milesofalaska
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
- Messages
- 514
Material is—Fossil walrus ivory Edited- wrong pictures showed up for a while! Dang!
Order code (use when inquiring so we be on the same sheet of music!) R-fwi-111
Dimensions 13 inches long x 3.5 wide x 2.5 thick
Weight 4 pounds 1 ounce
Traditionally used how? Can be carved, used for knife scales pistol grips put on a lathe
Properties attributes- Very solid no cracks slightly hollow at base as this is the skull end of the tusk. Ok colors but guessing it will be almost white inside with some streaks of tan The core should be awesome pattern being from a big bull walrus.
Stuff to know Should not get this wet for long. This is an unusually fat tusk, so would give very wide scales, very good for fun grips. The colors not exciting more to the white side, but the core will have awesome pattern, and may have striking color streaks- often pinks (coming in from the base most likely). If I do not sell this it is not a huge big deal, I will cut it up myself when I have time and get twice to 3 times even 4 times this value as pistol grip sets. I just do not have time to work all the material I have.
Personal story-- connection I actually forget where I got this or how long I have had it. For years. I found it in a pile of stuff. I have 9 buildings (well maybe only structures- sheds) full of stuff. Truckloads anyhow. I once misplaced $10,000 worth of mammoth ivory and did not find it for 2 years. (and I make that public?) Well. No use hiding the fact I am eccentric. May as well make it a selling point then a fault ya know? I can say “Eccentric’ and follow it with a wink “but gifted” my ace in the hole.
Price $900
That makes it about $225 a pound, very reasonable price per pound for this quality and unusual size.
A little about me and my materials.
On blade forum here, I am both a dealer in raw materials and a custom knife maker. So you can expect to see me in both places. I began in about 1970 as an artist knife maker. Lived alone in the Alaska wilds as a hermit mountain man, trapping, living subsistence, out of touch with civilization. As part of my lifestyle I traveled a lot, living on a houseboat- so got known in most remote native villages. In time I got to be trusted as in the old times, a trapper trader. I also learned my animal parts, what they can be used for, how they hold up under different uses. Knife making being one aspect. In time I ended up with way more material then I can use in a lifetime, plus had knowledge. At art shows (never done a knife show in my life) I began seeing that other dealers became my customers. When the show is slow- vendors are a captive audience. When internet came along there seemed a great interest in the raw materials, so that part of business grew. I go to the big Tucson fossil show each year where my mother lives. I know most of the major players from around the world now. I advertize on my web site that I trade. This is now world wide. So I wheel deal barter sell buy restore design etc etc – adaptable I suppose to changing times, and keeping it ‘fun’. Some material I find myself, like mammoth ivory and bison bones. (this allows me to write off my boat as a business expense- got it all figured out. Some materials I get locally like wolf claws and moose bones. Some items I have a great deal of knowledge about. Other items I carry and only know a little bit about. I am unsure how much I will get posted. I tend to be busy and need time away from the (stupid) computer. I’m pretty much a one man operation. I have an in depth biography (even two books out) – how to, and advice- sections on my web site- with extensive pictures of Alaska and where I get materials and such for those interested. Many of my customers like to have a connection in some way to the material and knife they build. www.milesofalaska.net
How to purchase or inquire
Pay pal – miles@milesofalaska.net is my account and my email or request pay pal invoice be sent.
Credit card – go through pay pal- not set up for credit cards
Check or money order – After confirmation by email send to my address Or call me
Out of the US: inquire on any restrictions and payment options (pay pal preferred but Western Union is a choice)
Shipping and warranty policy Usually flat rate priority with delivery confirmation. Usually no more than $5 anywhere in the US for under 2 pounds. For Overseas inquire. Not set up to get creative with shipping. I live in a village of 300 people in the interior of Alaska. No UPS no FedEx no street numbers, just us savages and wild creatures. I’ve never needed insurance, just proof to you it was sent, proof to me you got it. And my word that if there is a problem I’ll make it right. We do not pay for that with money, but reputation. Be nice to me I’ll be nice to you. Easy return if not satisfied. Been in business 40 years. Not even one in 500 deals gets returned. I have credentials – satisfied customers , references upon request- and posted publically on my web site. I do need to be honest here.. in that due to my 25 years or so alone in the wilderness many of my beliefs and ways are unorthodox and out of sync with the rest of the world. Much of what I do- my whole lifestyle - is an art form- meaning ‘can not be repeated’ meaning ‘an experiment’ If there are any issues with me or my products please bring it to me and let me have the chance to fix it- make it right- before cussing me publically for crossing some line I may have never seen- was unaware of, and wow- now that you mention it …..
