Hippo tooth move much?

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
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I have a solid hippo tooth the I want to chop up. I know it's very dry, at least 20 years. I'm planning on using it for about a 1" throat on a bowie and doing my normal contoured throat/guard/handle thing. I'd also like to cut some of it up for folder scales. Should I expect this to move around alot?
 
J, I have some but have yet to use them. I hear soaking them in mineral oil really does help. Let me know how they work out.
 
J. the only hippo tooth I used was on the toast cutter, but if its that old I would say it should be very stable if you seal it with something like a good hard paste wax. Now if your talking about a tooth still on the hippo, it will move a great deal and probably quite quickly at times. :D

Bill
 
Ya know, I was just waiting to see how was going to make that comment first Bill.
;)

I chopped the "throat" out and sealed the couple cracks with crazy glue already. This is going to be going on a nice ladder pattern Vest Bowie (yep, Blade Mag. got me thinking) with presentation Ironwood Burl for the Blade show. So I hope to find out before Stamford (Coop photo session). Thanks guys.
 
Sounds like a beauty in progess J.

I should have figured an old goat roper like you would expect a smart *** like me, to come up with something. :D

Bill
 
The hippo will move but not as bad as new warlus. Warthog tusk are the best if you can find them big enough. For the throat you should not have any problems but watch the scales. I would only soak after assembly unless you are screwing the slabs on the folder. epoxy hates mineral oil.
 
Throw it in with some wood, and send it to WSSI for stabilization.

It accepts that real well, and won't move after that.
 
Hippo teeth will almost always crack down the length of the tooth. Sometimes going so far as to crack all the way through and thereby splitting the tooth in half. When working with it the enamel part is very hard and will quickly wear down a belt, however once you have worked through the enamel it will work very much the same as elephant ivory.
 
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