CLC American Holley grips, update.

[J Miller]

Back in December of 2006 I received a set of slightly yellowed American Holley grips from CLC Custom Grips.

The sunlight actually made them look whiter than they really were.

The way Cary Chapman makes them I was wondering if they would ever “age”. Well, up until two years ago they pretty much looked like this:


The last time I went shooting was April of ’11. I cleaned the Blackhawk and put it away. Recently I decided to get them out and check them. I was amazed at what I found. Not sure what has caused this, but the grips have aged nicely:


I really like them like this. They look like they match the pistol now.

Joe

 

[hutchman]

Oh my.....those are REALLY nice!

 

[caryc]

It's the wood oxidizing. Check the backs of the grips if you want to see how much the fronts have aged.

 

[Hooch]

Very nice looking

 

[J Miller]

Cary,

I hadn't thought of that. Might make an interesting comparison shot.

Joe

 

[Bkat]

Will all American Holley age like this, or does it depend on the particular tree it came from? Those are gorgeous.

Bkat

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Holy holly!

I wasn't aware this happened. My set is not currently on a gun, but wrapped up and safely stashed away for special occasions. I just pulled them out, unwrapped them, and . . . they are nicely "aging" as seen above. Absolutely wonderful. I was hoping this might happen.

Cary, how much will they change over time, or does it depend on the individual wood as Bkat asks?

 

[caryc]

Holy holly!

I wasn't aware this happened. My set is not currently on a gun, but wrapped up and safely stashed away for special occasions. I just pulled them out, unwrapped them, and . . . they are nicely "aging" as seen above. Absolutely wonderful. I was hoping this might happen.

Cary, how much will they change over time, or does it depend on the individual wood as Bkat asks?

Your question is a legitimate one, but one that I can't answer. Since it is oxidation that causes them to darken. I would guess that it all depends on how much UV light they are exposed to. When I make grips I sell them so I don't get to sit around and see them age.

The last time I purchased holly I purchased a lot of it around 5 or 6 years ago. This wood sits in my shop but is not subject to any direct sunlight from any windows and it doesn't appear to be darkening any just sitting there.

Then you might ask, is it going to age sitting in a gun safe? The answer is, I don't know. I suppose it depends on what it was subjected to before it went into the safe.

I can give you an example though. When I purchased fresh milled purple heart, (I mean fresh cut and kiln dried) I set it out in the direct sunlight for a couple days and it actually developed a more vibrant brighter purple color. I also know that purple heart will darken with age. It will eventually get to an almost brownish color.

Let's see...what was the question again? I guess I've probably left you scratcthin' your head as I'm doin'.

 

[J Miller]

Other than when I've been at a couple outdoor ranges, the set of grips on my Ruger never see daylight. Only indoor lighting and the inside of my storage.

No mater the why, I really do like them aging like this.

Joe

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I've had my set for a little over five years now (man, time sure does fly), and they have NEVER been exposed to direct sunlight as long as I've had them.

Upon reflection, this doesn't seem right. They should be seen and appreciated by those so inclined. Next time "the guys" are here to shoot in the back yard, I'm gonna put those panels on some variety of Old Model and show 'em off. They're simply too nice to not share with friends.

 

[CraigC]

All of mine have yellowed, three sets, all of them being about 8yrs old. I like it!

 

[RUFFBIRD]

I also have a pair of these on my .45,....will have to dig it out of the safe & have a look at it.
Got one of those golden rods to keep the moisture out. Do you have one in your safe Joe? Could this cause them to beautify? Just a thought....

 

[J Miller]

Ruffbird,

No I don't. And my guns all stay in the foam lined gun cases. Yes I know they will rust away in a day or two cos the foam attracts and absorbs water. NOT.

Anyway, I don't baby my guns, but unless they are being handled, not much recently, or out being shot, even less, they are stored away safe from bumps and bangs. Kept wiped down and there's no problem.

Joe

 

[gak]

Based on mine, I'd say not all necessarily alike, perhaps particular cut of wood or some my need more UV than others. My two - about two years old each - have only yellowed modestly. They too have not seen a lot of UV.
The top photo shows them yellow'd slightly more than I think they are in most light - but closer to where I hope they'll be if not more like Joe's

The bottom shot is perhaps more representative of both in most light. They're wonderful grips as they are, and have darkened slightly, but I am also hopeful they'll "age" even more before too long - Joe, yours look great! Regardless, they all do a good "ivory"!
Edit - I realized I didn't say, these fine grips are courtesy Carl "Private" Schultz.

