I used to like Ivory

I only buy Mammoth if we're talking ivory. They're already dead, so it doesn't matter to take that. But I don't want to kill Elephants, I like them! :(

Personally, I prefer bone or horn. Antler is good too.

My personal favorite is actually buffalo horn, with elk antler a second and sheep horn a third.
 
Mammoth or no ivory.
Natgeo.
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CornSyrup said:
I find that most of the arguments "for" ivory are voiced by people who, or who have customers who, own products made of ivory which would lose considerable value in the face of an ivory ban. Custom fixed blades and slipjoints made with the material being among them.
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bans drive up the values in the black market dramatically. always has always will. legit law following markets that's true but overall doesnt stop anything.


i have no love for ivory and dont have any interest in it.
 
NO BRAINER, nothing good about the Ivory trade. Its poaching/black market not hunting/harvesting in most situations.
 
Hickory n steel said:
...but I wish that there was a foundation that takes the money made on salvaging piano keys and the knives that have them and uses it to fund conservation efforts for wildlife in Africa.
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I actually like that idea a lot. I'm not a big fan of ivory either, but I'd buy a knife from an organization like that.
 
Almost every "charity" or cause are money laundering tax cheating schemes. Look at how they spend "donations" and who they hire in important policy dictating positions. Everything thing is legal but it is far from what the average dupe believes. These are created by elite for elite. First, natural habitat is willfully developed (aka destroyed) preventing locals from producing food and then arm locals with weapons to feed themselves and then criticize them for living. Then they get the mocking birds to criticize them too and in come clean donations along with other monies. Wash, rinse, repeat. No one changes their buying habits when people are displaced but an elephant or polar bear and all hell breaks loose. Mammoth is better than ivory anyway and they died naturally as if it mattered anyway. We can clone the tusk NOW anyway so another moot point. Investigate any professional beggars before you fund their operation or they'll never stop.
 
I have no problem with pre-ban ivory...it's been used for fancy handgun grips for several hundred years.
Not ALL ivory has come from poaching by any means...

My son made this watch-fob for me out of commercially-obtained elephant hide...a long-lasting leather...
He did not shoot the elephant..., but I share your passion against poaching...
 
With any material, you have to do your research. If you play guitar, you pay a premium for Brazilian and Madagascar Rosewood. A reputable Builder/Supplier should know how/when the wood was sourced and if it will require any specific documentation (if it were exported or in case it crosses customs).

Mammoth Ivory, although extinct, can drive illegal trade, poaching, etc. I've linked a good article from National Geographic:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/...-trade-legal-china-african-elephant-poaching/

I've owned two CRK mammoth pieces in the past and sold both upon reading the above article.

When it comes to scale materials, Micarta and G10 are my picks.
 
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It's not just ivory that has a problem. I was checking some things last week and found out that IUCN now lists gabon ebony as an endangered species. So I won't buy any more of it. Too bad, I love a good ebony, but I won't support the depletion of an endangered species.

Other wood species are not far behind. IUCN lists cocobolo as vulnerable, only one step away from endangered.
 
I know that Ivory is special to a lot of us. I'd love to have pieces with it.

BUT

Fellas, Elephants are really about to go extinct. It's not sustainable anymore. It never was actually but they're on their way out. It's high time that to at least have pity if you can't or don't want to do anything about it.
 
The stockpile preban is not effectice. It sounds like a very flawed system. As long as Ivory has Intrinsic value then the poachers have a reason to hunt them. 1,000 people die a year from trying to preserve elephants. Many of them westerners from wildlife conservation. Big human scarifice.
 
If ivory was a bit "nicer" looking - like a more pure white, then I might be interested.

So good thing there is no conflict of interest! (Elephants vs. Capitalism)
 
Good for you OP! Way to put this thread up too! Very cool! I would rather have Micarta any day over Elephant Ivory, for many reasons. I will admit, I do have one mammoth molar auto, never had Elephant or giraffe anything.
 
I can understand if a species of plant went extinct that was used for harvesting exotic woods. That will stll effect the ecosystem though.
Watching them kill mother elephants and hack their Ivory off and then abandon the baby elephant for death.
It's almost impossible for baby elephants without their mother. It's the equivalent of a baby infant human without adult interaction. The baby will surely die. The emotional distress is extremely high too. I'm not even sure why the poachers don't kill the babies too. Probably because they know wildlife conservation will try to raise the baby. When that doesn't happen though the life of a baby elephant will be so bad they would have been better shot with their mom then leaving them to starve to death.
 
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