American Holly

[mykeal]

Five years ago CLC made some American Holly grips for my Single Six convertible:

Here they are now:

I liked them so much I had Bill Murrell of Republic, MO, make a set for an Old Army:

Comparing the new ones on the ROA with the older ones on the Single Six:

And here's how they fit in the current stable; top one has the holly, second in line is a set of 'bonded' ivory, third one is, I think, walnut, and last is the ubiquitous rosewood:

Both CLC's and Murrell's are perfect fits to the frame; the 'bonded' ivory is, well, pretty bad - they are proud of the frame in several places and much thicker, especially at the top. But then, they cost half what the custom made holly grips cost. That said, the custom holly grips are well worth the price.

 

[gunman42782]

Sweet!

 

[Kevin]

I absolutely love how American Holly yellows with age. I have some from Private Schultz on my single six. They have aged Similar to yours. You've got some good looking revolvers.

Is American Holly a hard wood? I mean I assume it is. How does it compare to say Maple?

 

[Joe S.]

I believe i want to try some of that...

 

[contender]

I have a few sets of Holly grips I've made for my own guns. I like the wood, as it's not as expensive as ivory, yet can obtain a very similar look. And,,, it's not plastic!
Those above look great!

 

[caryc]

mykeal,

Thanks for the comparison pictures.

Here are a few different woods as tested with the Janka hardness scale.

Bastogne Walnut 1460
Claro Walnut 950
Mesquite 2335
Holly 1020
Black Walnut 1020

The Janka test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 millimeters (0.444 inches) into the wood to a depth of half the balls diameter.

As with all wood, it also depends on where it is cut from the tree. The heartwood (center of the tree) is harder than the sapwood which surrounds the heartwood.

 

[mt]

caryc, thanks for posting those numbers. Very educational and some really surprise me.

mt

 

[caryc]

caryc, thanks for posting those numbers. Very educational and some really surprise me.

mt

You can see the whole chart here.

http://www.sizes.com/units/janka.htm

 

[George Tucker]

I love Bastogne, George.

 

[Wheelgunner]

Nice grips.

What actually changes colour, the wood or the True Oil?

Wheelgunner

 

[caryc]

Nice grips.

What actually changes colour, the wood or the True Oil?

Wheelgunner

Tru Oil does not yellow with age. It's the wood that ages and gets darker. I have American Holly material in my shop that has been sitting for years. The exposed wood will darken with oxidation. If you pick up the piece and look at the bottom, it has not changed.

However it's only the surface that darkens. Start cutting on the wood to make a pair of grips and it's back to the original color under the surface.

 

[Joe S.]

The bocote i have used is the same. The first piece i bought really attracted me because of it's dark look. But after I got into it, it was much much lighter.