JG Elmslie wrote: |
any idea if they can export that legally? I've been wanting to do some bits of ivory - a Cinqueda, for one, and some walrus ivory grips/stuff for viking era bits of kit for ages. |
Fossilized or mineral embedded ivory or bark is legal as it is impossible for it to have been poached in recent centuries. There are occasional legal ivory auctions that are still held. I am not sure of the terms behind those. There is also "pre-ban" ivory. My local blade grinder (in his 70's age wise) has several complete large tusks as he collected for his supply reserves in the 1950's, and is sometimes offered remaining "pre-ban" tusks from colleagues who are retiring as a result of old age. He does not sell his stock as raw material however. He stays busy using it. I believe he made around 19 custom order knifes last month.