Will, I am a fulltime knifemaker, part time 07 ffl firearms mfg. I use alot of ivory. Mastodon is cheaper because it is already extinct and not so many regs, elephant is costlier and more paperwork. Real ivory is succecptible to heat, sun, moisture, it cracks, discolors, contracts and expands. It cost alot too. Talk to my buddy Tim Balda at
http://www.ivoryworksltd.com/ ,drop my name is fine. Hermit or Shawn will do. He also has a person makes grips for him especially peacemakers. Wild Bill is purported to have carried a pair of ivory handled 1851 colts in 36cal but Wild Bill is not your average cowboy either. Most cowboys used cow or buff bone grips which is a very very cool and personalized material if you want natural material for grips.
Ivory micarta?? Great stuff, pretty, can scrim it, stabile and inexpensive. Depends on what you want to spend and being able to get ivory big enough. Look at the "knife scale" section on Tim's site, give you an idea of cost and sizes available. Am I trying to discourage you from ivory? No. Are you the type has to be different even of your grips equal the cost of the kirst and 1861together then go for it. I am different, I am eccentric, do what trips your trigger. Ivory has been used and will work given the fact it is a natural material and has to be treated "nice".
Do I like ivory? :-D :lol:
It has a feel, it has beauty, it has grain, charisma..... I have done 3-4 dozen knives in ivory, very very special, very expensive. Hermit