Mammoth ivory question

I

idahoguy

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Feb 8, 2013
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I've been looking at some of the new S&M's in mammoth ivory. Dang what a beautiful cover material. How durable is mammoth ivory as a cover material? Also, how are the covers attached? Thanks.
 
I don't own any, but I would think it would be as durable or more so (seeing as it is either fossilized or petrified) as ivory from more recent critters.
 
It's very pretty, but not super durable in my experience. I am not hard on my knives, but I have chipped a mammoth scale before. I carry my ivory knives in a slipcase now and they hold up fine.
 
I think the proper term is "Ancient Ivory." It isn't actually fossilized, or petrified; ie: turned to stone.

This is just very old ivory, and having lasted as long as it has, it must be pretty durable stuff.

I once encountered a guy with a piece of a 5" dia. tusk over his shoulder. (This was in a place with all kinds of artsy galleries etc., where I was trying to exhibit my carvings -Granville Island in Vancouver BC).

He told me that he had found this 20 pound chunk of ancient ivory in the Yukon, and wondered if it was worth anything. I replied, "It sure is, and probably worth a lot more than you would believe!" I tried to point him toward custom knife makers, who I am pretty sure would have been VERY interested in what he had.
 
Interesting that the ivory isn't petrified, just "old". Sure looks tempting to me.

ERNIE, what did it take to chip the cover on your knife?
 
I believe that the Ivory Ban goes into effect on September 28, 2015. This will make it Illegal to Buy, Sell, Trade, Import or Export ALL types of Ivory.
 
The pending federal ban only applies to elephant ivory, apparently, and not yet mammoth or mastadon (see quote below from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service site). Or at least, so far...

(Text below quoted from site: http://www.fws.gov/international/travel-and-trade/ivory-ban-questions-and-answers.html ; I added the bold type & underline for relevant emphasis.)

"What other types of ivory are used, and how will they be affected by these actions?

These actions will not affect ivory derived from other species such as walrus, warthog, hippopotamus, mammoth and mastodon. Asian elephant ivory is already regulated under the ESA and CITES. Ivory derived from toothed whales is already regulated by the ESA, CITES and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Strict application of the definition of antique may limit some Asian elephant and whale ivory trade. See the section about antiques for more information. "
Click to expand...

Apparently, New York and New Jersey have enacted bans on the sale or trade of mammoth and mastadon ivory & teeth; these are only state-level bans though, with remaining states not affected so far. Other states are apparently considering such legislation, however (California being at least one).


David
 
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