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  #1  
Old 09-19-2012, 01:21 PM
Tai Google Tai Google is offline
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Question Where can I get ostrich toes?

I?ve seen some really cool knives from South America (esp., Argentina) with ostrich toe, ??and??, handles. I?ve been looking a long time and haven?t been able to find any.

There?s an ostrich farm just up the road, but the owner wouldn?t sell me any toes or bones,? just egg shells and feathers.



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Old 09-19-2012, 03:25 PM
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You will need someone to distract the ostrich while you sneak up behind it... if you can catch it while it's head is in the sand, so much the better.

But seriously those things are dangerous, do not try sneaking up on one. Find out where they are processed for meat (since there is a farm in the area, someone has to be butchering them too), and see if they will save you a few toes. Beer helps.


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Old 09-19-2012, 03:49 PM
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I tried that and they said all they could do was sell me the whole ostrich...


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Old 09-20-2012, 06:24 AM
Rocket_Jason Rocket_Jason is offline
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You might try Moscow Hid and Fur. Not sure of they have ostrich, but they have just about everything else.

http://www.hideandfur.com


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Old 09-20-2012, 08:07 AM
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That was one of the first places I looked.


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Old 09-20-2012, 02:01 PM
Tai Google Tai Google is offline
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These are the best pix I've found on the internet.

I wish someone would scare up a few for American knifemakers... Truly rare and exotic.

South Amer Imports:
http://store.southamer.com/HANDCRAFTED-KNIVES_c4.htm





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Old 09-20-2012, 03:09 PM
salerno salerno is offline
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Hello Tai.

I'm a knife maker from southern Brazil.
Just for the sake of clarity and help you with your search, the animal from what they use toes for knife handles is not an ostrich. Here we have a native cousin called "Ema" in Brazil or "Nandu" in surrounding countries.

Here are two links from wikipedia that can clear the diference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Rhea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrich

The main difference is that Nandu or Ema are smaller than ostrich, so his toes are more suitable for knife handles.

Even here, these knives with toes of "Nandu" or "Ema" are not so common and is hard to find toes to use in knifes. Besides it, like an organic material, it has a tendency to decay in contact with sweat from hands and things alike.

Anyway, I'll keep an eye on these material for you and will be a pleasure if I can help you.

Hope my English good enough.

Regards.

Salerno.


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Old 09-20-2012, 09:27 PM
Pilotbe40 Pilotbe40 is offline
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Ostrich toe

There are Ostrich, Emu, and Rea's. They are all in the Ostrich family but are of different size. I would look for a local farmer that deals in these birds. They offen have birds that die or have to be put down. The more the farmer makes on a possible loss the better.
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Old 09-20-2012, 11:48 PM
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The only idea I have is to try a meat processor or tannery. Maybe hatch and grow your own? Your little patch of desert would start looking like Jurassic Park!


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Old 09-21-2012, 08:14 AM
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Thanks for the info salerno. I?d make sure they were good and dry, probably sterilize them with alcohol, seal them real good and make them as functional as possible. However, they would be mostly for exotic novelty art type knives.

Emu or Rhea should also be fine.

Ostrich chicks aren?t real expensive, but I really don?t want to raise them just for a few toes. Besides,? I?d probably get attached to them.

Any good solid leads would be appreciated.


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Old 03-26-2014, 12:38 AM
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Tai,

Looked for Emu Bone and found this Co.

http://www.indiamart.com/sree-sakthi....html#emu-nail

They are in India but could import. Hope this helps.


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Old 03-26-2014, 12:55 AM
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I am assuming you are looking for the nail and not the whole toe. I have sent out a couple emails to some farms that slaughter their ostriches. Hopefully they will answer back and we can find you some.


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Old 03-26-2014, 08:44 AM
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Thanks Chuck. I am looking for the whole toe.


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Old 03-26-2014, 11:28 AM
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Ok. Just received emails back from both farms. Neither will provide. Interesting.... They will only have them if a bird dies unexpectedly.


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Old 03-26-2014, 09:01 PM
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Where can I get ostrich toes?

From an ostrich.
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