Giraffe Bone??

B . Buxton

B . Buxton

Joined
Jul 8, 2001
Messages
3,623
Theres a lot of comments about the dislike for Giraffe bone, Why? What makes Giraffe bone so distasteful to so many. Its just a bone like any other. Would it be more favorable if it was fossilized, like walrus, whale or mammoth.
That if it laid under layers of ice or dirt for several hundreds of years and then be discovered, would it then find favor in the eyes of most everyone.
Is it because its just plain with no color or streaks of natural color running through it. If thats the case why is Ivory so popular, much of it is plain, with no colors, just white.

Do many dislike it just because someone else says it sucks, or do some find Giraffe bone threatening because a knife made with a $75 piece of Giraffe bone can look as good as one with a $400 piece of Ivory. Don't get me wrong I really like Ivory, but I like Giraffe bone also, so why such the dislike?

Bill
 
Also Bill, there is a big difference between ivory and bone, physically and psychologically. When one hears the words 'Ivory' and 'G-bone', each congers up different images :)

Photos of the two materials may be similar but in person the difference is huge IMHO :)
 
I don't find giraffe bone "distasteful" and can't speak for those that do. I just don't find bone in general to be a prticularly appealing handle material. Even in the context of slipjoint folders - where use of bone is quite prevalent - I would still put a long list of preferred materials ahead of it.

I also don't equate bone (skeleton) with ivory (tooth) - fossilized or not. They are both bits of dead animals to be sure, but they don't look or feel the same on a knife.

It is clearly a polarizing material, though. As a maker, there's nothing wrong with using it as long as you understand this and have an awareness of the likely acceptance of it by your likely customers.

I think Kevin mentioned in the other thread that it was a riksy choice from an investment standpoint on a premium knife. I would have to agree with that.

Roger
 
I think it's the perfect handle material.
It is the densest bone on the planet.
Consider the strength necessary to support the lateral stresses of the VERY top-heavy giraffe!?!!
The bone is collected from lion kills.
I have never found it to be a substitue for anything.
It is what it is, and I think it's cool.
 
HI Bill,

From my perspective......

Giraffe bone was a replacement for Stag when that handle material started to dry up.

As Roger and Don pointed out, Giraffe bone, has neither the same characteristics of Ivory nor the demand in the after market.

If it did it would carry a similar price. We all know nothing could be farther from the truth.

Ivory comes by it's color naturally, Giraffe bone does not.

If you and/or your clients like G-Bone then you should use it.

I realize that you sell your knives in the primary market. However, using G-Bone on your knives will limit the knives ability to be sold or traded in the aftermarket. I know several dealers, including myself that have no interest in knives with G-bone handles.

This "MAY" have some negative impact on your knives in the primary market.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
there is a big difference between ivory and bone, physically and psychologically.I agree Don. I'd use more ivory over anything if I could afford to.
But a lot of people can't give you a reason why giraffe a poor choice except for the reason that someone else says its sucks. My reason for the question was to find out why people find it so distasteful. What makes it so much different from other materials that it degrades the value. If over use causes less appreciation for it, then you'd think stag and ironwood would really degrade a knifes price. Stag is no different, cold and hard, yet you put a hunk of antler on a knife and everyone flocks over it. Stag is also dyed and is priced less then giraffe, yet more desirable. I am just curious as to why, other then just because its giraffe.

Roger, I totally understand that we all have our own ideas/ideals of what we like and want, thats a good thing or everything would become stale. I also appreciate you not liking bone of any kind therefore you don't care for giraffe, makes perfect sence to me. But to tell a person a knife with giraffe is a poor investment I just don't understand, why is it a poor investment compared to stag or ironwood, etc..

Les, I have some giraffe thats as natural as can be, no dyes, just plain white. yet its not desirable because its giraffe :confused: . I'm not questioning your
selling practises, you can sell/trade whatever you want, I have no problem with that at all, but as I stated above, why is it a poor investment.

Is it just because its so plentiful, what if someone would corner the market on it for a few years like they did stag, then would it sky rocket up in price like stag did and make it more desirable. As for Ivory, in some countries ivory sells for not much more then giraffe, you just can't export it.

Bill
 
Bill,

You are trying to hard to make an argument for the use of G-Bone. If you like it use it.

My post was to inform you of G-Bone's desirability (or lack there of) in the after market.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
just wait til the availability of giraffe leg bones dries up.

As far as investments go, I think in the long run that has more to do with the interest the market has in the knife's maker than it does the materials one uses.

Arguing for or against certain materials vis a vis investment I think is a short term, fad/fashion driven position which increases the bottom line, or not, right now as opposed to 50 years from now.
 
I love giraffe bone personally; it's a great handle material in my opinion because it holds up to use as well as looks great. It's definitely not a substitute for other handle materials though, it's its own material and not a replacement for mammoth ivory, etc. Don't really know why some people don't like it so much!
 
