So i liked my C.V. Heljestrand 41 so much, i decided to pick up some more Swedish steel last week. I picked up a double set of barely touched MK 31s in what i thought was just cream colored scales, the auction didn't mention the scales at all but the blade looked good.

I open them up and the first thing i notice is that the handles have a grain, and not a parallel grain, like a tangled medusa head. so i did some more research and tried the hot pin test (several times) and it turns out it's real. little brown spot and the smell of burning fingernails seems to be the ticket.

Judging by the 45 degree crosshatch angle of the grain (only 100% accurate on whole tusks) i think it is 10,000 year old mammoth ivory.

I was a little worried that i might have paid too much, but these are currently my favorite shavers and now my most valuable by far.

I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow.