Why is ivory so popular, and how do you know it's age?

[Alnamvet68]

You know an option to get that look without using Ivory is to use American Holly. It looks great on revolvers and should work for a knife.

Knives and guns....some of the earliest uses for ivory...

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Knives and guns....some of the earliest uses for ivory...

That's not ivory in what I posted. It's American Holly.... kinda looks like ivory.

 

[Alnamvet68]

That's not ivory in what I posted. It's American Holly.... kinda looks like ivory.

Yes, I know...I threw up the comparisons, which to the untrained eye, Holly wood (no pun intended) is a great alternative. I like it better then the faux ivory that is typically made from ivory scraps, ivory shavings, ivory dust, and some resin thrown in to "gel" the works.

Of course, if you love the look, feel, and aging qualities that real elephant ivory is noted for, then there is really only one substitute, Tru Ivory, which oddly enough, is made using the original GE formula for micarta. Here's a pic of Tru Ivory, and note the grain...as close as you'll get to the real McCoy, and a lot cheaper. I'm surprised more knife makers aren't offering this material for their knives...

 

[Thalestin]

That's not ivory in what I posted. It's American Holly.... kinda looks like ivory.

I actually prefer the wood over the ivory. Beautiful . Personally I don't really care for ivory. Expensive and can cracking easily. I prefer white micarta if given the choice

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Ah, thanks. I might ought to look for some Tru Ivory. It looks pretty good.

 

[knarfeng]

Of course, if you love the look, feel, and aging qualities that real elephant ivory is noted for, then there is really only one substitute, Tru Ivory, which oddly enough, is made using the original GE formula for micarta. Here's a pic of Tru Ivory, and note the grain...as close as you'll get to the real McCoy, and a lot cheaper. I'm surprised more knife makers aren't offering this material for their knives...

Interesting. I'd not heard of "Tru Ivory". Thanks!

 

[tomwatson]

If you spend a lot of time around wild animals here in the USA, you will see Game officers use the same methods as used to age elephants. Teeth, bone growth in circumference, body weight, size of tusks, etc, all go into aging elephants.

 

[Rhinoknives1]

Just so everyone knows, there is a very definitive way to determine between the different types of ivory. See here:

http://www.fws.gov/lab/ivory_natural.php

Ivory is unique, passion and simple. Beautiful.

Interestingly enough, Bob Loveless considered ivory a "third rate handle material." I found that very interesting. And, I suppose on a working knife, it might be.

I agree with the late mr. Loveless's statement concerning ivory as a knife handle.

there was a time when if you were a man of class and wealth ivory was the best choice around. We are attracted to ivory & bone for the same reason we like camp fires and patina on a old carbon steel knife.

It is a hard wired connection to our past and possibliy a simpler time.
As far as a knife handle ivory is great to look at and we do enjoy the feel for those same romantic reasons, but its far more status than durable.
I used American Holly for a customer that wanted ivory a few years back and after I told him why I wouldn't use modern elephant ivory he agreed and thank me for telling him about how these fine animals are in trouble along with concerns about the durability of ivory and its not good around water etc we decided to go with white holly wood.

Wish I had a picture to show you of the finished knife , it was lost in a Puter crash. The customer was quite happy with how it turned out and I will be looking around in my older wood bins at the shop to see if i have any more Holly.

 

[sawgrass]

Ivory is a unique material. It is visually appealing to many, warm to the touch and can be worked into beautiful shapes. A lot of synthetics have been used as substitutes over the years, to varying degrees of success. I understand that some people eschew ivory on ethical grounds. Currently most custom and semi-custom knives use prehistoric ivory from Alaska, Russia etc. I doubt that it's use, tusk and tooth, will ever have any effect on the world population of wooly mammoths. Mineralized after 10,000 years of tundra burial, some of it has amazing colors and textures. And some of the interior ivory rivals modern elephant ivory in purity of color. Here is one I recently acquired handled in mammoth ivory and 5,000 year old bog oak.

Much modern used ivory of the elephant variety is also salvaged antique material from billiard balls, piano keys etc.

Absolutely stunning!! Could not be more beautiful. Cost you a lot.

 

[sawgrass]

The way I age it is I get certification from the ivory dealer I use. He has been in the business for a long time. The ban goes back to the late 60's or early 70's.