Order code (use when inquiring so we be on the same sheet of music!) R-fwi-111
Dimensions 13 inches long x 3.5 wide x 2.5 thick
Weight 4 pounds 1 ounce
Traditionally used how? Can be carved, used for knife scales pistol grips put on a lathe
Properties attributes- Very solid no cracks slightly hollow at base as this is the skull end of the tusk. Ok colors but guessing it will be almost white inside with some streaks of tan The core should be awesome pattern being from a big bull walrus.
Stuff to know Should not get this wet for long. This is an unusually fat tusk, so would give very wide scales, very good for fun grips. The colors not exciting more to the white side, but the core will have awesome pattern, and may have striking color streaks- often pinks (coming in from the base most likely). If I do not sell this it is not a huge big deal, I will cut it up myself when I have time and get twice to 3 times even 4 times this value as pistol grip sets. I just do not have time to work all the material I have.
Personal story-- connection I actually forget where I got this or how long I have had it. For years. I found it in a pile of stuff. I have 9 buildings (well maybe only structures- sheds) full of stuff. Truckloads anyhow. I once misplaced $10,000 worth of mammoth ivory and did not find it for 2 years. (and I make that public?) Well. No use hiding the fact I am eccentric. May as well make it a selling point then a fault ya know? I can say “Eccentric’ and follow it with a wink “but gifted” my ace in the hole.
Price $900
That makes it about $225 a pound, very reasonable price per pound for this quality and unusual size.
A little about me and my materials.
On blade forum here, I am both a dealer in raw materials and a custom knife maker. So you can expect to see me in both places. I began in about 1970 as an artist knife maker. Lived alone in the Alaska wilds as a hermit mountain man, trapping, living subsistence, out of touch with civilization. As part of my lifestyle I traveled a lot, living on a houseboat- so got known in most remote native villages. In time I got to be trusted as in the old times, a trapper trader. I also learned my animal parts, what they can be used for, how they hold up under different uses. Knife making being one aspect. In time I ended up with way more material then I can use in a lifetime, plus had knowledge. At art shows (never done a knife show in my life) I began seeing that other dealers became my customers. When the show is slow- vendors are a captive audience. When internet came along there seemed a great interest in the raw materials, so that part of business grew. I go to the big Tucson fossil show each year where my mother lives. I know most of the major players from around the world now. I advertize on my web site that I trade. This is now world wide. So I wheel deal barter sell buy restore design etc etc – adaptable I suppose to changing times, and keeping it ‘fun’. Some material I find myself, like mammoth ivory and bison bones. (this allows me to write off my boat as a business expense- got it all figured out. Some materials I get locally like wolf claws and moose bones. Some items I have a great deal of knowledge about. Other items I carry and only know a little bit about. I am unsure how much I will get posted. I tend to be busy and need time away from the (stupid) computer. I’m pretty much a one man operation. I have an in depth biography (even two books out) – how to, and advice- sections on my web site- with extensive pictures of Alaska and where I get materials and such for those interested. Many of my customers like to have a connection in some way to the material and knife they build. www.milesofalaska.net
How to purchase or inquire
Pay pal – miles@milesofalaska.net is my account and my email or request pay pal invoice be sent.
Credit card – go through pay pal- not set up for credit cards
Check or money order – After confirmation by email send to my address Or call me
Out of the US: inquire on any restrictions and payment options (pay pal preferred but Western Union is a choice)
Shipping and warranty policy Usually flat rate priority with delivery confirmation. Usually no more than $5 anywhere in the US for under 2 pounds. For Overseas inquire. Not set up to get creative with shipping. I live in a village of 300 people in the interior of Alaska. No UPS no FedEx no street numbers, just us savages and wild creatures. I’ve never needed insurance, just proof to you it was sent, proof to me you got it. And my word that if there is a problem I’ll make it right. We do not pay for that with money, but reputation. Be nice to me I’ll be nice to you. Easy return if not satisfied. Been in business 40 years. Not even one in 500 deals gets returned. I have credentials – satisfied customers , references upon request- and posted publically on my web site. I do need to be honest here.. in that due to my 25 years or so alone in the wilderness many of my beliefs and ways are unorthodox and out of sync with the rest of the world. Much of what I do- my whole lifestyle - is an art form- meaning ‘can not be repeated’ meaning ‘an experiment’ If there are any issues with me or my products please bring it to me and let me have the chance to fix it- make it right- before cussing me publically for crossing some line I may have never seen- was unaware of, and wow- now that you mention it …..
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