Want to buy knife, but cracks on mammoth scales..

Locutus D'Borg

Locutus D'Borg

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Dec 1, 2012
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There is a knife I'm considering (one of several), but it has cracks on the mammoth scales. I don't mind the appearance, but am concerned that they will get worse. I plan on carrying it occasionally, but mainly fondling it. Any thoughts would be appreciated, since it is very expensive. Click on the image of the closed folder to enlarge it.

http://www.nordicknives.com/GenGAL1.php?id=12722
 
Have you considered contacting Osborn to see if he can repair if needed. Most custom makers will warrant their work and mammoth cracks are not unusual. Let him know you are buying from one of his usual dealers. He could likely touch up with CA glue to look like new. I noticed this is being sold as MINT so may be new from maker. All mammoth is usually stabilized with CA anyway. That's my thought.
 
That is the nature of some natural materials. Shrinking, drying out, cracking and ultimately breaking. Happens with bone, ivory, wood, oosik, etc.
 
Thanks for the replies. It's a lot of money so I'll stew over it a while before deciding.
 
So it is bark mammoth ivory: the cracks can be expected. If the ivory is stabilised then it should be OK. It should be stabilised. And I guess it is all glued down, not just pinned?
 
I've handled lots of mammoth ivory folders and almost all of them have some sort of crack, it goes with the territory. As ivory ages it loses moisture and shrinks resulting in surface cracks. Same with a lot of exotic woods. But I haven't heard of anyone using non-stabilized ivory. Not to say that someone doesn't, but chances are it's stabilized. If it is, it should be good to go.
 
Thanks. I appreciate all of the input.

Bigfatts said:
I've handled lots of mammoth ivory folders and almost all of them have some sort of crack, it goes with the territory. As ivory ages it loses moisture and shrinks resulting in surface cracks. Same with a lot of exotic woods. But I haven't heard of anyone using non-stabilized ivory. Not to say that someone doesn't, but chances are it's stabilized. If it is, it should be good to go.
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Thank you spinscan. But this won't be one of them. My wife, whose eye for aesthetics I trust, does not care for the shape of the bolsters. But I'm still on the prowl for my next damascus beauty.

spinscan said:
You have some beautiful knives
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Locutus D'Borg said:
Thank you spinscan. But this won't be one of them. My wife, whose eye for aesthetics I trust, does not care for the shape of the bolsters. But I'm still on the prowl for my next damascus beauty.
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Oh good. I didn't care for the shape of the bolsters myself. And something about the fitting of the mammoth seemed off to me.
 
You have a good eye too, bigfatts. Before I buy expensive knives, I run them by the wife and one or two forum members, just to make sure I'm not making a mistake. Saves me heartache in the long run. I tend to fall in love with every knife I see, so I miss the flaws.

Bigfatts said:
Oh good. I didn't care for the shape of the bolsters myself. And something about the fitting of the mammoth seemed off to me.
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Bigfatts said:
I've handled lots of mammoth ivory folders and almost all of them have some sort of crack, it goes with the territory. As ivory ages it loses moisture and shrinks resulting in surface cracks. Same with a lot of exotic woods. But I haven't heard of anyone using non-stabilized ivory. Not to say that someone doesn't, but chances are it's stabilized. If it is, it should be good to go.
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The cracks are to be expected as it is what contributes to the beauty of mammoth bark.

Since it's mammoth ivory (and the outer bark), I'd say that it has already done plenty of shrinking and swelling, cracking and warping over the past 10-15K years. That beautiful coloring and patterning is from the mineralization of the ivory as it sat in the bottom of the bog or tundra where it was discovered.

Anything in that price range will almost 99.9999% have been stabilized due to the brittleness and existing cracks. It would probably be impossible to work with scales that thin if it wasn't already stabilized with clear resin. I doubt any ivory dealer or craftsman would risk losing such a valuable commodity to such a silly mistake.

If in doubt, give the maker a call. I notice the number is toll-free.
 
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