whale ivory for handles

BonhamBlades

BonhamBlades

Well-Known Member
Typically I am the guy looking for the best of the best burls. As of late I have become addicted to ivory walrus, mammoth, pre ban elephant, and hippo. I am now wanting to try sperm whale tooth ivory, but not having any luck at finding moderately priced pieces. If you know of anyone I would sure appreciate it
 
The reason that there aren't any moderate priced pieces is the Federal ban on Whale Ivory. Marine Mammals act of 72 ?? Some claim to have paper work etc..

Talking with Jim Fergeson of Twisted Nickel over a decade ago about several large sperm whale teeth I had at the time was that there really isn't any way to legal own or use them in a knife and all of that "Legal paper work" is questionable?

I wouldn't want to be the test case if the feds decided to confiscate all of your knives at a show or anywhere else.

Remember what happen to Gibson Guitar? The had all of their woods confiscated and after a million or two in court costs were never charged with anything and haven't got the wood back ether.

This same administration just got reelected!

Stick with the fossilized stuff!

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
I agree Laurence I started looking into Narwhale tusk. Ivory thats whay too cool and is not on the ban list because it is not on the list. I could buy a tusk legally in Canada and I would assume in Alaska as well . Here is the kicker a tusk never gets sold in pieces its normally displayed in one pieces and usually a small one is 40 plus inches and as long as 8 plus ft the bigger the more money the small ones start at 3 grand and go up depending on grade. So stick with the fossil less hassle way less money. I made several inquirys and they pretty much laughed at me when I asked for smaller pieces. At 3 grand you could buy a hole mammoth tusk enough for 50 sets of handles or more. I saw one sold on tv and it was big the guys paid 2500 and it weighed over 30 pounds polished no cracks and mint with nice color. Ive been buying mammoth Ivory a little at a time. I cant afford a whole tusk 4 ft long . Kellyw
 
HellGap,
you are referring to a legendary Unicorn Horn! That's what they were sold as during the middle ages etc.. A Narwhale tusk. The Mammal use's those to dig out shell fish as great depths under the ice cap. Many are still displayed with the reference to a Unicorn. That's why top dollar goes for the intact Tusks.

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
Boone Trading Company has some small Narwhal pieces for sale. They may have sold them already, but they're still on the website so it might be worth a call. Also of note, they'll ship pre-ban elephant all over the country, but legal whale only within their state (WA I believe).
 
I was watching the Antiques Road Show the other day and they were discussing a Maori whale bone war club that had been brought in. The assessor mentioned that there was no restrictions on it due to the fact that it had been made way before the ban on whale parts. However, especially with all the elephant poaching going on there was a great deal of concern in the collecting community that there could be new regulations that would halt any dealing in endangered animal parts. So there may be a situation in the future where you could own a pre-ban item but not be able to sell it. Let's face it, there have been a couple of over one ton shipments of elephant ivory intercepted last year on their way to China and there's a lot of pressure on governments to do something about illegal animal parts trade. I would play it safe and deal with fossilized ivory and bone from endangered species.

Doug
 
from everything I have found as long as it is papered, pre 1972 which is what the paper is, and bought in the same state the tooth resides it is legal to own.you are then able to take it out of state with thus said papers. I do know that many choose not to sell do to the pain in the butt it is in aquiring the papers.
 
Yes, you can buy Narwhale tusks in Canada, but unless you have very special papers cannot send it out of the country. It can be a very beautiful material when used in a special manner because of the twist in it. It works about the same as walrus tusk. Sperm whales teeth on the other hand are dense and hard. Frank
 
have found out more in the way in info regarding whale ivory. I stated earlier that the ivory must be purchase where it resides. That varies by state laws. Some states do not require you to buy it in there state, so you could buy it on line. The catch being the state that it is going to needs to have the same regulations and it is up to the buyer to know that. Finding these regulations is not an easy task and the info you get can contradict itself. My advice is to get a verbal o.k. from your state with that officials name.
 
Ask for it in writing. That way if you're busted for illegal trade you can support your claim of entrapment.

Doug
 
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