Bark mammoth ivory - Suitable for use?

ColdOne

ColdOne

Joined
Oct 5, 2006
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I am eying a new dress knife & really like the look of handles with bark mammoth ivory. However I am concerned about how it would hold up to use.

Are they normally stable enough to hold up to occasional use without chipping or cracking? Or would a knife with it be more suited for display?

I did try to search on this here, however I wasn't able to find an answer.
 
I will give you my opinion based on my observation of ivory on the considerable handles I have and have had and what knowledge I have picked up. Perhaps an expert will also weight in here as I have wondered the same thing.

First of all the durability will greatly depend on the type and condition of the specific ivory used,
the type of handle construction and the climate where the knife will reside.

Ivory is basically a durable material as far as holding up to shock and wear, however very sensitive to the elements. You will find antique knives with ivory handles that have held up to use over many years with cracks but still in tack.

I guess what I'm saying is that there's no (yes-no) answer since so many variables exist. The safe money would be on using stag or a stable wood. Hope this helps a little pending an expert's opinion. I consider Don Hanson the resident ivory expert here.
 
Chances are, ivory will move over time. If it has sat for a few years in a humid area, and then is moved to someplace that is dry, it will shrink. That can cause cracking, and you can end up with spaces between bolsters and handle material. The shrinkage can also make it so that you can see and feel the edges of the liners that have become exposed by the shrinkage. If you go from a dry to a humid area, the ivory will expand. This can also cause cracking, and where joints used to be smooth there will be a bump when going from the bolster to the ivory.

The other problem is that ivory isn't very impact resistant. Bark mammoth ivory, with all its natural fissures, may be the worst ivory for having this problem. Be careful not to drop the knife, and don't bang it into anything hard.

Makers that have experience with ivory have little tricks of the trade that they use that can reduce some of the problems caused by ivory moving. You can do things yourself that will lessen the problem, but it is next to impossible to get rid of completely.

Even with the problems mentioned above, ivory is my favorite handle material. I understand the problems it will present to me and am willing to accept them to get the beauty this material delivers. I have never had any cracking, chipping or breakage happen, but have some ivory that has shrunken slightly.
 
Thanks guys!

This would be my first knife with natural handle material (Unless you count one production piece with stabilized wood slabs).

Are there products you can use to treat the ivory to keep it from drying out or otherwise deteriorating?

I would be carrying in a pocket on a rare occasion where the wife manages to get me dressed up and polished up! ;)
 
When you said suitable for use. I thought you meant use as in everyday user/carry. If you are just going to carry it on occasion you should be fine as long as you soak it in a mineral or camellia oil from time to time. A coating of Renaissance wax is also good. Try to keep it under consistence temperature and humidity. Be sure you get a good piece of ivory that was properly cured, correctly fitted and affixed to the knife. Consider a rear bolster in case it's dropped on a hard surface.
Following the above, ivory is more durable than many may think. You can observe my ivory using the link below.

Good hunting. :thumbup:
 
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