Scrapping Nickel Items

I save nickel coins. This includes Canadian .999 nickels made up til 1981 and others from countries such as France and South Africa.

But I am a bit stumped when it comes to scrapping nickel from items such as furniture handles, locks and keys, etc. First, how can you tell something is indeed made of nickel instead of, say, zinc, which is much cheaper?

Do you find many scrap yards that even buy nickel?

Is there a simple way to test if something is made of nickel?



I'd love to hear whatever comments people have on this subject. Thanks in advance!