Question about using Mammoth ivory for HI khuks

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Ad

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I would very much like to get my hands on a piece of blue Mammoth ivory and send it off to HI for a custom khuk down the road. Is this material suitable for handle material on a big chopper? If so, I assume chiruwa would be the way to go? Just how big of a piece is needed for, say, a regular Chitlangi, vs., say, a chiruwa AK? Is the difference substantial? Or am I looking at getting roughly a similar size piece either way? Can mammoth ivory even be used for a non-chiruwa style khuk? Or is it too weak? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Whatever, have it done in the states. Cost of sending it over, sending it back, hassle with verification of legality isn't worth the trouble.

Get the chiruwa, pull the slabs, and send them to the ivory source to match slabs the appropriate size to duplicate them in ivory. It'll save you money. Have him ship originals back also. Then do yourself or have done by someone experienced. ( Not Terry, his wife is one who's lungs can't take that kind of stuff in the air. )
 
If you really wanted something made outa ivory, you buy it I can build it very reasonably. Though I would prefer to do full tang versus, chiruwa. Contact me via email if youre interested. Heck, just buy the blade, I can make the handle, and then send it to Terry for a sheath:D
 
Forgot to mention, outa town for the weekend, so I cant check my email till Monday. Though I can check the forum.
 
Ad have you checked the price on that stuff? Look like I see it everywhere on expensive custom knives, might be cost prohibitive to put on a khuk. If you are finding it for a good price, might I inquire as to the source? I also would like to use it as handle material for some of my other projects.

Keith
 
Thanks for the advice and information. This probably won't be a project of mine until early next year. As to the ivory source, I haven't even begun to price it. I priced it about 5 years ago, and it wasn't too bad. Maybe in the past 5 years the prices have sky-rocketed? I think something along the lines of a steel mounted chiruwa YCS or perhaps a steel mounted Chitlangi would look good with the ivory. I will start to price the ivory and post my findings here. Again, many thanks for the advice. :)
 
One more thing: Federico: why would you prefer to do full tang vs. chiruwa? I assume you mean rat tail tang, as I thought chiruwa was full tang? (I am still trying to learn the lingo here :confused: )
 
Just personal preference Ad. I dont like the slab idea. Im not fond of drilling through tangs, and then riveting the slabs on. I can do it, but then it changes the price in my time from being reasonable to more expensive. In the sources Ive seen mammoth ivory isnt too costly. There is a guy on SFI (swordforum.com), in the classified section selling pounds of mammoth scrap for a good price. He was also selling ivory, but I am afraid I already bought most of it:D
 
I realized the link may be hard to find so heres a direct link http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8509 Cost $35 per pound. However I dont know if he has any pieces suitable since they are all scrap. You might find better pieces somewhere else. The ivory hasnt arrived, but if there is a piece that works for a khuk hilt, and I have extra after fixing the things I need to fix. I could use that instead. Ill have to see though how big the pieces really are in person. There are a number of places that sell mammoth, some that even sell pre-ban ivory (the only legal kind), and when I last checked the prices werent too bad.
 
Gents,
I have had grips made from Russian mammoth ivory and it is very satisfactory and has a beautiful creamy colour. I have had a drilled thru tang, a partial tang and scales done. I have also had both karda and chakmak handles done.

Look in the category "ivory" on eBay and you might find more than expected. I bought half a tusk 4 years ago and my ivory artisan still has lots left. Seems there are quite a few companys here in the States that deal in it, but by the time you get to them, they have already started the markup percentages.

Considering it's the only kind of ivory we can legally get and use (unless you're of native blood and can zap a walrus or get some whale's teeth)go for it. The stuff is tough and beautifully grained. The other source for small pieces is finding items that were used as umbrella handles, cane tops, billiard balls (really rare) or any other thing that can reasonably recycled. The drawback here is that you may be destroying a perfectly good antique that would have more value in its original artistic form.

I found quite a bit on this last trip to the UK and bought it and had it shipped with some other ivory gripped kukris (plus a choora and khyber sword/dagger) that needed CITES agreements. I also bought a very small Victorian quill sharpening folding knife with ivory scales that I totally forgot about and carried it in my pocket and was even allowed to keep it by the security folks!

It is a wonderful material and can really add both artistic and monetary value to a kukri.
 
handled tools on ebay. look like toools that woul go well with a khuk.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=911598115
i-1.JPG

Keith
 
Hi, John: Question: Was the mammouth ivory lithified and fragile, or was it the same as working elephant ivory?

Keith
 
Very solid, although a good half inch had to be lost all around the piece where it had turned into fossil. My scrimshaw artist says it works beautifully and like I said is a beautiful creamy white.
 
This is all really interesting. I have been eyeing mammoth ivory for a long time, but a lot of it (the "bark" for instance) has a lot of cracks. Are these cracks something to avoid due to weakness? It's kind of hard to get a take on the piece you buy by looking at a photo over the internet. So, perhaps, I should try to attend a knife show and just pay the premium price to get something I really like? Or is it more efficient to go to e-bay and try to obtain a very large piece with the idea that a substantial portion will be discarded?
 
Ad,
I bought the ivory on eBay and it looked like hell. Blue, gray, brown, lots of ridges and some cracks. My "ivory guy" said I probably lost about 30% in his cutting and cleaning process, but it was well worth it. Depending what you want it for go for the larger sections of trunk. They will ield more solid ivory.

Bill, you just bought a new home, so don't give me any of your poverty tales.
 
I've been doing some researhc, talking to folks a bout the mammouth ivory. they say that the core mammouth ivory works pretty much like elephant ivory, but that the bark is rough and more difficult to work, and and that working the bark gives off an odor of smelly feet.

I'm getting a few pounds of each ivory, for some current projects. I may even redo the handle of my HI Falcata in ivory! Since it is chiruwa style, the ivory shouuld make this attractive piece lok quite regal...

Keith
 
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