Giraffe bone

D

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I heard on the radio today that the giraffe is more endangered now than the elephant. That was news to me. Less than 100,000 walking around today. I know there is a moratorium on ivory imports and trade but what about giraffe bone? How do we acquire giraffe bone for use on knife handles?

Maybe one of the dealers or manufacturers can answer or comment?

,,,Mike in Canada
 
Giraffe bone is currently freely available in many countries with no restrictions.

Saw the mention of this on the BBC today too. However, until such time as it gets itself on the CITIES list, I don't think you'll have a problem obtaining.


Plenty around last show I went to in Sept...


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I don't believe that giraffes are killed for their bones the way elephants were for their ivory, so that might make a difference in the restrictions (or lack there of) placed on the material.
 
I read something interesting in Blade magazine (sub courtesy of Randy's Xmas giveaway last year) regarding giraffe bone. Supposedly in the parts of Africa where there are still giraffes, tarmac roads have led to a decline in numbers. Previously, the giraffe could outrun most predators, but they can't run across the roads as their hooves slip on the surface. So, lions, for example, have learned to sit near the sides of the roads, and make easy prey of the giraffes as they struggle to cross. According to what I read, piles of giraffe bones are quite common by the sides of the roads, and people living nearby gather them up to sell.
 
I do believe they are scavenged versus hunted as well. We have a Crow Scout from HFB for sale with giraffe bone and I own a chef knife with a died giraffe bone handle. From my understanding, the chef knife was scavenged material and I will say, it makes a great handle set. Reminds me of a harded micarta...definitely different than a traditional stag or horn...
 
I've heard on the internet (grain of salt) that they are poached for their leg bones, and have seen pictures of legless dead giraffes. No telling if the giraffe was already dead and was scavenged, though. It doesn't seem to be as big a problem as poaching elephants.

I've never had a giraffe handled knife. What's so special about it?
 
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