Ivory handles

Hatchet_Jack

Hatchet_Jack

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I'm going to buy my sons a knife to put away for when they each turn 18. While I'm at it I would like to buy myself a new hunting knife. I saw the maker offered mammoth ivory scales on one of their knives. It's a pretty penny but i figure if it lasts a lifetime it wouldn't be all that bad. I know there are probably some folks that would say such a special knife shouldn't be used. To the contrary with me, to spend so much money it better earn its keep!

My question is how strong and resilient is ivory? I hunt in what you guys would consider western style hunting. That is up and down mountains, through hot, cold, wet, dry and a little humid from time to time. will ivory stand up to that without warping or any many changes?

Will blood stain it? for that matter will it still be reliable in the hand or does ivory get slippery with blood?

Any help from those with experience is appreciated.
 
I don't like ivory or any smooth scale knives for hunting. They can get bloody but they like to slip while you're cutting, gutting or skinning. On the other hand they sure do look nice and will hold up as well as any other scale. Good luck on your search!
 
Do a google search. Real modern ivory has been banned but elephants are still being killed illegally.

Mamouth Ivory is mined out of permafrost. People are risking their lives to get it, then they are sometimes taken advantage of. The quality and durability varies greatly. Its 10,000 years old. Some has been preserved better than others. It can be brittle.

I personally have always avoided Ivory, but its a personal decision.

For elegant handles I prefer stag. Antlers drop off every year and regrow.

Linen Micarta is another option that can look a lot like ivory.
 
I have a lot of ivory handles knives (all vintage Sheffield) and it is not the most durable material- all but a couple have cracks and/or pin splits. For a hunting knife stag or a stable synthetic like micarta or g10 would be my personal preference.
 
Staining shouldn't be a problem. Durability as far as hardness is good.

It is sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, especially when it goes from one extreme to another. It does not like heat, i.e. under a hot lamp or left on a sunny window sill or car dash.

Scales can warp or curl. Some people store it in humidity controlled safes and a good mineral oil wipe or soak once or twice a year is helpful. Sometimes it is stabilized but I personally don't think that does much and I've still seen it warp or shrink.

I think the most stable and durable application is to use walrus ivory on a hidden/through tang where a solid chunk of tusk is used for the handle.
 
Here are my mammoth knives, etc. If you really want mammoth, I'd probably go with the molar (multi-color). Even stabilized ivory can leech color from, say blue jeans, if worn in the pocket. Not an issue with fixed blade, in most cases.

1) On the left is the Case XX Canoe with ring-cut blue-dyed Woolly Mammoth tusk covers by Sampson Customs;
2) At top is a Tak Fukuta (Seki city) pocket knife made for Browning with hand-forged Damascus blade and bolsters and Woolly Mammoth molar scales;
3) On the right is my newest addition, a full custom slip joint by Vincenzo Balistreri with "Munin" pattern Damasteel blade in a Wharncliffe shape, Woolly Mammoth ivory covers with a brass mosaic shield, and a mammoth lanyard bead:
4) On the bottom is a William Henry money clip in Mokume Gane and a Woolly Mammoth tooth insert;
5) And in the middle, the William Henry B12 Spearpoint "Adventure" with frame and bolsters in hand-forged "T-Rex" Damascus by Delbert Ealy, inlaid with the ring cut of a Woolly Mammoth tusk. The blade is 'Intrepid' Damascus hand-forged by Chad Nichols.
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IMG_2659.JPG
 
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My concern with mammoth ivory would be if the knife were dropped. A fall on a rock might cause the handle(s) to break. For an "outdoors" knife I'd go with micarta, G10, wood, or leather (washers), if I also wanted something that looked nice.
 
Looking at Fontenille Pataud laguiole sport specifically. I wouldn't have a sybthetic handle, if it come to that I'd just stick with what I have. May have to consider another medium.
Maybe ironwood, walnut or snake wood. I do have an affinity for boxwood but it stains so easily I find.
I wouldn't buy an antler handled knife. As a hunter and amateur dabbler in knife maker I'd just do my own if I ever felt the urge for one.

I'm early 30's and my wife just had our third and final (hopefully) child. I'm ordering my 3 sons a le pocket laguiole in walnut. Classic, but strong and beautiful. I'll store them well and give them a clean every year until the boys are of age. I did initially buy them a good bottle of single malt but had a moisture issue with my wine fridge and one of the bottles got a warped label. Figured a knife is a better and more practical gift anyway.
 
I have knives for all my kids, so I think that is a great idea:)
Their knives are Buck custom shop knives with their initials and date engraved. My oldest has a Chris Reeve from her birthday, but my other two were born on non-production days so I just ordered Bucks for all of them. My two oldest (17 and 13) already have their Buck knives and the other one (7) is patiently waiting. I told my daughter that the CRK (which happens to be a snakewood annual!) will be a wedding gift at this point due to its value.
 
I absolutely love me some bone, tusk, mammoth, and ivory(look alikes unless it were vintage). I don't think I've ever felt real elephant ivory though, I just love the classy old time look of it. I got a Arno Bernard iMamba in warthog tusk that I really love, like badmatt badmatt recommended above. Arno Bernard makes a lot of fixed blade hunting style knives in all the handle materials you've mentioned.

I inherited several whale teeth from my grandpa, he spent much of his life on the sea. He used to skrimshaw them and was very good. Someday I'd love to send one to a knifemaker and have them cut some scales or inlays for me 👍
 
I had this set made for my brothers and I. This is my favorite hunting knife pattern, and while we've pretty much quit hunting I thought it would be kind of nice to have an heirloom we could pass down. The scales are mammoth ivory. I fully expect they will be around long after I'm gone.

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I was going to suggest synthetics for many of the reasons posted here. I see you don't want that so I would suggest a good looking wood instead.
 
I love the look of mammoth but it will chip rather easily. I'd suggest g10, linen or canvas, much more durable for user knives, if left rough they have a great grip as well.
 
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