Thread: Ivory razors - I am flabergasted

This SUCKS! Old Ivory razors were the finest things made back in the day! No cheap blades were put in it and they should be selling for top dollar! This is, of course, in reference to antique ivory. Everyone is afraid of being called an elephant killer when this was done centuries ago when it was plentiful and common. We have all seen recent photos of elephants lying dead with their tusks sawed off and I think we all would agree that it is a disgusting thing and that any rational human being knows full well those days are long gone. I have LOTS of it in scales and also am leery of trying to sell. Still, it is readily availiable on the bay! I say, buy all you can and hold on to it. Certainly cooler heads will prevail someday and it will be a rare and pricey item. I have bought more ivory scales called celluloid than celluloid scales called bone! I have seen it called cel, bone, plastic, and even glass! Fine stuff, for sure! Nothing feels better in the hand! My observations, of course. "Old elephants never forget!"

Originally Posted by sharptonn

We have all seen recent photos of elephants lying dead with their tusks sawed off and I think we all would agree that it is a disgusting thing and that any rational human being knows full well those days are long gone.

Really? If those days truly were long gone, we wouldn't be seeing recent photos.

Good point! I wonder if there is a way to determine old, long ago taken ivory from Recent, illegally taken stuff? My point was not to justify the taking of new material, but the preservation of old material! It is a concern to me and I can surely thank you for representing the other side.It is surely a fact that men, long ago made things of ivory, bone, horn, etc., before plastics were invented, out of necessity. If all things can be reproduced and faked in this day, then when does the illegally taken ivory begin being represented as preban? I am confident that I have no such ivory, but there is an excellent point in your response and I surely do thank you for your response.I have obviously touched a nerve and surely had no intention of that. There are many objects in antiquity which are relegated to this same category and I am sure the same questions are equally as important. We seem to like old gas guzzling classic cars which evaporate more fuel than a new car uses, but we still restore them! We know that the evaporation of fuel damages the environment, but we still restore them! Thankfully, I suggest that we do not , as a people, condone and participate in the killing of animals for their tusks, outlaws excluded! The list goes on, I suppose and your point is well taken and is highly relevent! Thanks! I appreciate it

I have no problem with pre ban ivory products and I've managed to acquire four ivory scaled straights but I think I only got one off ebay and the other three here. Ebay doesn't want the grief if it is found to be a party to selling post ban ivory so they just ban it all. I seem to remember that Louis Vuitton sued ebay recently and won over ebay allowing fake Louis Vuitton products to be listed. If you want to sell ivory scaled straights then sell them on one of the forums where you'll probably find someone that will appreciate them more anyway.

No nerve was touched (pervert), but there is a genuine problem when any regulating agency, or even eBay, is forced to have to distinguish between pre-ban and recently poached ivory.

Howd you know I was a pervert? Seriously, Amen Brother! Lets have a frosty!

There is no way to determine pre ban from current Ivory it's all the same. You can distinguish mamouth because its different but it's relatively plentiful. Poaching for Ivory is a very big problem these days and the market for the stuff in Asia is huge. periodically in S Africa they cull the heards and that Ivory is legal however most countries still don't permit it. It is legal in the U.S but you need so much paper work to import it the stuff will sit in customs until fish and wildlife verifies everything for months.

You guys need to quit touching each others nerves or I am telling a Mod!

My take on it is that new ivory is definitely a no-no, but with vintage models, what has been done is done. Honor the elephant in question by continuing to use the razor. Respect the sacrifice by admiring the beauty.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There is no way to determine pre ban from current Ivory it's all the same.

I knew that. That is exactly the reason why eBay and everyone else is in such a difficult spot in dealing with anything that even resembles ivory.