Split from Best All-Around Outdoor Knife? Ivory knife handle

[Stradawhovious]

sure is pretty. I would be afraid to use it for anything!

[westberg]

sure is pretty. I would be afraid to use it for anything!

I did and do have a concern about how stable the ivory is, but Duane thought it will be OK. As long as I don't leave it along side a gut pile or just not shoot anything it should be good.

[EJSG19]

sure is pretty. I would be afraid to use it for anything!

I did and do have a concern about how stable the ivory is, but Duane thought it will be OK. As long as I don't leave it along side a gut pile or just not shoot anything it should be good.

you mean as far as the ivory taking a stain?

I don't know much about it.

[Stradawhovious]

sure is pretty. I would be afraid to use it for anything!

I did and do have a concern about how stable the ivory is, but Duane thought it will be OK. As long as I don't leave it along side a gut pile or just not shoot anything it should be good.

A good knifemaker would have stabilized the ivory (is it Elephant ivory, or Mastedon? If it's Elephant, he had best given you CITES documentation). If this was done, you shouldn't have any issues.


Shouldn't.

[Stradawhovious]

Mammoth Ivory, wow, that stuff must be in short supply. I would make the sheath a little more wooly to stay with the theme.

Not as short as you'd think. They are digging up bunches of it in Siberia.

Granted it won't last forever, but it's a good substitute for Elephant ivory since there aren't any legal restrictions to selling it.

[westberg]

sure is pretty. I would be afraid to use it for anything!

I did and do have a concern about how stable the ivory is, but Duane thought it will be OK. As long as I don't leave it along side a gut pile or just not shoot anything it should be good.

you mean as far as the ivory taking a stain?

I don't know much about it.

I'm not concerned about staining, it's about if cracks or shrinks due to being not dried properly like strad mentioned. This guy also make his own blades, he gave me a information card for the knife and of course I have already misplaced it.

[EJSG19]

you mean as far as the ivory taking a stain?

I don't know much about it.

I'm not concerned about staining, it's about if cracks or shrinks due to being not dried properly like strad mentioned. This guy also make his own blades, he gave me a information card for the knife and of course I have already misplaced it.

Oh, I see. That was my second guess, the actual integrity of the material. But, I wouldn't have guessed it was due to drying properly. Interesting that after thousands of years it still has to be "cured".

Well either way, thats a very nice looking knife.

Belgiboy's is nothing to poke with a stick either. You guys make my black-handled Buck knife look silly.

[Stradawhovious]

Interesting that after thousands of years it still has to be "cured".

Curing this material usually consists of soaking in a substance like "Bone-Clou" and the like, that actually Stabilizes the material....... It doesn't have anything to do with drying. When a tusk is cut into slabs, there is a natural tendancy for the material to change shape. This can happen immeidiately, or it can happen over time. Stabilizing the Ivory will keep this movement to a minimum.

Same should be done with antler, bone and horn.

FWIW.

[westberg]

I believe where they are finding this ivory is in areas of permafrost.

[EJSG19]

Interesting that after thousands of years it still has to be "cured".

Curing this material usually consists of soaking in a substance like "Bone-Clou" and the like, that actually Stabilizes the material....... It doesn't have anything to do with drying. When a tusk is cut into slabs, there is a natural tendancy for the material to change shape. This can happen immeidiately, or it can happen over time. Stabilizing the Ivory will keep this movement to a minimum.

Same should be done with antler, bone and horn.

FWIW.

next time I unearth a mastadon tusk, I know who to come to.

[westberg]

Interesting that after thousands of years it still has to be "cured".

Curing this material usually consists of soaking in a substance like "Bone-Clou" and the like, that actually Stabilizes the material....... It doesn't have anything to do with drying. When a tusk is cut into slabs, there is a natural tendancy for the material to change shape. This can happen immeidiately, or it can happen over time. Stabilizing the Ivory will keep this movement to a minimum.

Same should be done with antler, bone and horn.

FWIW.

Well there you have it, good thing we have strad, I knew there was something that had to be done and just assumed it was drying it. That was the question I asked and the Duane didn't correct me so I assumed.

[EJSG19]

Interesting that after thousands of years it still has to be "cured".

Curing this material usually consists of soaking in a substance like "Bone-Clou" and the like, that actually Stabilizes the material....... It doesn't have anything to do with drying. When a tusk is cut into slabs, there is a natural tendancy for the material to change shape. This can happen immeidiately, or it can happen over time. Stabilizing the Ivory will keep this movement to a minimum.

Same should be done with antler, bone and horn.

FWIW.

Well there you have it, good thing we have strad, I knew there was something that had to be done and just assumed it was drying it. That was the question I asked and the Duane didn't correct me so I assumed.

light reading on the subject:
http://www.kowakivory.com/Docs/Fossil%20Ivory%20Information.pdf

[Stradawhovious]

light reading on the subject:
http://www.kowakivory.com/Docs/Fossil%20Ivory%20Information.pdf

Yep. This guy proves that nobody can agree on the processes involved. Some people think that drying is enough, and chemical stabilization isn't necessary. I personally feel otherwise. Even when dried, Ivory can be under a natural tension, as well as being a natural mateial that breathes (i.e. takes on and releases moisture) I wouldn't touch it if it wasn't stabilized.

From the article that EJSG19 posted.....

If Mammoth ivory is properly cured I do no personally believe that it is necessary to chemically
Stabilize the material but other people think differently. Since ivory breathes, that is, it expands and contracts with changes in humidity, it may be advisable to chemically stabilize your material if you are unsure.

[westberg]

Thanks for the links, I think I need to find a glass display case now, I think Rubber Maid maybe kind of down south trailer parkess.

[Stradawhovious]

I think Rubber Maid maybe kind of down south trailer parkess.

A glass display case isn't going to fool anyone Ron, they will know it's you.