Girafe Bone... what´s your opinion?

I don't like giraffe bone.I feel its a cheap way to put handles on what otherwise would be some good looking knives.The maker should also pass on the savings to the customer (which rairly seems to happen ).To me giraffe bone is just like cattle bone.Cattle bone I believe is taken from the shin bone is usually disgarded.The bone can also be dyed any color and is used on low end knives except on makers doing traditional models like Tony Bose,Shadley,etc.I also think giraffe bone is a fad that won't last long (I hope).If pearls and ivory are too scarce and too much money then bring out the old well polished wood.
 
although not a giraffe bone enthousiast, i like the material when it matches the style of a knife and positively supports a harmonic overall impression. two of my favourite knives have bone handles (one gb, the other one steller's sea cow):

24895607_68e0e4e394.jpg


by rodrigo sfreddo; handle: giraffe bone


99297128_12c8f77e2e.jpg


by rik palm; handle: steller's sea cow

brightred
 
Stephen, if you do a search on eBay for mammoth ivory you will find that most of the scales sold there by Charles Turnage sell for under $100.00 a set.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Stephen, if you do a search on eBay for mammoth ivory you will find that most of the scales sold there by Charles Turnage sell for under $100.00 a set.
Click to expand...

It would be interesting to hear from a few makers on this, it was my understanding that Mammoth is highly grade for colour, condition, and size. I would guess that to make a good Bowie (frame) handle you need a pair of pieces plus/minus c. 5+" X 1 1/2 x 1/2 to be able to shape etc. If high grade in that sort of size can be had for less than $100 then I need to rethink the premium I am willing to pay! Would welcome some real buyers input here.

Stephen
 
I always thought it was just another material... I didn't realize so many people thought it was an ivory "knock-off."

Some of it I like a lot, some of the out-landish colors you see it being dyed are quite ugly. The Sfreddo knife Stephen recently aquired is a good example of it looking great on a knife (IMHO).

You may be able to get ivory scales for a folder that are $100, but I've never seen any for that price that would work on a mortised tang or framed handled big knife (fighter/bowie).

The last set of ivory SCALES that I bought are primo, fossilized and a beautiful green color, and they are big enough for a big bowie... $275 (I bought them 3 years ago at Blade and still haven't used them).

I do think it's kind of funny so many people HOPE to see GB "go away." Since it's all personal preference and "eye of the beholder" ....just don't look at those knives made with it ;) Kind of like changing the channel if you don't like the show :p
 
I don't think you can get that size for $100. Maybe some interior / white mastodon, but even those are hard to find in large sizes.
 
NickWheeler said:
The last set of ivory SCALES that I bought are primo, fossilized and a beautiful green color, and they are big enough for a big bowie... $275 (I bought them 3 years ago at Blade and still haven't used them).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input Nick, I thought that may be the case:D

Stephen
 
Charles doesn't have scales that are 1/2" thick very often, but he does have many that are 4 1/2"-5" X 1 1/2"-1 3/4" X 3/8". They are quite often green or blue and will sell for between $100.00 and $140.00. I have seen a few that get up to 5 1/2" X 2" X 5/8" and still don't get over $150.00. He usually has about 30 pairs of scales or more on eBay at all times. He also sells mammoth tooth scales and blocks. You can also order from his website. The link below shows how to calculate the price.

http://fineturnage.com/knife_handle_scales.php
 
I do think it's kind of funny so many people HOPE to see GB "go away." Since it's all personal preference and "eye of the beholder" ....just don't look at those knives made with it Kind of like changing the channel if you don't like the show
Click to expand...

I don't hope it goes away...I know it will. It is just too bad that there have been a number of knives I have passed on that had gorgeous blades and GB handles.
Any other handle and I would have bit. Oh well.

Great link to Mr. Turnage's site. Thanks.

Hmmmm, an extra $100 for mammoth over the bleached, dyed shin of a leaf eating, goofy animal?

well, umm OK~:p
 
I have made several knive with giraffe bone handles that I, and my customers, are quite satisfied with. Giraffe bone is quite dense, as bones go, and is very strong, without being stabillized. After it's stabilized, well, it's as strong as whatever the stabilizing agent was/is. I agree that the wild coloring we often see looks ridiculous, but a GB handle dyed with a subdued shade of brown or tan just looks like any other old bone to me, but makes a great using handle that looks good as well. I have never thought of it as "fake mammoth ivory", have never heard of anyone selling it as such, and will never try to market it that way. If bovine shin bone can look like GB, I'll be the first in line to buy some, if some enterprising soul will put it up for sale, because there's just something about that antique bone look that does it for me. Maybe I'll head down to PETSMART and try out the cow bone idea for myself...

