Elk Ivories

[Rock Home Isle]

I’ve recently retired as a high school science teacher, and little by little I’ve been going through all the things that I’ve collected and kept in my lifetime. Just cleaning things out, like I did with my classroom, at the end of this last school year.

I’ve been an avid Elk Hunter, I loved hunting those Elk. And in going through my stuff I came across a drawer where I’ve kept my Elk Ivories, from the bull Elk that I’ve harvested. Most of my Elk were cows, feeding my family, but I did manage to draw enough times to allow me to take 8 nice bulls where I took the ivories…

Rather than these pieces of my past sitting, forgotten, in a drawer…Is there a project or something that I could do with these Ivories? Somehow incorporate them into my BlackPowder Accoutrements?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated…I don’t have many, 8 nice pairs.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Traditional Indian woman’s dress some times had them on them.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Traditional Indian woman’s dress some times had them on them.

Yeah I’ve seen those…that’s a lot of teeth to make one that looks half ways decent…I’d have to go get me, at least another 50 bull elk to do it justice.

 

[deermanok]

Can't offer any suggestions but congrats on retirement.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Can't offer any suggestions but congrats on retirement.

Thank you…very appreciated.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Custom knuckle duster.

 

[Phil Coffins]

This one only has ten in front.

 

[azmntman]

I saw an ad "somewhere" where a guy makes rings and necklaces. Cool collection! Goggle can be your friend here, lotta artsie folk will chime in as well. Need photo of the result when you've decided and done it!

 

[Phil Coffins]

They can be used to make a charm for your pocket watch.
IMG_0702 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[Rock Home Isle]

They can be used to make a charm for your pocket watch.
IMG_0702 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

See…now we’re talking…

 

[Just-a-hunter]

I used a bunch of mine on a sheath for an elk antler knife I made from a bull I killed. They will dress up any leather product.

Todd

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Custom knuckle duster.

I should’ve had that when I was a teacher…OOooo, did I say that out loud?

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

I should’ve had that when I was a teacher…OOooo, did I say that out loud?

I have an unusually large number of friends who happen to be teachers, and most of them say that with every passing year it just gets harder and harder for them. You all have my respect. Congrats on the retirement.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I think they may have some meaning to members of the Elks Lodge. I could be wrong and suspect that it maybe older Elks members who may know.

 

[Ponderosaman]

Not traditional use I suppose, but kind of a cool 21st century idea. Part of a puzzle box.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I think they may have some meaning to members of the Elks Lodge. I could be wrong and suspect that it maybe older Elks members who may know.

I’ve seen several Elks members with Elk Ivory Rings, & Keychain Fobs.

I thought about having one ivory set in a Knife Pomel…but if I’m trying to do something, like drive a stake…I just know I’ll absentmindedly use my pomel as a hammer and blast that ivory to pieces…

 

[frankie]

I’ve recently retired as a high school science teacher, and little by little I’ve been going through all the things that I’ve collected and kept in my lifetime. Just cleaning things out, like I did with my classroom, at the end of this last school year.

I’ve been an avid Elk Hunter, I loved hunting those Elk. And in going through my stuff I came across a drawer where I’ve kept my Elk Ivories, from the bull Elk that I’ve harvested. Most of my Elk were cows, feeding my family, but I did manage to draw enough times to allow me to take 8 nice bulls where I took the ivories…

Rather than these pieces of my past sitting, forgotten, in a drawer…Is there a project or something that I could do with these Ivories? Somehow incorporate them into my BlackPowder Accoutrements?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated…I don’t have many, 8 nice pairs.

I made rings with mine.

 

[Bushfire]

Congrats on the retirement!

I'm in the same boat, albeit with red deer ivory. I've been fortunate to shoot or been in on the shooting of maybe 30 red stags in my 31 years. I had a handful, as did my brother but we didn't know what to do with them so ended up chucking em out. I offered to make jewellery for the wife but it's not her thing. Got one pair left I saw in the shed yesterday coincidentally, didn't chuck them but may yet unless folks here have some ideas.

 

[Walkingeagle]

I gave about 20 or so to a buddy for projects he wants to do. Haven’t seen any finished project yet so no ideas other than earrings or rings.
Walk

 

[Newaygo77]

I’ve seen earrings, necklaces, watch-fobs, etc made out of them. Unfortunately, I’ve never found a jeweler who would do this for a reasonable price, so mine are displayed in a shadow box frame along with a photo and a couple other small souvenirs of the hunt. Where I live in Michigan drawing a tag for an elk hunt is pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity, so those ivories mean even more to us flatlanders.

By the way, cow elk have ivories too. I hope you’ve save those too.