Ivory in Cues (again)

Maxx

Maxx

AzB Platinum Member
Silver Member
I have always liked cues with ivory; I like how it looks and how the ferrule stays clean. One of my favorite cues has ivory points. Most have ivory ferrules. I had a couple of shafts made and requested ivory ferrules. A ferrule doesn't take much ivory, does it?

Last night I read an article in Scientific American about how they are using DNA to track the origin of the confiscated ivory. I figured with the C.I.T.E.S. act poaching was way down, but it doesn't sound like it.

I know this is controversial and NPR posters may jump on this, but for me I am reevaluating the use of ivory in new purchases (pianos too).

Not sure how hypocritical it is if I buy old cues with ivory; guess I'll have to reflect on that issue. I'm still wearing leather and eating meat and burning fossil fuels!

http://www.scientificamerican.com/a...inpoint-elephant-poaching-aiding-conservation

Just an eye opener for this poster.
 
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I too like the look of ivory. I'm not big on ivory inlays, or ivory joints though. I mainly just like ivory Hoppe rings. I also love the hit of an ivory ferrule even though none of my cues have one anymore because they can crack much easier.

So far as legal vs illegally harvested ivory is concerned it is all the same. Money is involved in this and when that happens all bets are off as to the true nature of how it was harvested. I'm quite certain that there are poachers out there who know of a person or two who will put a stamp of approval on it when an envelope of money hits the table first.
 
Mitchxout said:
There isn't any good reason to kill elephants to make pool cues.
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We could say the same thing about killing cattle for leather, deer for antlers or fish so they can be stuffed over a fireplace. The list can go on and on.
Some could say there's no need to kill trees to make cues or paper given our other technologies and materials.

It's just my opinion, but society has long since passed needing a good reason to do anything aside from making money. Sad but I believe this to be true.

Like many things, what people choose to put into their cues is a matter of personal preference and those that object don't have to use those materials in theirs.
 
Threats.

9 on the snap said:
What if one is charging at you after he just ransacked your village?
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Absolutely! Every year I am threatened by whitetail deer. Usually starts during bow season! I usually get several very aggressive threats during muzzleloading season and last year I was threatened again during regular gun season.
 
Mr Hoppe said:
I completely agree, however, there is probably enough pre-ban ivory already in this country to make ferrules and Hoppe rings for the next 100 years.
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That's kind of how I always operated, either the cue was old or the ivory was.

I guess with the news about Gibson and ebony we better carry a ivory certificate of origin with every cue.

Mr. Hoppe, does this mean my early Hoppe with the ivory Hoppe ring is okay? :smile:
 
Maxx said:
That's kind of how I always operated, either the cue was old or the ivory was.

I guess with the news about Gibson and ebony we better carry a ivory certificate of origin with every cue.

Mr. Hoppe, does this mean my early Hoppe with the ivory Hoppe ring is okay? :smile:
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You are free to go anywhere within the US with it, but if you try to take it out of the country, (or try to bring it back in) you'll need solid proof that it is pre-ban ivory. Without that proof, you will be seen as exporting (or importing) ivory, which is a very big no-no. The problem is that even if you buy a documented pre-ban tusk, once you slice it up into ferrules, joints, Hoppe rings, etc, each of those components don't then get their own certificates, so you now can't prove that the materials are pre-ban. The only way to be safe is to not cross the boarder with any cue that contains ivory, or you risk losing the cue and facing a stiff fine. Both boarder agents and shipping companies seem to be tightening their enforcement of this law.
 
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Just FYI...I just came back into the US from Canada (driving across the border), and even though I have a license plate that says RAKM UP, and told the customs guy that I was a pool instructor, they made no mention of, nor asked to see my cues (both of which have ivory in them. So it is not something that they are "top-of-mind-awareness" about.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Mr Hoppe said:
You are free to go anywhere within the US with it, but if you try to take it out of the country, (or try to bring it back in) you'll need solid proof that it is pre-ban ivory. Without that proof, you will be seen as exporting (or importing) ivory, which is a very big no-no. The problem is that even if you buy a documented pre-ban tusk, once you slice it up into ferrules, joints, Hoppe rings, etc, each of those components don't then get their own certificates, so you now can't prove that the materials are pre-ban. The only way to be safe is to not cross the boarder with any cue that contains ivory, or you risk losing the cue and facing a stiff fine. Both boarder agents and shipping companies seem to be tightening their enforcement of this law.
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Yesterday I tried posting a cue to the USA after a repair. I had to open it up and show that it did not contain Ivory or banned rosewood. I am off again today to post it , this time with the parcel open so they can see it and sign it off.
I am glad there is no ivory in this cue.
Alot comes to the luck of who you get at the border or shipping point.
The new airport scanners are really amazing. We could see inside our model engine and look at the ball bearing and crankshaft, see the bronze bush on the conrod all inside an Ali crankcase in a ply model box.I wanted a photo of it but they would not allow that.
 
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