Thread: A little help with this razor pls.

Or are you guys just trying to do me a solid because you're not supposed to trade in real tortoise anymore? I'm pretty sure it's legal to own. Just not sell and ship? Correct?

Originally Posted by Wightman

Or are you guys just trying to do me a solid because you're not supposed to trade in real tortoise anymore? I'm pretty sure it's legal to own. Just not sell and ship? Correct?

No one is giving you a line, those look like celluloid scales. They were meant to look like tortoise and even ivory and they have been around since the 1800s. I've seen several, maybe if I dig I can find a set I had. However I might have given that razor away.

Off to look.

Oh okay, that's only thing that makes me think it's real is it's not such a smooth plastic look. It looks dencer, and the different Hues thoughout it eh. It's not so separate with just two hues in an almost camo pattern. You know, how terrible the new ones look. The old ones were pretty close eh? I'm all new to this, so I am still fairly ignorant to the details. Just trying to learn.

There are even horn scales that are dyed to look like tortoise.

If you heat a pin or paperclip and touch it to the INSIDE of the scales it will help determine what you have. If it smells like burning hair, it's horn if it smells like burning plastic then it's celluloid.

We all have learned these things along the way. This is an excellent place to learn.

Yea I did see that there are some that were horn to look like tortoise. Hopefully when I get the closer picks up it will help.

some of that died horn was pretty good fake. and I have seen some newer material that good too. you can have the shell, but yes its supposed to be wrong to sell or transport across state lines or out of the country, the same with ivory. I have lots of ivory that is why I,m pretty confident yours isn't, as to the tortoise, I only have one set, but its really not that common on a razor of that vintage, mostly it would be celluloid but as said if the blades are in good shape the Clauss is a good brand with good steel, as long as the gassing hasn't done any damage. so post some close ups so we can assist you Tc

You could do two site searches in the search box upper right of home page. Something like "tortoise shell real or fake" and "ivory real or fake". There should be a few threads on the subject of how to tell if these materials are real or fake.

Bob

Thank ya sir... but if it's in the library my log in does not seem to work.

Originally Posted by BobH

You could do two site searches in the search box upper right of home page. Something like "tortoise shell real or fake" and "ivory real or fake". There should be a few threads on the subject of how to tell if these materials are real or fake.

Bob

Never mind the Google search works for me. Looking now.

If I were you I would polish them with mothers or something if they dont have gold plating or anything. Then I can confidently say they are worth 2 shiny pennies