*Site Auction: Yukon Mike Mystery Box #1 - Horn and Ivory assortment*

Chuck J

Chuck J

Well-known member
Well, not all that much of a mystery since I said what was in there, so I might as well post a picture:

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Box of tidbits - Dall sheep horn mostly, a piece of muskox horn, and one piece of mammoth ivory from Dawson City. Value ???? It depends on how crafty you are. Guys could use the horn and ivory for inlays, or knife handles, or beads for their sweetie. I'll pay the postage to our lucky winner..necessary export permits in place.
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Auction to support duckboats.net will run now through Thursday February 20th at 8PM EST. Minimum opening bid of $1 and a minimum raise of 1¢. Bid by posting a reply to this thread. The Yukon Mystery Box will ship direct from Mike after confirmation of payment to Eric.

Eric and I would like to thank Mike, as well as all who bid on these items and the winning bidder as well. It is actions like these that keep duckboats.net running commercial free.

Best
Chuck
 
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So you might have noticed I forgot to take a picture with the ivory piece. Here you go...

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Its a nice white piece with bark on it for color and character. Its not visible in that first picture, but when cross cut and polished it has a pattern of x's that is distinctive. I cut this piece a year ago and set it by the wood stove so It should be dry and stable.

For those who have never had a chance to work with this stuff it is very workable with regular woodworking tools. The horn bits can be cut with a regular bandsaw, scroll saw, whatever you've got and finished with a belt sander or similar. The ivory is harder, but can be cut with regular power tool blades. The smell of the dust is an experience no one should miss out on!

According to our archeologist here, local ivory tends to be in the 20,000 years old range so that's just pretty cool to hold in your hand. Its not fossilized like dinosaur bones, its "fresh" from being in the permafrost until some gold miner dug it up. The color on the bark comes from two sources - one is the color the critter put on it from rubbing on shrubbery when he was alive, and the second from being in the ground for so long. Minerals in the ground stain the outside of the tusk. Recovering it is a by product of the placer mining industry near Dawson.

In the middle of the box is the piece of muskox horn. That funky pattern is what knife and jewellery makers get excited about. Nothing else has that I know of. The piece is big enough to get two slices off suitable for a small pocket knife.

Here's a better picture.

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Here's a knife handle I made out of the stuff. I think it is sexy as heck.

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If you guys have any questions about this box post them up and I'll try to check in often while this auction is running.


Mike
 
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The wife says I'm not allowed to bid on this....so, I'll go $33. Maybe I can use some of it for something or other.

Steve
 
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Congrats Tod, and thank you for the donation. You can do PayPal through the link at the top of the page or mail Eric a check. Let me know if you need the address but I'm guessing you have it. Thanks again to Mike and all who bid as well. Mystery box #2 starting tomorrow!

Chuck
 
Congrats Tod, and thank you for the donation. You can do PayPal through the link at the top of the page or mail Eric a check. Let me know if you need the address but I'm guessing you have it. Thanks again to Mike and all who bid as well. Mystery box #2 starting tomorrow!

Chuck
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Thanks Chuck! Having seen the stuff in person when I stopped by Mike's last summer, I know how cool it is. Mike has cool junk.

T
 
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