Try searching online for 'alternative ivory'.

Allegedly, soaking a potato in glacial acetic acid converts it to soli cellulose acetate.

More reliable could be Corian.  I have a local kitchen fitter who has loads of scrap, raid his skip.

Edited By John Haine on 12/01/2023 12:25:33

There are many more suitable plastics now than there were in the 'good old days' – but butter knives are not made using it. Using ivory is frowned on, so anything that imitates ivory is frowned on just as hard.

But hope may be at hand. There is a 'hobby' which can help – making fancy pens. Axminster is one supplier that comes to mind – they are likely to have something that will meet your needs.

Cheers, Tim

Try the local charity shops, you might find some donor material.

Brian

There is (or used to be) a product called Micarta, much used by the knife-making fraternity. Lots of different colours available if you wanted to move away from the traditional.

Rob

Tagua nuts ( seeds ) from the palm of the same name are known as vegetable ivory.

Seen them on ebay for £8 each I am sure there will be other sources.

However they will not be big enough to do a knife handle.

Axminster Tools stock it.

regards Martin

It is alright turning bone but if anything like turning antler then a nice day with the shed/workshop door open is advised and a fan blowing across the piece aiming at the open door. Boy does antler stink when being turned.

Bone must be degreased before use; don't just get some big lumps from your butcher and wing it. Doing it properly at home is possible but tedious – you can't just give it a wash down and get on with it. The best approach is to buy it prepared, unless working with bone is your particular interest.

I'd avoid the resin blanks you see advertised on eBay – they tend to be brittle and don't age well.

The Corian stuff is good to work and cheap, but it's not really anything like ivory in appearance. It works well mechanically – it's often used for guitar nuts and saddles, for example.

Two other well regarded makers are GPS (Guitar Parts something) who make several different excellent varieties in various forms, and Elforyn. Neither are very cheap, but machine and polish well and look very good indeed.