To ivory, or not to ivory?

Cory Hess · Mar 2, 2016

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.

Two major knife handle material suppliers that I checked both offer stabilized mammoth ivory. One also adds this disclaimer: "Most mammoth has small cracks and voids. These sets will likely have some and some will be more than others. We have pictured the front and back of each set of scales to help you decide. Fixing mammoth scale cracks and voids is normal part of knife making but I understand some may not want to do that. If you want perfect, slab them on scales, these are probably not for you. If you want to make them solid and fill the gaps or cracks, its fairly trivial. Use thin super glue to fix the cracks. Simply drip it into the cracks and let it wick into scale and cure. For the bigger gaps on the back, use gel or thick super glue and glob it a layer at a time until the void is filled. On the surface of the scale, glob it in and lightly sand it before it dries. The dust will blend with the super glue and make the repair neat and clean and it will look just fine."

I've never worked with mammoth ivory, so I don't know if it's always necessary to stabilize it, but at least some of it is stabilized, and apparently it's normal to have to repair some cracks whether it's stabilized or not.

Pipeman · Mar 2, 2016

Mark Knapp was selling this amazing Mammoth last week on the knifemaking supplies forum.
Thought ya'll would enjoy.

Best regards

Robin

Horsewright · Mar 2, 2016

I've found about the same durability between mammoth and stag. Maybe a slight edge to the stag but in practical real world stuff not much diff. I use a lot of stag, bone, elk as well as mammoth ivory. Most of my customers are natural materials kind of folks. They aren't too interested in micarta. Some ivory does need the super glue treatment and some does not. Working on a set right now with a lot of texture but no deep fissures or cracks. Nothing to superglue right now but we'll see how it goeas as we progress.

Cory Hess · Mar 2, 2016

Dave, I just wanted to add that I really appreciate your perspective as a knifemaker that uses a lot of ivory, and even more your perspective as somebody that uses these knives hard. It's not too often that we get to hear from somebody that's really put these materials through their paces. Thanks for sharing.

Ernie1980 · Mar 2, 2016

Pipeman, those are beautiful slabs! Those would look great on my next hunter...

Pipeman · Mar 2, 2016

Ernie1980 said:
Pipeman, those are beautiful slabs! Those would look great on my next hunter...

Yup, it's about as good as it gets Ernie. He's the man for amazing ancient handle materials.

Best regards

Robin

blee · Mar 2, 2016

Thanks, Cory! That's very interesting. And thanks, Dave, for your insight.

idahoguy · Mar 2, 2016

Pipeman said:
Mark Knapp was selling this amazing Mammoth last week on the knifemaking supplies forum.
Thought ya'll would enjoy.

Best regards

Robin

If those mammoths could only see what they bequeathed to us. Beautiful stuff.

stezann · Mar 3, 2016

The Virginian said:
They are all stainless. Don't know what variety - probably 416 I would guess.

Thank you for the information, i also was of the same thinking, but asked since from the pics i was tricked by the slightly different color, probably just the reflex of the polished heads.
Btw in the end i went with nickel silver upon the ivory...i was afraid splitting the scales, next time i'll be less chicken

leghog · Mar 3, 2016

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

Neither will I. Won't own or carry. And one need not be a liberal as an earlier poster posted (all the way back on page one) to refrain from carrying or owning ivory or seeing a problem with it/having distaste in it.

Horsewright · Mar 3, 2016

Welcome guys! Mark is a great guy, sells great materials, (I'm drooling over the ivory in that pic) and has done a lot to try and halt these waves of foolishness.

Bigfattyt · Mar 3, 2016

I love me some ivory looks fantastic. I don't own any. I have some stag, but not much.

Rookie82 · Mar 3, 2016

I only own 1 knife with mammoth ivory. I have no qualms about owning ivory handled knives. Even if my state outlaws it, I will still keep my eye out for nice ivory knives in an affordable price.

Rookie82 · Mar 3, 2016

Here is a picture I took of it today.

Horsewright · Mar 6, 2016

The wife's Mammoth Ivory handled Tapadero:

Ready to ride the range:

We had two big bull calves that needed to be steers. We knew they needed to be cut before our spring works in April. They'd of been too big by then, (huevos grande, mas trauma).We saw them close to the corrals Wednesday so went and got em. Some old knife maker bringing a few head and the two calves in:

Old knifemaker's much younger wife checking the calves now they are in the corrals.

All done but the cussin and discussin:

Ya know you got good buddies when they'll do the cutting so you can rope and it only costs ya two beers.

Don't worry too much about using those mammoth ivory knives.

pertinux · Mar 7, 2016

Horsewright said:
The wife's Mammoth Ivory handled Tapadero:

My word, what a beautiful knife!

Old knifemaker's much younger wife checking the calves now they are in the corrals.

Knife, schmife-- look at that hat!

All done but the cussin and discussin:

I was going to ask how the cross-draw sheath attached, but now I [think I] see-- it's snapped through the belt loops, yes?

Altogether very fine gear, and I love the action/use shots (if thankful we were spared the steer-ing, heh). Thanks for sharing all this here.

~ P.

Horsewright · Mar 7, 2016

Thanks P! Yeah we call that sheath The Beltless Sheath as it works with or without the belt. It was my wife's idea as most of the time she doesn't wear a belt. Very handy, say your'e going into the bank or whatever and don't want to scare the civilians, just pop er right off. Don't have to unthread a belt. It was tough to get the design just right, took 7 or 8 prototypes. She had that hat custom made, it was a trade. Cost me 3 knives, (one of em had mammoth ivory on it come to think of it so perfect for this thread). Thanks again thats what we do. We made the knife, holster, sheath, her belt, her vest, the charmitas (her leggings), her spurstraps and my buddy's spurstraps too.

Primble · Apr 20, 2016

Genuine Ivory John Primble Germany with stamped J. Primble Belknap blade, 3.25" closed, circa 1955:

Horsewright · Apr 21, 2016

Just finished another one for a cowboy. Will be a user. The ivory was just a hint shy in length as it had a soft/chalky spot at the end. Cut it off and put in a spacer of cocobolo.

Donny Don't · Apr 21, 2016

Primble said:
Genuine Ivory John Primble Germany with stamped J. Primble Belknap blade, 3.25" closed, circa 1955:

I personally feel conflicted with any ivory/bone handled knives, but I think I could deal with a vintage knife that has those materials. It wouldn't be driving demand.