1972 by international treaty. The ivory we have and use today is always certified that it is pre-ban

 

[sawgrass]

Some, it seems, would rather the old elephant die and the beautiful tusks be require to rot. Yes, elephants were hunted and killed and the tusks sold, however, in 1972, 127 nations agreed to not trade in elephant tusks anymore and now there are more elephants alive than there probably should be. For ivory critics, any tooth is, by definition, ivory. Therefore if you are anti ivory, really, you have to be against using any parts of any animal to avoid ivory. No more bone or elk scales, or stag used. Let's be reasonable and use what is legal and what is managed so that overharvesting is not done. How best to preserve an elephant tusk, let it rot into the ground or have 1,000 knife scales enjoyed. I love ivory of all kinds and mammoth too. Land use will control the number of elephants that are practical. Let the world enjoy legal ivory and we should be able to enjoy the ivory from animal management by responsible governments. Now I feel better!

 

[tleav61]

It's the many different types, such as mammoth, bark Ivory (many colors) like, blue, green, tans, and of course, white. It ages well over time, from the handling of it, the oils from your hands, warm feel, etc. I love the stuff personally. However, looking at the American Holly tree wood, I'd be willing to switch to it. That's some pretty stuff.

 

[meako]

Putting aside the elephant tusk argument, plain and simple, I just don't like white for a knife handle.

Agreed.
However ethics and politics aside for one moment. The reason so many of us like ivory can be summed up in this picture.

It's deep I know. It speaks of primal power of man over the beasts-like it or not our ancestors were into this idea of conquering nature. They gave little thought to the future -which has contributed to the dire plight of many of the Earths species now.
I remember when I was around 6 my dad bought a piece of ivory home from his work for me to "show and tell" at school (we were doing Africa). It was a piece cut from an elephant tusk. It was rough,dirty,old and not overly exciting but I remember sitting around it with my school mates kind of awestruck -we were like triumphant hunters.
It has the power of a giant bull elephant.
Pure and simple.That's why we like it.
I have refrained from putting pictures of the dark side of this topic because frankly it's just too depressing.
Mammoth ivory GEC #79

 

[kvtcomdo]

Think it was Patton when asked about his "Pearl Handled Colt" stated that they were "Ivory, only a 2 bit pimp from a New Orleans whore house would use pearl."

Tend to agree.

It's beautiful.

It feels great in the hand.

It ages splendedly.

It has panache.

There is nothing like it and until you've experianced it I'm afraid you will not understand.

Have a few handgun stocks of Ivory and a few scrimshaw art peices of Ivory.

Love them all.

Try it; you'll like it.........Honest.

 

[stezann]

It is a beautiful material, it is true that the attraction to it roots to our tribal reminiscences.
But we are not caveman anymore (at least after a cup of coffee in the morning), and we have the responsibility for our planet species. The governaments act in clumsy ways, true... but we need to protect the endangered species.

BTW: the elephant herds walk thousands miles just to pay homage to the remains of dead members of the herd...those bones and tusks are theirs, no ours.

 

[Jack Black]

Old thread, but here's an early post which is worth re-reading :thumbup:

This isn't aimed at anyone in particular but, let's keep the politics and ethics of "ivory" out the discussion and keep to the original topic.

 

[stezann]

my fault, i apologize.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I found this little ivory beauty with MOP shield last week, and for a whole $6 put it in my pocket, alongside my "therapists fingernail" I hafted in ivory. I don't have much experience with elephant on a knife, but ivory does have its own tactile feel, which is why I love my ivory chopsticks, smooth like synthetic sticks, while still having the grip of wood. The "fingernail" above has been in my pocket every day for the last six? years, with no I'll effect to the scales on it- and they have been dropped, thrown in pocket with everything, else, used as screwdriver/prybar... Originally designed as a small fancy push stick for the grinder/scroll saw/band saw- it was so useful it's the only non-knife tool I mmy pocket that I need. I love mammoth ivory, and lust for more constantly!!

 

[meako]

It is a beautiful material, it is true that the attraction to it roots to our tribal reminiscences.
But we are not caveman anymore (at least after a cup of coffee in the morning), and we have the responsibility for our planet species. The governaments act in clumsy ways, true... but we need to protect the endangered species.

BTW: the elephant herds walk thousands miles just to pay homage to the remains of dead members of the herd...those bones and tusks are theirs, no ours.

well put anyway mate.
Oh and BTW -that gorilla picture isn't really a gorilla-it's me coming back up stairs when I got my 79 from the mail box-a man of class and wealth.

 

[leghog]

Not sure about the age question. I do think interest has increased lately due to the possibility that Congress may ban all ivory in the near future.

Actually the ban, if ever enacted, is not of ivory but of the trade in ivory. What is then legally extant can be owned, stay in estates, and be passed down. Just can't be traded or sold.