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Thread: How to tell Bone from Ivory?

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    Senior Member JoeLowett's Avatar
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    Default How to tell Bone from Ivory?

    This question has been on my mind for some time... I own several items made out of ivory in my house like a salt spoon and i have bought razors in the past with bone scales... I under stand that Ivory is non porous, and i know that bone sometimes has some type of 'veining' or striations in the material that would not be present in Ivory. I just purchased a J Nore Paris blade with scales i think are Ivory, but i am not sure....
    any ideas how i can tell for sure??? Pics to follow, cant pull out the camera right now as my son is sleeping.
    Last edited by JoeLowett; 03-03-2013 at 06:11 PM.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    The pores or holes in bone are called Halversian canals,Bone has its own blood supply unlike Ivory.
    Will look forward to the pics.
    Last edited by pixelfixed; 03-03-2013 at 06:28 PM.

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    Shave like a pyrate! Pyrateknight's Avatar
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    Actually I would like a more definite way to tell myself so I will be following this. More for aged ivory. Where it starts to yellow a bit.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Is all in knowing what the grain looks like,best test for Ivory is a U.V. lgt parts of it will flash purple colors.
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    Senior Member JoeLowett's Avatar
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    Hope the pics help, its hard to show the grain even under macro. Tell me what you think...

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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Hard to tell,The best way to see the grain in a pic is to shoot in direct sunshine at an oblique angle.

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    Senior Member JoeLowett's Avatar
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    Cloudy in NY today :-/ I did go outside to get the lighting possible, My SLR capture pretty good detail though... Weird thing is it DEFINITELY has a bone spacer... I find it odd that they would use 2 different materials. Bun the scales and the spacer look completly different.The scale material appears smoother and creamier and more evenly colored whereas the space looks likes it had stripes
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    Pha Tat Luang dustoff003's Avatar
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    I don't know if this will help or not but it is a good read, at least I thought so. eBay Guides - Real Ivory vs. Bone or Resin Synthetic Products
    Aloha,

    ED

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    Real Live Barber chay2K's Avatar
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    This is going to sound funny, but the best way that I have found is to tap it against one of your front teeth. Ivory will make a sharper "ting" sound, while bone will make a duller "thud" sound-- once you feel it, you'll know what I'm talking about. Also, if you see any growth rings, like a tree, it's ivory. Hope this helps.
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    Senior Member JoeLowett's Avatar
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    It does help, thanks so much. There are rings of growth like a tree, I'm going to try the tooth test to confirm..........

    It's ivory. It's a sharp higher pitched tap sound when I tap it on my tooth.... Nice!
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