Mammoth tooth handles

[yitz]

Is the color in mammoth tooth handles natural or injected?

 

[Mark Knapp]

Mostly not, but one supplier does die them. I use them in natural colors.

 

[yitz]

Thanks for your response, but when you say natural colors, what does that mean? I thought that mammoth ivory gets its color from soaking up minerals. Is the same true for the teeth, when you see them with yellows and reds?

 

[braillediver]

How durable is Mammoth tooth as a handle?

 

[yitz]

I believe it's stabilized and coated. On the knife I use, it seems solid and quite durable.

 

[Jon Brand]

To me its not durable at all. If you drop it one of those little cracks is likely to break.

 

[Mark Knapp]

http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af239/toolsharpener/blade006_zps52f21e8c.jpg

These are all naturally colored mammoth tooth handles except the one that looks like it has eye balls. There are subtle blues and greens in some of them but if you see some that are bright green, blue or orange, they are died.

Mammoth tooth can be brittle, in fact it's probably the most brittle of the handle materials we use. If done in a hidden tang configuration like these, with protection on both ends you should have no trouble. I have made lots, starting fifteen years ago and none of them have come back. I would stay away from thin scales if you are afraid of cracking. Stick to scales a little thicker, like 1/4 inch or better and dove tail bolsters. Countersink pin holes if you are going to peen heads, or use domed heads.

 

[yitz]

Thanks!