Has anyone had repro ivory made after taking a non-exportable ele? Who is recommended for this kind of work...prices...any other info? Thanks.

yukon,

It all depends on the size of the tusks but here are some prices to work with.

Custom copy of shoulder mount with tusks. $10280.00

Tusks only copy of 100 pounder including bases. $1600.00

This is from Nico van Rooyen taxidermy

www.taxidermy.co.za

Its not cheap but neither is elephant huting for big bulls. BTW seen their work and except for tapping the tusks with something metal and hard you would not know that it was copies.

Thanks. I didn't see any references on their website to repro tusks. I certainly don't need a replica 100 # tusk. These will be non-trophy quality...probably 30# or maybe a broken tusked older bull.

I checked out some actual repro tusks while at Life From and they were very nice..and came in three sizes to fit your ego...

They have the three size molds already made, but they said they could approximate actual tusks from photos as well, so you could do a broken tusk, I think.

Seriously, if I did a PAC hunt I would probably try to pick up some repro tusks similar in size to the ele taken, not a bad option.

Thanks. I will visit with Life Form as they will be doing the PG anyway.

Why not just order a set of tusks that you like now, and tell your PH that you want to shoot an elephant with an identical pair.

Vaughan always tries to oblige, but that might try even his patience.

Well, I could try that but a little voice inside tells me not to?

quote:

Originally posted by McCray:
Vaughan always tries to oblige, but that might try even his patience.

There is nothing worng with repro tusks of an ele you actually killed! It is done all the time for sail fish, and blue marlin, done from pivctures, and measurments taken in the field! Many of those fish are cought, and released alive, as with repro mounts for darted Rhino!

I understood what was said...the joke was to get the tusks first and then tell the PH to find you an elephant that looks like the repro.

Mac, McCray was responding to my post. I think it is a great idea for a non-export tusked ele. My suggestion would just be more fun for Byran.

There are plenty of repro tusks available here in the States. Most experienced Taxidermists can cast them for you or order them from one of the supply companies. Several of my friends recently had their tusks mounted on stands and used repro's on their shoulder mounts. Place a wanted post in the Taxidermy forum and you should get several replies. You can give me a call if you have concerns or questions.
Good hunting,
David

Slightly off track...

I remember in 2005 I was in Salambala with Vaughan, Gert and Fritz Nolte (I don't think Fred Bezuidenhout had shown up yet) and Fritz pulled out a ten or twelve inch long bit of ivory he had found that day.

Eyes lit up and they started ooh-ing and ah-ing over it.

Such is elephant hunters I guess.

I'll know more about it this August.

You can make a mold yourself! All you need is some plaster paris and a mold release. All you have to do is make a simple 2 piece mold.

If you need more info let me know.

If I go on a PAC hunt you bet your sweet bippy I'm going to make a mold of my actual tusks if it has any.

Wildlife Artist,
If you have the time, how about putting a set of step by step directions on this thread as a reference for the future? And, how would you suggest a hunter pack the mold to bring it home?

quote:

how would you suggest a hunter pack the mold to bring it home?

This could prove to be the difficult part. Plaster molds can be fragile. A large tusk would require a lot of plaster and the mold would be heavy and fairly fragile. With each tusk being different, you would want two two-part molds. this would probably not be practical for the traveling hunter.

If repro tusks are not available that are close to the right size, you could try to find a fellow hunter who has similar sized tusks already in the US. Then perhaps you could have your taxidermist make a mold of these.

Although not as good as a mold, some good photos along with an tracing of each tusk would be helpful.

If you have to have an exact copy from your elephant, I would look into having them reproduced by a taxidermist in Africa. Just make sure they will be making a mold of your tusks and not just selling you casts from a mold they already have.

Getting a mold made is interesting but what are these repro tusks made from...not plaster of paris?

I guess I'm a bit confused. David says that most experienced taxidermists can make repro tusks and yet if you do a google search you will find virtually nothing on the subject. Maybe I'm not searching correctly but I don't think that repro tusks that seem realistic are made of plaster of paris. If a repro tusk is just plaster of paris then I'll forget about the idea right now. And I don't see how there can be a lot of taxidermists doing realistic repro tusks as very few of us seem to have much contact with the product in general. What am I missing here?

