2/13/04 The mammoth ivory has been cut and ground flat on the back using the disk grinder. If it gets hot from grinding it moves so you have to grind a little and wait, grind a little and wait. Very slow. After they have been ground flat, the bark side is sanded and polished. In this picture, they have been angle cut to match the bolster angle. The one in the clamps is being super glued to the knife so it can be drilled for the pin holes. The one above has already been drilled. Once it is drilled, it is knocked loose and the residue super glue is cleaned off. I use Uncure to remove any stubborn left over glue.

2/14/04 The pins have been cut to exact length by marking, trimming and then fitting by trial and error. Once they are to proper length, they are crowned and polished. We are almost ready for glue up but there is one thing left to do. The pins are notched in several places. When the knife is glued up, the epoxy will flow into the notches and make a mechanical lock.

2/14/04 Here it is all epoxied up. Several clamps all around for a tight glue up. Since the mammoth scales are essentially finished I can’t just walk away and let the epoxy drip where it wants. I have to baby sit this glue up for 20 minutes or so, wiping off any excess epoxy that drips onto the finished scales. In 20 minutes the epoxy has gone off enough that it won’t run any more but it will take 24 hours to full cure.