# Sale on Magic Wands! (AP story) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896 "2003-01-31T16:58:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/101 "2019-08-01T02:11:19Z")
> [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](#): > > I never said anything like that. “Like”? No. “Exactly”? Yes. I’m not altering your quotes. If you think I am, get glasses. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/102 "2019-08-01T02:36:18Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > And you believe these were made from meteorites. > (Laughing until I faint.) Yeah, meteorite has a very distinctive pattern - that ain’t it ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/103 "2019-08-01T03:29:25Z")
> [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](#): > > I bought it off Ebay- [https://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Nepal-Tibet-Sky-Iron-Three-Skulls-Khatvanga-Ritual-Wand-Scepter-II/362477765026?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&\_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649](https://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Nepal-Tibet-Sky-Iron-Three-Skulls-Khatvanga-Ritual-Wand-Scepter-II/362477765026?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649) That is tourist trap bullshit for sale from a rip-off artist in Malaysia. There is no such thing as a “Khatvanga Ritual Wand Scepter”. There is a Khatvanga Ritual _staff_…but you won’t be getting your hands on one any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/104 "2019-08-01T04:09:55Z")
> [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](#): > > The one I bought was made from a meteorite. > > While I don’t believe it is going to turn anyone into a toad, I think it is short sighted to say one should doubt what no one is sure about. Ah, but was it created by Death himself? I suspect not. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/105 "2019-08-01T05:02:23Z")
Hey “ **King** ” - what do you think of Marianne Williamson? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/106 "2019-08-01T07:11:31Z")
> [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](#): > > But I digress. “Magic is real.” > [@markn\_1](#): > > Cool! Show us something. A photograph of a chakra would do nicely, for a start. ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/107 "2019-08-01T09:30:59Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > “Like”? No. > > “Exactly”? Yes. > > I’m not altering your quotes. If you think I am, get glasses. I never said anything about kids deserving death. Those are your poor conclusions based on your misunderstanding what I said. The Universe isn’t perfect. There isn’t immediate justice for wrong doers nor immediate good for those who serve. Sometimes it is all just a pile of poop. That said, be intentionally jerky, and see if things get better or worse for you personally. But, then sometimes a bunch of Nazis show up and everyone gets a trip to a gas chamber. ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/108 "2019-08-01T09:35:27Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > … Body heals itself… I KNOW…that’s magic. Not everyone can do it. ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/109 "2019-08-01T09:36:54Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Did you say “we get what we deserve” or not? Sure, but the Universe isn’t perfect. Sometimes shit happens to good people, and sometimes Trump gets to be President. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/110 "2019-08-01T09:37:55Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Hey “ **King** ” - what do you think of Marianne Williamson? No comment. ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/111 "2019-08-01T09:43:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That is tourist trap bullshit for sale from a rip-off artist in Malaysia. There is no such thing as a “Khatvanga Ritual Wand Scepter”. There is a Khatvanga Ritual _staff_…but you won’t be getting your hands on one any time soon. I paid $67 for 10 inches of metal that weighs 8 ounces…do some research. If ‘I’ am happy with my purchase, then I didn’t get ripped off. The details present indicate this was not a modern production, nor was it cast. I have machined metal, and this item has scores of labor hours locked in its detail. Wand, staff, or scepter, this thing is awesome! ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/112 "2019-08-01T09:44:22Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > And you believe these were made from meteorites. > (Laughing until I faint.) What test could conclusively prove it one way or another? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/113 "2019-08-01T10:27:01Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > A photograph of a chakra would do nicely, for a start. [Here ya go](https://horrorfreaknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Chaka.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/114 "2019-08-01T10:27:54Z")
> [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](#): > > What test could conclusively prove it one way or another? One put forth by James Randi, or by Penn and Teller, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/115 "2019-08-01T10:43:31Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > A photograph of a chakra would do nicely, for a start. lol, I know of a crystal shoppe that does it for $35! ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/116 "2019-08-01T10:44:35Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > One put forth by James Randi, or by Penn and Teller, perhaps. I was thinking a trip to my local University… What do they know about metal ID??? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/117 "2019-08-01T10:49:34Z")
> [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](#): > > What test could conclusively prove it one way or another? Well, [testing for nickel](https://www.google.com/search?q=Nickle+test&oq=Nickle+test&gs_l=mobile-heirloom-hp.3..0i10l5.1472.11411.0.12140.12.11.0.1.1.0.1614.4937.1j1j1j3j2j0j1j0j1.10.0....0...1c.1.34.mobile-heirloom-hp..7.5.2068.ElJmjDqax4c) would help–the presence of nickel wouldn’t be absolute proof that it is meteritic, but absence of nickel would be absolute proof that it isn’t. [Etching it with acid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widmanst%C3%A4tten_pattern) would be another good test (the presence of the patterns would be absolute proof that it is, but absence isn’t definitive–it could still be an axaxite, or smelted) Measuring the density would be a third–put it in a graduated cylinder of water to meausue the volume, divide weight by volume, see if it is [7 to 8 grams per cc](http://meteorites.wustl.edu/id/density.htm). Of course, the easiest (but non-definitive) test is to touch it with a magnet. No stick means no meteorite (but stick doesn’t prove that it is.) If this were old [it would probably be a copper alloy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thokcha), but I’m betting that you have things in your refrigerator older than the wand. ---
**Author:** ![King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_of_the_Americas)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/118 "2019-08-01T10:54:29Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, [testing for nickel](https://www.google.com/search?q=Nickle+test&oq=Nickle+test&gs_l=mobile-heirloom-hp.3..0i10l5.1472.11411.0.12140.12.11.0.1.1.0.1614.4937.1j1j1j3j2j0j1j0j1.10.0....0...1c.1.34.mobile-heirloom-hp..7.5.2068.ElJmjDqax4c) would help–the presence of nickel wouldn’t be absolute proof that it is meteritic, but absence of nickel would be absolute proof that it isn’t. [Etching it with acid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widmanst%C3%A4tten_pattern) would be another good test (the presence of the patterns would be absolute proof that it is, but absence isn’t definitive–it could still be an axaxite, or smelted) Measuring the density would be a third–put it in a graduated cylinder of water to meausue the volume, divide weight by volume, see if it is [7 to 8 grams per cc](http://meteorites.wustl.edu/id/density.htm). Of course, the easiest (but non-definitive) test is to touch it with a magnet. No stick means no meteorite (but stick doesn’t prove that it is.) If this were old [it would probably be a copper alloy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thokcha), but I’m betting that you have things in your refrigerator older than the wand. Okay, it sticks to a magnet… I laid it in a salt and vinegar bath to remove the rust. How do I test for nickel? I know it’s weight in grams, and I can easily do a displacement test for actual volume. * * * ETA: If it is real, would you want one? I don’t sell them, I was just curious… ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/119 "2019-08-01T10:55:47Z")
Oh, and if it does turn out to be old and a meteorite, be sure to use a reputable auction house, and remember to pay your capital gains tax. (Make sure that the export didn’t violate any antiquities laws in Tibet, or they might sue you for it’s return.) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896/120 "2019-08-01T10:57:24Z")
> [@King\_of\_the\_Americas](#): > > I laid it in a salt and vinegar bath to remove the rust. How do I test for nickel? Follow my link–there are tests. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-on-magic-wands-ap-story/151896.md?page=7)