Thread: source for tortoiseshell?

I found an Ern razor in an antique shop. The scales are tortoise, but cracked at the wedge pin (which is odd, but whatever) and the surface of the scales are cracking, like aged plastic. I really like the look of the razor, and would like to make new scales to be as close to original as I can get.

Where can I find some tortoise shell material to make new scales? My local Rockler doesn't seem to have anything but pen blanks and I don't think those will work very well.

J.

shoot a tortoise?

Or just use Faux Tortoise

I hear the Galapagos have tortises.

You could use faux no one would really know. I mean they would, but so what tortises are cool.

Might be an idea to 'invest' in a few 'pet' tortises

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Is it still legal to use tortoise shell where you are? I thought tortoise, like ivory, cannot be bought, sold or traded unless it complies with certain legislation. If that's not the case where you are, you could try China, I'm sure they'd have some.

That is correct. It is illegal to use it in current production. Perhaps you can find some pre-ban material ? I recently acquired a genuine tortoise scaled razor and googled it to find out if I could be sure it was genuine.

I read that the material is so thin that it had to be heated and then laminated. So if you look at it with an eye loupe you can see on the edges some deterioration from age the laminations of the material. At least on my specimen.

Thanks for the replies, everyone, but I'd be perfectly happy with faux tortoise shell. I have no interest in the real stuff, only the appearance. Searching for faux tortoise shell on google gives me a lot of results for stuff made from or containing it, and not anything I can use.

Faux tortoise shell scale blanks or material- any ideas?
Thanks.
J.

Try this place... they have the fake stuff it's a knifemaker's supply type place

It seems they only offer 5" pieces.We would need 5 1/2 to 6".Anyone know if they will cut it longer or know of another vendor that offers faux tortoise in a 6" length?

True.. you could cut it on the diagonal, but it would be a big waste... try this place for the bigger 4x12x1/8 sheets (i bet they'd send you a picture if you asked)

Pearl materials used in knife making, real and man made, and their sources