B . Buxton said:
Roger, I totally understand that we all have our own ideas/ideals of what we like and want, thats a good thing or everything would become stale. I also appreciate you not liking bone of any kind therefore you don't care for giraffe, makes perfect sence to me. But to tell a person a knife with giraffe is a poor investment I just don't understand, why is it a poor investment compared to stag or ironwood, etc..l
Click to expand...

Hi Bill,

Just for the sake of clarity - what I was suggesting (or agreeing with, in any event) was the proposition that giraffe bone is a risky (not poor) investment on premium (not all) knives.

The reason is simply what I said earlier - it is a polarizing material. Quite apart from the valid questions you pose as to the reasons it is polarizing and the legitimacy of those reasons, it seems indisputable that it is a fulcrum of controversy as handle materials go. If you've got 4 premium damascus bowies from a given maker - all comparable as to dimension, steel pattern and finish, but one each in amber stag, walrus ivory, mammoth ivory and giraffe bone - there might be some debate as to which knives occupy the top three spots in terms of investment potential, but 4th place is not in doubt.

I can see why it might be frustrating to look in vain for quantifiable reasons why it is not more universally embraced by collectors, but I don't think it can be dismissed as a simple matter of people accepting what others have told them. No doubt that applies to some, but not to all. Individuals like what they like, but collectively, the market speaks. Nobody is forcing anyone to use or not use a given material. But some choices will appeal to a broader range of potential buyers than others. The degree to which that influences a given maker's choice of materials is entirely a matter for that maker.

Hope that helps clarify my views.

Now go finish up some more stunning knives for the Blade show and post them on the preview thread. :thumbup:

Roger
 
Hi Lorien,

You and Bill should corner the market. Go to Africa, and get exclusive distribution rights in the US and Europe. Then you can sell (or not sell) G-Bone.

Driving up the demand, creating a frenzy among collectors and make a killing in the G-Bone market.

Of course if that happens poachers will start killing Giraffes, bringing them to the brink of extinction. You and Bill will become a scourge with the left. PETA will haunt you night and day. Al Gore will make a new movie called "An Inconvenient Handle Material!"

It's tough being an Entrepreneur. :D

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
I have custom knives of all sorts with a variety of handles. I like Giraffe bone because it is a dense bone, very good in knife handles. I think the overwhelming desire to get the bone, accompanied by those who sought to sell it as ivory, mastodon in fact, has hurt it. Many collectors now look away from Giraffe bone but mainly because of what others might say.l I maintain it is a very fine handle and should be used.
 
Hi Roger,

Good post.

I guess if you are going to use it in lieu of micarta or a Wild Wood handle. It would be an acceptable substitute.

No dye, keep it on the knives under $300 and it will probably be ok.

Hi Ray,

I don't like it because the material does not hold its value in the after market.

Somebody out there is buying it.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
My dislike of Giraffe bone has nothing to do with the origin or type of material it is. The garish dye coloring is a major drawback. My largest dislike is the price. When I was regularly doing shows I would see scale sets priced at 30 or 40 sometimes 50 dollars. I would find ivory scales priced at 60 or 70 dollars and A+ MOP in the same price range. By putting the ivory or MOP on the knife I would see a much quicker sale then if I used giraffe bone. I know that Ivory and MOP prices have went up but I will still get a better return on the premium materials as opposed to bone of any kind. Additionally with Mammoth Ivory, it’s not being produced any longer. Mammoth Ivory is at least 10,000 years, old the giraffe was killed last week it is not worth 50 bucks to me.

I just did a quick search for Giraffe Bone and found scales 30-50. All were dyed and the giraffe was probably killed in that last year or two.

I did a search for Mammoth Ivory and found scale sets from 39-60 bucks. All were natural and were brown with checked character lines and some even had green hues.

I’ll go with the ivory every time.
 
Hi Art,

So you find that there is a better return on Investment buying Ivory and Pearl over Giraffe bone.

By saying that you are echoing what collectors have been telling me for the last 3 years.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
Do collectors not like giraffe bone because they themselves dont like giraffe bone, or because dealers don't sell knives with giraffe bone, thus limiting the secondary market, decreasing the overall secondary market visibility and prices?

I think this could be a double case of personal preference but also dealers influencing the market. If big name dealers publicly and constantly say collectors don't want giraffe bone, collectors don't see giraffe bone knives being stocked by the respected dealers and newer collectors say "wow it must suck, no one carries knives with it" and continue the circular cycle by repeating what they've heard to dealers, etc etc.

I, too would like to know the REASON collectors don't want giraffe bone. We get it...they don't want it....but why not? Any solid info other than personal preference? If its so widespread among collectors as it sounds from Les's posts, there must be a widespread shared understanding of why it isnt desirable, right?
 
Les Robertson said:
I don't like it because the material does not hold its value in the after market.


Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
Click to expand...

Do they not hold their value in the after market because no collectors want them, or because reputable dealers like youself fail to stock them, sending a clear message to everyone that they are not desired and driving the secondary market prices down through implied worthlessness? In other words, do collectors not want them because enough dealers refuse to sell them in the secondary market, and in that case, complete the cycle of decreasing their desirability?
 
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