Definitive Test for Rhino Horn Please

[spiral]

I Agree Tim, Asomotif , Craftmanship is most important, but the qualities of rhino to take fine carving and stand without splitting for centurys leave buffalo , goat & cow fast behind,

Also of course its practical qualitys of grip & its historical significance in many cultures.

It becanme rare & valuable because it was great material. Not the other way round.

i guess the Chinese pharmascists must have goo tests, unless they can also just "see" it due to handling the real stuff.

I guess to some people Rhino horn is also a power motif? rather like Tiger teeth & human skulls?

But without doubt it is the soundest horn there is.

Spiral

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

Thank you all for your input. I hope I become the wiser for it.
The reason for my post is that lately, there have been many sellers claiming the handles on their edged weapons being rhino horn. In some cases, these sellers are online, providing (sometimes blurry) photos.(How one can tell from photos, I don't know).
Normally, it wouldn't bother me what the handle material was, as I'm more interested in the blade.
However, in a couple of cases, during price negotiations, the seller kept citing 'rhino horn' as the reason for the 'high' asking price. Needless to say, not being an expert on rhino horn, I had to break off the negotiations. (A shame not being able to get a blade that I want, just because of a bit of rhino horn )

Once again, thank you all.

[Tim Simmons]

This pic is from this site suggesting thier specimen is the last big Rhino horn even though this is really only a small one it has to be at least 1m.
http://www.animalorphanagekenya.org/...2006_april.php

This site may explain why other colours are seen, the outer pats of a big horn may be more course and even lighter in colour?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1106144951.htm

[spiral]

Thanks Tim, I doubt if there many wild rhino with horns like that out in the jungles savanas today unfortuanatly!

That article helps explains the black core found very well, ive found {admitadly from a minute selection of samples.] the black rhino horn [colour not species.] is much heaveir & harder than the lighter coloured areas.

Spiral

[Tim Simmons]

Found this picture today. The kind a staff would be made from? Interesting to say the least

[ariel]

If there is a rhinoceros attached to the handle of the dagger, you got the ultimate proof

[Lew]

I am updating the thread because some forumites were asking questions in another thread so I wanted to clearify what one should look for to look in real rhino horn. Below is a close up of my rhino horned jambiya hilt please notice the bundle fibers at the end of the hilt which has an orange peel effect. Not all rhino is translucent some as is this one is dark brown and is hard to see light through. I am posting a pic of a lighter color rhino jambiya hilt that would show translucencey when held up to a light source.



Lew

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by ariel

If there is a rhinoceros attached to the handle of the dagger, you got the ultimate proof

Amen!