Mammoth Ivory questions

K

KCkc

Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
170
OK, so if I decide to keep the cream/ivory MI mnandi, how do I care for my MI scales after handling each day ?

I currently use a Tuf-Cloth for the blades. I usually wipe it over the scales if it is a wood handle. But will Tuf-Cloth be hard on the Mnandi MI ?

How about moist cloth wipe and then dry with a dry cloth ?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
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Previously :
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OK, I just got my MI Mnandi.

But here are my concerns :
1. is it a fragile material that will crack like a MOP if not babied/dropped/accidentally banged against a hard surface ?
2. will it shrink ?
3. I heard it does not like moisture much and will warp or shrink, any thoughts ?

I am thinking of returning it, even though I LOVE IT A LOT. But given the fact that I expect to use it as EDC in my pocket (light perspiration in humid Los Angeles) and will cut things, etc, am I on the wrong track for material selection ? Should I pick African Blackwood instead ?

I do not intend to have this one left in a humidor box for periodic OOOOs & aaaahhhss.

BTW, I love my micarta and have been spoiled by its ruggedness.
 
I've always found ivory to be a really tough material that doesn't need to be babied. I'll qualify that with - the ivory I've used for years (ok DECADES!) has been on my Colts, and is elephant ivory. Mnandi ivory I anticipate is even tougher because its been "stabilized" with a resin bath. (someone correct me if I'm wrong!). I cannot imagine the Mnandi ivory shrinking...or being bothered by moisture (have you felt the humidity here in South Carolina?).
Keep it, use it - you will learn to appreciate not only its beauty, but its abillity to withstand some use-and-abuse.
 
KC,

Nukemkb is right. This stuff is pretty tough. I'm assuming you have the cream colored ivory, right? It's stabilized to boot. I'm here in MI with you and have several mammoth Seb's and Mnandi's with no problem's ever. Being a serious user of these I can confess.

Though, if you really have to give it up, drop me an email, I might take it off your hands for a fair price....espmet@wowway.com :D
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I think it's pretty tough stuff, I mean it's lasted 10,000 years so far :) I've been carrying and using mine since I got it a few weeks ago and I plan to contine to do so. I'd keep it if I was you and just use the heck out of it.
 
See editted questions in the original post on care and maintenance of the MI scales. Thanks.
 
I don't care at all, ZERO maintenance. And both scales look like on day one!

They survived several thousands years in the ground, so couple of years in my pocket shouldn't be a big deal, right? ;)
 
I agree. I cannot imagine the need to do anything special...and I don't see any special instructions for care and maintenance of ivory on the CRK webpage.
 
Mineral oil soaks once or twice a year help to keep ivory (or horn material) in good condition.But on a stabilized one,the mineral oil may not be needed.
 
thanks for that tip.
I think the CRK one has been treated but I am not sure.
 
If I am not mistaken, mammoth ivory is fossilized, meaning all of the pores have been replaced with mineral deposits over thousands of years. It is nature's way of stabilization. Fossilized material, like petrified wood, for example, is essentially as stable as a stone, and will be impervious to humidity, solvents, etc. "New" ivory (not fossilized), is subject to drying out and cracking over time, thus the recommendation of soaking it in mineral oil occasionally (unless it is stabilized, of course).
My only concern for mammoth ivory would be brittleness, subject to cracking on impact. But this is true of any hard material that is thinly sliced. On CRK knives, the inlays are well-supported against a flat surface, so this should never be a problem in practice.
 
jki said:
... On CRK knives, the inlays are well-supported against a flat surface, so this should never be a problem in practice.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm...

On a closer look, the part where the frame lock is for the mnandi is not supported when the blade is open. This may cause stress when the frame lock bar is pushed too hard on closing or when there is a hard grip or when the knife is dropped or knocked around when opened (things happen in the strangest ways). But that will not be me (hopefully).

Based on your comment, I think it will have better structural support if it is a Sebenza inlay since the frame lock has no inlay over nor above the frame lock as in the mnandi.

Oh no...I never had that thought....:eek:
 
I think you're worrying a little too much KCkc :P. I'm sure that nothing will happen to your ivory, and if anything should happen, Chris Reeve will take very good care of you.
 
I have a MI Mnandi that I don't baby at all. It still looks great:) ! Evey once and a while I use nuetral wood polish to add a little moisture but I don't think it's necessay.
 
Yes, I think I am paranoid and did I say I love this mnandi A LOT ???

Hard to be a worry wart and a newbie sometimes = ) LOL.
 
Damn, I have got to get me a mammoth ivory Mnandi. I've been lusting after one of those for a long time, and these kinds of threads just make it worse.
 
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