Whale bone or Ivory??

[iowashtr23]

I have a buddy that called me today and said he has a piece of whale bone or it might be ivory. I don't know how big it is but he said he would like a knife made and this bone or ivory used as the handle. Now my question is,(and i'm sure alot of you know what i'm going to ask) can i have this in my posession? Whale bone or Ivory? No i am not Eskimo nor is this bone or ivory scrimshawed?? I'm going to see it tonight i will take a picture of it and post so all of you can see it and help me determine if Whale or Ivory.

 

[iowashtr23]

Nevermind guys, I guess i should have read some threads about this before i posted, my bad, I got my answer.

 

[Frank Niro]

Here is something to help you distinguish if it is whale bone or whale ivory. To be whale ivory it has to be a whale tooth. Whale bone is not near as dense as whale ivory and finished not near as attractive.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Back in the early 1900's many items were sold as "Whale Bone", and were any material from cow bone to plastic. Many things were whale bone,though, which should be easy to identify from whale tooth and other ivories.