To ivory, or not to ivory?

[recon0317]

I get the whole "don't kill the elephants" thing. I do. But my understanding is that a lot of the ivory scales/covers/handles on most newer knives come from repurposed ivory, from old pianos and such. I think ivory is beautiful, although it's not exactly a "working" handle material, like G10, micarta, or even wood. Anyways, I had just gotten ahold of a nice ivory handled knife, and this liberal fellow I know about flipped hos wig over it. Was wondering what the opinions of the real "knife guys" was. Picked up an Ivory Madison Barlow. Very new to traditiinals, but just love this knife. Might be too nice to use, but just....damn it's beautiful.
Have an Ivory traditional, let's see em!

 

[Ryouchijtx]

I can see the argument behind elephant ivory. It looks to me like what you have is mammoth ivory on your madison though..
in which case noone can really say anything since they've been extinct since 3600 to 10,000 years ago.

 

[recon0317]

I can see the argument behind elephant ivory. It looks to me like what you have is mammoth ivory though..in which case noone can really say anything since they've been extinct since 3600 to 10,000 years ago.

Yeah, mine is mammoth.

 

[kamagong]

Ivory, depending on the knife. On a gent's knife? Sure. Ivory looks out of place on the more rugged designs. Sorry Madison barlow.



Here's my only ivory handled knife, a swayback made by Bret Dowell.



IMO there's nothing inherently wrong with using ivory. A ban on the material, as well-intentioned as it may be, is an overly simplistic solution to a very complex problem.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

Yeah, mine is mammoth.

Mhm real beautiful covers on your Madison, but anyone liberal can't really raise an argument..considering chances are one of their ancestors killed the mammoth used~

Here's some elephant ivory and mammoth on a Jerry Halfrich TBose style trapper and a Bret Dowell swayback. No longer have that Scagel Fruitport in elephant ivory.

 

[MTURBO]

I love elephant ivory as gun and knife grips. I have a set on a old 1911 that is developing a rich yellow patina.
I even love the smell of it when it gets hot. Ivory does have its own unique smell.

 

[Wilsonhome]

I can also see the thought process behind elephant ivory and it's a touchy subject. However I think ivory being used in the U.S. is unlikely to have recently come from a live elephant based on what little I know about the import regulations and the work that goes into policing it. There is a lot of pre ban stuff floating around and reputable makers are not going to use shady materials. I have a couple ivory handled knives. I have also had handed down to me from a couple generations ago a couple of two foot tusk ends which I pretty much treasure as family heirlooms. I would never kill an elephant for its ivory, or any other reason, or be OK with someone else doing so. However, I think ivory that has been around for a while isn't inherently evil and it can be used to make some beautiful things. I know that a lot of people probably disagree with that, so just my opinion.

Nice Barlow, by the way.

 

[traumkommode]

I don't own an ivory covered knife, but I do have a ring with a carved/stained ivory setting. The ivory came from an old pool cue ball, repurposed as you say. It looks great, and from a metaphysical perspective, it is a pinnacle representation of the illusion we have of opposites. Life/death, destruction/creation, beauty/brutality. We can observe from it that, using a little bit of mathematics, it is made wonderful in its transformation from something that was once perhaps horrible. The equation is balanced, and now, it simply is.

D. Bohn of KnivesShipFree says "Ethically harvested and legal Elephant Ivory - pre-ban genuine Elephant Ivory purchased by KnivesShipFree owner Derrick Bohn. Purchase with assurance that this ivory has not been harvested unethically or unlawfully. Due to state legislation this item cannot be shipped to New York, New Jersey, or outside of the United States. NO EXCEPTIONS." - with a video link https://vimeo.com/120180717

The way I look at it is this - My ring (these knife covers) wasn't commissioned and made with ivory that the jeweler had poached. Even if the ivory came from an needlessly murdered animal, if I threw it away in protest it would make the animal's death fully a waste. Some of the worst things that ever happened to me later turned out to be the best From a guy who only eats animals that lived as good of a life as he does, and who thanks them dutifully before doing so.

