Question about Mammoth Ivory...

mumblypeg · Post by **mumblypeg** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:25 pm

Hi all,
I've been looking at mammoth ivory scales, and some say that they are stabilized and some don't. I'm thinking of having one of my knives re-handled and was going to purchase the material ahead of time. Should I buy the 'stabilized' scales or does this make any difference?
I would really appreciate any help on this matter.
Thanks,
Richard

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:59 pm

going from what I have found on the net, the stabilized stuff is better. It is more "stable", not as apt to shrink or expand with weather (moisture) conditions and such, no expert at the topic so I'll shut up here and let someone more experienced with stabalized materials fill you in a bit more.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:10 pm

muskrat man wrote:going from what I have found on the net, the stabilized stuff is better. It is more "stable", not as apt to shrink or expand with weather (moisture) conditions and such, no expert at the topic so I'll shut up here and let someone more experienced with stabalized materials fill you in a bit more.

I'm not an ivory expert either, but I do know that stabilized mammoth/mastodon ivory is far less likely to to curl up off your knife than unstabilized ivory. The same goes for wood scales, some just have to be stabilized to be used.

mumblypeg · Post by **mumblypeg** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:19 pm

Thanks guys, I wasn't sure if ivory needed to be stabilized or not.

Didn't think about it curling up like wood.
Thanks again,

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:44 pm

correct me if i am wrong. i thought fresh materials sometimes need stabilization. like wood, bone, antler, etc. is'nt mammoth ivory thousands of years old, or is it fresh from being frozen?

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:48 pm

Most Mammoth/Mastodon Ivory is 15,000 to 20,000+ years old and is primarily from Siberia and Alaskan tundras. I have read that Northern China and Mongolia also have tons of Ivory available but not much is harvested there in comparison to Siberia. I have also read that Siberian Ivory is superior to Alaskan Ivory. Much older than 25,000 years, depending on location, ivory can fossilize. The mammoth ivory is considered more stable than fresh ivory but both can benefit from stabilization. Mammoth/Mastodon Ivory has been in a cold stable environment for thousands of years. Harvesting it and bringing it to a new environment where there are temperature variations like here in the states can cause it to warp on a finished product. There are companies like WSSI that can stabilize ivory. Some do it yourself types will use Minwax wood hardener and let it soak or buy a cheap vacuum pump (for auto air conditioning or refrigeration repair) from Harbour Freight and let it soak under vacuum. Other chemicals/processes are also used to stabilize ivory. Some sellers on ebay sell stabilized ivory but you need to be careful, I have a couple pieces I was going to use and it is curled to the point of being unusable. This is "Bark" ivory that has curled and it was stabilized by an eBay seller, I have not seen this on any interior ivory that I have.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:08 pm

thanks hukk. i have a couple of slabs to use. i hope they're stable. i got them from a texas knife supply.

mumblypeg · Post by **mumblypeg** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:32 am

Yes, thanks hukk-

johnnie- sounds like you got some pieces from the same guy I was looking at on the bay. did you get the 'stabilized' or the other?

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:50 am

hey mumblypeg, no i got mine from texas knifemaker's supply - wwwtexasknife.com

catalog does'nt say if it is stabilized.