Do you use your mammoth ivory knives?

[Andya27]

I just ordered (and hope my order goes through) a Northwoods Norfolk whittler with mammoth covers. Typically I'm not a collector, but I purchased a couple TC Barlows - one of which I don't plan to use anytime soon (maybe for a grandchild if that ever occurs?). I was wondering - am I going to use the whittler with mammoth ivory, or keep it as part of a collection?

I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether or not you use your elephant or mammoth ivory covered knives. Seems a shame not to use them, but then again, I'm not sure how strong/stable the ivory is compared with stag or more modern bone.

If you do use yours, I'd love to see photos.

Thanks!

 

[kamagong]

Yes. I only have one, but it gets carried fairly regularly on Sundays and other dressy occasions.

- Christian

 

[Itsasportsbar]

I just ordered one of the Norfolk whittlers in mammoth ivory myself.

I do carry my mammoth ivory knives and I carry them in a KSF PocketSlip Pocket Knife Pouch. It protects the knives very well.

Ken

 

[okbohn]

I don't have any mammoth, but I carry my elephant ivory ones all the time. They are tough handle materials and I don't worry about them. I keep mine in a Mainstreet pocketslip to keep it from getting all scratched up.

No pics because I am on my ipad.

 

[oldrifleman]

I just recieved my Norfolk Whittler in Elephant Ivory on Monday and it is my pocket now. I also have several other knives in both Elephant and Mammoth (folders and fixed blades) and use them. I have not had an issue with any of them. I also have Ivory on my Carry 1911 and it has held up perfectly. Steven

 

[Daniel Dorn]

I have one mammoth (actually, mastadon) folder, the 2007 Bladeforums Traditional, a Canal Street Cannitler. It had a scale issue when I got it, and it has since gotten worse, but the other scale has held up quite well. As long as it's in good shape when you get it, I'd consider it a pretty sturdy material. As with any natural material, if it hasn't been stabilized either by "drying" or injecting some foreign material, you may get shrinkage or warping with changes in environment.

All based on my limited experience...

 

[rinos]

i use this one(middle is some part of mammuth )

 

[Codger_64]

I just skunt (Tennessee past tense of skined) and butchered a nice buck with my mammoth ivory handled Weeks SPK knife. Then without sharpening it, breasted five ducks. It still looks like a safe queen after washing the blood and gore from the ivory and bog oak and hamoned blade.

 

[smokinbasser]

I have 3 mammoth ivory peanuts that are "shelf queens", I don't use them but they do get shown off. My EDC has G10 scales mostly due to it being almost impossible to damage with normal use.

 

[John L]

I have made a lot of ivory knives and think that mammoth is less prone to cracking than ele ivory or walrus ivory. It is a bit less brittle for whatever reason. It is certainly less brittle than bone hafted knives. I say use them.......and in fact...use them up if need be.

John Lloyd

 

[NoNameNomad]

I just skunt (Tennessee past tense of skined) and butchered a nice buck with my mammoth ivory handled Weeks SPK knife. Then without sharpening it, breasted five ducks. It still looks like a safe queen after washing the blood and gore from the ivory and bog oak and hamoned blade.

I've nothing to add to this thread except to say how beautiful that knife is.

 

[Andya27]

I have made a lot of ivory knives and think that mammoth is less prone to cracking than ele ivory or walrus ivory. It is a bit less brittle for whatever reason. It is certainly less brittle than bone hafted knives. I say use them.......and in fact...use them up if need be.

John Lloyd

Amazing that something as old as mammoth can be as hardy as it is. Imagine what they were like when alive.

 

[Codger_64]

I've nothing to add to this thread except to say how beautiful that knife is.

Thanks. I am quite proud of it. In part because he and I collaborated on the design and I provided the mammoth tusk ivory and Morgan silver dollar for the spacer, and partly because it turned out to be a handsome yet useful knife.

Amazing that something as old as mammoth can be as hardy as it is. Imagine what they were like when alive.

10,000 years is what my source in Alaska told me, and 5,000 years for the preserved bog oak which is almost as dark as true ebony in person.

 

[Jack Black]

Amazing that something as old as mammoth can be as hardy as it is.

There's one or two forum members I could say that about! I guess they didn't get to be old without being tough



A gift from a very generous member here, one of the many

 

[getout87]

I've three knives with what I would consider "premium" handle materials. A mammoth madison barlow, an elephant ivory one, and a john lloyd zulu with ancient auroch covers. I carry and use all three. I don't know if I could keep a knife that I didn't use. Heck, i think all of my lives look better with a bit of patina.

 

[Relee1]

I have just ordered a mammoth whitler, and have both the barlow and Fremont in mammoth. I carry the Fremont all the time in a main street sleeve. Protects the knife and carries well.

Don't really want a knife I can't, or feel anxious about carrying.

 

[zippofan]

Yes, all the time! I carried my Case mammoth Congress to work. It is a light duty assignment though

I have a Buck 503 with mammoth ivory with a mammoth tooth inlay inbound, can't wait to put that one in my pocket :thumbup:

Z

 

[Brian.Evans]

I have made a lot of ivory knives and think that mammoth is less prone to cracking than ele ivory or walrus ivory. It is a bit less brittle for whatever reason. It is certainly less brittle than bone hafted knives. I say use them.......and in fact...use them up if need be.

John Lloyd

John, do you find mammoth ivory to crack as easily as ele ivory or bone during pinning?

 

[John L]

Medicevans: I find mammoth less prone to cracking during pinning....much less. It is like it gives a bit.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think the comfort level of using slip joints or any knife for that matter with what I consider premium handles or scales is a growing process. A number of years ago, I viewed G-10 and micarta as "premium" materials. Now, not so much.... After you have a few for a while, you begin to ask yourself why you bought them in the first place especially if you are not a collector? Since I typically have change in my pockets, I have moved to using a leather pocket slip or sleeve. This is something that I just started in the last year and it is a very effective method of protecting a nice knife from scratches and so forth in a fairly abusive environment such as a pocket which contains who knows what.