It will go away if either the market for it, or the supply of it, goes away. As long as there are customers who are willing to buy it (and I know quite a few), the market won't be going away. The political climate being what it is in most of the giraffe's native range, noone can say with certainty what the supply will do. Could this have something to do with the demand for it? I know the supply of quality hippo ivory comes and goes, and I try to stock up when I can at reasonable prices. Will this be the fate of giraffe bone? I think that the market will soon make those outlandish colored scales a thing of the past, but I also firmly believe that GB is here to stay in the form of antique colors, as long as the politics don't interfere with demand.

Todd


Todd
 
I think that some people are foregtting that we are talking about $1000+ knives with GB. Not $300 knives.

For any knife that micarta or g-10 would be acceptable, so would Geoffrey..I mean GB:D
 
"I think that some people are forgetting that we are talking about $1000+ knives with GB. Not $300 knives."

I'm soooo sorry... Although I have reread this thread in it's entirety, I missed the knife value floor/cieling. I'll kindly stop interfering with the master collectors... So sorry...:jerkit:

Todd
 
You are missing the point.

That post gets a nice :jerkit: right back at ya, Mr. Giraffe bone stroker.

Signed,
Mr. Master collector
 
Todd Robbins said:
"I'm soooo sorry... Although I have reread this thread in it's entirety, I missed the knife value floor/cieling. I'll kindly stop interfering with the master collectors... So sorry...:jerkit:

Todd
Click to expand...

Most of the knives pictured are higher value pieces.

I don't know about master collectors, but most of us chiming in spend $10,000 per year or better on this hobby/addiction/fixation knife thing, and most of the guys speaking up are pretty cool, I know more than a few personally. There are at least 3 collectors opining in this thread that have written articles for knife magazines. I don't know if that makes us masters, but we know what we like, and we buy it. For the majority of buyers here, that is not a lot of giraffe bone. Personally, to add to the other thoughts that I shared, I just cannot see it as a premium material. It is just slightly subpar to jigged cow bone to me.

You are not interfering, you are entitled to your opinions as much as anybody else, but the :jerkit: was a little premature......ha ha ha!!!:D :p :D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Would you kindly explain what point I'm missing? I failed to find the price floor you alluded to in your post after I repeatedly reread the entire topic and recused myself from further interruption of those who are so obviously my betters. If you can point the way to the referenced price range, I'll gladly rethink my position. If you cannot, why are you posting that I'm "missing the point"? I have plainly admitted that your superior intellect has proven me daft and unable to post intelligently in your world, and I am perfectly willing to go humbly about the business of making knives with giraffe bone handles and selling them for under $1000, as that must be the price cieling for my product.:jerkit:

Todd
 
Todd Robbins said:
"I think that some people are forgetting that we are talking about $1000+ knives with GB. Not $300 knives."

I'm soooo sorry... Although I have reread this thread in it's entirety, I missed the knife value floor/cieling. I'll kindly stop interfering with the master collectors... So sorry...:jerkit:
Click to expand...
Todd - I think your point is valid but the tone was way out of line.
 
I've bought $300 range custom knives and several $1,000 plus custom knives and I don't like GB on either price point. From a Ray Cover slipjoint to a MS forged beauty, it just doesn't look good to me and I wouldn't buy a knife with GB as a handle material.

I respect and enjoy reading the opinions of all the big boy collectors on this forum...but just because you guys are driving the conversation doesn't mean we can only talk about $1000 plus knives. GB isn't for me on anything.

JT
 
JTurner said:
I respect and enjoy reading the opinions of all the big boy collectors on this forum...but just because you guys are driving the conversation doesn't mean we can only talk about $1000 plus knives. GB isn't for me on anything.

JT
Click to expand...

Not quite sure who has given the impression of "big boy" collectors, and as far as I am aware the original start of the thread made no reference to a price point, although some of the replies do distinguish between their acceptance of GB on lower price knives, but on higher price ones they would rather spend more and get Ivory.

The discussion really is an open and enjoyable one between some collectors (ALL) and makers, which I think we have established really boils down to personal perference ....... oh, and oft forgotten Giraffe stampede of '72 that affected many of the northern US States, leaving many collectors with a morbid fear and hatred of aforementioned beast. (thanks S Mc)

:D Stephen
 
Some knife designs just "scream" for light colored handle material. It's kind of a shame that GB is taking such a beating.

So what other light colored handle materials would be acceptable for makers to use on "High-end" knives besides ivory ? Would a $10 piece of stabilized wood be more appealing?
 
So what other light colored handle materials would be acceptable for makers to use on "High-end" knives besides ivory ? Would a $10 piece of stabilized wood be more appealing?
__________________
Click to expand...

some stag
rams horn
moose, elk
giraffe in its white state isn't really the issue for me, its the grossly unnatural colors that it is dyed that are the turnoff in most cases.
I have never seen a $10 set of slabs that was worthy for a $1K knife.
Most high-end wood I have used has been more like $50+ for a set of slabs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top