Ivory Bead

[Jay]

As a final embellishment to my newly restocked SW, I had Dan install a mammoth ivory bead sight. It is all bright and shiny white. Is there any way that I can make it appear to be 98 years old? Or am I being to fussy. Thanks. Jay

[fullchoke16]

Try the thick stuff from the bottom of a walnut stain can (oil base).

[Twice Barrel]

Soak it in strong black tea. Also works great to "age" antler.

[Fin2Feather]

Ditto on the tea, but it doesn't have to be particularly strong or black. In fact, I soaked one that got too "aged", so I chucked it in my Dremel and ran it against some fine sandpaper. It lightened it up so I was able to start over.

[Jay]

The sight is installed, permanent like, so I'd have to soak the entire muzzle in order to soak the bead in the tea. Probably not a good idea. I should have thought of this situation beforehand. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Twice Barrel]

The sight is installed, permanent like, so I'd have to soak the entire muzzle in order to soak the bead in the tea. Probably not a good idea. I should have thought of this situation beforehand. Thanks for the suggestions.

Well that sucks.

Since your sight is installed you can try using an alcohol based stain applied sparingly with a Q-Tip. This may take a couple of applications but the alcohol will not cause any damage to the barrels. Behlen makes a good one.

[RGKing]

Try using Potassium Permanganate. You can find in plumbing departments. I don't recall the exact method, but Brownells' might have in their Gun Kinks books or try Googling it.

[Silvers]

A water solution of a few crystals of permaganate is red-purple, and a saturated solution (as much as can be dissolved) is very deep purple. I'm familiar with potassium permanganate KMnO4 with my work.... and clothing etc accidentally stained doesn't change from the purple. If you stain ivory with it, I really doubt the purple color will fade to brownish over time. I'm not saying this won't work but I'd try it first on a scrap piece of ivory. Maybe the Brownells Kinks book cited another chemical salt? Some of them, used by modern makers for staining hard maple flintlock rifle stocks will fade to brownish. Silvers

[spartan]

Try an alcohol based leather dye, a tan color, thin it out with some alcohol and apply sparingly to the bead, wipe off any excess and let dry repeat until you have achieved the color you would like. It works perfectly on ivory and stag alike. I just did some grips and the result was amazing!