Thread: A sure test for ivory scales

The only thing I will add is once you have held genuine ivory in your hand you will never mistake it again. It has a feel all it's own.

Got one Question, my razor seems to have a collar on the pin at the blade end and the end that has the wedge is smaller,but the scales are alot thinner than my other razors and look like the ones in jimmys pics. So is that pin with a collar a telltale sign its not ivory??

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Got one Question, my razor seems to have a collar on the pin at the blade end and the end that has the wedge is smaller,but the scales are alot thinner than my other razors and look like the ones in jimmys pics. So is that pin with a collar a telltale sign its not ivory??

I wouldn't say that it's a tell tale sign. It was probably just repinned at some point in it's history.

The two different types of pins most likely point to the scales not being original to that razor...
The switching of scales goes way way back....It does not tell anything other than that, I have seen Ivory with collared pins too...

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only thing I will add is once you have held genuine ivory in your hand you will never mistake it again. It has a feel all it's own.

Originally Posted by Scipio

Post a picture and we'll give you a good idea. I agree with all that has been said above, and I'll add that once you've seen ivory in hand, elephant ivory that is, you'll almost always be able to identify it instantly in future.

Listen closely to these gentlemen. For they speak an absolute truth. I know, because having touched real ivory myself on several occasions, I can testify to the fact that once you've felt real ivory -- you'll never mistake it for anything else, and anything else for it...ever again.

I have a razor that I picked up off the bay for cheap, and the seller (who had tons of odds and ends for sale but only one razor) said that the scales were celluloid. I'm not sure if they are ivory or celluloid, so this thread interested me. I did the pin test on the inside of the scales and it didn't melt. I couldn't smell anything as I'm getting over a cold. I can see that there are very FEW small spots of what I guess you could compare to wood fibers after rough sanding with high grit, fraying on the inside of the scales. I haven't tried the "clanking on teeth" or shining up tests yet. The pins do not have any washers, and there is a hairline crack at the wedge end on one side. The wedge is metal of some type. I'm hoping that they are Ivory but if not no love lost for this razor, considering it only cost 13 bucks shipped and it will be a good shaver once I get it cleaned up & shave ready. I know that you guys can't be certain looking at pics but would love to hear your thoughts. Also if anyone has any info they can share with me about this Bingham razor I would appreciate it. Bingham is the only mark on the razor, & I couldn't find anything except info on tally ho razors when searching.

Thanks
Louis.

2 things stand out on the above razor that make me think ivory.
1. the telltale crack at the wedge end & 2. How thin the scales are.

Hard to photograph but these are Elephant Ivory. It's hard to see the structure of the material in the figure without magnification but easier to see it in the brush.

Very nice,You need to see the end cut to see the Lines,but as others have said,once you hold a pce, you will know real ivory.

As other have said, you just know ivory. The real key to me is the grain pattern. You have to hold the scales at an angle in the correct light and you will see the growth rings in the ivory, just like a tree. I have some ivory and bone. I will have to see if I can get a good close up macro photo of both. This is a new Williams in pre-ban elephant ivory.