Mammoth tusk material question

I

idahoguy

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Feb 8, 2013
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The local pawn type store has a box of mammoth tusk pieces for sale. They are about 3/8" thick and about 2" x 8", and rounded in shape, obviously having come from the outer part of the tusk. Do tusks get petrified, or can any piece be used? I think it takes millions of years for petrification, but not sure.
 
Mammoth ivory is not petrified. Some has become "mineralized," which causes it to assume colors.
 
If it is not delaminated, it will work just fine. Offer them $100 for the whole box.
 
I'm going to buy a couple of pieces today and cut and sand on them and see what's inside. Thanks. They look like the color and texture of oyster shells (not as rough) on the outside.
 
Where ya at in Idaho ? I'd be interested in some if you don't pick it all up and it is not priced too high. Chris
 
I was at a gun show once and passed on a shoe box full of mammoth ivory pieces. I felt the price was too good to be true and was worried about the ivory being real. Came home and did some research on how to tell real ivory from fake. The best test I could find is to lick your index finger and then try to slide it on the ivory. If the finger sticks its ivory, if it slides its synthetic. I have tried this test and it does seem to hold water. I have since of course never come across a similar box but there ya are it might help ya a bit.
 
We all have passed up something we kick ourselves for the later on. At Blade many years back I was shown a box of oosik a maker brought along for trading or selling. It probably had 20-30 pieces, some of them whole, all of them usable for handles. The fellow wanted $500 for it as a lot. I passed on it because I didn't think I would need that much oosik. Later that day I realized what a great deal it was. I went back and it was gone. I still look in the mirror and say, "Stoopid!"
 
winterbear said:
Where ya at in Idaho ? I'd be interested in some if you don't pick it all up and it is not priced too high. Chris
Click to expand...

Chris... I live in Potlatch, Northern Idaho. I have a call in to the guy who made a custom for me, and I might work out a deal with him. He has yet to call me back.
 
Lets try and keep the buying/selling of this off the forum. Use email or PM to discuss interest and sharing.
 
You got it Stacy. I am just across the border work in pullman and have lots of family in the potlatch/Princeton / Harvard area. Drop me a email Id like to meet more local knife people. And we can talk ivory offline. Chris Roberts
 
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