you should see some grain lines an if old it will be a little darker than white in places. Another way to tell if is plastic, you can heat up a needle and hold against it and the smell will let you it’s plastic

Not sure about the law now. Have had any in years. Wonder about pool balls and older piano keys?

I see some lines, and there are cracks that are darker than the surface. There is a chip off the tip and the interior is very white, compared to the outer surface.

I heard that all ivory sales, no matter how old the item, were banned for sale in the U.S. and some other countries. At the time I bought this, that ban hadn't been made law.

I read a long time ago, that many piano keys were made from celluloid, but don't know much more than that

Might try the hot pin. You’ll a small whisp of smoke to smell.
Sounds like it might be legal to own. Just hang on to it

Last edited Thu Sep 3, 2020, 07:19 PM - Edit history (1)

I have an oosik, about 22" long. My dad got it at a garage sale 45-50 years ago. The lady said her husband used it to check tires(he was a truckdriver) Dad kept it for personal protection since he commuted daily. He only gave a couple of bucks for it, but I've see em go for hundreds on Ebay!

If, like me, you aren't familiar with the term oosik, this one is the mineralized penis bone of an extinct giant walrus! Inuits carve them like ivory, and they are used for knife handles and such. i'm pretty sure its legal to own, but it is illegal to sell in Alaska unless they are carved.

I read that many cultures use the entire animal their hunters kill. I guess by checking tires, it was the air valve?

I get the feeling that my thermometer is probably some kind of plastic. It is so smooth and regular in shape. I have been so busy since I posted my comment, I haven't got around to a pin test.

Thanks for posting such an interesting story.