Buckstone

I now have two guns to my name. I sent both of my Great Grandfather's side by side double barrels (one from each side of the family) home with my Brother. I also sent my Dad's single shot Western-Field .22 bolt action rifle that he got for Christmas when he was 13. It was his only gift for four years during the Depression, and he put a lot of squirrel and rabbit in the pan with it. This old .22 is special also due to the fact that it is the very first .22 any of us kids ever fired. The first time Dad would take one of us out to plink for the first time, it was with the old Monkey Wards single shot. I don't have any kids, and at my age I wanted to make sure that they stayed in the family. I also wanted to make sure that their history traveled with them.
So I now have two Single-Sixes, and that's it. I have decided to put a set of elephant ivory grips on my American Liberty stainless Single-Six. I've decided that I'm not going to be a collector, and I have my Dad's '55 Single Six and my '76 stainless. I figure that as long as I no longer have that stack of my family's guns around any more, I want to do something special for the first Ruger that I bought when I turned 18.
Although it's almost $500 for the premium ivory set that I want, I think that I'll enjoy the feel of that real ivory every time I draw it out of the holster. I guess as long as I'm not going to collect Rugers I may as well turn the ones that I own and love into something a little bit special. I'm ordering them tomorrow, and I already can't wait to get them.

RockDoctor

You are a good person...doing something special for your Single-six.

It's special to be able to pass on firearms that mean so much with history behind them.

I passed on a single barrel Stevens .410 full choke shotgun my dad gave me at 14 to my 30yo son last Christmas and my Mark II went to his older brother.

GUNNER63755

Great story. You did as you should to keep those jewels in the family. I have done a similar thing with a few guns I wanted to stay in the family. They will belong to my grandson one day. That is a good feeling.

bobmare

where did you order the grips from? I have my dad's old Blackhawk I would like to dress up.

bwinters

My dad did not own guns and still hates them but I do have a great uncles colt pocket positive from when he was a detective on the baltimore and ohio rail road 1910-1940 or so. It is a connection to someone i am related to but never met. My grandfathers both did not own guns so that revolver is the only one I have from a relative. One grandfather was a 7th day adventist a pacifist christian group and the other never owned guns growing up in nyc.

kan of korn

Handing down guns is a long tradition in my family. Would love to see the new grips installed. If you get a chance, post some pics!

terry_p

Here is one source I found:

Boone Trading Company - Ivory and Scrimshaw Pistol Grips

scattershot

Thanks for the link, Terry. Those are some beautiful grips!

bearcatter

Saying you're not going to collect Rugers and actually doing it are two different things. The temptation is strong!.........

Nice that you can continue a family tradition. All my elders (Dad and my mother's dad) left behind in firearms was a H&R .22 revolver and a Colt .38Spl Police, both in very poor uncared for condition. They went cheap to a LGS. My other grandfather didn't own any guns.

Single action revolvers are a great choice as one's only guns. I could be happy with just my Bearcats, if I could conceal carry one better.

Buckstone

Yeah, Boone Trading Company is where I'm ordering them. I had to go to the doctor unexpectedly today, so I'm ordering them tomorrow.
I have a friend who is a very elite engraver. His name is Ron Skaggs, and he marks all of his work R E Skaggs. He engraved my name on the butt when I bought it new in '76. Since that time he has become internationally known. If he has the time, I'm going to have him do some colored scrimshaw work on them. I've seen some bobcats and other wild animals that he did that were so life-like it's just incredible. I was thinking of having him do a life-like eagle on one of the slabs to begin, and maybe a falcon on the other. I thought that I'd at least put one eagle on them as a tip of the cap to Mr. Ruger. I may have to wait a few years to have both sides completed, but it would be quite a piece to leave behind to my Godson. His Sister is getting my Gibson guitars, so I may as well leave something very personal and special to Evan. In the meantime hopefully I'll have 25 years or so to enjoy them myself! Plus their Dad and I can do some plinking with a fancy little Ruger in the meantime.

bobmare

Terry P
thanks for the link.I will definitely check them out.