Legal Ivory States
- Thread starter Shooter08
- Start date
At this point, you need a legal document identifying the Ivory as already imported prior to 1976.
I imagine the number of cue makers that can provide documents on the ivory they have in stock is legal must be miniscule.
You mostly need proof your cue was made prior to July 1, 2016 unless the person that made your cue has been
charged, or convicted, of violating the ivory ban. Reputable cue makers are all not like Ernie Guitterez at Ginacue.
The actual date is 1978 and ivory imported before then is customarily referred to as pre-ban ivory and there’s a lot.
New York was the first state to ban ivory in 2014; the next year New Jersey did and then California on July 1, 2016.
Not so…….there’s been companies licensed to sell ivory, and still are. Those companies have to maintain the
certification and records to evidence the ivory they’ve procured was, and is indeed, pre -ban ivory. Cue makers
can rely upon representations and documents evidencing their purchase of ivory from these firms. Most states
do not have any ivory ban in place so it is not like interstate, or intrastate commerce, restricts doing business in
those states unlike states that have adopted an ivory ban. A lot of cue makers just decided to stop using ivory.
Thnx for the explanation. Would the cue makers then have to supply the buyers of their cues copies of their documents so the buyers would be protected?
Just ask Ernie G.
Things brought up in this post just hi-lite one thing: fking with ivory containing cues is not worth the hassle aka major fines if not jail time. I know a couple makers that still use it but they will not ship. you have to get the cue/shaft direct from them face-2-face.
Good question…….every cue maker decides how and what to do. Once I learned of the CA ivory ban taking effect
July 1, 2016, two customs I had ordered from Bob Owen and Jerry Rauenzahn were already started and underway.
Both cues were not scheduled for completion until September/October so both cues were going to be illegally made.
Naturally, I contacted Bob and Jerry and updated them. They were not aware of this but both said the same thing.
“It sounds like we had better get busy and finish your cues earlier than promised.” That was in November 2015 and
my two new customs arrived Memorial Day weekend 2016, more than a month before the ivory ban took effect in CA.
My last 4 custom cues (2 Owen cues & 2 Jerry R. cues) are signed and dated so there is established provenance and
a completion date attesting to the cues being completed before the CA ivory ban became effective. Additionally, I have
a stack of communication that well documents the order dates, progress updates and payment history so I’m okay.
You don’t have to like ivory to appreciate its beauty and uniqueness. There are different cue joints you can choose to
use and my choice was flat ivory. If I didn’t choose that, I’d have opted for wood to wood flat faced cue joints. I quit
using piloted steel joints a long time ago. The one area I’d regret not being able to use any more is ivory ferrules.
IMO, there is nothing that is equivalent to ivory that imparts a unique sensation and distinct sound stroking the CB. It
is also impervious to chalk stains and preserves its natural appearance without doing much. I have 4 shafts for my
Runde Schon made in 1985. 2 shafts use Micarta and the other 2 use ivory as ferrules. I’d cannibalize the two with
ivory ferrules to use for another cue presuming I’d ever order another one. Ivory ferrules are really just great to use.
I misplaced my copies??
I have a few cues loaded with ivory that are signed and dated from 20+ years ago - can those cues be shipped anywhere in the U.S. today without concern?
Once a cue is paid for and shipped does the new owner accept responsibility for confiscation by government officials. - probably not since the cue would not be delivered - seller’s loss I assume
Once a cue is paid for and shipped does the new owner accept responsibility for confiscation by government officials. - probably not since the cue would not be delivered - seller’s loss I assume
Not without paperwork to sooth the redass gov't officials. Not worth it. I'd only sell ivory cues/shafts face-2-face. This being said if you sold/shipped one inside the US you'd probably be good to go as domestic pkg's rarely get opened/inspected. I'd still by a tad leery of doing it tho.