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antler-scales-knife-making-quest Good as knife butt caps, priest ends or stick tops. As you boil you start to soften up the antler. Fish and Wildlife International Affairs website detailing the new laws. Ivories are hard to come by, ancient ivories are a limited resource. Thanks for scaoes here! Have you actually seen rhino horn finished?

The polished texture of ivory has a smooth comfortable feel, jigged bone is attractive and secure in the hand. Value is one of the more modern reasons to use this material. Ivories are hard to come by, ancient ivories are a limited resource. Mammoth and mastodon ivory, fossil walrus tusk, and fossil Oosic are some of the most valuable and sought after knife handle materials.

Some shells, coral, and pearl families are rare and expensive. Many of these materials increase the value of the knife dramatically. The first problem with them is that all the materials listed on this page are somewhat porous , and this effects stability. There are lesser and greater degrees of porosity, and that helps with good choices for handle applications. Being porous and organic, these materials absorb moisture, loose moisture, absorb contaminants, salts, and soil.

Extra care must be taken to keep the handle material clean and dry. Sudden changes in relative humidity like moving from a damp forested environment to a dry air conditioned room can cause such a variation in moisture content that the material shrinks and cracks away from bolsters, guards, or pins within hours. Temperature also affects these materials radically. Putting a bone or ivory handled knife in the direct sun or under a bright display lamp for a couple hours can ruin it.

Part of the problem is moisture content, but another factor is the coefficient of thermal expansion. Since the coefficient is much different than steel, movement can be outright extreme. Often, pins and epoxy do not prevent movement, and eventually the bone, horn, or ivory shrinks, checks, and cracks away from the pins, bolsters and tang. This does not necessarily mean the end of the knife. As long as the knife is kept reasonably dry, it should last in service.

Light can be another enemy. Many of these organic materials react to the long term exposure of light, sometimes bleaching and becoming flat in color and depth. Since they are usually laying on one side, the other side will not bleach, and then the knife looks like a different handle material was put on each side. On a hidden tang knife it can look as if it's been laying in the desert for a century.

And the intensity of the light also adds to the effects of drying detailed above. Sometimes, checking in ivory is an advantage. It testifies to the age of the knife handle, and elephant ivory is graceful and forgiving in its yellowing and checking. Another disadvantage is toughness and hardness. Organic materials like horn, shell, bone, and ivory can easily be scratched, dented, scarred, and stained.

Though some are tougher than others, they are not physically strong materials. Some are brittle, some are downright delicate so special care must be used in mounting them on the handle, and the knife and Making Wooden Knife Scales handle itself must be cared for with extra consideration.

Size and shape can be another limiting factor in knife handle design. Most of these materials are derived from curved pieces, and the geometry of the knife handle must incorporated these curves to exhibit the most from the handle material. Particularly, this can limit the width of the handle. Sections must sometimes be made thin to take advantage of the display area of the material, and this further threatens overall strength. That is why so many mammoth ivory handles, for instance, are used on smaller or folding knives.

The curve of the tusk can not be fully applied to the handle flats if the handle is wide and large. Legality: Some horns, bones, and ivory are banned!

This takes some research, and you don't want some local or uneducated law enforcement person showing up at your home to confiscate your knife. This is becoming a serious issue, so it's best to avoid all organics that are restricted, like fresh ivory, rhino, walrus, tiger, or any other organics you are not absolutely certain are legal! Hello Jay I acquired two black rhino horns in pre import ban and would like to no if you have an interest, and or if I commissioned you to build me a series of knifes and use them for the handles.

Seriously, all rhino species are critically endangered, and there are less than black rhinos left in the world today at the time of this writing. I realize that you have old rhino horns, but do you have absolute proof of their origin?

I'm certain you don't, for a slip of paper does not physically date organic horn, and that's your first legal hurdle. The first international ban on rhino horn trade was in , and even today there are continual efforts to strengthen management of rhino horn trophies and implements, which means lots of legal authorities confiscating, and fining, and imprisoning.

