Ivory Handle Beauty Contest

Ivory has to be one of my all time favorite handle materials. There is so many types. Even in Elephant. Ancient, modern. bark, smooth,rough. The rich creamy colors from just under the bark on older, well cured Ivory. contrasting heart Ivory. It is hard to say just which I love the most. Asian is way different,especially deep into the tusk. Milk tusk his almost a clear'ish white sometimes. Cow Elephant compared to Bull. Different again. This doesn't even get into mammoth, Mastodon. Old Whale, Walrus, Very old ossic. ( Some think of it as an Ivory, an can be very striking.) It can be a very deep subject requiring a lot of study. About the only Ivory that I don't find beautiful is very new, High white Ivory. And even that at times can have a very strong cross checking pattern. I guess I just Love Ivory. Here is a very clean NY Special,-Hide Out rendition by a buddy from South Africa. Mr. Rob Brown. Nice work Rob! Mike and Manuela
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A blast from the past! A very white set of scales from Milk Tusk. The guard features New Bark texturing that was developed for a line of knives that I madr for Ted Nughent. About 1989-1992. Mike Yea, I know. Pic Blows!
 
JCaswell said:
Do you have much trouble with it 'moving' on you?
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I have very little trouble with fossil ivory moving (shrinking) Maybe three or four knives out of five hundred and none in the last few years. I have learned how to hanlde and treat ivory over the years for the best results. Also, great care needs to be taken with elephant ivory also, it can shrink and crack worse than fossil ivorys.
 
Here's a Great example of what John Fitch Did with a Good Chunk of Walrus Ivory.
Buddy:cool: :thumbup:
 

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I like the white stuff also. Here's one I had Mark Holson make for my wife, I supplied the steel and walrus ivory. This is an exceptional bowie.
 

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Hi guys, sorry I'm late as usual, but, being an ivory fan, just can't resist adding a few in addition to the 3 Roger kindly posted.

(Don, I know I owe you a call. :) )

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sunfishman said:
I like the white stuff also. Here's one I had Mark Holson make for my wife, I supplied the steel and walrus ivory. This is an exceptional bowie.
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Glad to see that one again! Mark really does a great job. His production is slow, but you know it will be outstanding when complete. Hope he has something in the fire as we speak!

Thanks for sharing.

- Joe
 
Ari, very glad to see ya. Hope you're doing good. Your contributions to these forums has been greatly missed, by me anyway :)
 
Excellent thread!!!! Great see such amazing pics and the wide variety of ivory. Here's some creme mammoth ivory by Mr. Tomes MS. I love the subtle variations within.



Here's folder by the late Mr. Ron Gaston. I had an opportunity to buy this from a very nice collector but the scrim kept me from jumping on it. Some nice elephant ivory though:

 
Here's a few more of Mr. Hanson's knives. I do not own these but saved the pics. First is Don's Slim Trapper which I beleive is Elephant Ivory (this is how I saved the pic):



This one is from Don's site. He calls it "Pine Tree Bark" which is a blue mammoth ivory with a stag like appearance. This is my favorite of all the ivory I have seen:

 
Wow Muddy672, those are some stunning and simply elegant knives!! Thanks you for sharing those pix.
 
Hi Ari,
Great images.Never saw the pommel/butt end of Big Blue.Very nice.
Don,Great Holson Bowie.
Buddy,Great Fitch.

Doug
 
As always, Ari's pics are great.

That folder of Bailey's never ceases to amaze me; it is the only example of red ivory that I have seen.
 
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