Walrus handle cracked, is it going to be a problem?

S

shqxk

Joined
Mar 26, 2012
Messages
2,292
I'm thinking of buying this bowie but the handle has a severe crack in it not sure if it will fall apart or going to be an issue in the future ?


1625585410-6544.jpeg



1625585410-7308.jpeg
 
For show.or you going to use it??? You might try.posing this question in the custom makers threads or the maintenance & embellishment thread!! Both get a higher viewing!!
 
There is a simple fix if you plan to use the knife but how well it keep the handle from cracking, I don't know.

There are slow cure two part epoxies that will fill that, but how completely, and how well it joins the halves will be hard to predict. I have filled cracks with slow cure epoxies, but I never attempted a destructive test to determine if the joint was as strong as the uncracked material.
 
I'm thinking of buying this bowie but the handle has a severe crack in it not sure if it will fall apart or going to be an issue in the future ?

1625585410-6544.jpeg
1625585410-7308.jpeg
 
Has it been filled already? Looks like there's something already in the crack? From the listing "The ivory in the handle has a stabilized crack".

Reach out to the maker and ask them? Jerry Fisk should be able to tell you.
 
Fill it with super glue and razor off the excess before it hardens. Should be fine.
 
Buy it if you love it, but realize that the crack will forever negatively affect the value of the piece. Many, many fewer people will want it, ie, the buying population will be much reduced...............
 
that looks like a knife made by John White, in which case I'd go for it if the price was reasonable
 
That is a normal age crack. Most all fossil walrus has that. It should not propagate any more. It is a sign of it being either very old natural tusk, or fossil walrus, both of which are legal.
 
I would for sure call Jerry and ask if he did the stabilization. If not, I’d probably stay away.
 
Of course it is a problem.
I guess the maker thought (or may be hoped ) it is not, otherwise he wouldn't used it.
so it comes to "true ferrules" that wrap around the handle material. If it had a true ferrule it would not be a problem.
Because such ferrules prevent the handle material from splitting or splitting further.
But true ferrules are much more difficult to make than a simple piece of steel with a square hole in it.
It is common on such contemporary Bowies that they have no true ferrule so they all are proned to crack in the handle if they are gonna be used.
Putting such a long blade to use means it will face chopping....and chopping sends impact shocks wich can be destructive if the knife
dosen't have a propper handle construction.
But such knives like this one are not really meant to be drafted to hard use...or any use at all.
I would not buy it....check for another one out there ....there are plenty of them with better condition.

.....really Jerry Fisk is the maker?( to me he is famous)..... or John White?( never heard of him).....so what's about the initials M.S.?
Who would signature a knife with false Initials....? to me that would be a bigger problem than the crack...
I really would like to be enlightened about this.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top