Thread: Two New Razors (new to me at least)

Hold it up to the light and turn it at different angles. Ivory will have a grain.

Alternatively hot pin test it - heat up a pin and touch an inconspicuous area. Ivory and bone will not melt, celluloid will.

Bone should have little pores where as ivory only has grain.

Thanks for the advice, what does the grain resemble?

The grain sort of resembles continuous uneven lines that sometimes you have to alternate the angle to see in the light...its really hard to describe, and differs depending upon which animal the ivory comes from eg, walrus, hippo or elephant. Ivory also yellows with age and exposure to the light.

It takes a bit of experience to tell ivory, and can be hard if you dont know what you are looking for! I love the stuff and have a few pieces so can tell it instantly upon touch.

The hot pin test reveals if it is celluloid or not. It doesnt distinguish ivory from bone, however a scrape test does - but bone and ivory are really quite different without the need for a scrape test.

IMHO that just doesnt look like ivory, because of the shape of the scales. Ivory scales in my experience are always pointed at the ends, 95% of the time!

I could be wrong! Also I tend to find that vintage German scales are never often ivory. Ivory is more often English and Swedish

Looks like you got a great deal for money

I appreciate all of the advice and knowledge that you fellows have, thanks again for your time

Ivory will look liek a wood grain, and will feel impeccably smooth to the touch. like soap. Bone can be as smooth, but can be "less" smooth? There's nothing like ivory. Bone you can also see little pores at the pin ends. It's also thicker. I'm willing to bet thats bone.

There are some dark marks near the pins, I guess that it is bone then. Thanks again for all of your help.