Like walrus tusk and recent elephant tusk, it's just not reasonable to make knife handles nowadays out of them without a lot of headache. I don't want to be called to testify in your behalf about the origin of a knife handle I made. There are much more durable and beautiful handle materials! Have you actually seen rhino horn finished? It's compressed hair keratin and rather boring and and not particularly distinctive or beautiful, and you really can't tell it from a water buffalo horn.

The interest then is the romantic idea of the rhino horn, and not the beauty or durability of the substance. In my world, ideas can be inspiration, but the magic is in the process and execution, not the suggestion that you wrestled a pound beast to the ground to snap off his only protection from lions or other rhinos.

Knife handles aren't the only use of horn, bone, and ivory. I often incorporate these materials into my display stands, sheaths, and even as accent components in the knives themselves.

Nothing looks as rich and organic as ivory, polished horn, shell, or coral. It is quite common to see a fork of an antler used to support or elevate a knife on a display stand, and though that is where most of us start in our quest to display a knife, an evolution of that process is inevitable in the finer works.

Horns and antlers have been commonly used in knife handle construction for many millennia. Along with wood, horns and antlers are probably the oldest knife handle material. Horn and antler can be left rough, polished, or carved, sometimes scrimshawed or textured. Though they are similar and often referred to in the same reference, there are some important differences.

Horn is mostly a derivation of hair, actually hollow sheaths of keratin, tightly condensed and packed in a solid growth. Horns, such as cow horn and buffalo horn, are not shed annually, and commonly last the life of the animal. Horns are usually more dense than antlers. Antlers are a porous bony appendage that are shed annually, so antlers are a renewable resource. Elk, mule deer and white tailed deer are good examples.

These sheds can be a valuable find in the forests of our country, and many hikers go out in the early spring just to gather shed antlers. Antlers are usually more porous than horn. Some antlers are better than others. Often, the terms horn and antler and stag are interchanged, which can cause some confusion. Each one deserves some special attention:.

Ivories are animal teeth. Ivories and tusks are unusually dense, some of the densest, hardest animal parts and remains. They are much less porous than bone, therefore last longer, are less apt to absorb liquids, and polish better. They are definitely a step up from bone and antler, but cost considerably more. However, they are not impervious to moisture damage, expansion and contraction, staining, and separation from the knife handle.

I read an ad copy on one web site and the claim is when you buy a custom carved ivory knife handle, "you will own an exclusive work of art that will defy time.

Ivory shrinks, dries, checks, cracks, stains, and yellows. Time is an enemy of ivory, it will not defy time in any sense of the word. Such claims like this do our business and tradecraft a huge injustice.

What handle material will defy time and even outlast the blade? Why, gemstone, of course. Ivories have traditionally been the most favored of animal parts for knife handles, jewelry, and accessories, so much so that the trade in ivory has reduced some animal species to near extinction.

There is a lot of regulation and restrictions on ivory use, and documentation of the origin of certain ivories can be tedious, only for the supplier and maker, not usually for the knife client or collector.

Overzealous bureaucrats have even confiscated Mammoth ivory handled knives believing the ivory was from recent elephants. Maybe they were trying to protect the Mammoths from extinction As of July 6, , new elephant ivory-containing items are banned from sale in the United States, and older stock with elephant ivory is severely restricted.

The Department of the Interior's US Fish and Wildlife Service has extensive details on their website, but it's clear that this is an effective ban on elephant ivory sales. Clearly, elephant ivory in knives, knife handles, sheaths, components, and accessories is finished in the United States. How this looks for knife makers and collectors and owners of knives is not good, if they prefer ivory, horn, bone, or natural organic materials.

No new knives with ivory can be made and sold. All ivory that is not ancient must be accompanied by extensive paperwork and documentation, or the risk of confiscation is assumed. All other ivories will be subject to scrutiny; extensive laboratory examination must be made to distinguish elephant ivory from mammoth or mastodon tusk, or modern wart hog tusk, hippopotamus tooth, or other materials similar in appearance.

The topic can be summed in this interview and questionnaire I gave to Michael Haskew of Blade Magazine on August 23, His questions and my complete answers follow:. I am and have been a full time professional knifemaker for 28 years and have been making custom and creative knives for combat professionals, knife users, and collectors. What does the Fish and Ivory Wildlife Rule that went into effect July 6 mean for you and your business?

