Western Sneath knife ?

[stonbarn]

I am new to the forum...don't really know how to do this so please bear with me. Can anyone tell me when the Western knife company invented
the "Elk horn" synthetic material that looks so much like the real thing as a handle material ? I have a beautiful Western bird and trout knife with
an Elk horn handle and would like to know if it is real horn or this imitation material. How can I tell which it is ?
appreciate any information or suggestions from you knife experts...
Harry

 

[XiaolongJackson]

Pictures would help a lot.

 

[shaving sharp]

The best way to tell if it is real horn is to take a needle and heat it up and touch it to the handle if it is fake you will know.

 

[SpookStrickland]

The best way to tell if it is real horn is to take a needle and heat it up and touch it to the handle if it is fake you will know.

A real one should make a burnt hair smell right?

 

[shaving sharp]

A real one won't do much it may have a smell and of course a fake one will melt.

 

[stonbarn]

Thank you so much...will try the hot needle...stonbarn