Thread: Pics of real Ivory handles?

I looked at it a little bit ago with a good magnifier. At the end, where the pin is, the faint lines are not even wtih each other. On the right side they slant to the right and on the left side of the pin they slant to the left. Looks like at one point it would look like the letter "W" for lack of a better description. Also I notice that on plastic handles you can see the surface having kind of a molted look to it, not absolutely flat. These are smooth and flat.
I do have a black light (UV) but I don't know if that would tell me anything. Thin as they are, they are well conctructed plastic or pieces of Ivory.

Damn you all! Now I want ivory razors more than anything!

...Are they particularly expensive?

And.... what about this razor at this link? Is it bone or Ivory you reckon? https://picasaweb.google.com/alanami...49806956700354

Looks like a Gottlieb Hammersfarr ? if I have the spelling right.

After reading many of these posts I went and looked at this razor with a loop. The saw marks were very clear on the portion near the wedge. Also the grain was also obvious. I would think the saw marks are a good indicator. I had no idea these were Ivory until Dylan told me they were.

Originally Posted by Gibbs

And.... what about this razor at this link?

I am pretty certain those are bone handles. Bone is recognizable on having much coarser grain, and especially at the end of the scales one will see the "pitted" areas (of the larger pores) like in those scales.

Originally Posted by Shangas

...Are they particularly expensive?

In my experience, which is with vintage blades only, they are not. Very few will know what ivory is, and the sellers usually get it mixed up. Sellers with plastic scales will announce it as ivory, and sellers with ivory scales will announce it as plastic. People don't know. Like Utopian says, cracked scales are a sign. I have 2 razors with ivory scales, iirc, they were pretty much priced exactly like what would be expected for the age and wear, regardless of the scale material.
I don't think ivory scales were particularly rare tho. I vaguely recall having read somewhere that one of the larger sheffield razor firms employed 27 teams of ivory cutters in their hayday (they were working in teams of 2, as I understood it). Someone else remember reading this and could refresh my memory?
On the other hand, when it comes to customs with ivory, expect to pay the real price, which is rather far from cheap

Originally Posted by Shangas

Damn you all! Now I want ivory razors more than anything!

...Are they particularly expensive?

Depends on whether or not the seller (and potential competitive buyers) know it's ivory.

There are legal issues involved, but I don't know the details. I /think/ a person is not supposed to sell any items known to be ivory, but I could very well be wrong. I know that it isn't illegal to own ivory items so long as they pre-date the ivory ban, but selling/buying I'm not so sure on. Someone here likely knows.

Originally Posted by Shangas

Damn you all! Now I want ivory razors more than anything!

...Are they particularly expensive?

I was sent the Geo. Wostenholm&Son free as a replacement for a cracked blade on an ebay transaction. Just have to look. A lot of times they are not noticed by selles on ebay with little or no razor experience. Sometimes they might go for very little. Other times, someone or 2-3 might notice the handles and then you have a bidding war.

As far as ivory selling, you can sell/buy pre-ban ivory that has already been imported into the U.S. but nothing imported sold/bought after that date, 1989 for African Elephant Ivory and 1976 for Asian Elephant Ivory. Asian Ivory can be owned pre 1976 but not sold nor exported. It can be sold and exported if it is documented to be over 100 years old. Here is a link to explain it a lot better than re-typing it in here> http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/fts...200804A10.html

As far as I understand, with regards to LEGALITY, ivory that is clearly antique has no strings attached to it. It's only modern, post-ban ivory that has all the paperwork and red tape.

But thanks for the replies, gentlemen, they've given much interesting food for thought.

The brush Thebigspender had pictures is very nice. I saw another ivory handle brush on another "den" shaving forum. Were there many ivory brushes made or are they the scarce hens teeth of shaving supplies?