Animal Parts

G

Gib Guignard

Joined
Jul 8, 2001
Messages
849
What can anyone tell me about the legality of using jaw bones for knife handles. Where I live is the largest flee market in America and everything is available and I do mean everything. There are several dealers who sell animal jaws Deer, Antelope, Wolf, Coyote, Bear and on the list goes. What are the Legal restrictions on using these parts in interstate commerce. Gib
 
Gib,

I'm certain there are some federal laws and then some state laws. I'm not able to help more than sending you off to check at your local Department of Natural Resources (or DEC Dept of Environmental Concervation), anyway, your local game warden knows all. Some laws are self expanatory, like bear parts in a state that is protecting their bears. But, some are not so easy to see. ie., here in Ohio it's illegal to sell deer antlers. Sorry if I don't see the connection here...

Not much help, but better to have the straight word from the guys that'll give you the hard time.

Dan
 
From what I have been told in New Mexico it is against the law to sell any part of what the N.M.Game and Fish Dept. calls "Game animals".
A Game animal would be any animal that requires a license to hunt.
This makes it illegal for me to sell a knife with a handle made of a antler that I legaly obtained.
Lots of knives are sold with game animal parts and I have never heard of the NM Game and Fish Dept. ever causing trouble over it, but they can if they want to. Tom Lewis
 
for inspiration...

jawboneknife.jpg

saw this one at Blade, 2003


Also this:

JawboneKnife2.jpg

JawboneKnife3a.jpg


p.s. not my work, but a guy who sells on ebay under the name Ramadan. Do a search, shoot him an email. I've talked to him about jawbone knife handles, but never about the legalities involved...(had no idea, actually)...
 
Been doing some research as well and came across the following info as relates to California:

"California Penal Code section 653o(a):
It is unlawful to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or any part or product thereof, of any alligator, crocodile, polar bear, leopard, ocelot, tiger, cheetah, jaguar, sable antelope, wolf (Canis lupus), zebra, whale, cobra, python, sea turtle, colobus monkey, kangaroo, vicuna, sea otter, free-roaming feral horse, dolphin or porpoise (Delphinidae), Spanish lynx, or elephant."

Ebay DOES NOT ALLOW sales of any bear parts or cougar parts so that first knife - a bear jawbone - would be a no no. Jawbone knives, including bear are legal to sell in some states (Moscow H & F pictures some )it's just finding out which states - that's the answers(s) Gib and I are looking for. Here's a link http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-wildlife.html

The dealers such as Moscow Hide and Fur all have a disclaimer that what they sell is legal in their state only. Any legal action taken in a sale to you makes you liable for all legal costs including any incurred by said dealer so beware!

As a final word of warning the Feds have been setting up sting operations
They will post some item that is restricted or illegal to sell, in For Sale forums. Unknowing forum members will purchase these items and then are charged with crimes. The poor slob who buys this stuff then is told that if he snitches off someone he or she knows, the charges will be dropped or reduced. This warning applies to animal products, surplus military equipment and some "health products".
Click to expand...
for more inform check out Ron Hoods forum posting on this matter: http://pub1.ezboard.com/fhoodlumsstuffforsale.showMessage?topicID=644.topic
 
Chuck, some sleaze bag California DA's have been doing the same thing to knife distributors. Ordering double edged knives, etc. Then, when the knives are received issuing a supeona(sp?) to the owner of that company, charging them with FELONY violations of the state weapons laws.
They then tell them, that if they pay $40,000.00, they will drop the charges.
Sounds just like extortion to me. :mad: :rolleyes: :barf:


Edited to add; These things went on in the not to distant past(1990's), I don't know if it is still going on.
 
Mike - Doesn't surprise me at all, especially after the guvmint enacted those regs concerning the confiscating of property, which by the way is based on the old 19th century Piracy Act!

Anyway her is a bit of the gobbledegook that could apparently get one in trouble.
WHAT ABOUT BUYING OR SELLING WILDLIFE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES?
Federal law restricts interstate commerce in migratory birds, bald or golden eagles, endangered or threatened species, and any wildlife that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold illegally in a State or foreign country. These restrictions apply to live or dead animals, their parts, and products manufactured from them. Items commonly sold illegally in the United States include:

-Mounted migratory birds and jewelry and curios made with feathers of protected species. -Tortoise shell items and sea turtle meat and oils. -Crocodile shoes, bags, wallets, and belts. -Coats, handbags, wallets, compacts, and other items made from protected species.
Click to expand...
Now if read literally that says that any wildlife part that is illegal in any state is therefore illegal to sell via interstate commerce - yet it's done all the time.

An her is a beauty from the North Carolina code -
The sale of game birds and game animals or parts is prohibited, except that processed products of lawfully taken game birds and animals other than those made from edible portions may be sold provided that no label or advertisement identifies the product as a game bird, game animal, or part thereof and provided further that the game bird or game animal was lawfully acquired and the product is not readily identifiable as a game bird or game animal or part thereof.
Click to expand...
You can use the parts - say an antler - but you can't advertise it as being made from an antler and neither can it look like an antler.

I think Dick the Butcher had it right: "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers" :rolleyes:
 
Royal,

In New Mexico the law allows legal possession of shed antlers. Any heads with attached antlers must be accompanied by a tag for the animal or by a notice from the person who legally harvested the animal. If you find a skull with the attached antlers or horns, it belongs to the State Game and Fish Dept. I believe you can get it approved by turning it in. <http://www.gmfsh.state.nm.us/>

This came about as the result of major poaching rings in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of NM and Colo that were selling trophy heads and leaving the carcasses. A joint operation of the NM Fish and Game Dept, NM State Police and the Colorado authorities busted several of these people over the last few years.

I don't know about other body parts, but I do use leg bone (usually elk) for scales when I have them. I also use antler and have had no hassles. Cops have looked at them at shows without giving me any grief (they always want something black and cheap, so they dont look too hard).

I have seen some pretty knives made with jawbone handles, but they lost any appeal for me when i picked them up. The teeth are not something you want in your grip when using a knife.
 
I 'spose according to the California penal code, (I can think of another way to spell it more accurately), that a lot of cowboy boots and at least my python skin wallet is illegal.
 
According to the California penal code, Texas is illegal.

I was tempted to do some creative spelling too, but this ain't Whine and cheese...
 
Good thread. I've got a nice bear jawbone that's been sitting in material drawer for quite awhile. I'm not sure if I can use it for a handle or not. It's a shame cause it's a beauty, too.
 
send it to me. :)

I've got a Cave bear jaw to make a knife with and am sure extinct parts are legal(?).
 
Be safe buy fossil material! Roger the cave bear jaw I sold you is legal it is over 3000 years old.I can pick up a few more of those for you if you want.
Chuck
 
Chuck,

No on more cave bear stuff but I still want mammoth ivory and walrus jaw.

Roger
 
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