Below are examples of work my customers have done with my materials
Knife blade blanks and guards
Above.. it is hard to tell from the pictures but I do acid etched scenes on the blades . Seems like it does not like to photo well due to reflection Below are finished knives --but I do sell just the blanks etched and do custom etching
whale baleen--for spacers inlays etc. by the foot is about $20 a liner foot- selling 2x2 inches for $4. info on this material on my how what why page click below PS whale products less legal and in fewer places as time goes by.
Steller sea cow bone--is a extinct animal now that lived not long ago in Alaska. The bone is hard- solid takes a polish and is much like walrus jaw bone sells by the pound about the value if ivory. Hard to find--out right now
Fosisl bones. These are bones i found myself and this si the washing stage- getting the river silt out of this 40,000 year old material. I have all kinds --bison wild horse mammoth - stuff no one can identify ribs legs. Inquire. Can be sold by the pound if in stock (I sell in large quantities to other dealers so do not keep a lot around for retail knife makers but can save or set aside when I find it about $20 a pound or $15 for a knife handle size not cut for scales yet.
Bone
Bone can look like ivory but cost less and is tougher. It will never have to colors of ivory but makes a more practical functional knife that weighs less and will hold up well
Moose leg bone -- This is Alaska material, not commonly known but is nice thick dense bone from a wild animal so tougher then anything domestic and thicker then other bones as this is a large animal. about $10 per knife length section. (inquire this is not a shop cart item it might not be in stock this size is $20)
Seraphenite-- sort of new to the US coming from Russia. I get it in quarter inch slices like this. Is green and has shimmer radiations is hard and would work as knife material --a piece like this is $20.
Peru opal rare to find in this size 3.5 pounds, usually sells by the carrot or gram this would work for knife scales
Though not thought of as knife handle material some stones can be used for spacers accents or on folder knives successfully
Musk ox horn- below - sometimes I can get musk ox horn in limited amounts from up North. Usually the smaller female which makes the best knife handle material.
Note Dec 07 Have not had large pieces on musk ox horn in my inventory in a while. hard to get
Caribou and reindeer antler is local in Alaska sold about same price as moose above by the weight in bulk or by the knife handle size about $20 a knife section I usually have some in stock, just to busy to put small amounts in a shop cart Takes 20 minutes or more to enter an item in the cart. Inquire
Moose antler tines--this is the part the knife makers need but the rest of the rack is not much good once these are cut off so it sells high. About $20 a tine
prehistoric antler . This is about 40,000 years old and found locally in Alaska. This is starting to mineralize so has so fossil colors in it-- yet handles like fresh antler. Sold by the piece- inquire About $20 a piece (not much different then the fresh price!)
Antler is like horn only it gets shed every year and is possible to acquire in the woods without killing the animal. Moose and Caribou are the most popular here in Alaska
Moose antler--can be bought by the large amount as shown. I do not keep a lot in stock as I have a friend who has a basement full and I go see him when I need more. Sells by the pound at about $20 a pound. Whole trophy sides sell by the piece and are about $200 a set but shipping is high on this item with all its awkward points.
Prehistoric bison--sometimes I get 40,000 year old bison horns I either find myself or buy from locals and it can be used for knife material but full sides like this sell for $300
Both the above horn pictures are from horns in Africa and I forget what kind of critter. They are not solid and would work only for hidden tang and you'd get one knife per horn. I meet with the supplier once a year and look over many horns and hand pick the ones I think would work for knife handles and have good color and are nice and solid. About $15 each. Cut and paste the picture in an email if you are inquiring so I don't go "Huh?"
Dall sheep horn is the wild sheep here in Alaska. Carvers and knife makers use this material and I can sell it by the full horn for you to cut up if you wish. About $100 a side
This is what the Dall sheep horn looks like when cut. These pieces were for pistol grips but shows the colors. This amount is about $30
Note Dec 07 Harder to get any large amounts of this horn now. So chances are slim I can offer more then a side.
Hippo teeth
This is a common material for knife makers. Remember there will be a hollow end and is ok when designing hidden tang but needs to be considered when cutting scales. Largest 1-2 are 8 inches and $35. Smaller 3-4 are $25. Smallest 5 is $15 and suited only for smaller designs
#1 shown at left in hand to show size
Only some if these would be suitable for knife handles but these larger teeth can be hidden tang or folder blades. Larger sell for $100 each
left is a ancient Orca or killer whale tooth that has turned to stone. a folder or hidden tang knife could be made. Such items are one of a kind so inquire what I have in stock or look over my 'new items' page A tooth like this is $120
Sometimes I have whale teeth Orca or Sperm--inquire
(not legal in all areas )
Grizzly claws
No. Dont even ask me for them. But I can work with your legal claws. I have lots of experience making claw items including folder knives! So consider me making a knife from your claw! Inquire
I
can sell full tusks for those interested. I find some myself . This one is found by a local miner. Sometimes the locals sell me their finds or I take them on consignment. This one still in the miners cat scoop fresh out of the ground. This tusk sold for $6,000
Left me with a mammoth tusk at a show in Seattle
I have mammoth ivory bark that you can cut your own scales from if you want to save money or want a special size. I have the nice blue or other colors and various grades and qualities. I usually have 50-100 pounds on hand to choose from and will email a picture from your description of what you are looking for. From $30 to $70 a pound. Shown in picture is less then a pound- to give an idea how far a pound goes
Left--is 5 pounds of mammoth bark in the $60 a pound catagory
This color and quality of mammoth scales is easier to come by. These are unpolished but flat on back and of uniform size and well matched. Small sets are 1 x 3 and a quarter inches thick selling for $50. Larger sets 1 and a quarter inches x 4 x a quarter thick and selling for $80.
sold out of these but might have more mid Feb 2008
A knife maker named Jim found my site and wanted to try material he had never used before.
He saw this 'Steller Sea Cow' bone (show above) and below is the material he used to make the knife !
Someone who makes pens on a lathe ordered this mammoth ivory from me and created this pen.
A jeweler emailed me this picture asking what it was, thinking it is a walrus tusk. I identified it as a hippo tusk
When you email me it is a good idea to cut and paste the picture of what you are asking about in the email so I know what you are talking about
This links to my main raw materials page. You might see materials here I didn't put on the knife page
This links to finished knives and blank blades I make for sale. I can create a custom knife and use any of the materials seen on this materials page.
Information on how to order how to pay how I ship etc
Materials info-- what it is how to take care of it how it is used where it comes from all that
Raw Materials
Especially suited for knife makers
None of these items are in a shopping cart. In truth the shopping cart is only the tip of the iceberg of what I have. I'm a buyer for others using my connections. I also make custom knives and other items. This page is useful for selecting a special order or custom knife built . These pictures show the sorts of things I carry. Cut and paste the picture to me if you inquire. It might be worth seeing my order page for information on pricing shipping best ways and times to get hold of me etc.
click here to go to my site directory with links to all my pages. Art - raw materials for sale- book- advice- tips-ordering- info- home page etc
Left bag pipe pieces made of ivory
shop cart or inquiry for something special
Miles Martin
Miles of Alaska
Box 363
Nenana Alaska
99760
1 907 832 5442
miles@milesofalaska.net
Will be in the shop cart soon, just never know what metals I used but you can inquire Working on 2 more designs
Miles Martin
Miles of Alaska
Box 363
Nenana Alaska
99760
1 907 832 5442
miles@milesofalaska.net
My book. Has a lot on whre and how I get my raw materials a life out in the Alask wilds
none in stock at the moment FEb 08
Feb 08 have a new source for these shouild be in about April
