Thread: Mammoth tooth as scaling material?

I'm a big fan if exotic scale material and have come across alot if knives using fossilized mammoth tooth as handle material. Of course on the knives the material in pinned flat against a metal backing and is not freestanding like razor scales. My question is is the stuff, stable/strong/flexible enough for straights? Oils it be used with a backing and work? Or I this just a no go?

Anybody have experience working with the stuff? I have search around and haven't found much on the material relating to razors...

I assume it could be used like MOP, in ridged pieces pinned to a backing- but can it be used as a single souls piece?

I have worked with it, is true fossil, 100% minerialiezd (sp) you need a diamond saw to slab it.

Mammoth teeth, at least what I have used, are recovered from the permafrost. Some have been stabilized, please read, firmed up with resins. They can be easily cut with a thin wheel on an angle grinder, drilled with carbide burrs, shaped with a belt sander, and polished to a high sheen. The ones I have used are not fossils, and stink when worked, like sitting in a dentist chair. It smell like tooth being ground.

Down side. It is very brittle, usually separating along the enamel/dentine layers. There is zero flex. Even with a backing, they will pop. Only way I can see around it, would be to do it in tiles like MOP, and seal with CA glue.

PM me if you would like, I'll help out best as I can.

Originally Posted by PierreR

Mammoth teeth, at least what I have used, are recovered from the permafrost. Some have been stabilized, please read, firmed up with resins. They can be easily cut with a thin wheel on an angle grinder, drilled with carbide burrs, shaped with a belt sander, and polished to a high sheen. The ones I have used are not fossils, and stink when worked, like sitting in a dentist chair. It smell like tooth being ground.

Down side. It is very brittle, usually separating along the enamel/dentine layers. There is zero flex. Even with a backing, they will pop. Only way I can see around it, would be to do it in tiles like MOP, and seal with CA glue.

PM me if you would like, I'll help out best as I can.

Thanks so much for the input. When I get my hands on some I will contact you. I have one of my grail razors on its way and the scales are toast so I want to do something special. Funny you shoul answer this thread Pierre, I was looking at an ox horn scaled custom u did that kind of led me to this! Thinking about it objectively it may be best for stability and look the best if it is worked like MOP and have the sections separated by a thin piece of brass or maybe sterling silver.... Idk food for thought...

My money was def on pixel knowing a thing or two- :-)

Thanks guys for quick resp as always

As an afterthought, haven't seen it done yet, but am waiting on a shipment of thin titanium for a straight frame. Super spring, corrosion proof (afaik) and will polish to mirror lustre. Peening would prove problematic, but I have a way around it in mind. Touch base when your ready, we can chat.

Originally Posted by PierreR

As an afterthought, haven't seen it done yet, but am waiting on a shipment of thin titanium for a straight frame. Super spring, corrosion proof (afaik) and will polish to mirror lustre. Peening would prove problematic, but I have a way around it in mind. Touch base when your ready, we can chat.

That's cool, looking foward to hear what u have in mind. For some inspiration here's the blade I intend on putting it on- it's currently nestled under te il Yule time spruce (from Santa wife)

I have never sent anything out before as I do all my own restorations and scales, but in this case of have considered maybe sending it out for rescale, idk... Guess we'll see...

Hey even a chef eats out every so often right?

I will message you after the holidays, I have off after Xmas so I should have the restoration on the blade done by New Years.

Happy holidays Pierre, ( and pixel ;-p) and thanks again!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I have worked with it, is true fossil, 100% minerialiezd (sp) you need a diamond saw to slab it.

No it's not. If it was 100% fossilized it would be like petrified wood-all rock. It simply hasn't been in the ground long enough. The process is in progress.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No it's not. If it was 100% fossilized it would be like petrified wood-all rock. It simply hasn't been in the ground long enough. The process is in progress.

Mine was like rock, totally fossilized,what you need to realize is that woolly Mammoths were on this earth 40 million yrs ago to as little as 10K yrs ago. depends on how old the tooth is.

Very nice razor! I was watching that one as well and bowed out before bidding. I was hoping someone here was the lucky winner. I can't wait to see that restored. Enjoy !

That is a very nice blade,keep us posted