Mammoth tusk

[JoeBusic]

Is it worth the trouble cutting and stabilizing to keep the price lower than buying scales?
Starting from this

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Do you know where it is from? Is it a dredged-up sea fossil?
What are the measurements?
How hard is it?
Does the middle powder if you dig a knife into it?
How much do you have in it?

It looks pretty weathered, and the outer bark looks like it has separated. Those are not good things. I have my doubts about it, but can't hold it and look it over.

 

[JoeBusic]

Do you know where it is from? Is it a dredged-up sea fossil?
What are the measurements?
How hard is it?
Does the middle powder if you dig a knife into it?
How much do you have in it?

It looks pretty weathered, and the outer bark looks like it has separated. Those are not good things. I have my doubts about it, but can't hold it and look it over.

Size 13 x 9 x 8 cm, 0.8kg. Other answers I don't have. Based on your questions and observations, I'll give it a rest. Tomorrow I'll see it and check the hardness. Maybe a few snapshots and post tomorrow.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

At that size it could be stabilized with thin CA pretty easily. If the price is fair, it is worth a try. What is the seller asking?

 

[JoeBusic]

At that size it could be stabilized with thin CA pretty easily. If the price is fair, it is worth a try. What is the seller asking?

$300. I have a friend who has the vacuum stuff so I would do it right. Cut scales from outward to the core, stabilize correctly and work with it.
It's a thought for later. No hurry.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

At that price, I would want it all to be good material. Not sure it is a good deal. Other may chime in with their opinions.

 

[tattooedfreak]

Yeah, I agree with Stacy, 300 for that is not a good deal unless it is completely solid. Even with vacuum stabilizing it probably wouldnt work into the core and you would end up with pockets, its not like wood that way. I have a lot of mammoth and you can buy a couple of really nice scales for that price that would be either stabilized or solid and not require stabilizing. If it is solid; knock on all sides with something hard and listen, it should clack (like hardwood) and not thock (like spalted wood), it might be worth the price but you will have to take into account any bark chipping or flaking off, how much usable material you will get after trimming and cutting (with a metal bandsaw at that thickness) and whether you will have to stabilize (or resin cast) the final pieces.
Without actually holding it, just by what I see, you may only get one good set of scales out of it, at maybe 10.5-11 cm long x 3cm x 1-1.5cm. Im not saying turn it down, thats your call, if you want to use it to try your hand at cutting your own. If you have a specific project in mind, I would shy away and find a good dealer.

 

[Fixall]

Based on the appearance, I personally wouldn't pay that for a piece that size. The interior is what concerns me the most. It looks like the material you find coming out of the gold fields that has rotted in the elements for some time.

I'll message you a link for a company with similar pricing, that has some pretty high quality mammoth tusk and molar in all kinds of sizing.

 

[Hengelo_77]

It's a 300 dollar gamble.

 

[jfk1110]

I'd be curious to see it cross cut....

 

[JoeBusic]

Based on the appearance, I personally wouldn't pay that for a piece that size. The interior is what concerns me the most. It looks like the material you find coming out of the gold fields that has rotted in the elements for some time.

I'll message you a link for a company with similar pricing, that has some pretty high quality mammoth tusk and molar in all kinds of sizing.

Thanks for the link. Those are some very beautiful pieces. Based on volume and mass, they are a lot more dense then the one I have here. So, no doubt, it's crap. Only as a souvenir.
There are some thin bark pieces, so I'm wondering now, can it be bent? I would like to se as much of the surface on the handle.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

No, you cannot bend it. The thin outer bark needs to be firmly attached to the underlayer or it will pop off the handle at some time. It is too fragile to use alone.

I would not buy that piece.
If I had known you were looking for some mammoth, I would have tossed a couple scales in the box I sent you.

 

[JoeBusic]

No, you cannot bend it. The thin outer bark needs to be firmly attached to the underlayer or it will pop off the handle at some time. It is too fragile to use alone.

Got it.

I would not buy that piece.

I won't.

If I had known you were looking for some mammoth, I would have tossed a couple scales in the box I sent you.

I didn't know it then.
This is an idea for high end Ti printed handles with some inlays. Thinking mammoth (tusk or molar) or stones. Mammoth I can shape. Stones are out of my ability for now.