Whale Tooth for slabs?

R

R Dannemann

Joined
Dec 13, 2000
Messages
265
Anybody know what's inside a Whale Tooth?

Thought I'd ask before trying to make slabs out of one and winding up with both no tooth or usable slabs.

Have a large old one to cut into slabs. The root tip is broken off (bad dentist) and looks pretty hollow, at least part way up. The walls are fairly thick but do have two hollow tubes going up in the walls (at least at the bottom). The top feels heavy and solid. Its about 7.5" long, 2 to 2 1/2" diam.

We don't know a lot about these things in the high desert!

Thanks.
 
You dont want to use that tooth. Just send it to me to get rid of it.

I have a friend with whale tooth grips on his first generation Colt 45. They have the best gloss Ive ever seen. Very solid insde and very valuable. White as snow.

Bruce
 
Scrimshaw or have it scrimshawed as a whole piece and document where you got it, how, and who did the scrimshaw (keep for your own records). It's worth more that way than if you cut it up. You can't get these legally or use them legally unless you have a complete paper trail. The Feds will just come and take it and anything else they want and maybe even you!
Documentation is a must. Even if you're properly papered, they can confiscate and hold your stuff until you prove your ownership is legit. It's funny how once they have it, you have to fight to get it back at your expense and them some of it gets lost in "processing", (like a nice scrimshawed skinner you spent 50+ hours on). Really not so funny!! You can ask me how I know but I won't tell. The Gestopo monitors everything and I don't want to take that ride again.
You may be already targeted because of the way you have posted this thread. I basically have quit most of my scrimshaw activity because of my "wonderful" experience. Be cautious with your phrasilogy and correspondence. They are very unpleasent to deal with, even when you're right. I'll say no more.

Carl Rx
 
Try this to tell for sure. Heat up the end of a paper clip or small nail and touch it to an out of the way portion of the tooth. If it melts it's plastic. If it smells like chemical but doesn't melt it is probably a polymer of some kind and would still be ok for handles or such, but not on a high-end knife. Ok for scrimshaw practice and carving.
If it doesn't melt but scorches a little it could be ivory or reconstituted ivory. Get a magnifying glass, file a small flat cross grain in the broken area, then look closely with the glass. All natural ivories have a growth pattern, rings of a sort (they were once alive). It will be very obvious and usually can be seen with the naked eye. This is more pronounced in elephant ivory. Looks very similar to the old spectrographs we used to draw for fun when kids (before computors).
If this pattern exist, it would be in your best interest to have it verified by a pro. You wouldn't want to state it to be something it's not if you use it on/in something you make.
Hope this helps.

Carl Rx
 
WOW THATS AMAZING, MAYBE YOU DIDNT REALIZE BUT UNDER THE MARINE ANIMAL ACT IN THE UNITED STATES, IT IS ILLEGAL TO OWN WHALE TOOTH
 
He mentioned, I believe, that it was old. Who cares about a stupid law that comes after the fact. The same applies to elephant ivory. You can own and sell all you wish that was here before the law was enacted.

Roger
 
Roger,
Although you are correct to a point, you being a shootist should be aware that if they (Feds) come to confiscate your ivory, you have to provide proof that your documentation (which you WILL need) is legit, not them. They can also confiscate your weapons if, in their narrow minds, they preceive you to be the least bit hostile. Then you are in whole other world of proving right to own and possess(sp?).
Stupid law - yes I agree, obviously written by zealots with what they preceive to be good intentions.
Dangerous - consequences are brutal and expensive to those that test it.
I did get my ivory handled .32 cal. "lemon squeeze" back, but the paper work killed at least 4 full grown pines!
Just walk with caution, they do not play "fair"!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top