Thread: A few pretty tortoise scale "reference shots"

I recently picked up this American Products 5/8ths spike on the chance that the scales were authentic tortoise, and they are! I think it's pretty rare to find them with this much translucence and sharpness, as they often darken with age, and that threw me.

Wanted to share this with others who may be wondering about some specifics to look for when checking for real tortoise, as I was.

- Thin, flat scales, with a slight bevel at the edge
- Scales have some flex, but noticeably firmer than plastic
- Translucent (though usually darker than in this example)
- The spots go through the entire thickness of the scale, not just the surface
- Sharp, irregular edges to the spots, like splattered ink rather than stripes or round blobs
- A slight reddish bleeding on the edges of some of the spots

Pics:

how did you confirm they were real?

Sorry, but that doesn't look like any real tortoise shell I've seen. In fact it looks like most of the fake stuff though.

This is real tortoise shell:

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

how did you confirm they were real?

My question also! I have some celluloid that look like that

"Sharp, irregular edges to the spots, like splattered ink rather than stripes or round blobs"

That also seems way off to me. Check out all this tortoise shell:

Tortoiseshell

There isn't one example that isn't the opposite of your description.

I'll have to look in that razor guide book I have at home. I could be wrong, but I seem to recall they had pics of tortoise shell scales that DID look like the ones he posted on the razor.

Chris L

I really don't understand what the question is here, nor the discussion, you can "Look" all ya want, or you can test the scales.... They are either real Tortoise or they are Celluloid, and it is rather easy to tell the difference between the two...

Very nice find. I love the look of tortoise scales. Being real tortoise is a plus but not required to be attractive.

Originally Posted by Chris L

I knew there was something familiar about that razor and Tim, you beat me to it. Yes, I have the same book and I'm at home now. Absolutely correct, page fifty bottom picture is your razor (yours looks to be in BETTER condition that the one pictured. For those who don't have the book the title of the picture (Identical to Tim's):
"Genuine tortoise shell. American Products Co., Cincinnati Ohio. Dewey Whited Collection."

The first picture on that page is of a sweet Wostie pipe razor and below it, a Clovis. Both with tortoise shell scales that have pattern and color like Tim's.

Tim, you scored.

Chris L

Thanks, Chris.

Incredibly, I noticed that a razor identical to that etched Wostenholm you saw on the top of page 50 is currently available on a major auction site, flying undetected under the radar as "unique spotted imitation tortoise." It happens.

(No I'm not bidding on it, nor am I involved in any way with the sale. I was just floored by the coincidence when I noticed it while browsing this weekend. Kind of like when you buy a car, and then suddenly start to notice your same car seemingly everywhere. )

Originally Posted by Maximilian

To me it looks gorgeous, Tim

But most important, how does it shave?

Thanks Maximillian. It shaves pretty well, and is very precise. It is made of very hard steel, and was surprisingly difficult to hone. But it is very lightweight, with a relatively thin spine for a 5/8ths. I'm still a new straight user, and tend to gravitate toward larger and heavier grinds as my finesse level with the smaller sizes isn't quite there yet.

These are tortoise scales on an Underwood wedge. Could be from 1850-1878. Seller Underwood mentioned in Dicken's London shopping guide. Probably made in Sheffield. Ref:
Victorian London - Directories - Dickens's Dictionary of London, by Charles Dickens, Jr., 1879 - "Tradesmen"
Good hunting!
Croaker