I got it as a custom order from ti years ago. Was told by other members who checked it out in person that it was ivory. Now if it’s actually elephant ivory I have no reason to believe otherwise.
More likely Celluloid. Like @Steve56 said, pins and collars are wrong. Also, the scales are pretty thick. Ivory scales are usually very thin. I've been fooled before, but one way to tell is to rub it fast, with your fingers, or a cloth. Then give the scales a sniff. If you smell camphor, it is celluloid. You can also take a very small shaving, from the inside of the scales, and touch a flame to it. Celluloid will light, almost instantly, after touching the flame. I've done this to a pair of broken scales. It burns scary fast, and vigorously.
Thank you for your info. But like I said before I know the scales are ivory. We’ve done all the tests and it doesn’t burn or smell. This ivory Le Grelot is exactly like a 7 day set a member had made here years ago. Same collars and pins. Here’s a picture they posted in their thread.
The most beautiful ivory is when it is still on the foot in the wild. A picture from the pre ban days of the Rogers Ivory Room, #6 Nolfork Street
If it is a modern TI ivory razor, it should have a certificate with it to identify it as ‘legal’ ivory - the ivory TI that I saw at Planete Rasoir in Paris in 2016 had one. Don’t remember about the pins though. The scales on it were a bit thicker than most vintage ivory if my memory isn’t failing me. It was €800 though, so that's one clue!
Bought the razor late 2010 maybe early 2011. No certificate came with it. But it was shipped from France directly from ti. I have been told they are thicker than other ivory scales but I think that’s just the way ti made them. While I didn’t pay that much the price was still pretty hefty compared to my others.
I had quit ebay but then I had a relapse. $13.50 plus $7.90 shipping. I regret nothing! Now I have an ivory scale trio.
Thank you. I am happy with it. But now I have a problem, and because I have no sense of personal responsibility, I blame you for starting this thread and making me wonder: I know I have enough razors, but do I have enough ivory scale razors? The first one was the Mk 31, which was listed as having steer bone scales and I didn't know any better, so I was just happy to have some Swedish steel from Eskilstuna. The second one was the Le Grelot 360 which was listed plainly as having ivory scales, but I thought that meant the color. It was only when I had the two of those together that it occurred to me that I might have something special. Then I got the Rodgers and now I just got another one. This one is not in as good shape as the others, it has a small functionally insignificant chip. I still like it, but I've decided to take a break from acquiring any more razors of any kind. The Le Grelot and the Rodgers both seem to have steel wedges. One thing that I learned from participating in this thread is that the best way to photograph the grain pattern in ivory scales, is to illuminate along the length of the scales. I have enjoyed this thread, thank you very much.
Here's some pictures of one that I passed up, partially because cash was tight at the time, partially because it had some damage and partially because I wasn't sure if it was what I thought it was. It went for less than $10. I think it's scrimshaw.
This is likely celluloid, I've seen several of these scales listed over the years on E-bay. They've always caught my eye but for the same reasons you mention I missed out on them.
I think I'd pass on it just because I don't feel good about shaving with a demon monkey razor. It seems like it's just asking for something awful to happen.
