An antique Thai enep

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

I don't think so; however, we need a close-up of the end grain, i. e. the tip of the pommel, to verify.

Hello Kai,

I am not sure as well, it's difficult stuff, every rhino horn I've handled has had a different look. A close up of the handle top isn't helpful since it's cone-shaped and glossy patinated.

Regards,
Detlef

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

I am not sure as well, it's difficult stuff, every rhino horn I've handled has had a different look.

Color, translucency, feel, and surface texture vary a lot with rhino (and age and storage conditions of the pieces). Only the microstructure can be relied on.

A close up of the handle top isn't helpful since it's cone-shaped and glossy patinated.

One very rarely has a nicely orthogonal cut of the end grain; usually we can deal with it though. Just give it a try...

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

Just give it a try...

Hello Kai,

I've tried my best by the light we have at the moment in Germany!

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Nobody have an opinion about the handle material? Kai???

[kai]

Hello Detlef,

Sorry, forgot to answer!

Is this the highest magnification you can get? A vertical shot with the brass nut in the middle and focus on the end of the horn pommel would be best.

From the current pics, I'm still leaning towards water buffalo. I can't make out any features of rhino; however, I also don't see any certain signs for water buffalo yet.

Regards,
Kai

[Ian]

Hi Detlef:

Looks like water buffalo to me. The "plates" or layers of horn are evident in your most recent pics. Very nice.

Ian

[Sajen]

Hello Kai and Ian,

thank's for respond. Like said before, I am unsure as well but frankly said I never have seen such a structure (marked in the pictures, also visible in the other pic.s) by buffalo horn before. The opened "layers" I've seen by clearly identified rhino horn as well and I doubt that this would be a clear proof for buffalo horn.

Kai, will try to take a picture like requested from you but doubt that it will be from great help.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

A vertical shot with the brass nut in the middle and focus on the end of the horn pommel would be best.

This is the best I can do by the light we have in Germany in the moment.

[Sajen]

Here for comparison a picture from colonial pipe tamper where the corpus is made from rhino horn.