Raw Ivory

RM Vivas

RM Vivas

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One of the folks I work with mentioned that she had a piece of ivory.

I said to bring it in, I'd like to see it.

I figured it was a little ivory charm or some such but it turned out to be a piece of raw unworked ivory. It appears to be a piece of elephant tusk that is perhaps the size of a soda can but a little bit thicker in diameter and weighs a deceptively greater amount than one would think.

What would the value of such a thing be?

I understand there is a whole host of Federal and state laws regarding raw ivory; still, the idea of new ivory stocks for a few pistols has an appeal.

Any idea as to value?

Best,
RM Vivas
 
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Do you have a weight? I have a friend who is a carver and a scrimshander and has done many whale bone/tooth projects. Because of the differing documentation requirements in various states, he won't even deal with elephant ivory these days. There are many things that affect the price of ivory. Condition (no rot, soft spots, staining...), color, density.
But, he did say that quality elephant ivory, legally obtained, with proper documentation, can fetch $3,300/pound
 
RM Vivas said:
One of the folks I work with mentioned that she had a piece of ivory.

I said to bring it in, I'd like to see it.

I figured it was a little ivory charm or some such but it turned out to be a piece of raw unworked ivory. It appears to be a piece of elephant tusk that is perhaps the size of a soda can but a little bit thicker in diameter and weighs a deceptively greater amount than one would think.

What would the value of such a thing be?

I understand there is a whole host of Federal and state laws regarding raw ivory; still, the idea of new ivory stocks for a few pistols has an appeal.

Any idea as to value?

Best,
RM Vivas
Click to expand...

Zero ... It's a banned commodity
 
Back in the 70s the son of a diplomat from the Ivory Coast gave my parents a carved elephant tusk about 2’ long as a thank you gift.It’s still sitting in a curio cabinet slowly delaminating
 
Um, the memory-and much else-isn't what it used to be. However, there's a caution floating about my mind that working ivory without proper respiratory protection can be quite detrimental to your health.

And as noted above, unless there's documentation on when & how the stuff entered the country, there may be legal issues. There are several grip makers that won't touch certain wood types due to those issues.
 
A friend of a friend was in a very early Peace Corps group and did his tour in Ivory Coast. The Peace Corps was all volunteer, but the early ones were from Ivy League schools, in this case Brown. You couldn't go to a hamburger joint even if you wanted to! There was almost nothing of value to spend his family allowance on, so he bought whole elephant tusks (in 1963) and when he came home each of the 300+ tusks had duty free documents that the State Department issued to the PC volunteers. For decades they sat in his basement, growing in value! He always told my friend; he planned on retiring rich! But it came from a sideline instead of his vocation.

Ivan
 
WR Moore said:
Um, the memory-and much else-isn't what it used to be. However, there's a caution floating about my mind that working ivory without proper respiratory protection can be quite detrimental to your health.

And as noted above, unless there's documentation on when & how the stuff entered the country, there may be legal issues. There are several grip makers that won't touch certain wood types due to those issues.
Click to expand...
I remember a story about some guitar maker who got a huge fine because he had used some very rare protected species of forbidden tropical wood, do not remember the details.
 
For what it is worth you may be able to buy or possess it as long as it doesn't cross state lines. I dealt with a set of believed to be ivory grips on a gun with no documentation. It ended up being legal to buy the gun & grips as it was within the state. I can't sell the grips alone, they must be on a gun and must be within the state. As I recall the value of the grips can not exceed 50% of the cost or selling price so I can't stick them on a frame and sell them. Some states simply ban it outright with no exceptions, others work within the federal guidelines. I don't know how it works with unworked ivory. I would check with your state wildlife enforcement division as it doesn't matter what federal law allows if it is banned by your state. You likely would have to have someone in state make the grips regardless.
 
DWalt said:
I remember a story about some guitar maker who got a huge fine because he had used some very rare protected species of forbidden tropical wood, do not remember the details.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you might be talking about Gibson guitars when they were SWAT raided (jeez) for having received some wood that wasn’t from already-fallen logs. The species of tree was on a list called CITES that contains species considered to be endangered. I have a German drumkit from the 80’s that would be illegal to make now because that particular species of rosewood is on the list.
 
Rosewood is one other substance that is banned. It's a shame that elephants and rhinos are struggling due to poachers supplying tusks and horns to superstitious or vane people.
 
I have a very nice chunk that's just big enough to make a set of K square magnas. I'll start on them someday. Got it at an in-state gun show for $100 about 10 years ago.
I've discretely bought, then later sold a few obviously old sets. The 3 or 4 sets I have left aren't going anywhere. I've also made a couple from mammoth.
Several elephants came from eBay and were incorrectly listed as faux! I had a set each of K and N. Magna style with amazing deep relief Asian dragon motifs. Probably soldier bring backs. If I remember, the N's cost me $50 and were 'valued' at over a grand when legally traded as a package deal mounted on a gun.
 
I should point out here that I don't have possession right now. She brought it by my office and I took some images and have to look into how to make this legal. I believe there is a mechanism for unidentified 'found' ivory.

Weighs 1 pound 11.5 ounces or so......



ivory1.jpg

ivory2.jpg

ivory3.jpg

ivory4.jpg

ivory1.jpg


Would look really nice on a nickle 4" Mod. 1926!!

Best,
RM Vivas
 
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