Thread: REAL tortoise shell or imitation?

Ok now I am so confused. I guess I can never be sure unless I check them myself however I do not want to gamble a big amount. The only reason I will ever consider such a razor will be if the scales will be real shell. So I will just place a low bid and if I will get it and it's not real shell maybe at least will be a decent shaver and if it won't be that either than the garbage can can have it. Thank you for the last 2 posts, this helped me decide on the maximum amount I am willing to risk with this razor so please no body here bid on this item if possible. Thx

Originally Posted by ChayesFSS

I'm not sure if they're just pulling your legs or not but it is not plastic nor celluloid. Money back guaranty.

And I thought that the other posts got me so confused. Imagine what is in my head now. Anyway I have decided on the bid that I want to put in. I am not going to say if it will be a big or a small bid but one think is for sure. I will bid on this razor and hopefully I will win it. If I will get this razor I will send it to 2 different experts to check the scales and I will post the results here. Also I will try myself all the known tests to see if this is real shell and I will also post the results here ... and if the wining bider will not be me hopefully the one that will win it will read this post and he will do the same.

Originally Posted by ChayesFSS

I guess it's time for me to take some video of the hot pin test. I won't be called out like.

Could you do it after the auction ends? If you prove beyond doubt that this is real shell than everybody will want to have this razor. The current situation is favorable for me as I have my bid placed and I am not related with Bill Gates so I kept my bid under one gadzillion dollars.

I'm now second guessing myself. I did a smoke test again, even had my wife verify that the smell was different than plastic scales. I looked through the light and see numbers in each side, I've taken pictures of both sides. I really don't know what to think now. Best to pull the plug on the auction until I'm 110% one way or the other.

Well... what those numbers mean? I have no idea. Can anyone explain this to me pls. Thx

Originally Posted by justacat

Well... what those numbers mean? I have no idea. Can anyone explain this to me pls. Thx

To me, it just adds doubt, more doubt than anything else.

Forgive me for my opinion, however i do not believe this is shell. I have owned a shell razor before and it did not resemble this. It was more like horn. If you zoom in to the extent that you have done, the fibres which are like strands of tightly packed hair should be visible.

In my experience, shell razors are often Sheffield, not German. That does not mean to say they are exclusive to Sheffield, just I havent yet seen a German made one - and judging by looks, most shell razors I have seen are a little older than this one, many of them being made prior to the evolution of celluloids.

As with ivory, the hot pin test can be used to determine or certaintly deduce what a material may be.

I have read from ivory experts that the test can be inaccurate, as the hot pin must be red hot and touched to the material immediately. If not, the results can be skewed with false impressions/conclusions.

Originally Posted by justacat

Well... what those numbers mean? I have no idea. Can anyone explain this to me pls. Thx

Numbers like those pictured, and in some cases longer are usually manufacturing process references. It could be the mold used to cast the scale, a specific type of process, an inspection station, a specific person in the manufacturing or something along those lines. Here I would guess that it refers to a mold used to cast the scale but the low numbers has me wondering.

Back to the material, With the metal on the scales I really doubt they are tortoise, hard to tell by the pics but if the metal is inlay (flush with the top surface of the scales) I doubt tortoise even more.

I have one genuine torty and in looking up info on the internet I found that the real stuff is laminated with heat and pressure. I know mine are the real McCoy because they are delaminating in a few small areas. Check out the edges for any delamination.