To ivory, or not to ivory?

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The Virginian said:
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Are the ivory pins nickel silver? also the center spring pin? I ask since i'm making an ivory scales one, and if the Master goes with N.S. who am i to dare ss pins? ;)
 
Sorry guys for this post. Imgur is not playing well with others this morning and then I hit the wrong button and actually posted before I was ready so here's me cleaning up.

To the OP carry and use your mammoth ivory knife. Ivory is much more rugged than its given credit for. I've used mammoth ivory hundreds of times. Elephant only once and it was piano keys. Most of my knives go to working cowboys, folks not known for being easy on gear. Besides making knives for these folks we are these folks. My wife and I along with our partner, have a small cattle ranch in very rugged mountainous terrain. We use our own products on a daily basis.

Some ivory could be a problem though for ruggedness. This set was used on this bowie as I knew this one was going on the customer's mantle.

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However this small hunter was made for a Montana hunting guide and packer. This is an edc for him and is used hard. Here it'd been cleaned up a little after taking care of a buck.

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This knife was made for a working cowboy and is an edc.

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Both of these kitchen knives were made for "foodies" that knew what they wanted. Used daily.

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This rancher is one of my test subjects. A good friend he is hard on stuff. This was the first mammoth ivory handled knife I ever made. He carried that knife untill he'd literally sharpened the blade away. He had it and used it daily for years. My wife carved those cuffs by the way.

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My wife horseback with her mammoth ivory handled knife in a protype Beltless sheath.

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She's bringing in some of the cattle.

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She has one headed and my son is tossing the heel loop when we're branding.

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Our partner getting ready to rapidly turn this bull calf into a steer. My knives are used hard and mammoth ivory is not an issue.

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Of the hundreds of knives I've used this ivory on I have never had one returned for the handle failing, not one. The secret is never to get it hot while working it. As of JUly 1, 2016 here in Kalifornia I will no longer be able to use mammoth ivory or tooth for that matter. This is pie in the sky, sit around the campfire and sing Kumbya conservation. This will not save one elphant from poaching. As a knife maker I have sent knives literally all over the world and have spoken with people with boots on the ground. I could relate some interesting stories that are reality based but the Mods have said no on the ethics.
 
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Wow, I'd say that's pretty definitive as regards durability. Horsewright, do you "stabilize" the ivory in any way, by coating it with epoxy or some similar process? What if the ivory has hidden faults under the surface, as a result of being in the ground all those years? Is there such a thing, or does ivory crack straight through if it's going to crack at all? It would seem like it must be pretty resilient, to be used (literally) in the field, but we've all seen ivory-handled knives with pin-cracks. Are these then generally a from-the-factory/maker condition as a result of improper technique/getting the stuff too hot?
 
GaiusJulius I try to do very little working on the outside of the ivory. Thats where the color is and the texture, the bark. Its not usually too deep so if you work from the outside in you'll loose most of what makes the ivory cool. I do all my sanding that I can on the inside. Problems will show up here if any are there. I do use super glue but thats a case by case basis sometimes I'll flood a small crack, other pieces don't need it. Mostly just a judgement call. Cracks around pins are usually but not always from working. Too hot or too much expanding when peening pins. I don't peen the pins on my knives, not necessary. Of course mammoth ivory will have some character, its pretty darn old. But there's also a difference between cool charachter and structurally unsound. Judgement call based on experience again.
 
Thanks for posting, Dave. That's great real-world information.
 
Elephant Ivory is awesome. Ethically sourced, of choice. I bought Ivory Piano Keys that I made a massive framed "Tetris" picture. I remember as a boy my mother brushing the keys (like teeth) on my current Baby Grand. I also have a 1911 and like others said it smells when heated from shooting. It was my father's and I refuse to clean its EI, because those were his stains. Those handles are older than me as is most EI in the US.

I took a Freemont Jack in EI to a local jeweler to buff a scuff out on the bolster. They asked why I cared about a scuff on a pocket knife (I know...right), and I told them why - given the knife's handle I wanted it buffed out. They wouldn't touch it the second I told them it was EI. They wanted me out so fast they didn't charge me for buffing a small scuff on a watch I brought also. Went to my Jeweler and they took care of it in 3 minutes and re-did my watch. I just didn't want to drive across counties.

There definitely is a stigma behind EI. I do not care. I will continue to collect it as I go. I love the stuff, but it has to be ethical harvested. My very first pocket knife was EI. That knife started my spiral into pocket knives.
 
Horsewright said:
You're welcome guys and thanks.
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Dave, could you speak to the differences (if any, really) a user might notice between ivory, and say, bone or stag? I've had bone and stag covered knives, but not an ivory covered knife. Aside from what you mentioned above about the bark and shaping from the back, would a user notice? I have had other things made from ivory, and outside of scuffing up a fine polish or something like that, they didn't seem to me to be things I should have concern for damaging under with everyday-ish use.
 
MerryMadMonk, when I saw you pictures I was going to comment immediately on your #78-- and then, continuing to read, saw how many others had felt the need to do so, as well.

We all have very good taste. :)



As for ivory, there is truly nothing else like it-- see?

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(One of these things is not like the others.)

My sole ivory knife, solo:

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~ P.
 
I only have one.

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I have a question. Is the mammoth ivory usually or always stabilized? Sometimes they have so many in them that it seems they must be stablized.
 
Blee... That sure is a beautiful knife.
As far as I know, there is no reason to stabilize mammoth ivory. The ivory has been on the earth at least 10,000 years, and is a hard material. I think the material is worked down so that the cracks are on the surface only. Tough stuff.
 
idahoguy said:
Blee... That sure is a beautiful knife.
As far as I know, there is no reason to stabilize mammoth ivory. The ivory has been on the earth at least 10,000 years, and is a hard material. I think the material is worked down so that the cracks are on the surface only. Tough stuff.
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Thanks idahoguy.
 
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