All About Pocket Knives

I probably won't buy any Hippo or Ivory (have not gotten into exotics..............yet............ ) but if I
had my way about it, the C would mean 'CHOICE' and the P would be for 'PRIME'. It's all in the wording really.

IM


...............OH YEAH, almost forgot - AWESOME KNIVES!!!

1.Don't like "'PIN CRACKS"" in Primitive Bone !!!!
2.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Mammouth Ivory!!!
3.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Hippo Ivory !!!!!
4.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Stag -- (Burnt,Natural,or Genuine) !!!!!
5.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Bone either !!!!!

Natural fissures----cracks----or inclusions, don't bother me either**** until they run the length of the scale,through the pin then it is a ""PIN CRACK"" !!!!!!! I totally agree,with ya' that the two terms are "definetly two differnet issues",but when you have a ""CRACK""in, near, around, or anywhere near a pin, I still consider it a ""PIN CRACK"" ( that's my story,and I'm sticking with it )

The GEC,grading system,for the ""HIPPO IVORY"" is a really,really,bad idea (IMHO) Why put a ""Scarlett Letter"" on a beautiful piece of art ????_____that takes it down to a second grade production ?????? Let the grading be done, by the buyer (to each his own**) ___there were THIRTY ONE (31), knives produced and released with the Hippo Ivory,__only FIVE (5) were graded ""Premium""__TWENTY SIX (26) were labeled with the ""C"" for common and the price difference was only 7.5 % lower ??? The Elephant Ivory Congress,produced earlier this year,was reduced 30%, when they started using the outside bark (a very generous reduction !!)__ This ""Hippo Ivory" scale material,has a worst track record than the ""Red Elk"" (which GEC,all but said,we will never see again ??) but yet plans are to produce more?? ___Sure do hope,this is the last time we see knives of any material,with a ""Grading System"" serial number on the bolsters !!! Sorta like a mustache,on the Mona Lisa !!!!______and now,as Mr.Blister,would say___(Quote)___Back To Your Original Channels !!!!!!!!!!!!

Barry...


Good subject to talk about.....and so subjective when it comes to choosing the right Ivory. I think it's easier to over look "inclusions" on handle material that's made with Bark Ivory and/or Primitive Bone simply because of its nature..just in the words "Bark" and "Primitive" the sense is that the material will be worn, uneven and possibly scale-ious ( you won't find that word in Wiki ). And depending on the inclusions it can add to the appeal...doesn't mean that I want to see it every time on a handle - the larger the handle scale the larger the inclusion appears.
Now when it comes to a interior piece of Ivory like that from an Elephant, I do want to see a very uniform color without inclusions of any kind......with Hippo I'm not to sure yet,I'm still on the fence.
And to better answer your question of "fresh" Ivory this thinking might stem from the Sheffield Era of knifemaking...how immaculate and elegant those knives look dressed in Ivory..and secondly from custom makers whom will choose or the client will choose the best available material that can be found...thus when we see these examples we naturally want to emulated in our collection too.

A situation always arises when you institute grading....is there a uniform code? I don't think so,again subjective...whenever I've purchased Ivory scale material to be used on a knife it comes down to how much is in my pocket....cost was the grading for me...the better pieces cost more and by better it was a uniform color without marks,dents,scratches,so on etc... So do I like a engraving of a "C" or "P"..nope, as I mentioned on another Blog..one way you're Winner and the other Second Class.

big monk wrote:1.Don't like "'PIN CRACKS"" in Primitive Bone !!!!
2.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Mammouth Ivory!!!
3.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Hippo Ivory !!!!!
4.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Stag -- (Burnt,Natural,or Genuine) !!!!!
5.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Bone either !!!!!

Monk,
What about ""PIN CRACKS"" in wood!!!!!
lol
Mark

Ramrod wrote:

big monk wrote:1.Don't like "'PIN CRACKS"" in Primitive Bone !!!!
2.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Mammouth Ivory!!!
3.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Hippo Ivory !!!!!
4.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Stag -- (Burnt,Natural,or Genuine) !!!!!
5.Don't like ""PIN CRACKS"" in Bone either !!!!!

Monk,
What about ""PIN CRACKS"" in wood!!!!!
lol
Mark

No ""PIN Cracks""in WOOD !!!!!!!___a few "'Woodpecker Inclusions"" would not bother me as long as they were not near a pin !!!!

Im right there with ya. As long as there not near a pin!
Mark

I have officially requested they change the tube from C = Common to C = Character
Just to throw everything back into a tizz, they could change P = Prime to P = Plain

To each his own otherwise... One distributor sent back his ivory because of the brew-ha-ha and when they arrived at the factory there were several requests for them from distributors that had received several requests from their customers for the exact ones in the distributors own pictures outlining their shortcomings

Perception is reality in this business. If a natural line goes through a pin, it is a pin crack. If it misses it by 1/32nd, it is simply good character. Sadly the factory can't spend all day with templates eye-balling slabs to see if a pin will go thru the line once assembled.

I would not expect the factory to get too bound up over a controversy that is selling every ivory knife they can make.... That is like asking a pit boss to change a table to $1 limit for you when he has people lined up to sit at his $10 tables.

Thanks, Mike, for your insight. I am the lucky distributor to be the first to claim the two returned Hippo Iv. 57's. Personally, I like the "character" and color that you see in the hippo ivory and would be happy to keep the three that I've aquired for sale, but if you are interested in one of the few 'C' marked whittlers, pm me and you too can become involved in the hyperbole. Pin crack??? Not hardly.

2012 #57 WRANGLER in BARK HIPPO IVORY and INTERIOR HIPPO IVORY

Very nice Jim,you've put another fine group of ivory knives together..... Great pic also bro.

Nice additions, Jim! I'm lovin' that hippo stuff!!!

Thanks much for the kudo's and someone let Monk know that these aren't "Pin Cracks"...but Character Lines

Those are 2 STUNNERS Jim - WHOA!!!

IM

NORTHFIELD #85 INTERIOR MAMMOTH IVORY 2012

Beautiful Jim,congrats!! Nice background colors,really pulls the Mam. Ivory out ,well done bro.

Love it Jim!

boggs wrote:NORTHFIELD #85 INTERIOR MAMMOTH IVORY 2012

That picture should be on the 2013 AAPK calendar (if there is one). Holy macaroni what a picture/knife!!!

Very nice jim and like was said before thats a calander shot

Wow, Jim. Great looking knife & pic. Well done.

Thanks gang....something about old rusty cans and tins really so off the Ivory..............

VERY VERY Nice!!

IM

A couple more of the #85 Mammouth Ivories****

FANTASTIC Ivories guys!!!!!!!!!

These are also from pictures from Edward who was gracious enough to allow me to use them for this thread... two mammoth ivory, dark and light, 11 total made.