Coach,

It may be cool but this one's HOT. Double firebowl fossil. Probably the most impressive firebowlx2 I've ever seen. This must have been a workhorse back in the day.

So a first look might suggest a firebowl but more likely a multi tool. One edge is a sharp chisel. The main purpose was likely a bearing block for a bow fire starter. This is the block held to support the fire stick. There is no evidence of any heat discoloration. The size and shape just look right for a hand bearing block.

How bout a sled runner? Yup, the Inuit's had many uses for walrus ivory. There's been lots of knives made from sled runner ivory. When you think about it, the Inuit tribes were pretty resourceful and crafty.

Warren,

Great topic!

Bought this Artifact FW Chopper from Capt. Chris for a RMK/BMK Faisal Set. Hard to find large piece for big knives never mind a matched set of big knives from one piece. James and Cap did a fantastic job on this set.

Tom Flynn

Warren,

BMK Sub-hilt Wharncliffe Fighter with FW Artifact handle.

Tom Flynn

Warren,

Next knife rehandle is the Artifact FW Netweight (bottom left in the picture).

Tom Flynn

Tom

Great looking ivory. The Faisal set is awesome. Thanks for posting those here.
I'll be posting a set that was also made from a single cut piece but the halves are completely different. Great work, keep us posted on the new project.

Grant and James had just returned from a show in Eugene, OR where they scored some really nice handle material. The top piece in the first pic was large enough to make two knives. Best we could tell it resembled some sort of a mashing club. Both ends are completely different and you'd never know they came from the same piece without the pic.

Great thread and fantastic knives. My question is whether the Inuits made the tools before the material fossilized or after? I'm thinking that they must have been made before fossilization because the fossilized version would likely just shatter when worked. Anyone know? Also, how old is the FWI? There are large quantities of fossilized bones in FL -- mainly fish bones and teeth but also dugong bones (manatee relative) -- that I believe are in the 1 million year old range but I believe it "only" takes a few thousand years for bone to fossilize. Thanks.

Technically, it's not fossilized. Mineralized may be more accurate. Fossils are organic matter encased in stone. These tusks have laid in the permafrost for a long time collecting color from the soil.

It's at least hundreds of years old and more often 1000's. Pretty stuff.