milesofalaska
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
- Messages
- 514
Material isFossil walrus ivory
Order code (use when inquiring so we be on the same sheet of music!) R-fwi-round 1210
Dimensions 5 inches long x 2 ¼ across one way x 1 ½ the other way
Weight one pound and one ounce
Properties attributes highly sought after knife handle material handles like a hard wood, color all the way to the core- could be for scales. Fit in the hand well as is could be turned in a lathe inner is sold no soft spots - no cracks. I envision a single handle on a very high end knife for this but could be cut up for spacers, end caps,, guards, sections used etc, not necessarily in one knife. My other market to offer this too is jewelers for pendants. Cross cuts of this would make 25 or so cabs at $25 each for $625 worth of jewelry.
Stuff to know Do not get wet while working or it might crack do not overheat otherwise no issues. This piece has a rough exterior that needs to come off there is a surface crack where an outer 1/16th wants to come off. Pretty normal for material this old see picture of cracked area. With all outer roughness removed still plenty of diameter for a hefty handle and room to spare. This material in the very rough and those who know ivory will know this is one awesome chunk of material with little waste. This is such select material I should take the time to sand it shine it up to show it but I do now know how buyer wants to use it maybe carve it or turn it into scales. If this does not sell I will use it myself for make scales for more money.
Personal story-- connection I have a regular customer in Denmark who usually buys up all my high end ivory. He needed more then I had, so I put out the word with connections up north. Communication is slow in remote villages. Get back to me soon means within the next month. At first I had to reply with words like Dang- edit that picture down- it locked up my computer downloading it! Get it to under a megabyte! And Ok but I need a ruler in the picture or something to show size Buy the time we made it all happen I had already filled the order with some lower quality material. The customer was happy with it, but then the good stuff begins to come in. There were a lot of storms this summer up north holding up digging. A young Eskimo from the coastal village of Savoonga supplied this to me. Maybe 19 years old, first tusk she found and was all excited. I paid more then usual wholesale in the village, but wanted to help this new excited beach digger out. I cut it up into knife handle sizes. The other pieces have sold already, this is the last one.
Picture above shows surface crack refered to
Price $255 May sound high- this is $15 an ounce- $240 a pound. This grade often sells at $300 a pound even $350.
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. Im 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. Ive 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 Ill make it right. We do not pay for that with money, but reputation. Be nice to me Ill 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-round 1210
Dimensions 5 inches long x 2 ¼ across one way x 1 ½ the other way
Weight one pound and one ounce
Properties attributes highly sought after knife handle material handles like a hard wood, color all the way to the core- could be for scales. Fit in the hand well as is could be turned in a lathe inner is sold no soft spots - no cracks. I envision a single handle on a very high end knife for this but could be cut up for spacers, end caps,, guards, sections used etc, not necessarily in one knife. My other market to offer this too is jewelers for pendants. Cross cuts of this would make 25 or so cabs at $25 each for $625 worth of jewelry.
Stuff to know Do not get wet while working or it might crack do not overheat otherwise no issues. This piece has a rough exterior that needs to come off there is a surface crack where an outer 1/16th wants to come off. Pretty normal for material this old see picture of cracked area. With all outer roughness removed still plenty of diameter for a hefty handle and room to spare. This material in the very rough and those who know ivory will know this is one awesome chunk of material with little waste. This is such select material I should take the time to sand it shine it up to show it but I do now know how buyer wants to use it maybe carve it or turn it into scales. If this does not sell I will use it myself for make scales for more money.
Personal story-- connection I have a regular customer in Denmark who usually buys up all my high end ivory. He needed more then I had, so I put out the word with connections up north. Communication is slow in remote villages. Get back to me soon means within the next month. At first I had to reply with words like Dang- edit that picture down- it locked up my computer downloading it! Get it to under a megabyte! And Ok but I need a ruler in the picture or something to show size Buy the time we made it all happen I had already filled the order with some lower quality material. The customer was happy with it, but then the good stuff begins to come in. There were a lot of storms this summer up north holding up digging. A young Eskimo from the coastal village of Savoonga supplied this to me. Maybe 19 years old, first tusk she found and was all excited. I paid more then usual wholesale in the village, but wanted to help this new excited beach digger out. I cut it up into knife handle sizes. The other pieces have sold already, this is the last one.
Picture above shows surface crack refered to
Price $255 May sound high- this is $15 an ounce- $240 a pound. This grade often sells at $300 a pound even $350.
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. Im 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. Ive 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 Ill make it right. We do not pay for that with money, but reputation. Be nice to me Ill 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 ..
