Old Teeth! The Beauty of Creation!

waynorth

waynorth

Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
33,347
There is a lot of hysteria, ill-advised lawmaking (in my opinion), and mistaken sentiment (again, in my opinion) surrounding the use of animal teeth in creative endeavor, in the immediate case, knifemaking.
I hope not another Elephant, nor any other animal is killed only for their teeth. Nor do I wish endangered species to be taken at all!
But I also do not want pre-Ban (hopefully, pre-Ignorance really!) teeth destroyed! At best, burning Ivory adds to greenhouse gasses - real green (not!)!
And nothing better than Bookburning (God forbid!) is accomplished by destroying old knives with Ivory handles!
I say celebrate all we have learned in a positive way! And respect the inherent spirit in the teeth of the animals who have given their lives to feed and adorn us humans!

With respect, show off your old toothy knives! Don't forget about them! If we put them behind us we will forget the lessons it took so long to learn!

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The R.Bunting Jack is actually a nice exception to usual past practice. A "wharncliffe" style blade in a straight Jack, was not common in my experience in early knifemaking. I like the proportions of this one. While worn, most of the blade remains. It's nice and snappy, has a half stop, and is about Barlow length at 3 3/8". Beautifully aged Toothy handles make it special. Middle 1800s!!

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The Saynor is a one-piece-handle Budding knife. Nicely lined with brass, it is also firmly functional, 4 1/2" long with a 2" blade. Ivory was considered the best material for a "spud"; very durable, and didn't interfere with the viability of the vegetation.

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Please, if you have some aging Ivory-handled knives, or other toothy cutlery, post them here!!
 
Beauty's Charlie for sure and in total agreement with your post. Unfortunately no pictures of the only Ivory beauty I once owned. Sold to a friend, just wish I would've saved the pictures.

A BIG single blade English Jack with a Rat Tail iron bolster. It was a barehead with a lanyard hole and one of the firmest pulls I ever owned.
 
This Seahorse Whittler is marked like an old Case, but it looks like it was made in Germany. Still the ivory is real, and I carried it quite a bit.
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This old Electric has Ivory too. It's one of my favorites; a Congress pattern, a whittler, ivory, curved shield...
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I feel the same about Ivory as I do about Tortoise Shell; destroying what little there is only provides incentive to make more (legally or illegally) as it inflates the value of the remaining supply.
 
A couple of Mastodon Bark Ivory, woof, woof, Than might, woof, belong, woof, here! :rolleyes: woof, woof :D

A Schatt & Morgan pruner that Muskrat Man (I think) refurbished for me...





And of course THE knife that Ken Erickson made for me!:D His pic's too! His are better than mine!! :rolleyes:



Woof, Woof!


Dave
 
Charlie - I feel exactly the same way I would be digging the offal hole myself for all poachers themselves to go in, but we cant change what has been done in the past, or what legal stocks that are in store now to be used for future knives etc.
When you see aged Ivory - the beauty is indeed exceptional - as is aged Stag etc, the older knives you display are great, I love even more so those old Stampings! and the Motifs that ran big in those days -to me this just makes these knives absolutely unique in their own time zone, holding mystery, and lost knowledge about the Cutlers of Great who made such knives.
 
I believe this is your pic Charlie, or at least I got it from you. (Both the knife and the pic) :D But HJ#6 exterior Pre Ban Ivory, I believe I have the top one. And also an interior Pre Ban Ivory from the same run! I don't seem to have any pics of individual knives from that run. :confused:


I will have to get some pics taken when I get back to my knives.

Dave
 
Well said, Charlie. I recently read a book, "Ivory's Ghosts" by John Frederick Walker, which gave me a better perspective. Not that there isn't a poaching problem in some areas, but calling existing ivory a tainted material seems extreme.

Some info on the book:
http://johnfrederickwalker.com/tag/ivorys-ghosts/

I bought this knife around at that time, and it's the only ivory one I have.
_MG_2093.jpg~original
 
The ivory they burned was really sad , a typical stupid and foolish bad move by the current American gubment. They should have sold those 5 tons + that they burnt and put the money into anti- poaching efforts. Or paid off or national debt by microdot.

Banning ivory ownership is foolish as hade's. Another dip stick idea.

"Grandma where did you get that cameo brooch??"

" Wat you talking about- Grandpa gave it to you?? In 1946-Sure he did!"

"Your going to the crow bar hotel Grannie- stop yer blubbering!"
 
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Very nice examples of ivory here. I bought this one in London couple of months ago. Stamped J.U James and Sons, over Sheffield. Not much info about this cutler, just that he was registered in Sheffield ca. the turn of the century,

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Mike
 
Lovely knives being shown Gentleman, I know for a fact I am extremely lucky to own this knife, i wont ever part with it, so I guess Custodian is the correct name, as it will be passed on, when I have passed on.
A strikingly beautiful knife........ Thank you Charlie for being the Mind behind these knives!.........

 
I've been coming across quite a bit lately, will have to sort out some pics. Those two knives are absolute stunners Charlie, as are all the others here gents :thumbup:

Lots more pics in this recent thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...see-your-mammoth-and-or-ivory?highlight=ivory

One of the Sheffield museums has what is supposed to be the best collection of carved ivory in the world outside China, incredible art that people devoted a lifetime to. Unfortunately it's not been on display for many years now. Fortunately I do have some pics at least ;)
 
Here's an old Quill Knife sent to me by the good Duncan himself :)



 
Based on BRL, I've previously argued that this Joseph Rodgers pattern is a Whittler, but old Sheffield catalogues list similar patterns as Three-blade Penknives. A debate for elsewhere possibly?









 
I spotted this T M Bingham Penknife in a local antiques centre, it was the least expensive knife in the shop, and the best they had I thought :)



 
Charlie,

I'm enjoying pictures of the pretties, but am a little confused.

Are you asking for pictures of old knives with ivory covers, current/modern knives with old ivory covers, or just simply knives with ivory covers?

(Careful, now, my confusion might be contagious.)


Regardless, when (or in what thread) might we see your ivory-clad TC Barlow again? Ooh, la.

~ P.
 
I only had one ivory clad knife, and it's now at Charlie's house, resting happily. :) :thumbup:
 
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