Page 1 of 1
First Ivory handled knife
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 1:56 pm
by TripleF
I visit an antique store and ask the employee, what is this handle.
He replies, " a bone I can't say."
I reply, do you mean Ivory?
He says....you said it, I didn't.
I'm like ok I gotcha.
Information would be appreciated. I did do a search on how to confirm authentic I vory and I believe this is.
There is no makers mark that I can see.
I plan to sell this, so if you don't want to share any info I understand.
Re: First Ivory handled knife
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 5:48 pm
by Gunsil
Hard to tell from your photos, but it would be unusual for a no name knife to have premium handles like ivory. I'm not seeing the haversian canals of bone but not all bone shows them well. I do not see the grain that elephant ivory shows either, I'm thinking smooth bone. Need really clear photos. It is not against the law to sell ivory in FL, only to sell it across state lines. It is illegal to sell elephant ivory in NY, NJ, CA but not FL.
Re: First Ivory handled knife
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 9:38 pm
by djknife13
When you first showed it I was pretty sure it was ivory and still am. I have some old knives with ivory knife scales that aren't elephant, and they look very much like that. I could easily be wrong but that's where I'd put my money.____Dave
Re: First Ivory handled knife
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 9:57 pm
by dsutton24
If you Google 'selling antique ivory' you might decide to keep it...
Re: First Ivory handled knife
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 1:10 am
by Reverand
Some people on here click it on their teeth, but I don't have any real ivory on which to test that.
I am not sure how it compares to bone. But then, I can usually spot bone handles fairly easily.
I bought a Button Hook that I swore had a real ivory handle. It looked and felt just like the real thing. But when I tried the "hot needle" test on it, it was clearly celluloid.
Some of that old "French Ivory" celluloid is really, really good. It is hard to tell.
Re: First Ivory handled knife
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 12:24 pm
by TripleF
Thanks fellas!!

Re: First Ivory handled knife
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 11:19 pm
by SwedgeHead
I beleive Ivory and Bone both flouresce under UV light, that would at least tell you if its a natural material.