Ivory Identification

[x10]

There's a set of Ivory 1911 grips for sale near me. ??

They guy is pretty windy, so I wandered if anyone had a sure fire way to Identify Ivory?

 

[jinks]

PRELIMINARY IDENTIFICATION SCHEME

Table 1: Scheme for the Preliminary Characterization of Ivory and Ivory Substitutes in Cross-Section.

Table 2: Continues in a grid format.

https://www.fws.gov/lab/pdfs/Espinoza%20&%20Mann.1992.pdf

 

[x10]

Maybe I need to change that from Sure fire way to "reasonably acceptable" way

 

[patience0830]

Once again, INGO delivers.

 

[snorko]

I've been told...heat a pin in a flame and press the tip into the material. Ivory will not melt/yield, plastic will. There may be some synthetics that don't melt either though.

 

[x10]

I would think bone wouldn't melt

 

[radar8756]

Google is your Friend https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-Ivory-from-Bone

Main Points besides the HOT PIN noted above

Genuine ivory and bone both appear bright white under a black light, whereas synthetic materials tend to absorb more light and appear dull.

Look for pores to confirm the item is bone.

Examine for lines to determine that your piece is ivory. When you examine your piece under a magnifying glass, if you are looking at ivory, there will be lines on the surface. The lines on genuine ivory can appear in a variety of ways, including straight, cross-hatched, or in a circular motion.

 

[NKBJ]

The direction of the lines is like the grain in wood. Depends on the plane of the surface you are viewing versus the centerline of the tusk.

Other than that, well, if it's over two feet long and has a moon goddess face carved in it then it's probably ivory.