Thrasher Scrimshaw

Original Scrimshaw & Knives by Keith W. Thrasher

I have always been fascinated by the old maritime art of Scrimshaw, with it dating from at least the 17th century in which Sperm Whale teeth, whale bones and walrus tusks were engraved or lightly carved with a picture or design. It was a way for sailors on long whaling voyages to pass time but has now become very collectible. The majority of scrimshaw art today is done on Elephant and Fossilized Mammoth ivory due to the rarity and ban of the Sperm Whale tooth. 
 
 A little about myself, I started making knives as a hobby about 6 years ago, the response I recieved from my knives was wonderful and as I started to get custom orders I decided to turn it into a small business. Like I said before, I always loved the scrimshaw art so I started messing around with the idea of incorporating it into my knives. So about 2 years ago I started practicing it on old ivory piano keys and scrap pieces of bone. It was a challenge at first but after I found my own technique I was hooked and enjoy doing it just as much as I enjoy making knives. So after I had enough confidence built up and enough of my family and friends gave me the go ahead, I decided to scrimshaw on a knife and I was overwhelmed by the response. I still make knives but the demand for scrimshaw seemed to outweigh the demand for knives.
 
Ever since I was a kid I had a pencil and paper not to far from me, I drew all the time and I never thought it would some day be turned into a business. I don't have an art degree nor did I ever go to college, I went into the Army right out of High School, did 8 years in the National Guard and I work full time as a Correctional Officer and now try to consentrate on my God, my Wife, my Scrimshaw & my Harley. That's pretty much me in a nutshell.

A frequently encountered phrase of misconception is that  "I thought ivory was illegal".  Well its not, The following is a summary of the international and U.S. Fish & Wildlife laws which regulate the commerce of ivory: The international trade in wildlife and plants is regulated by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (C.I.T.E.S.) [a multinational protege of the United Nations]. Formed in 1973, the aim is to establish worldwide controls over plants & wildlife that require protecting due to declining populations. Headquartered in Switzerland, C.I.T.E.S., delegates meet every two years to review data & set new quotas to increase, decrease or maintain the level of protection on individual species. C.I.T.E.S. regulations do not control a country's internal commerce, only the international trade between member nations.



I do commission work and can work off of my own imagination or yours, the sky is the limit. I welcome inquiries and will give an estimate. Feel Free to E-mail me at:
thrasherknives@hotmail.com


To view items I have on Ebay click on this link to my items for sale:
 My Items up for Auction


If you have a MY SPACE page feel free to add me to yours, here is the link to my page:
 Keith's My Space






 

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