Real Ivory Grips Test ??

RAT383

October 18, 2002 04:04

Hi my late brother bought a set of what I believe are Real Ivory Grips for a single action colt revolver back in the 1970's. I think theres a way of testing them to see if their real or plastic by scratching the back of them but I'm not sure, I plan to sell them on GB & would like to know if their real or not, before I list them. Thanks RAT383

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  RAT383

  October 18, 2002 04:13

  I guess they might also be Bone not Ivory or Plastic.

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  Jody Commander

  October 18, 2002 04:26

  Heat a straightened paper clip, heat it with a lighter or some other heat source until it is low red, then apply to an out of the way spot under the grip,plastic melts with the tell-tale odor, ivory will smell like burning hair, also, look for semi-circular rings on the bottom of the grips,ivory has a grain like a tree.

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  Sunray

  October 18, 2002 06:45

  And if they are real, you'd best look into the legality of selling ivory, where you are. Some places make you prove they were grips and not an elephants tooth before a certain date. No, I don't know when, that'd be too easy. I know that it is illegal to import ANYTHING made of ivory into Canada. Although, I think it applies only to elephant ivory.
  Mind you, in your case, I would think that 30 some years would be enough for real ivory to at least start taking on the yellow tinge of old ivory.
  
  
  
  Edited by - Sunray on 10/18/2002 10:47:25

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  4C_Ranch

  October 18, 2002 11:39

  They sell alot of them on ebay. Generally go from 350-400 used. I have a set on an old Colt SAA. There is still a good bit of ivory around in the states. Never heard of anyone in country here asking if they were legal or not. Might be a problem overseas.

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  RAT383

  October 19, 2002 11:20

  Thanks for the replys, will check them out.

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  He Dog

  October 19, 2002 12:34

  The legal aspects of ivory are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which apply only to import and not domestic sales, unless it could somehow be proved that the ivory was illegaly imported since the Cites listing.

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  faldum

  October 19, 2002 13:22

  Examine carefully the grain structure using a jewelers loupe or similar magnification. If the material is elephant ivory, you will find a cross-hatched grain pattern (similar to a checkered rifle stock.) Prehistoric Mastadon ivory currently used (legal) has a somewhat sharper angle than elephant ivory.
  Bone will exhibit small dark or black-colored patterns throughout creatred by the animal's blood-vessels; Ivory will not.

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  jonk

  October 19, 2002 16:07

  A small drop of bleach on the back will turn ivory a light purple on the surface, which can be buffed out again.
  
  "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf

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  RAT383

  October 22, 2002 03:03

  HI I did the test suggested by jody, touched the back of one with a very hot wire, did no damage to it but it sure smelled like burnt hair , they also have a yellow color, so I guess their real IVORY, my brother died in 1987 & I know he owned them since 1970, so they should be legal to own. thanks for all the replys, bob

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  faldum

  October 22, 2002 04:15

  Wondering if you tried the previously suggested test using a drop of bleach? I had never heard of this method and it really didn't work on an item I tested which I know to be Ivory...(maybe the "fresh scented" bleach I used is the culprit!) Will try later with a different brand and get back...
  faldum

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  jonk

  October 22, 2002 08:23

  RE the bleach method. My Dad told me this. He discovered it by accident years ago when cleaning a set of pistol grips that he thought were just plastic. They stained purple when he tried to strip some yellowing off with bleach. He then tried bleach on known samples of plastic and bone with no effect, leading him to conclude the grips are ivory. He also scrimshaws and says that they work like ivory when he did a little scrimshawing. This is not full proof, I suppose, I was just taking his word for it. Sorry if it doesn't actually work.
  
  "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf

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