So What is This?

[A.alnakkas]

Originally Posted by spiral

Very Strange grain & appearence for rhino, needs a DNA or light spectrum test realy, to be confident, The Yemeni dealears {& the Chinese & Vietnamies of course} sell many things that have much resemblace to rhino , but are not.. More & more evry year... {Some are organic some not.}

Let The buyer beware. When something is worth so much theres a lot of brains working out how to make the money, especialy if a little bargain looms.

Spiral

Yep exactly what I think. I bought all these sold as touristy Yemeni stuff but the grain looks so right. What do you mean with light spectrum test?

I took pictures of it under direct flash light and will post them when I am back from the farm. Grain undet light looks like my other rhino pieces though.

[spiral]

Indeed! When the Chinese check authenticity of Rhino horn they use infrared spectroscopy for 100% identification.

Theres a pdf about it here. linky

Heres a few pix of a non-rhino, organic material often used to duplicate rhino horn in both the middle east & china. It is dyed red but occurs in creme ,yellow & dark tones.

I wont name what the organic on a public forum to help prevent fostering any cruelty that may become even more common, due to fakery,market forces ,greed etc.

All the best,
Spiral

[A.alnakkas]

Hey Spiral,

Thanks, thats very interesting.

Here are photos I took of the horn. I think its real rhino as it looks different then the one you show. The hilt on mine was fully patinised, I kept the patina on the whole piece except for the top part which I cleaned.

Regardless, I will be very careful with these... good thing they sell as touristy pieces. The implication of the potential that real rhino can be found in what appears to be touristy pieces is very interesting though

[spiral]

Interesting indeed! & must admit looks very different in your new photos!

I cant be certan, but you also have the advantage of having it hand.

But yes there definatly is rhino on some cheap fittings & blades! They were still expensive in Saana when sold though!

Spiral