The previous post explains that the hunter may take plaster of paris to be used in the field to make molds of the actual non-exportable tusks.

The molds are then used to cast the repro tusks, which I believe are made of phyneolic resin.

So you get repro tusks which actually are repros of your tusks and not just a relatively representative repro of any tusks.

This is my take.

JPK

Ok, thanks. It's been a loooong week. I wasn't aware of the process used.

YD, artificial Ele tusks are available. Ask your local Taxidermist about them. I see them all the time. You can contact me if you need help finding them.
David

If I were to hunt a non-exportable bull, I'd want an exact reprodutcion of the tusks, not just something that is close.

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
If I were to hunt a non-exportable bull, I'd want an exact reprodutcion of the tusks, not just something that is close.

That's right. Photos and measurements get close. I suppose these castings are the best way to go?

I'm not in the "exact duplicates" camp and I'm happy with what can be rendered close by providing the taxidermist with photos.

I take the close is good view for a couple of reasons:
First, who wants to mess with plaster of paris while on a hunting trip? I find a camera enough of a pita and distraction.
Second, how the heck you gonna know how close they really are? If they're good to your eye, that's good enough. As an example, fish mounts come in standard sizes. 10yrs back, and this may well have changed, for marlin, a few real, dead fish got cast from time to time and ALL repros came off those molds. The real fish were needed for the skin detail. You could tell if you got a cast off a newer mold or an older mold by how much skin detail was in the repro. But 10' away, who really cares?

I can't tell you the number of dead marlin that were killed, "to make a mount", that could be found in the dumpster. (no Atlantic caught marlin sales permitted in the US, no sport fishing caught Atlantic "highly migratory species" (marlin, tuna, swordfish) permitted to be sold in the US.)

I have a pair coming, actually shipping Monday. Made based on photos provided. The ele was shot in Oct. '06, I can't hardly remember what they looked like without referencing the photos.

JPK

Do you mind sharing approximate costs to do the repro? What was the turnaround time? Thanks.

I've never done this before. I'm open to ideas. I just don't want to buy one that's pre-made in advance. I would like some input on the result.

quote:

There is nothing worng with repro tusks of an ele you actually killed! It is done all the time for sail fish, and blue marlin, done from pivctures, and measurments taken in the field! Many of those fish are cought, and released alive, as with repro mounts for darted Rhino!

Catch and release ele hunting !!!!-- now there is a concept!!

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Do you mind sharing approximate costs to do the repro? What was the turnaround time? Thanks.

I've never done this before. I'm open to ideas. I just don't want to buy one that's pre-made in advance. I would like some input on the result.

I don't recall the cost. Delivery time something like six months IIRC, but I don't really recall when I comitted to them. I'll let you know how they look when I get them. I'll even try to dig up the camera and take a photo.

Call Atcheson Taxidermy in Butte Montana for a quote. I'm sure most all other taxidermist who work on African mounts will make them as well.

JPK

If you make the molds yourself out of plaster of paris your ph may know of a taxidermist in country to make repo's of them.

Most repro tusks are made of fibre glass with the "Ivory look" acheived by using a gel resin brushed or sprayed on to the inside of the mold that looks like ivory color and polish it and stain the surface and polish some more leaving some of the dark stain in the low spots.

Wildlife Artist:

quote:

If you make the molds yourself out of plaster of paris your ph may know of a taxidermist in country to make repo's of them.

Most repro tusks are made of fibre glass with the "Ivory look" acheived by using a gel resin brushed or sprayed on to the inside of the mold that looks like ivory color and polish it and stain the surface and polish some more leaving some of the dark stain in the low spots.