 

[Primble]

All of you should be ashamed of yourselves for having them ivory folders. If any of you feel the least bit of remorse, you can pack them up and send them to me for proper disposition.

Thank you very much.

P.

 

[traumkommode]

All of you should be ashamed of yourselves for having them ivory folders. If any of you feel the least bit of remorse, you can pack them up and send them to me for proper disposition.

Thank you very much.

P.

I almost wish I had an ivory knife to send to you.

 

[draggat]

These threads usually don't have longevity because of the political charge associated with elephant ivory. Obviously, I'm fine with it because I do own two knives with it. One is a Protech Stinger and the other is this GEC French Kate.



From what I've read about elephant ivory is that it checks over time, yellows and mellows, but responds well to mineral oil. It's different than bone in that it has a creamy, streaked appearance. It also has a warmth in the hand that is different than bone. Nothing quite compares to real elephant ivory..... at least nothing that I've come across.

As to its sturdiness on a knife handle, I don't know for sure since I haven't carried mine, but I would say it's safe to assume that anything short of heavy duty or beater usage should be fine. Elephant ivory was extremely common on knives in the past and I don't think makers would continue to use it if it wasn't fairly stable. Well, unfortunately, they can't continue to use it here.

I will say that elephant hide is extremely durable. I have a wallet and a belt keyper made from it and they look as new as they did the day I bought them, 5 years ago!

Enjoy that mammoth ivory and ignore the haters and complainers!

 

[bootzon]

CAUTION Sarcasm Ahead......




Save the Pachyderm!

 

[recon0317]

Ivory, depending on the knife. On a gent's knife? Sure. Ivory looks out of place on the more rugged designs. Sorry Madison barlow.



Here's my only ivory handled knife, a swayback made by Bret Dowell.



IMO there's nothing inherently wrong with using ivory. A ban on the material, as well-intentioned as it may be, is an overly simplistic solution to a very complex problem.

Yeah, the Barlow is very specifically a "working man's knife" Guess I'll need another one....

 

[recon0317]

Mhm real beautiful covers on your Madison, but anyone liberal can't really raise an argument..considering chances are one of their ancestors killed the mammoth used~

Here's some elephant ivory and mammoth on a Jerry Halfrich TBose style trapper and a Bret Dowell swayback. No longer have that Scagel Fruitport in elephant ivory.

Which knife is that on the coffee cup? The jig work is just amazing.

 

[roseskunk]

I wouldn't carry one, but I eat meat and carry bone-handled knives. I don't make much sense.

 

[Ernie1980]

I have two ivory handled knives, but only have a picture of this one. I also have three straight razors with Ivory scales.

 

[Bartleby]

I like (and have used and carried) genuine ivory on my old heart and pistol Crookes pre-1930's shadow pen knife from Sheffield. I also like (and more often use and carry) a fairly recent generic stainless Sheffield French ivory pen knife gifted to me by Mr. Steve Billard, who worked with his father Harry at Stephenson and Wilson for many years. To me, ivory is really more appropriate on the older (before mid-century) knives. I think I just prefer the older ones to show a bit of natural wear and patina from use. I will admit though, that I was born before the collection of knives by handle material variations became popular.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

Which knife is that on the coffee cup? The jig work is just amazing.

That's a Bret Dowell swayback in mammoth ivory. No jigging on that one, just the material presentation of mammoth.

 

[knarfeng]

These threads usually don't have longevity because of the political charge associated with elephant ivory.

As long as the discussion is centered on whether ivory makes a nice knife handle, and what kinds of knives look good with such handles, the thread will be OK.

Discussions of the correctness or ethics of using ivory will get the thread shut down.

 

[Hickory n steel]

To me while Ivory look nice, I can get a similar enough look ( close enough for me anyway )with white smooth bone of polished stag for less money. So that's probably what I'd go with.