Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

DaveA · 5th March 2015, 05:03 PM

Interesting knife!

Some materials that are slightly translucent will refract light at different wave lengths based on the angle of lighting. Without going deep into the physics, this property is due to the manner of arrangement of crystalline molecules in the substance. Quartz is one example. Some types of bone also have this property. I think the layers in your hilt are probably made of alternating bone and quartz.

There appears to be quite a bit of info about this phenomenon on the net, but nothing I've found in a quick search lends itself to ease of use in identifying materials based on color change. If I come across anything useful, I'll post it here.

Dave A.

5th March 2015, 05:03 PM	#5
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 415	Color change based on angle of view Interesting knife! Some materials that are slightly translucent will refract light at different wave lengths based on the angle of lighting. Without going deep into the physics, this property is due to the manner of arrangement of crystalline molecules in the substance. Quartz is one example. Some types of bone also have this property. I think the layers in your hilt are probably made of alternating bone and quartz. There appears to be quite a bit of info about this phenomenon on the net, but nothing I've found in a quick search lends itself to ease of use in identifying materials based on color change. If I come across anything useful, I'll post it here. Dave A.