I ran across this material the other day and wonder if anyone here has tried it or seen it in person.

http://www.fineturnage.com/shop/home.php?cat=265

I have a slot on Gene's list coming up and thought I would do something different.

I haven't ever tried it but aren't fossils akin to rock? I'm guessing it is going to require carbide drills and is going to be tough to work with. If Gene agrees to give it a go you're going to have a beautiful and valuable knife.

Saw a custom knife in red fossil coral.

Drooled so much over it it started to rust.

Sweetest handle I ever saw. All my knives are users, but if I had one in coral I'd have to think about safe-queenin' it.

Did you handle it? Just wondering the texture if any.

Just curious. Does the fossil coral run on the heavy side???

Tim

From the website - These scales were cut from genuine fossil coral found in oceans around the world. I put lots of time and effort in preparing them. They have been dried, sanded and buffed. Great for high end knife handles. *(fossil coral is easier to work than Mammoth tooth!)

BTW - I've dealt with Charles and found him to be an honest and excellent craftsman.

I am looking for real world knowledge. While this material may be great for high end knife handles, that is not the same as a knife that is going to get dropped on a rock while soaked with blood.

Sorry WeimsnKs, I didn't feel right handling the piece as I couldn't buy it.

But it appeared to be the same type texture/durability as elephant tusk knives I have. I'd use the crap out of it, but dropping on a rock, I don't know............

Most custom makers offer a lifetime guarantee, as long as the knife is not abused. I have no experience with Mr. ingram, but it appears many others here do, maybe they can chime in as to warranty.

Probably best thing to do is contact Mr. Ingram. If he'll work with it, he'll probably warranty it. If he won't work with it, that's probably a clue.

Nice choices to be torn between!

Hearing the idea of a true 'user' knife, the idea that every tool might get dropped from time to time.

This would be a real boring place if we all thought alike. With that, the coral just dose not do it for me like mammoth-tusk dose.



Something raises the hair on the back of my neck when I think we may still have a DNA connection to what these things were like to hunt!

It may have been a time when cutting and hunting tools took a leap forward in refinement and perfection?

I keep saying it, but never have, but will use a section of Mammoth-Tusk in a knife. Back to WeimsnKs's thoughts on dropping it, I think I will use a full-round grip-sized section near the tusk's point just behind the guard, and trail it with Dessert-Ironwood (like this) . It would be a shame in either event to see a chip coming out of a section of history.

Hello! I'm new to this forum, but not new to the material in question. The fossil coral works nice, but you can't rush it as it is brittle. I keep a bottle of CA Gap filler handy anytime I use it. I get great results out of it. Feel free to contact me with any questions. http://sedonacustomknives.jimdo.com/

gratuitous spam?

Just a thought.
I have a buddy that had a set of scales made for his 1911 from Petoskey stone with is a type of fossilized coral. The 1st time he shot the pistol they split from the screw hole to the frame.
If there is any point in the grip acting as a stress riser (liners, tight set pins, etc) I be wary of them breaking.

Hi Sam..............hope my post did not offend. I am new and could not figure out how to post a pic on here, so the next best thing was to put a link to my website. Lots of interesting post/folks on here. I sure do enjoy reading it all.

Thanks,
Steve

Welcome to the Campfire Steve!!

I didn't have any trouble with it. I just wouldn't go playing mumbley peg with it

Good looking knife. If you are ever in Sedona AZ, look me up!

Where are you located ? We have a timeshare on the outskirts of town we visit from time to time.