ramrod tip ?

 

[rabjr]

I just drew that side plate out on a very nice flat piece I had, if I remember right, it was about 1/8" thick and cut it out slowly with my hobby band saw. Nice solid piece that wasn't chippy at all. He mounted it on a gun he sold so he'll need to fill you in on the rest but I believe it was just inletted like a normal side plate and holes drilled. Obviously being ivory I would hope care is taken when removing and replacing the bolts.

I have a couple bags of mammoth ivory I play with now and again. Been wanting to make more side plates just haven't gotten around to it.
http://www.nimrodsplace.com/nesquirrelrifle17.html

 

[rabjr]

Also there is an N.E Fowler in the Flintlock Fowler book by Tom Grinslade that has ivory hardware. Pretty cool how it was done.

 

[Roy]

The side plate is just inlet like a normal one would be, and is removable. Notice the pins for the trigger guard and trigger are both hidden by it. We just use a bit of caution when tightening up the lock bolts. :v

 

[hoochiepapa]

Wow....very nice buttstock. I like the scalloping of the cheekpiece

I can't take credit, I copied the carving of George Schroyer's rifle in "The Gunsmith of Grenville County" by Peter Alexander.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have worked with ivory from pianio keys (pre 1900's ) and have found it to be britttle so care must be taken when working with it . But it does finish nicely when making inlays. :idunno:

 

[rabjr]

FYI too, I talked to one of the online suppliers, Fine Turnage, a few years ago about working with ivory and he told me he stabilizes it with an oil finish.

 

[Rifleman1776]

If it a family tradition, that is about as PC as you can get. Looks great BTW.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Thanks again for the replies to this post, alot of good usable information.

I did a little bit of research of my own and found some more good stuff.


If your looking to work with some ivory these links are good reads.


Working With Ivory

More really good information


Thanks Again