Ivory or bone ?

thinreadline · 20th June 2016, 02:23 PM

Any opinions on this knife handle as to the material. The silver mounts are Sheffield hallmarked for 1886 .

colin henshaw · 20th June 2016, 02:39 PM

Ivory

thinreadline · 20th June 2016, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Ivory

Thank you Colin .... may I ask how one tells ?

Sajen · 20th June 2016, 04:36 PM

Colin refer to the Schreger lines. But I've seen a similar dagger with an early sort of plastic which imitates this Schreger lines. Can you use the hot needle test at an unvisible place?

Regards,
Detlef

thinreadline · 20th June 2016, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Colin refer to the Schreger lines. But I've seen a similar dagger with an early sort of plastic which imitates this Schreger lines. Can you use the hot needle test at an unvisible place?

Regards,
Detlef

Thanks Detlef , tried that and no its not plastic ... I didnt think they would use silver hallmarked mounts on a plastic grip , but you never know of course .

asomotif · 21st June 2016, 09:55 PM

Ivorine, as used on kitchenknifes, can look very much like this.
Sometimes including the lines.
However, I think that ivorine would not crack like this handle

Best regards,
Willem

colin henshaw · 24th June 2016, 09:00 PM

I don't think ivorine would crack like that, but ivory will. At least I've never seen cracks on table knives with such ivorine handles...

Battara · 25th June 2016, 12:27 AM

I have to agree with Colin on this. These has been my observations as well.

Berkley · 25th June 2016, 01:02 AM

A cursory Google search for “cracked celluloid” seems to indicate that it is a problem, at least among fountain pen collectors. However, thinreadline is certainly correct that a hot pin should have shown a positive reaction - in the case of celluloid, that could well be in the form of bursting into flames.
All of which reinforces the difficulty of identifying ivory from a photo on a computer monitor. Sadly, my own collection has several pieces where my optimism proved to be mere wishful thinking when the item was in hand.

Shakethetrees · 25th June 2016, 05:40 AM

Ivory.

I have seen a lot of both, and ivory is the only material that would crack like this.

thinreadline · 25th June 2016, 09:02 AM

This is all very interesting and informative , thank you all so much .

20th June 2016, 02:23 PM	#1
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Ivory or bone ? Any opinions on this knife handle as to the material. The silver mounts are Sheffield hallmarked for 1886 . Attached Images

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20th June 2016, 02:39 PM	#2
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Ivory

20th June 2016, 04:36 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,409	Colin refer to the Schreger lines. But I've seen a similar dagger with an early sort of plastic which imitates this Schreger lines. Can you use the hot needle test at an unvisible place? Regards, Detlef

21st June 2016, 09:55 PM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,237	Ivorine, as used on kitchenknifes, can look very much like this. Sometimes including the lines. However, I think that ivorine would not crack like this handle Best regards, Willem

24th June 2016, 09:00 PM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	I don't think ivorine would crack like that, but ivory will. At least I've never seen cracks on table knives with such ivorine handles...

25th June 2016, 12:27 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,342	I have to agree with Colin on this. These has been my observations as well.

25th June 2016, 01:02 AM	#9
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	A cursory Google search for “cracked celluloid” seems to indicate that it is a problem, at least among fountain pen collectors. However, thinreadline is certainly correct that a hot pin should have shown a positive reaction - in the case of celluloid, that could well be in the form of bursting into flames. All of which reinforces the difficulty of identifying ivory from a photo on a computer monitor. Sadly, my own collection has several pieces where my optimism proved to be mere wishful thinking when the item was in hand.

25th June 2016, 05:40 AM	#10
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	Ivory. I have seen a lot of both, and ivory is the only material that would crack like this.

25th June 2016, 09:02 AM	#11
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	This is all very interesting and informative , thank you all so much .