Whale tooth ?

sharpeknives

sharpeknives

Joined
Jan 13, 2006
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Has anyone worked with Sperm Whale tooth? I have 3 that are very old. They belonged to my great grandfathers uncle. Who was quite an adventurer.
I'd say 1880's vintage. They are 4 to 6" long and almost chalky looking.Quite worn and look as if exposed to the elements for some time. they have been laying around in drawers for as long as I can remember. They were given to me with the comment "Can you use these in your knifemaking if not I'm going to throw them away." I had forgotten them from my childhood and couldn't believe they were still around. Would like to make a handle or 2 or 3.
Any advice on how to work it would be appreciated.
 
I have one and decided to carve it .It's like ivory if that's any help .
 
It is I am very familiar with walrus ivory. tooth is kinda weird, has an almost yellowish core that can be seen from the top. 2 of them are worn flat 1 has a rounded point.
 
Sperm whale teeth are very hard and fine grained. Often that chalky appearance is just on the outside. The teeth were often removed from the jaws with super heated steam. This affected the outside some. This ivory often finishes without showing any grain but with a lovely deep look. Belt sanders will work on it very well . Frank
 
Lucky man! I'd probably have trouble using something that had been around my family for so long, but I did use some old fish skin for inlays that my wife's grandfather brought from Norway about 80 years ago. It had to be a very special project! Hope to see what you do with them.
 
I have used a few small ones for handles they work well just use new belts so you do not burn them. The inside yellow part has some nice grain when polished up. I have one big one like yours that my daughter scrimmed a trout on for me.

Bob
 
I have done a few and I am working on getting one done by January.
I love the feel of it in the hand.


 
Teeth are easy to work with and polish up nicely. If you use them on knives that you intend to sell be aware that the sale of Whale's teeth is illegal across state lines.
 
I do not intend to sell them. I would just hate that in my passing, They would probably be thrown away as they almost were a week ago. I am just thankfull that my family had no idea of their value or they would have been fighting over them.
Thanks for the info guys, George those look great. Hope mine look that good.
 
Wow, I wouldn't be able to sleep for a month if I ended up with your treasure!!!!!
Since they're family heirlooms you might want to think about polishing them up and finding someone to do some nice scrimshaw work on them.
Maybe a picture of your kids or something, you at the anvil, I don't know.
Sure would be ashame to cut em up!
Ahh, just the babblings of an old decrepit man!
 
I must be getting old and decrepit too, because I was thinking the same thing while reading this thread. Maybe a knife with one and scrim the other two.
 
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Something like this?
Spermwhale / buffalo and nickelsilver. Blade from a Norwegian bladesmith.

By the way, I'm new here, so, hello everybody.

Regards sj-knives
 
Bruce Bump said:
Awesome knives Geo. Do you get allot of whale teeth there?
Click to expand...
Thanks BB:D
Bruce there is a Ivory Dealer (Spouting Whale) in Fall River, Ma., that I do the whale tooth knives for. He also manufacture fake ivory. The knife in the middle has wood and copper from Ole Ironsides. He was making up key chains for them (USS Constitution Foundation)and they had the copper sheet made into a coins and wood , this is from the last restoration.
So I Incorporated it into the knife. It's made with the above, cable Damascus blade and anchor chain guard.
 
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Thats interesting, there is some real history on the east coast we just dont see from way over here. I wonder if he sells your knives at his store and if his made made ivory looks good?
 
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