From memory, Brazalian rosewood ceased to be imported in the 1970s. It became a protected species because of its desirabilty for decorative wood work. All raw Brazalian rosewood in the US today is supposed to have documentation as to its origin. It is highly prized especially for repair or construction of very high end stringed instrurments. Indian rosewood was subsequently substituted for Brazilian, but has different density and qualities. Today, the US customs have suddenly decided to enforce some obscure 1950s law to inhibit importation of Indian rosewood... they raided Gibson guitars and a big stink ensued.
If you have dining room furniture of Brazilian rosewood, you have a treasure, as is this knife. If you will send me some high-res pictures of the handle of your knife, I'll ask Sal (world known repairer of classical stringed instirments) to confirm rosewood. Better, yet, you could send me the knife and I'll have him look at the handle for about... oh ... a couple of years or so! LOL.
Here is a Wiki article about rosewood... note the reference to use as knife handles and furniture... regards.. Add the real ivory and your knife has some additional material qualities that just can't be replicated today.
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Dalbergia nigra, commonly known as the Bahia Rosewood, Jacarand? da Bahia, Brazilian Rosewood, Rio Rosewood, Jacarand? De Brasil, Pianowood, Caviuna, or Obuina, is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family. It is found only in Brazil, from the eastern forests of Bahia to Rio de Janeiro. It is threatened by habitat loss, since most of its habitat has been converted to farmland. Due to its endangered status, it was CITES-listed on Nov. 6 1992 in Appendix I[1] (the most protected), and illegal to trade.
"Dalbergia nigra produces a very hard and heavy wood, characteristically varied in colour from brick red through various shades of light chocolate brown to very dark violet brown with veins of black creating random lines and a highly prized figure called 'spider webbing' or 'landscape'. The odour of Brazilian rosewood is unmistakeable, having a floral fragrance reminiscent of roses with a distinctive sweetness and at its strongest in very colourful old growth wood. Another distinguishing feature is its outstanding resonance. When tapped it emits a bright metallic ring that sustains. This property combined with its beauty has made Brazilian rosewood a favourite of musical instrument makers for centuries.
"The wood of this species has been much sought after since it was first introduced to the European and subsequently the world market hundreds of years ago. It was put to both utilitarian and decorative uses in its native Brazil including structural beams, flooring, wall lining and furniture. Outside its native country, Dalbergia nigra predominantly found favour in high grade furniture such as that produced during the Regency period of late 18th and early 19th centuries and more recently by Scandinavian makers under the 'Danish Modern' style. Various types of musical instruments, decorative woodware, knife handles and turnery have also made use of this species. Much of the most highly figured material was sliced into veneers which decorated items such as domestic and office furniture, wall panels, piano cases and it was also a favourite of marquetry artists.
"Old growth Brazilian rosewood harvested before 1992 continues to be highly prized by makers of both classical and steel string guitars. It has been regarded as the premier wood for backs and sides of guitars and its use can be traced back to late Renaissance and Baroque times when it was used for making lute backs (ribs) and various other parts of other stringed musical instruments and also woodwind instruments such as flutes and recorders. Wood obtained from stumps left after previous harvesting of trunks decades ago is also being offered for sale. This material is often very colourful but not as stable or even grained as the wood available prior to the CITES embargo"