Elephant Ivory grips?

[twriggen]

How do you determine if a set of grips are actual ivory? Is these something you are looking for that makes them Ivory versus another substance? I know the medallion staking helps to determine if they are factory or not but I have a hard time determining if they are actually ivory to begin with even before I get to the staking. A friend owns these and asked me to assist with determining what they are and to me one looks like Ivory and the other looks like plastic. I just don't know how to tell for sure.

Thoughts would be appreciated.

[flattop44]

Heat a safety pin or other sharp pin with a torch until it is red hot. Stick it to the back side of the panel. If ivory it will not melt, if plastic it will melt a small indention.

The staking on the medallions looks correct to me.
FT44

[flattop44]

I think the bottom looks like ivory.

FT44

[twriggen]

Taryn did the pin test and these smell just like the pair I got from Steve so the assumption is that they are real ivory, or Steve sold me a set of good-looking fakes in Tulsa. She said none of them smelt like plastic. I'll bring them with me when I head to OGCA this year.

[flattop44]

Good deal, I would like to see them. I love the factory ivories.
FT44/Bill

[chet15]

Genuine ivory has a grain structure to it.
Chet15