Clearly, elephant ivory in knives is finished. Not sure of this question; since it is now August, and all current elephant ivory sales are restricted or banned, according to the de minimis exception, listed on the U.

Fish and Wildlife International Affairs website detailing the new laws. Elephant ivory without detailed provenance is now illegal to sell. All new elephant ivory hand crafted items are now illegal to sell.

Do you know of any recent raids or confiscations that have taken place? Could you tell me about the evens surrounding them? Are you cutting back on stocks of ivory and concentrating on other materials instead? If so, what other materials and why? Unfortunately, this ban and severe restriction of ivory sales does not just affect elephant ivory. These are not banned, but are fish and wildlife officials and law enforcement agents going to be carrying around long-wave ultraviolet lamps to determine mineral inclusions of ancient ivory, along with a testing standards kit, and a ten-power magnifier to determine if mammoth ivory is not elephant ivory?

Since this is unlikely, venues, dealers, and websites may ban all ivory types, whether wart hog tusk, mammoth ivory, or hippopotamus tooth, since determinations may be difficult and costly. Because of the ban, non-elephant ivory and ivory-like items may be less desirable.

In tactical and working knives, manmade materials and plastics will dominate, but exotic woods may be next on the horizon of control and restriction. In my own art and profession, gemstone has been a mainstay for decades, and I believe it will continue to be the premium material for knife handles in the future.

No living species, plant or animal, will be directly endangered by its use, and in most cases, it will outlast the knife itself. How difficult is it to prove that your ivory inventory was bought before a certain year? What year is the cutoff now? In general, how difficult is it for anyone to find the necessary information? The information is not good for owners of any elephant ivory.

What kind of advice would you offer to knifemakers and knife buyers in terms of the new rule when it comes to the ivories they have on hand in either unattached scales or ivory knives in general? Unfortunately, because of the last rule in the de minimis exception, elephant ivory currently not mounted on a finished knife made before July 6, cannot legally be used to put on a knife and sold.

So elephant ivory scales are now valueless. Even if a knife with elephant ivory or just the elephant ivory is given away, it needs to have accompanying documentation. If a knife was made before July 6, , it must have all of the documentation and provenance accompanying it to be sold. What should collectors buy and not buy due to the new rule? What should knifemakers buy and not buy? Collectors and makers both need to stay away from elephant ivory.

The basis of the law has good intentions, to stop the slaughter of elephants and prevent diminishing herds. There are much more stable, common, and accessible knife handle materials. Ivory is now finished in knife handles in the US, as this is a near total ban. No new elephant ivory-handled knives can be legally made and sold. How does this help the dwindling elephant herds? This is our government at work.

Officials, law enforcement, and Game and Fish will be confused by the many ivory types available, including wart hog tusk, hippopotamus ivory, mammoth, mastodon, and walrus. All of these must be accurately and completely detailed and identified with accompanying documentation when necessary.

Animal bone has been used on knife handles since the dawn of time. Whether to represent the hunt and quest for game, or because it was a willing and workable raw material, or perhaps because ancient man just wondered what to do with all that extra bone lying around, it found its way to the handle.

Bone is easily worked, plentiful, and fairly durable. On the modern custom knife, though, it has some problems. First, it is very porous. That means that it absorbs pretty much anything it contacts. Perhaps in ancient times, the tissues and fluids and sweat it encountered would help it stabilize, while imparting a weather resisting patina.

Nowadays, no one field dresses their hamburger, or scrapes a hide to make boots for tromping through the snow after mammoth. So the bone is left to dry out, absorb atmospheric moisture and fluids from the hand, and is subject to continuous heating and cooling of the days and seasons.

So, being so porous, it expands and contracts extensively, and eventually works itself loose from fittings, cracks around pins, fights any method of attachment used to fix it to a knife tang.

It is much more unstable than ivory, and is therefore usually used on the cheapest of knives. Bones mounted on knife handles are often jigged. Jigging in this context is a word that comes from Scotland, and refers to any mechanical contrivance that operates by repeated jerky and reciprocating motion.

