Then and now...

[on_the_edge]

Just about seven years ago now, I commissioned Cliff Parker to make a slip joint for me. I was looking for un-dyed fossilized mammoth ivory scales with a fair amount of blues in them. I also wanted a single damascus clip blade and damascus bolsters. 3-3/4” closed length would be the icing on the cake. What ultimately arrived was a pocket-sized work of art made to my specs and quite rare in that Cliff does not make a lot of slip joints.

For many, the knife might have landed in their safe or a display case—after all, it was expensive, rare, and beautiful. For crazy me, it landed in my pocket though it did not stay there for long because it also spent a fair amount of time in my hand getting used. Yep, I’m weird like that.

Fast forward to a few days ago when I thought to look back at some of the pics I took of the knife when I first got it. My fading memory and the slow unnoticed changes over time really caught me by surprise (in a good way). Cared for, but not babied, she still takes an incredible edge and is maturing nicely IMHO. I certainly have no complaints.

I thought some folks here might be interested to see the “then and now”.

 

[r8shell]

It's a rare treat to see a fancy custom knife actually get carried and used. Thanks for showing these photos.

I'm curious about the change in color to the scales. Do you know what causes that? If the blue coloring is not from dyes, I suppose that means it's from minerals deposited in the fossilization process? (I always get confused about the difference between 'fossilized' and 'petrified') I know some woods darken from exposure to light, or from oils accumulated in handling, but I don't know if mammoth ivory is affected the same way.

 

[K-Lastima]

Nice, thanks for the pics

 

[on_the_edge]

It's a rare treat to see a fancy custom knife actually get carried and used. Thanks for showing these photos.

I'm curious about the change in color to the scales. Do you know what causes that? If the blue coloring is not from dyes, I suppose that means it's from minerals deposited in the fossilization process? (I always get confused about the difference between 'fossilized' and 'petrified') I know some woods darken from exposure to light, or from oils accumulated in handling, but I don't know if mammoth ivory is affected the same way.

I think you are correct about minerals being deposited in the ivory from the environment over time. Petrification and fossilization are different things, though I am certainly no expert.

My understanding is that mammoth ivory, including fossilized mammoth ivory, is actually a pretty porous material. That being the case, they might sometimes get darker because a user's hands are themselves dirty, but that has never been the case with me, at least not noticeably dirty. Oils, waxes and polishes can darken them, and mine have been occasionally subjected to a wipe with camelia oil as a cautionary protectant to being in a very low humidity environment (southern Arizona). UV light can also darken the scales as can the natural oils in one's hands. I think this last one is the main reason they have darkened in my case. Water, cleaners, and even a smoky environment can have an impact, but again, those potential causes have not been in play in my case.