Ebay policy regarding mammoth tooth on Buck knives

Mike Kerins

Mike Kerins

Joined
Nov 14, 2004
Messages
2,386
I just received a call from Ebay regarding a knife I had listed for sale. It was a Custom Buck knife with mammoth tooth in the scales. They said it was not allowed because of the mammoth tooth. Has anyone else run into this problem?
 
Damn animal activists group bs. Im all for abused animals. But that animal in particular died a few million years ago. Just kinda remembering them by using there stuff..
 
They said they would not allow it because there was no way they can verify it came from an extinct animal. What a load of bs.
 
Wtf.... Why does it matter... I got burnt on a buffalo horn handle old timer .. I think it was a old timer. Got it and it was buffalo. Some white streaked black plastic crap. I was pissed..
 
Mike, I was a wildlife person and will tell you this is a Ebay twisting of the facts. There are easy ways to tell ancient ivory from modern. I think they are really saying they can't tell ivory from other stuff just by photos. So all the stuff is getting the Ebay axe. Doesn't help you any but those likely are the real facts. Let me go find the place this is all explained just so people reading of your troubles will get some facts. 300

These are for folks who want to know about ivory, I can't change Ebay, I can give you info to know what your looking at when at knife and gun shows. If you go there click on the subjects in blue.. The science talk is heavy but there is good info there.

http://www.fws.gov/lab/ivory_id.php#top

300Bucks opinion on ivory...elephants are getting poached ( demand is greatest in non-USA areas). I have yet to see a Mastadon or a Mammoth walking the face of the earth.

Buckman110, I have seen real water buffalo with white streaks, I have two real American buffalo horns, due to the curve and thinness you would be hard pressed to find much 'thick' horn to cut into slabs. I have not polished mine so can't testify if any white is included. Because they are hollow they make better black powder horns and spoons than knife handles. After the buffalo is dead a spell you just walk up and jerk the horn sheath off the bone core. That is why you see Buff skulls with the bone horns.
 
Last edited:
A way around this problem is to state that it has fossil scales; a knowledgeable buyer will be able to discern what you have.
 
I have used and seen others use the statement "natural materials" without any problems, and as stated by Tin Sue the knowledgeable buyers will find it and know what it is as long as there are good pictures.
 
Last edited:
"ox bone" that is one that usually goes by on ebay. a lot of ivory scaled razors have made it under the radar.
 
Now, let me get this straight. On the bay one may knowingly inflate the facts about a knife's steel, age, model, how many made, ect... Until someone like Plumber calls their hand on it.
But it's not allowed for a knowledgeable seller to tell the truth about his listing. Instead, call it something else and we're good with it...? Sounds like a reputable place to do business. DM
 
Whether we like it or not, ebay is caught in the middle on this, especially in California. California bans the sale of any ivory and it doesn't matter if it is antique. In the past year the California wildlife officials have been making enforcement a priority, especially on auction sales including ebay. Items that are sold are confiscated and there are stiff penalties. Do an internet search about ivory sales.
 
300Bucks said:
Mike, I was a wildlife person and will tell you this is a Ebay twisting of the facts. There are easy ways to tell ancient ivory from modern. I think they are really saying they can't tell ivory from other stuff just by photos. So all the stuff is getting the Ebay axe. Doesn't help you any but those likely are the real facts. Let me go find the place this is all explained just so people reading of your troubles will get some facts. 300

These are for folks who want to know about ivory, I can't change Ebay, I can give you info to know what your looking at when at knife and gun shows. If you go there click on the subjects in blue.. The science talk is heavy but there is good info there.

http://www.fws.gov/lab/ivory_id.php#top

300Bucks opinion on ivory...elephants are getting poached ( demand is greatest in non-USA areas). I have yet to see a Mastadon or a Mammoth walking the face of the earth.

Buckman110, I have seen real water buffalo with white streaks, I have two real American buffalo horns, due to the curve and thinness you would be hard pressed to find much 'thick' horn to cut into slabs. I have not polished mine so can't testify if any white is included. Because they are hollow they make better black powder horns and spoons than knife handles. After the buffalo is dead a spell you just walk up and jerk the horn sheath off the bone core. That is why you see Buff skulls with the bone horns.
Click to expand...

Just for a visual of an American Bison skull, the second photo has the horn off the bone.


jb4570
 
I recently won the auction for a Buck knife on eBay listed as Buffalo Horn with ivory inlay. Although I doubt it was actually ivory, eBay deleted the listing just after the auction ended and sent me a message stating I was not required to complete the purchase.
 
Last edited:
What Mike is stating is 'mammoth tooth'. NOT tusk. How did this morph into types of horn? One being enamel. DM
 
David Martin said:
What Mike is stating is 'mammoth tooth'. NOT tusk. How did this morph into types of horn? One being enamel. DM
Click to expand...

I wondered the same thing, especially in regard to eBay's policy. I'm guessing the folks at eBay don't know the difference between mammoth tooth and mammoth tusk/ivory.
 
OK, OK, It was my fault. I got off on the wrong foot trying to keep the 'tree hugger' debate from exploding on the Buck forum.

Tusks and teeth are different. You can go buy teeth easily on line. Just type in Mammoth Teeth and watch what pops up. As far as Ebay is concerned I only shake my head, there are more and more folks that live in a different world than I do. I don't know whether the government has been doing experiments on them or me. I am old enough to remember people coming to my grade school and administering the Salk vaccine in sugar cubes to every kid.....maybe that's when it started, they said it was for polio. Now if they could just quickly find one for arthritis, I will be getting in line. As long as I can bring a chair.........300
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top