I think it had to be cored. Ivory is pretty dense -- almost twice the weight of water of the same volume. Unless the cue maker engineered some kind of reinforcing core, I don't think you would want to play with that cue. Maple and ash are about 60% of water and cocobolo is about 110% according to a table I found.I saw a cue about ten years back. Entire butt was made from one piece of ivory. On display at sbe. Maker would not disclose price