Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa What is Ivory Worth?

What are African elephant tusks worth?

Yeah, I know it's illegal to sell 'em. But wht if you want to give them to a museum? What's the charitable deduction (assuming it's legal to take one)? What if you have two kids and tell them, "I'll give the tusks to one of you and my rifles to the other?" Should you insure them? For what? And why, as you can't buy new ones with the proceeds.

Depends on the size, a big set of tusks (say 70 lbs and up ) will bring up to $15,000 or more if you can find the right buyer, there are buyers out there I guess as some folks have sold big tusks for big bucks. Junk Ivory ( pieces ) was bringing $40 a pound last time I checked and its used for pistol grips and knife handles and the age will change the value as the older stressed Ivory and the outside scale ivory brings a premium..

I would think you could insure the Ivory for at least the cost of your hunt, as you could say that is the only way to replace it.

Indy, i will tell Rory you are thinking of selling that hard earned tusks!! (Joke)
Last I heard ivory went for about ZAR 500/ kg. Anyways, that is what knife makes can buy if for apparently. I think the last auction it sold for average US$ 100/ kg.

Hey, Karl, don't tell Rory that (grin). It was just idle curiosity!

Matter of fact, I was thinking of just maybe seeing if Rory and I could get another in 2010. I almost went cat hunting with his boss in 2009 but it looked like my savings and business were going in the dumpers. Now they've stabilized a little. Not sure if I wouldn't prefer stalking up on another of those big gray things to waiting motionless in a blind.

Indy, you will have a blast hunting the long nosed pigs with Rory again. As far as I know, his boss retired and sold the company.

Jeff Broom retired but Russ Broom was running the company several months ago.

Indy, Russ sold the company, and retired from active hunting as far as I know.

It is not illegal to sell Ivory.It is not legal to Import un documented Ivory.

I usually get it in the three bar pack for about $1.99.

In Zim, in 2004, I was told my ivory could be sold there for about $300.USD a lb. This ivory was very symetrical, without any wear grooves in the working tusk and went about 60lbs a side.

Whether it is legal to sell sport-hunted trophy ivory or not, depends on the latest regs. When I filled out my CITES application, it stated the ivory could be exported to the USA, and could never leave the country or be sold.

Later, a Federal Customs agent, said that they could inspect the ivory and authorize exportation to another country provided that I intended to live in that country.

Anyone, know the latest?

BH

PS. I also saw some ivory in Jonas Bros, that weighed 138 and 143 lbs. The manager, at that time, said it was worth about $250,000.00. BTW the working tusk was worn pretty good and it was the one that weighed 138 lbs.