Can Whale ears be used in knife handles?

[Eriksen]

Are whale ears suitable for carving and decoration in knife handles, or will they be to hard and brittle for that purpose?

Are there anybody in this forum who know something about that?

 

[Ken H>]

Whale ears? Is that something like chicken ears? OK, I've got to ask - do you have a photo of whale ears? I've never seen nor heard of them, but I've led a limited life.

Ken >

 

[Eriksen]

Here is a link where there are a lot of pictures of whale ears:
https://www.google.no/search?q=whale+ears&client=firefox-a&hs=6bb&rls=org.mozilla:nb-NOfficial&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=HvdDVJq1BavoywPL04D4Ag&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=566

 

[Frank Niro]

It seems to me that they are more like bone than ivory if I remember correctly. I believe they certainly can be used successfully in certain suited applications. Frank

 

[12345678910]

I'd be careful using anything with whale parts, the political push will result in problems for them in the future.

 

[Ken H>]

Well, this OP is in Norway - it might be ok to whale parts there. Do you have a photo of a whale ear? I saw several things in the linked page. The earwax looked more the shape for handles than some of the things that seem to be whale ear.

Ken H>

 

[Eriksen]

It looks like this forum only allow URL pictures, but the second picture in the previously posted link is a picture of a whale ear.

Here is another link:
http://www.finn.no/finn/torget/annonse?finnkode=52306059&searchclickthrough=true&searchQuery=hval%C3%B8rer

 

[mete]

Belugas are edible that I know but I didn't eat the ears !!

 

[Ken H>]

Thanks for the link to the photo -that is a very good photo, and cost is about $48 plus shipping. That would neat to have one of those..... not sure what I'd do with that other than put on shelf to look at.

Ken

 

[Eriksen]

Thanks for the link to the photo -that is a very good photo, and cost is about $48 plus shipping. That would neat to have one of those..... not sure what I'd do with that other than put on shelf to look at.

Ken

In Norway, we have export restrictions and in USA you have import restrictions for whale parts, so if you want some of these, you have to buy them from USA.

 

[Cap’n Smudge]

I would guess, they would work fine. May possibly need stabilized, depending on their density. That being said, all sorts of bone is used for carving, scales, etc....

 

[Frank Niro]

Like bone they can sometimes be quite pourous. Frank

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you are talking about the curiously auriform ("ear shaped") inner ear bones from a whale...most are fossil material. Like oosik, it can range from fairly bone like to nearly stone, depending on how old it is Can't recall even actually examining one, but the photos I have seen are all fairly porous ( similar to fossil whale bone).

The good news is that if it is fossil material, it is fine to use and sell anywhere except eBay ( who won't list it).

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you are talking about the curiously auriform ("ear shaped") inner ear bones from a whale...most are fossil material. Like oosik, it can range from fairly bone like to nearly stone, depending on how old it is Can't recall even actually examining one, but the photos I have seen are all fairly porous ( similar to fossil whale bone).

The good news is that if it is fossil material, it is fine to use and sell anywhere except eBay ( who won't list it).