Some years back under the Obama administration, they were requiring the removal of ivory beads at auctions under some BS law on ivory and its origin. Several guns up in Maine had removed beads prior to shipping. A damn shame

Wonder where the beads went???

Ivory Bead:
 

Fond of my ivory bead, it won’t be coming off.

James D. Julia Auctions in Maine did that as well.

And it wasn’t just sight beads, it was ivory grips on handguns and other ivory accoutrements on antiques of all kinds.





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Do we aim a shotgun or do we point it? If we aim it then a sight, a bead, is helpful. If we point it, then it is not. As I consider it, I look at the bead when I mount the gun. If I have two beads I place one above the other. Then I call for the bird. When I call for the bird I look at it and not the gun. Maybe the bead makes it a little easier to point the gun. If that is the case then we need one...or if it is there we utilize it.

I basically shoot the rib and pay very little attention to beads but I want the gun "correct" just because it makes me happy! This is a very nice little 16, fully restored case color, a nice rust blue on the barrels etc., and one of my very favorites. Kinda broken hearted when I realized the bead was lost.