Ossic, What is the going rate?

K

Kim Breed

Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
388
Does anyone have an Idea of what the going rate of ossic is. Just got sent 34 pieces averageing 7-19 inches long. I know the darker colors command a higher price. I need advice on light to med browns.
Thanks :D
 
I think I paid around $40.00 per pound for some pretty big pieces. Don't know if that was good or not, but seemed reasonable at the time. Also traded a knife for a couple pieces. Haven't polish most so not sure of color. To me it's all great.
 
$40 per pound is about right for usable oosik. Primo pieces can run twice that,but it has to be really nice,with no waste.
Send me the whole batch and I will throw away the junk and send back the two or three good pieces.
Stacy
 
I still don't understand the facination with walrus penis. I don't care how nice it looks, I don't want anything that is made out of something's pecker :)
 
Which leads me to the next question: Where in the world are they getting this stuff from? I understand it comes from the arctic ...but one wouldn't think there would be that many fossilized mammoths and walrus penises lying around.

It reminds me of mummys ...evidently back in the 1800's mummys were imported from Egypt into Britian in mass quantities ...to be burned as firewood. Yuk.
 
Maybe someone will use my penis for a knife handle someday (preferably after I'm dead). :cool: Had to edit to make a pre-emptive strike because I just teed up a homerun for someone... to continue my original statement, ..." and that knife would have to be one HUGE chopper!" :D There, that's better. :rolleyes:
 
and that knife would have to be one HUGE chopper!
Click to expand...

LOL! No offense, but I think we'll have to get a second opinion from your wife or girlfriend before we take that statement at face value :)
 
Chiro75 said:
Ask my wife and my girlfriend and they'll tell you. ;)
Click to expand...
Dude!!! I am going to tell your wife what you said. :eek: :eek: BOY!!! are you in a heap of trouble. :eek: She will be straighting out your bones big time. :eek: :eek: HEHEHEHE!!! :D
 
One reason oosik might make a better handle is that it doesn't require blood flow to do its job... I wouldn't want some limp handle on my x-acto knife for anything. :D

Kim if you're planning to sell any of this please let me know, dclarsen*@mchsi.com. (Without the *) Thanks!
 
I figured you guys would have fun with this one. as for the limp handle we can always call it a DROUP POINT. I will put half of the stuff up for sale. will use photos so everyone can see my long hard ossic.LOL. Have to buff them up alittle. :D :eek:
I will have it with me at Blade show Table 17h
GOT OOSIC
 
It all comes from St Lawrence Island where the Siberian Yupik people have lived for over 3000 years. It is said that one time up to 20,000 people lived there. This is where almost all fossil walrus ivory comes from. This is one of very few places any of the ancient material can be legally dug up. Although the island is part of Alaska it is owned by the natives who live there. Keep in mind when you are using it this bone was harvested by a hunter in a skin boat hundreds to thousands of years ago.
I was talking to a lady there yesterday who sends me whale bone. She told me she was having bad dreams about her ancestors wanting thier artifacts back. I told her these people were very resourceful and if they knew what she was doing they would probably be happy. She thanked me and told me I was probably right.
As far as the price I think ,as with most material, if you can pick and choose an get hard dense bone and pay more you are better off.
 
The real advantage of oosik was that the Eskimo hunters didn't have to make large knives,as that steel was very scarce.For general hunting and fishing they only needed a 3-4" blade.When the time came to slaughter a reindeer,they handed the knife to their wife,who stroked it a few times, and it became a butcher knife.
 
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