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Originally Posted by Tim Simmons
That ivory Choora does not look like any elephant ivory I have. Hippo along with other animal ivory does not have the matrix which one can clearly see in elephant ivory. The handle bits look to be bone with the brown blood vessels showing, the handle butt I am not so sure about. If it has not got signs of an inner matrix then it might possibly be marine ivory, Whale tooth like Hippo no matrix. When you consider the trade in whale based commodities turning up anywhere in the world should be no surprise, like mobile phones.
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Tim, you bring up an interesting point, ivory comes from several different animals and often when a weapon that has ivory in it is sold the exact origin of the ivory is not stated.
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"Ivory" describes any mammalian teeth or tusks which are large enough to be carved or scrimshawed. Elephant ivory is the most important source, but ivory from mammoth, walrus, hippopotamus, sperm whale, killer whale, narwhal and wart hog are used as well, Elk also have two ivory teeth.
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