 

[J Miller]

GAK,

Your grips looked like mine did up to about two years ago. Since then they seem to have aged to a bit more yellow and amber color.
I really wish I could get a better picture.

Joe

 

[gak]

Joe - to be "fair" mine are old pics - maybe 12-18 months, but not far off from how they look now. Maybe power of suggestion but they seem a little darker now--we're talking minutes and not degrees. Your pics are fine - but more always welcomed!

 

[caryc]

One more thing. Tru Oil does not yellow with age, so whatever aging you do see is the wood.

 

[RUFFBIRD]

Okey Joe,...I dug em out & took these photos & I to believe you are right about them turning color a little. They now seem more of a mustard yellow to me. I like them a lot on my blue .45


This is as about as natural a photo as I can get.....


Cary as always, you are a craftsmen & artist! Thankyou....

 

[Ethang]

The closer in color to the aged ivory grips on John Waynes pistol the better I like them. Your grips are looking great.

 

[caryc]

The closer in color to the aged ivory grips on John Waynes pistol the better I like them. Your grips are looking great.

John Wayne's grips were not ivory. Those grips were made of catalin, an early form of plastic. Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

[Bkat]

The closer in color to the aged ivory grips on John Waynes pistol the better I like them. Your grips are looking great.

John Wayne's grips were not ivory. Those grips were made of catalin, an early form of plastic. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Don't remember his name, but there's a fellow who often has a table at Houston-area gun shows with an exhibit of some of John Wayne's catalin grips. They were made by a Texas grip maker who as I recall died many years ago. I really like the catalin color, which has an almost orangeish tint, but they also have that plastic look on close inspection. I also heard somewhere that catalin is somewhat brittle.

Edited to add: Just now read that catalin is a form of Bakelite and can be dyed different colors.

Bkat

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Cary's right on the money . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalin

"As a side note, the handles on John Wayne's iconic six shooter, seen in every movie from "El Dorado" through "Rooster Cogburn" were made of Catalin, not ivory, as often thought."

 

[gak]

Another reference specific to JW's grips. Note recollection of his dipping the plastic grips in tea to (presumably) achieve that aged ivory look.
http://www.jcs-group.com/johnwayne/american/trademark.html

 

[J Miller]

Yep, but they sure looked good didn't they?

My holey grail is a blue CCH Colt SAA with ivory grips. Cal .45 of course with the 4 3/4" barrel.
I sincerely doubt I'll ever own one, but my Cattleman and Rugers come close.

Joe

 

[gak]

+1 Joe. I'm more than happy with my hollys--Carl's in my case--but now I'm impatient - for them to get older, not me...how's that gonna happen?!

 

[Ethang]

The closer in color to the aged ivory grips on John Waynes pistol the better I like them. Your grips are looking great.

John Wayne's grips were not ivory. Those grips were made of catalin, an early form of plastic. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Gee thanks Cary. How am I suppose to watch the Duke now that I know he had plastic fake grips on his pistol? Next your going to tell me that the Lone Ranger didn't really shoot guns out of bad guys hands right? :wink:

Let me rephrase my statement to the color of John Waynes phony plastic-Ivory like grips...I like that color.

 

[J Miller]

Ethang,

For ivory grips, check out the two SAs John Wayne carried in his last movie; "The Shootist". I believe those are ivory. They were his personal guns too. But ..... the guns are Great Westerns, not Colts. And that wasn't the real gun Opie threw across the room at the end of the movie, it was a stunt double.

Joe

 

[gak]

Ruffbird, how old are your hollys?
A friend had a set of genuine old ivories on a 1st Gen Colt several years ago that were very yellowed, pretty darn close in "darkness" to Joe's and Ruffbird's. Wish I had a pic - they were something.
I've been examining mine more thanks to this thread and they really do a bang up job of imitating aged ivories, just not as much as these guys'. I can live with that! (for awhile )

 

[CraigC]

I always thought the Catalin grips were too orange looking. I don't have the one that was actually converted from a Bisley but I do have this picture of one of John Wayne's personal guns with Catalin grips. I took this at the cowboy museum in Oklahoma City.

These are the guns that Great Western presented to John Wayne. Later used by him in The Shootist. They have real ivory. As did several of his other guns.

(Sorry for the poor picture quality, it is exceeding difficult to get good pics in the dim lighting of a museum)

 

[CraigC]

I've been examining mine more thanks to this thread and they really do a bang up job of imitating aged ivories, just not as much as these guys'. I can live with that! (for awhile )

I'll say, I love that pic of the two shorties, stag and holly. The lanyard ring is a nice touch too! :wink: