Thread: What are you working on?

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

When I get time to ship to you and Tom you guys are both getting one so you evaluate the same basic blade.

Tom don't need no more blades!

Originally Posted by BeJay

Are those scales on the W&B ivory? They look like the real deal.

I'm pretty sure they are not?? To me they appear to be French ivory. I guess I don't know.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

I'm pretty sure they are not?? To me they appear to be French ivory. I guess I don't know.

They look real to me. Try the hot pin test.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Tom don't need no more blades!

We are doing a blade exchange to help each other be better at honing. It is a skills improvement adventure.

There is a pic of the grain. Might be hard to see. What's the pin test again? If it's ivory it won't melt correct?

So just got a pin hot and poked in an unnoticeable area and burned in a small divot.

What did it smell like?

Sounds like they are plastic then.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Sounds like they are plastic then.

Celluloid. The Brits seemed to have a better formula early on. Forget what they called it.
No blades like that...May have some scales, tho.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

There is a pic of the grain. Might be hard to see. What's the pin test again? If it's ivory it won't melt correct?

Actually you could do a few different tests. First rub the scales with your thumb to warm them up and give em a sniff. If they're French Ivory they'll smell like celluloid. If you're not sure what that smells like, try the same thing on some known celluloid scales. If you get that same smell on the Scales in question, you know that they are French Ivory. If they have no smell, then you're still not sure.

Another thing you could do is tap them against your teeth. Again, try this with known celluloid as well as known ivory(if you have any). Ivory has a more solid feel/sound then celluloid. Hard to describe.

Try the hot pin test after the other two as it will slightly damage the material. Heat up a pin with a lighter and touch it to a hidden spot on the inside of the scales. Celluloid will melt/burn and stink like celluloid. Ivory may darken a bit but will not melt and the hot pin will not penetrate the material.