bone for handle
i bought a few pieces of camel tying to get a piece that i could use as a handle, all the pieces i bought did not have the right sizes, they were all too hollow, too crooked, or had some other flaws. i have bought all types of horn, bone, and antler you could think of, the only 2 i have found i could use were, water buffalo horn, [ you have to use 5 inch pieces segmented together ], and elk antler. the problem with elk is finding a piece long enough, straight enough, and solid enough.
my elk antler supplier cuts 1000's of pounds of antler each year and finds only a very few pieces that i can use for cues.
warther will sell a piece of ivory big enough for a handle or forearm, last time i checked cost was around $ 1100.00, can you think about going out the next morning after you carefully drilled and cored that piece and see a big crack from one end to the other. i'm sure there are builders out there that can do it, but i am not going to take the chance.
good luck with your search.
chuck