So jigged bone is named for the jigging machine that cuts it. The cuts in the bone give it some tactile purchase, especially when wet, offer some visual interest, and hide grainy porosity in the finished surface.

The sea has offered us some beautiful materials for knife handles and adornment. These organics can include fish teeth and bones, but their use in knife handles is rare. Pearl, shells, and coral are abundant and moderately durable once mounted on the knife. I'll add new photographs and descriptions of my horn, bone, ivory, and shell handles, components, fixtures, fittings, and artwork as they become available.

More about this Nunavut Skinner. History The history is rich. Return to Topics. Advantages Tradition, beauty, texture, and value. Jungle King. Other Uses Knife handles aren't the only use of horn, bone, and ivory. Buffalo Hunter. Horns and Antlers Horns and antlers have been commonly used in knife handle construction for many millennia. Each one deserves some special attention: Deer Antler also called stag horn, deer horn : In America, this comes from the annual sheds of both the Mule Deer and the Whitetail Deer.

While it can be made into a serviceable knife handle, both these types of antler are rather porous, with a fairly tough outer shell. They are probably the least expensive of handle materials on this page.

Availability is good, wear characteristics are poor to fair. Appearance is fair, contaminate staining is frequent. The best use of deer antler is by careful selection of thick, heavy portions that are on the surface of the antler.

The only permanent method of construction and use for a fine custom knife is to have the antler professionally stabilized. See stabilized horn below. Polishes well. Elk antlers are definitely a step up from deer antlers, as they are thicker, stronger, with a smaller central portion of porous material, and a thicker outer density. Availability is good, wear characteristics are fair to good. As with deer antler, the best use is by careful selection of thick, heavy portions that are on the surface of the antler.

There was an embargo on Indian Sambar that was lifted once then reapplied, but the horn is available through other countries, and supplies can be found all over the web, so don't think it is in any way rare. Sambar stag is one of the mainstays of organic handle material in fine custom knives. Unlike deer and elk antler, it is hard, tough, solid and dense. Instead of a large porous central core, it has a small core, and a very solid outer shell, extending through most of the antler.

It can have a beautiful brown textured surface, making it very attractive for knife handles, and a secure, comfortable gripping surface. Polishes well, resists most stains, good wear characteristics.

It's more expensive than deer or elk antler, but well worth the expense. If you're set on having a traditional horn or antler handle, this is the material I recommend. Antler Scales vs.

Crowns all deer, stag, and elk : There are two arrangements to antler or stag horn application on a knife handle. Scales are flat pieces slabbed from wide horns and applied to the flat sides of a full tang or folding knife handle. They are usually secured with bolster dovetails and pins. Crowns are the thick, wide flaring parts of the antler where it attaches to the animal's head.

The crowns are usually used on hidden tang knives, where the tang is inserted into a hole drilled in the core of the antler and secured with pins, epoxy, or hidden methods. This creates a handle that appears as a solid piece of antler flaring out to the crown at the butt.

The base of the crown is a good area for carving, engraving initials, inlaying monogram plates, gemstone, or other artwork. Antler crowns are also carved into belt buckles, conchos, or other jewelry or adornment and fittings. The most permanent method of construction and use for a fine custom knife is to have the antler professionally stabilized, unless it's Sambar Stag which is fairly tough and resilient.

Caribou horn : Thicker sections and a lighter color can make this an interesting handle choice. Same stability as antlers above. Stag, horn, or antler treatments : There are ways to treat the antler before and after it is put on a knife that change the wear characteristics, the look, and the durability.

One way is flame treatment, which burns the surface to a darker color, and hardens it somewhat. Stag can also be colored by stains or potassium permanganate baths. Another process is impregnation with hardening agents such as polymers, epoxies, cyanoacrilates, or sodium silicate. Probably the ultimate is pressure stabilization, done by several companies across this country, where liquid phenolics are forced under great pressures into the porosity of the material to fill any voids and essentially waterproof the material.

