Thread: Ivory Straight Razor?

Hi guys. Do you think this could be real? I know the picture isnt that great. It is stamped J.M. Schmid & Son. The shop wants $95 for it, no idea if it is a good deal or what not. They are claiming it is ivory, but who knows! Anyone ever hear of this brand and knokw if they produced ivory scales? Thanks for any info you guys can provide.

Most of the ivory scaled razors I have seen didn't have collars. Could be bone if not celluloid. Really hard to tell from the photo.

Do you know if it would it be easy to tell if I look at it under a 45x scope? Im pretty much a noobie when it comes to ivory. I really doubt they would let me hot pin test it.

Not ivory. Bone! Seems too high of a price for me.

+1. Is bone not ivory, ivory scales are not that thick. Too much money.

Thanks guys, I figured it was probably labeled wrong. It really didnt look like plastic/celluloid, and thats the only reason I considered it. They had some other blades there that looked nice for sub $25, so I may go back and look and have them pull a few from the case.

Ivory scales have a few things about them. As with most things there is always exceptions. Ivory is only a few mm thick, it has washer less pinning and lead wedges. Bone has little spots as it ages, like pin size dots or very short fine lines. that mileage thing.

Go back, ask them if they know the law has changed on selling ivory. Either way, offer to confiscate it without full penalty of the law. Flash the fake badge you bought from the antique store across the street :<0)

Few razor's I've got from the UK, seller has said either, "natural material, not bone or horn", or nothing at all....I asked once and didn't get an answer one way or the other, just a, ";-)"...and that was it....turned out to be ivory....but yes, there is always a risk...it's a shame, pre-ban is legal, but coming up with any supporting documentation would be like wandering into your local grocery store and finding a sale on NOS Double Duck Grim Reaper's and Napolean's....;-)

Thanks for all the info guys, Ive learned a lot from this thread. Im going to go back to check out their other razors some more, they were pretty cheap and looked good on the spines, just didnt have time to ask them to pull any out so I could look at blades. hopefully I find some good stuff.