I personally value craftsmanship and overall quality and esthetics above materials used. To me therefore whether the hilt is ivory or not would not be that important. Yuri's koummiya is very well made, with a good imported blade and quality silver fittings, and clearly an antique. That is enough for me to call it a great example. With all the regulatory issues surrounding endangered species, there are also advantages to not having certain materials. Even if ivory is legal in Russia today, all it takes is one change in legislation to find yourself in a potential tricky situation.
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