The same process is used on hardwoods see my wood knife handle page here. This is usually cost prohibitive on stag though, as stag is not considered as vulnerable or worthy of the treatment. I've used nearly all the treatments listed above to some degree. Sheep Horn and Kudu includes Merino Sheep or Dahl Sheep, Ram's Horn : Sheep horn is just as tough as Sambar stag, but with some heavy textural lines, and makes an interesting knife handle.

Dark olive green to brown, with some translucency. Availability is good, horn instability is the same as other horn materials. It is often cut and steam flattened for use, which leads to questions about stability from moisture infiltration. Kudu horn is similar in shape and finish, both may be pressure stabilized and sealed.

Though they differ in shape, they have heavy ridges or texture along their length so that may in grip security when mounted on a knife handle. Their stability is the same as any antler, and they are commonly available.

Very dense and fairly hard, it Antler Scales Knife Making An is much better than typical antlers. Usually black, but sometimes with white banding and other muted colors. Takes a glassy polish, some even looks like polished plastic. Cow Horn: Though sometimes used on custom knife handles, I've only used it on stands. Variegated colors, white, gray, brown, black, olive. Stabilized horn: Most of the horns and antlers listed on this page can be stabilized, that is impregnated with dyes and resinous or phenolic liquid plastics polymers or phenolics at high pressures, essentially making a block of plasticized horn material.

Though this is done some, I think it holds a huge opportunity to stabilizing firms in the future. The materials become impervious to impregnation by liquids, they become waterproof, dimensional stability is increased, and performance is greatly improved.

I suppose that the expense of stabilization is too high, and low-end knives are better suited to the use of non-stabilized horn and antler material. I do have some stabilized horn, though, and it works very well. Ivories and Tusks Ivories are animal teeth. Here are the types with details: Elephant Ivory: Elephant ivory tusk is a traditional fine knife handle material.

It is what the general public is usually referring to when they use the singular term ivory. It is not as popular as it was 20 years ago, because of restrictions, regulations, and public sentiment over threatened elephant herds and populations. Since no elephant ivory is allowed to be shipped into or out of the United States, and there is a new, near total ban on elephant ivory use in the United States, one can only assume that the ivory is legal, from existing stock already in the country but it must be accompanied by extensive documentation and provenance.

More on the new ban below. Ivory is dense, solid, light creamy white when freshly cut and polished, and yellowing and checking small cracks at terminal ends with age. All age-related changes in ivory are considered a natural part of the material, and even valued as a testament to the authenticity and age of the ivory. Old ivory has a warm, appealing patina, and the grain in the material becomes more apparent with age, thus identifying the ivory as real, and not a plastic imitation.

Elephant ivory can be brightly polished, and retains a bright luster, and can be easily scrimshawed with high detail that increases the value of the knife greatly. I have, however, seen some fine ivory ruined by bad scrimshaw. Elephant Ivory carves well, and can hold high detail. Ivory is not an extremely durable handle material, and must be cared for and protected with vigilance.

Several hours in the bright hot sunlight or under quartz lamps can ruin an expensive knife handle or carving. Some states prohibit all trade in ivory products, so careful research of local regulations is required to prevent confiscation of your fine knife!

Mammoth Tusk, Mastodon Tusk: Also called Ancient Ivory, this is one of the most popular custom and handmade knife handle materials. These are the actual tusks of Mammoths and Mastodons that have died thousands of years ago. Sometimes called "fossil ivory", this is a complete misnomer, since fossilization is the replacement of the ivory by rock. Fossils are solid minerals with no organic material whatsoever; they are rocks. Mammoth ivories may well be thousands of years old, but fossils are millions of years old.

Great for knife handle projects, naturally shed and weathered. Sold individually. Naturally shed and weathered, these antler knife handle blanks are perfect for primitive weaponry crafts when a natural look of age is desired. These blanks are of the most desired portion of antler for knife makers, also known as the solid crown, or 'burr' section of antler closest to the skull of the deer. Great for carving, since the burr Antler Scales Knife Making Pdf tends to be solid bone material with little to no pith soft marrow at the base.

Rough sanded, cut to a shape similar to examples shown in the product pictures. Size, shape, and color will vary from handle to handle as these are all natural. Some handles show more weathering patina, micro-cracks, and age than others.

Approx inches long from top end of handle to tip of burr.

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