If your going this route, you'll want Hydro Stone not plaster if you expect your molds to make it anywhere, let alone out of camp and to the nearest Taxidermist. Good luck in finding one with experience. Next, the resin W.A. refers to is called Gel Coat. Used by boat manufacturers. You'll want to have this pre-arranged if you expect any hope of achieving your replica's as opposed to "off the shelf & customized" copies.
David

I have a small pair of authentic and complete el. tusks.....about 18 inches each in length....in case anyone wants the pair for 500. Pics available. I also have some African carvings (older) in el. ivory....that I have collected over time.
Alex

Mr Keith

You are right Hydro stone would be stronger but Plaster of Paris is easier to get and you could get it aheads of time. It can be renforced with wire,wood or sticks so it would last getting out of camp. Once dried its not to heavy and be shipped to the USA.

Several thougths. Non exportable does not mean that they can't be taken somewhere and reproduced in country.

Even darted elephants and rinos can be cast/molded on the spot. Generally a quick thin mold is made and then reinforced later with plaster and cloth or even fiberglass. If I were going to ship the mold statside I would consider having it filled with an expandable foam to keep it from cracking or flaking on the internal mold surface. However the mold does not have to be perfect to achieve a nice finished cast since it can be sanded, filled etc.

Best Regards
Mike O

True but in this case the tribal council has ownership of the ivory. It's not just non-trophy or non-exportable...the entire animal belongs to them. It's a special arrangement.

YD, if you ask, I have little doubt the villagers would object. Most would be too curious not to want to watch. Contact the closest Taxidermist to your route and see if he can arrange Hydro stone or another higher grade of plaster. Take a jar (plastic) of Vaseline (or buy in country) for your mold release. Apply a very thin coat of Vaseline to the tusks. Lay each tusk on clean sand. Bury 1/2 of the tusk in sand (horizontal of course). Clean off all sand above the sand line. A spray bottle with clean water works fine. Place large marbles approximately every 10-12 inches along both sides of the tusks, keeping a distance of 2" away from the tusk. These will form your mold alignment keys. Now make a cardboard dam encircling the tusk, about 4-5 inches away from the ivory. Then pour a thin coat of plaster (thick enough consistency to pour; layer 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick). Once dry, mix burlap into plaster and apply in strips to each tusk. One good coverage should do it. Once dry, pull tusk out of the sand but do not allow tusk to leave the mold. Brush off as much sand as possible after laying each mold back into the sand. You want each mold to be flat and stable as possible. Now, examine the mold flanges. Take a small knife and shave any rough areas smooth, then square off the outside edges 90 degrees. Next, spread a good but thin coat of Vaseline to the mold flange and check each tusk so that they retain their thin coat. Form another cardboard dam around each tusk, using the mold flange as a guide. Pour a 1/2-3/4 inch coat of plaster. Once set, apply your burlap/plaster strips. Oh, cover the cavities with newspaper or stretch a large balloon over each end. Once dry and hardened, have them wrapped together with large bubble wrap and shipped in Excelsior. If you take this challenge and need more help, call me. I'm tiring of typing
Good hunting,
David

Thanks David for the detailed reply. Can I fly with those materials? Between two travelers, we could probably handle that in our luggage I would guess. I'm not opposed to trying that but would also take lots of photos and measurements as a backup plan. Would it be better to leave it in Africa with someone like Life Form or try to bring it home in the luggage?

YD- You might contact Reiser in Windhoek for supplies. "Wilko" used to be the contact there. A good man.

YD, that would be up to the airlines. I would take one rifle case with both guns. Then on the return you have an extra check in piece of luggage. Would crate with excelsior. Most likely they will charge you an extra piece of luggage. Call them first. Good hunting, David

YD,

It ain't worth the extra effort, just take your photos. If you want the exact dimensions, real life look and feel, no issues, just book a trophy hunt!

If your looking to present a representative set of "ivory" just be pleased they're representative!

Remember that all skin mounted trophies, kudu, waterbuck, bushbuck... result from a serries of mold and that NONE of the "fill" is actually of the animal you successfully hunted, just a representative core that your cape will fit over.

JPK

I plan on taking a lot of photos and measurements so that I could do a repro later if I wanted. I've decided not to mess with the molds and just enjoy my time in the Caprivi.