IVORIES

Flatlandr · Oct 25, 2005

Would like to hear some creative suggestions for what to do with my Elk Ivories. Jewelry is neat but neither my wife nor I wear it.

What are neat things that you all have done with them?

Mark

Elkslayer · Oct 25, 2005

Look at what's around my neck. Only wear them during the hunt. They are on a leather necklas with 1/4" black and white dot beads between the teeth. I actually have a hunting partner that is more interested in getting good teeth than anything else. We get alot of comments about them when we go into towns.

Chef · Oct 25, 2005

Had this custom made for my Mothers B-day last year. Gave it to her with the necklace. It's pretty big and dramatic and she loves it. Needless to say, she can't wait until my next elk!

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

MartinHunter · Oct 25, 2005

I have a necklace out of one and I am going to try and incorporate the 2 from this year onto the Euro Mount somehow~

Michael

Longun · Oct 26, 2005

I had a nice set of ivories made into earrings for the wife and gave to her for Christmas and she wears them every time we go out socializing. Another thing I've done is put them into the button base of a deer antler handle knife I made for one of my daughters.

drahthaar · Oct 26, 2005

Longun,
that is what I was thinking to do. How did you do it, did you hollow it out with a dremel type tool? Epoxy? Did you cut the tooth in half? Just curious.

shortmag · Oct 26, 2005

In the west, we sometimes inlet them into the crown of a cowboy hat. Actually, a hat maker will inlet them into a hat. There is an outfit in Darby (double D?) that does it. Looks distinctive.

elkantlers · Oct 26, 2005

You could sell them. $20-$30 a set for cow ivories $40-$50 a set for good bull ivories.

deerhuntsalot · Oct 27, 2005

where is the best way to sell them? On ebay?

I saw an ad in trophy hunter magazine that had a company which puts one tooth in a ring.

trannyman · Oct 27, 2005

drill a hole in the base, and make zipper pulls for your hunting jacket

elkantlers · Oct 27, 2005

I have seen some on ebay.
I trade mine to a guy that makes really nice jewelry. I just recently traded 14 Ivories for a really nice neckless that he made for my wife with her ivories off of a big bull she shot.

Flatlandr · Oct 31, 2005

Thanks to all for sharing the great suggestions.

Elkslayer - that is a way cool good luck piece.

Chef - Beautiful pendant...I'm sure your mom is proud to wear it. Did you design it?

Thanks again,
Mark

DonV · Oct 31, 2005

$40-$50 for a good bull set? Heck after a couple of more I might sell all but a pair and buy a new sleeping bag!

That is a good price, is that correct? I am not being sarcastic, I am just surprised there is that high of a demand with all the elk taken.

kilowatt · Nov 1, 2005

Wish I had a close up lens for camera, but don't. Will try to find a way to get a good picture of the necklace I have that was given to me.
The tooth is probably close to 80 years old and was made into a pendant for the BPOE Lodge in CA where I use to be a member, lodge does not exsist anymore.

Brian

Hawkk33 · Nov 1, 2005

I didn't know elk ivories had any value. I wouldn't sell my bull ivories but I have about 9-10 sets of cow ivories.

Interesting.

rumple · Nov 1, 2005

A guy I know had them permanently implanted in his mouth, thought it would help his bugling. Yeah didn't work.
Just kidding but good luck with whatever you are going to do with them.

rump

GooseHunterJr · Nov 2, 2005

Elkslayer....can you show me a close up of the necklace...I like the look of that!

kilowatt · Nov 12, 2005

Here is the Elk Pendant I have that was passed along to me since I use to belong to the local lodge before they turned in their Charter and closed the lodge.

eelgrass · Nov 13, 2005

Could I ask a stupid question?

I've never hunted elk. I've heard the term "elk ivory" of course. What are they? Are they really ivory? Is it a tooth?

If I killed an elk, I wouldn't even know where to look to find them! Could somebody explain? Thanks.

Steve

Flatlandr · Nov 13, 2005

No such thing as a stupid question!!

As I understand it, anybody feel free to correct me or add to this, but yes there are two ivory teeth located in the top side of an Elk's mouth. As you can see from the previous posts they can really look nice as jewelry. All Elk have them...I am not sure if they have them from birth or not though. They are easy to spot, look pretty much like the one in the picture post just previous to your post.

Mark

elkantlers · Nov 13, 2005

I believe they do have them from birth, but when the elk is young they are hollow and not much good for jewelry.

ride_red · Nov 13, 2005

A yearling will not have any. A spike will have them but they are hollow and no good for jewelry. Older cows are pretty good but there is nothing like the huge, flattened, brown ivory from a big bull. I really like looking at them and seeing how each set are unique. They are different sizes, different colors, different shapes.

I just had a ring made from one of the ivories off the bull I shot this year. It turned out great and I have received dozens of compliments on it.

There are only 3 or 4 animals that actually have ivory. Elephants and elk are the only two I can remember right now.

Flatlandr · Nov 14, 2005

ride_red - can you show us a pic of your new ring?

Mark

eelgrass · Nov 16, 2005

Thanks for the explaination Mark!

I think walrus have ivory tusks too....but not sure.

I have a sperm whale tooth but I don't think it's ivory. I'll try to get a picture of it to post.

Steve

kilowatt · Nov 16, 2005

Seems like I read somewhere that the Sperm Whale was a descendant from the Pre-Historic Sperm Turtle and had "snappers" that were IVORY too. Now that would be a true "shed" to find and would command high dollars to sell.

Brian

eelgrass · Nov 17, 2005

Brian,
Actually the now extinct Sperm Turtle was so named because they used to feed on Sperm whales! LOL

I picked up this tooth back in the late 50's or early 60's at the old whaling station at Fields Landing, CA. It was given to me by an old man who was caretaker at the time. I remember there were several wooden barrels full of teeth!

I think it's too heavy for a necklace. It makes a cool paper weight though.

It looks and feels like ivory, but who knows?

Chef · Nov 17, 2005

That's really cool Steve!
I never thought of it but tI suppose they do have teeth like that. Do you remember seeing any bigger than the one you have? Looks like some serious chompers.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"

eelgrass · Nov 17, 2005

Chef,
I don't remember if there were bigger ones or not. I do remember there were lots that were smaller, and I was happy that he gave me a big one.

Sperm whales get to be 40-50 tons! (according to the search I just made)

Steve

ride_red · Nov 19, 2005

Mark,
I will try to post some pictures. If it doesn't work, send me a Private message with your email and I will email them to you.

I know this isn't the nicest ring out there but I only paid around $100.

The ring is actually silver but the picture makes it look gold. I wish I could have afforded to have it made in gold but it would have cost me about $600. If I ever strike it rich maybe I'll use my other bull ivory and make one in gold.

One other thing, this ring maker bought a few of my cow ivories and gave me credit toward my ring so I actually only paid $60.

mtnman1976 · Nov 19, 2005

Isn't the nicest ring? I think that is a very cool idea and I might have to do the same if I can ever get a darn elk! I went this year (1st year DIY) and had no luck unfortunatley, but thought I'd tell you...I like that ring!

grizzlyplumber · Nov 19, 2005

I think two of the other animals that have ivories are rhinos and narwhals. Maybe walruses? Probably are more.

Flatlandr · Nov 19, 2005

ride_red - Very nice ring, thanks for showing it to us. Really like the hand made feel / appearance of it, truly a one of a kind and much better than something mass produced.

Mark