Ivory Elk Teeth

1st of i never knew that they was made of Ivory.Is this the same with Deer ? River Keeper

 

No. Elk have 2 "teeth" that are pure ivory in the top of their mouth.

I'm curious as to what some have made as well. I'm looking to get something nice done with my ivorys.

I've looked at some rings and pendants and such, but WOW! Expensive!

 

The old cow I shot a year ago was so old, she only had 1 left. The tooth is still sitting on my desk.

 

I was thinking of making zipper pulls from mine and using them on my hunting clothes, Ie bibs and parka.

They call the teeth Bugle Teeth. I asked the guy cutting heads at teh check station if they were really ivory and he said he didn't really know. I did have quite a few people say that t is.

Skinner

 

No, only with the elk.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by River Keeper
1st of i never knew that they was made of Ivory.Is this the same with Deer ? River Keeper

As a general rule nowadays true only in Elk, however, occassionally they still turn up in deer. Many recent cases of whitetail with Ivories. This is a holdover from years gone by when all deer had them, even in Europe


For Elk Ivories / Red Stag Grandeln, you can make a small plaque and put them on, which is what I do. They also make all kinds of jewelry out of them, for ties, cuflinks, pins, etc, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

 

I'm not saying they will make you a custom knife for displaying your ivory teeth but Rapid River Knife Works does some really nice semi and custom work. They are located in the UP along US 2.

 

Thats cool. Looks like it would make a great western type belt buckle too. Could use that with my comp. prstol holsters.

Skinner

 

Not sure whether your looking to do it yourself or have something done but there are lots of scrimshaw artist that do some pretty nice stuff. Check out Hops Scrimshaw on line to get some ideas.

 

Chalk this one up for something new I learned too! Thanks!


I feel smarter already!

 

You learn something new every day.

 

I had two necklaces made from them for my daughters which were kind of neat....although once in their late teens they, as expected, out grew wearing them.

I have a dozen or so left on top of my dresser from the past several years.

Here is your hint of the day....If you guys are anything like me you get around to removing the ivory the following morning. The head is cold, rigamortis is well set in and you are hung over. After you pry the mouth back open you hack away with a knife thinking they should come right out like a breeze....but they don't. After nearly severing two digits and rendering the gum line into hamburger you finally get the first one out...it really is not a fun or enjoyable process. An old man in Colorado taught me a trick a few years ago....Before you start drinking....use a claw hammer to remove them like you would pull a nail. Works like a charm.

 

I had a real nice custom ring made with one. If you go to elk jewlery.net you can get some idea out there.

also do a search on ebay to get so ideas.

for my ring it cost me $450 I have an elk horn holding the tooth in the ring and elk tracks along both sides since I have had it done I have seen other like it.