Mammoth Ivory?

GEC specializes in highly collectable and premium quality usable pocket knives. The company's USA manufactured knives have quickly proven to be a big hit with both collectors and users who seek quality American craftsmanship.
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vikingdog
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Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

Does anyone have any Great Eastern knives with mammoth ivory scales? The only ones I've seen were in a post Monk put up: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 56&t=22522

Post a photo if you can.

I'd like to see the primitive bone and mammoth ivory side by side in person sometime.
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
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big monk
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by big monk »

::tu::
I'm not young enough,____to know everything !!!!!!!!!!!!

MONK****
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Gunstock Jack
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by Gunstock Jack »

This is a 23 I had rehandled in mammoth ivory taken off an Alaskan beach years ago.
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This is out of the same tusk, but it was softer so I had it stabilized; it has a spalted look. Both were expertly executed by Muskrat Man.
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The 73 jack is nice and flat and rides well in a pocket, but is plenty large enough for serious work. ::nod::

I repaired the minor crack in the ivory you see in the picture of the 23. I cleaned out the black, filled with super glue, and sanded/buffed. You can't even see the repair!
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The blade and bolster are cloudy with rust preventative.
Barry

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Gunstock Jack
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by Gunstock Jack »

These are all handled from the same tusk used on the GEC's:
My mammoth ivory Queen Mtn. Man.JPG
.
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Barry

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vikingdog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

Thank you Monk and Gunstock. I don't know much about mammoth ivory. It looks like it can come in a wide variety of colors and markings.

Can you tell me how it is stabilized when it's not ready to use? Some kind of resin?

I'll tell you Gunstock, I doubt that I'll ever see a nicer line up of knives than your photo of the primitive bone on the other thread.
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
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Gunstock Jack
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by Gunstock Jack »

Thanks for your comments, Mike. This is the piece of mammoth tusk I have been working with. As you can see, this tusk is in a state of decay; well, it is 10 to 13 thousand years old so that is to be expected. My friend "stabilized" this piece with some epoxy resin; not a good idea as it prevents it from drying too quickly but is very difficult to remove. I wish he'd used parafin. Anyway, you can see the layers of ivory delaminating in the tusk much like wood might (if it were ivory). :roll: So the stuff needs to be sort of "unraveled" as you cut chunks away to find solid material. It can be tough to find enough to work with due to the delamination.

The color varies because the ivory will pick up any colors of the available minerals, so it just depends where it is found. This piece was hanging out of a eroded beach in Alaska by some kids looking for firewood.

I had some of it stabilized by K&G Supply (I think) in AZ; they charge by the pound. I would recommend your have your pieces cut to apprx. size and shape before stabilizing.

The knife in the photos was made by Gene Martin of Provision Forge (made unfinished blade) and myself (haft and finish). The blade is 4 1/2 inches.
Attachments
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Barry

Great Eastern Cutlery distributor: http://www.gunstockjacksknives.com
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Draac
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by Draac »

All the knives in this thread posted are GREAT looking knives !!

Draac
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vikingdog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

Draac wrote:All the knives in this thread posted are GREAT looking knives !!

Draac
That's a fact!

Gunstock, thank you for taking the time to explain the tusk process and post the photos. ::tu:: That's fascinating to me, I had no idea.
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
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big monk
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by big monk »

Me Too !!!!!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: _____what ,Mike said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This site,is amazing !!!! ( you too,Barry :) )
I'm not young enough,____to know everything !!!!!!!!!!!!

MONK****
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Mike S.
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by Mike S. »

That's cool stuff right there. Wouldn't that be something to stumble upon. (Oh, look what I found...It's a Mammoth tusk) ::ds::
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bonehead
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by bonehead »

Nice photos and explaination. Thanks for sharing, very interestsing ::nod::

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vikingdog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

I wonder what that ivory is like to work with? It looks punky. I wonder if it's soft and pliable when you work with it and later it's hardened somehow, or if it's like working with bone? The end result sure is impressive.
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
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Gunstock Jack
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by Gunstock Jack »

Mike, it is hard and smells like rotten teeth being drilled. My wife makes me work it outside, as the smell lingers for days, even in my shop. When working with it, you don't want to get it hot, or it can crack. Some of the more decayed material can be soft and chalky; unsuitable to use as it is, but can be stabilized. Any of it will crack when pinning if you're not careful. It isn't the easiest or most forgiving material to work with, but is worth the added effort. ::nod::
Barry

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vikingdog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

I'm glad I started this topic, I've learned a lot. It's not like what I'd imagined at all.
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
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On Edge
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by On Edge »

Great thread, Mike …

GJ, thank you for sharing your knowledge and photos - I am also fascinated by this, and am always amazed at the wealth of experience and information to be found in this community …

AAPK rocks. ::nod::

~ Edge
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vikingdog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

Edge, wouldn't it be cool to go to a knife meet/knife workshop with these guys and see this stuff in person? The mammoth ivory is way cool. :D
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
GeorgeCAtl
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by GeorgeCAtl »

I posted this one before...........but not in this thread ::ds::

Image
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vikingdog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

George that is a beautiful knife. I have the same knife but with smooth white bone scales for my EDC and it's my favorite knife. Here is my one and only (so far) mammoth ivory GEC.
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Mammoth Ivory 251211B.JPG
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
GeorgeCAtl
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by GeorgeCAtl »

Beautiful Barlow Mike ::tu::
Thats my only Mammoth Ivory as well.
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vikingdog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by vikingdog »

Thank you George. I really like the GEC mammoth ivory and primitive bone.
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash

My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/

Mike
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On Edge
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by On Edge »

vikingdog wrote:Edge, wouldn't it be cool to go to a knife meet/knife workshop with these guys and see this stuff in person? The mammoth ivory is way cool. :D
Yeah Buddy! I would love that!

::tu::
"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."

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theblindog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by theblindog »

Falah

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big monk
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by big monk »



Thanks Fallah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::tu::
I'm not young enough,____to know everything !!!!!!!!!!!!

MONK****
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theblindog
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by theblindog »

my pleasure Monk, Congrats!! ::ds::
don't forget to post pics when they arrive ::tu::
Falah

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big monk
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Re: Mammoth Ivory?

Post by big monk »

theblindog wrote:my pleasure Monk, Congrats!! ::ds::
don't forget to post pics when they arrive ::tu::
Shoot Fire !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll post em' before they arrive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Greg,takes good photos !!!!!!!!! then I'll post my ""humble pics"" when they do arrive ::tu:: ::woot:: ::woot:: _________I got one of those ""Weaver Jacks""" ::uc::
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#03 Weaver Jack mammouth Ivory.jpg
I'm not young enough,____to know everything !!!!!!!!!!!!

MONK****
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