Super Trade Deal

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Aug 20, 2004
Messages
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I had a fellow at my last show looking at the knives. He asked, "You make these?" I told him,, "Yes, all of them." He picked up a fancy ivory handled knife, and said, "Not this one, too?" and I again said yes. He asked if I was interested in some ivory, which I always am, and proceeded to tell me that he was a two truck driver in central VA and his best friend runs the biggest auto parts salvage yard ( AKA - junk yard) in central VA. His buddy found a metal suitcase several years back in the trunk of a car that was scrapped. In it was all sorts of tusks and stuff. They just keep it in the office and look at the stuff from time to time. Long story short, he has his buddy call me and he has no attachment to the ivory, but does collect knives. So after exchanging some photos, we work out a trade for one of my knives. I traded a stainless damascus Persian with a fossil walrus handle. It was a nice knife, but I have had it for a good while ,and while everyone picks it up and likes it, no one has bought it ( too expensive for a non-user). So, I shipped the knife up Tuesday, and He shipped the ivory back Thursday. It arrived yesterday. Holy Cow!!!, did I make a good trade. All this ivory is very old, some over a century. It must have belonged to someone who collected ivory, as it is in pairs and sets. Most have some sort of number system marked on them, perhaps from an estate inventory. The case they are in is a metal "anvil" type case. I got five whales teeth, two huge sets of warthog tusks, a set of exhibition mammoth ivory scales, a very old Inuit walrus artifact, a fossil walrus tusk section that is superb, half a dozen African tusk tips weighing several pounds each, some other stuff,.... Oh, and a big section of narwhal.

I'll shoot some photos tonight, but wanted to tease you guys for the day.
 
That sounds like a wonderful score. I'd love to see pictures.

My understanding is that old ivory is fine. New Ivory is regulated but I don't know how they tell the difference once it's been made into a finished product. You may want to research the details in case you are required to account for it.
 
wow man, that sounds amazing. talk about a great deal for you. look forward to seeing what you make with this great stuff.
 
Super find Stacy and I'm sure the knife itself was special !!!Unless it's elephant ivory it's all legal to have and sell in the USA or Canada.

You cannot legally sell the walrus ivory or narwhale in pieces or on knives between our two countries. Elephant ivory requires documentation and I still wouldn't try moving it from one country to another unless you have a special permit to do that. Frank
 
Could you please post a photo of the knife you traded it for as well. I've only seen a few of your minis and have looked around for pics of "normal" sized knives made by you but with no success. Can't wait ta seethe pics of all the stuff you got for it!

Paul
 
Here are the photos:
 

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The definition of a great trade is when each party feels they got the best deal! Nice!

I'm looking at about a foot of the base of an elephant tusk now...It doesn't come with paperwork, so I don't know if I'd ever use it, but also don't know if I can NOT buy it.
 
That narwhal will make two handles scale sets. It is really nice. I see a whaler's bowie in its future. (More on that later.)

The artifact is about 16" long, and is missing about 1/3 of its length ( broken off long ago). It was a fire bow to be used with a friction block and spindle.

The big tusk tip is nearly a foot long, and the mammoth tip next to it ( also seen above the narwhal in the close-up) is a foot long.

The fossil walrus tip on the left is stunning, with the color stripes going all the way through.

The dark orange tip next to the fossil walrus is mammoth ivory.

All the tips are solid and have no cracks.

The warthog tusks are HUGE.

The mammoth scales speak for themselves.

Four of the whales teeth are suitable for a knife handle.
 
Dang and I thought I'd just done good. Dog blew her knee out and the vet wanted to trade the surgery for a couple of knives and some of the wife's wildrags. That worked out good but this trade is GREAT Stacy. Wow!
 
Yes, I cast it and the "pumpkin" pommel in some brass found at a dig of a Colonial foundry in VA. Then I carved it using simple burins. It was done to sorta-match one a friend had from around 1600. The blade I forged from Stainless damascus.
 
Awesome deal! I've been trading more and more and it's frustrating but awesome when it works out for both parties. Congrats on the trade and have fun with the new creations that are sure to come because of of it :)
 
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