Landers Frary and Clark

[DemonV]

Very nice and the closest thing I've seen to the one my friend found at a job I worked up north I cleaned it up for her and I've been trying to figure out should I fix it or leave it alone its bone or ivory and both blades are in really good shape but the lock/ release is broke any help would be greatly appreciated

[FRJ]

Welcome here, DemonV.
I assume you'r commenting on the pearl Whittler just previous.
Thank you. This knife doesn't have a lock.
Unless you'r an experienced knife mechanic fixing a broken lock could prove to be very frustrating.

[BWT]

Here's a little whittler. 3 5/16".
It has a wonderful nickel silver wedge in the back.
Secondaries with half stops. A very solid little gem.
Thanks for looking.

Very nice Joe, thanks for sharing.

[FRJ]

Thank you, Bill. Always glad to share and show off these old knives.

[BWT]

The only two I have.

[FRJ]

Two very nice examples. Bill.

[BWT]

Thanks Joe, hope to get more of them, but no more cellouid, the office knife is metal. I would like to remove those spots on the blades but so far no luck with metal polish.

[tongueriver]

I hope somebody bought this one; I was torn. It's pretty cool, I think.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-HUNT ... true&rt=nc

[danno50]

Nice ones, BWT! Here's one I just picked up from a local gun shop.
Dan

[BWT]

Thanks Dan, that is a good looking ole knife, I can never get lucky and find anything at a pawn shop. You did good.

[danno50]

Thanks Bill.
Dan

[DemonV]

Frj sorry don’t get on here often so it does not have a lock ! I’ll try to get picks up soon it was pulled out of the mud in northern Minnesota and I was seriously impressed by the lack of rust and edge on the blade did they ever make an ivory one the material looks just like a hand carved Harley Davidson ivory necklace I was given

[DemonV]

BWT the small brown one is the first exact same style. to a FNG like me would it look like a broken lock on the back bone the one my friend found and told me to keep looks almost brand new I just assumed that’s what it was I’ve always carried buck ever since I got my first folder when I was 8 I’ll get picks up ASAP the history so far is intriguing and does anyone know if there’s a museum this little thing deserves a better home then my work bench

[DemonV]

[LongBlade]

Nice knife DemonV ... (and welcome to the forum!)...

The handles on your knife are called french ivorine (or ivoroid) - it is a celluloid handle which was an old synthetic plastic made back in late 1800s-early 1900s. The knife is a 2 blade pen or shadow pattern - no bolsters. Sort of has an office knife appearance to me as that was a popular pattern by many companies (especially Miller Bros) but often is was inscribed "Office Knife". It is a fairly common old pattern and not particularly valuable. Knife does look to be in good shape to me. Often celluloid undergoes a phenomenon known as outgassing where the handle shrinks and worse yet it gives off sulfuric acid gas which can destroy the blades etc of that knife and any other knife that it is near. While it looks good now I wouldn't store it with other knives as the outgassing is unpredictable - a knife can go 100 years with no problem and it can start outgassing for no apparent good reason. Only advice is to store it out of sunlight and at a constant temperature.

As an aside LF&C was known for making synthetic handles - some were celluloid but most were black composition plastic (the latter does not outgas but can shrink overtime). They made some but not many MOP and wood handled knives but rarely bone or ivory if at all... I do have an old LF&C fixed blade hunter with stag from 1890 but that is the only bone/stag I have ever seen on their knives (other than kitchen knives). They just didn't do them in folding pocket knives.

Hope this helps...
Lee

[DemonV]

Lee damn thank you for the wealth of knowledge ! Is there any way to stop the gassing process and I don’t have many collectors knives just my NRA lifetime member buck and 75th anniversary buck it was just a luck find there was all kinds of odd things at t the job I worked up north started as a truck stop then antique shop then storage facility I wouldn’t be surprised if the wasn’t a lot of LFC stuff there but inside I left it alone but when my friend a I went for a hike she literally pulled it out of the mud

[LongBlade]

My pleasure DemonV ... In reference to outgassing - first I should say your knife looks good right now from looking at the photos and I am not seeing any signs of outgassing... for what it is worth I have heard that the french ivoroid or ivorine is more stable as celluloid so that is a bonus. Best one can do is keep it at a fairly constant temperature and not sitting in sunlight... However I know some people who believe if it is carried in your pocket more often that it is best - unfortunately the trigger of outgassing is not well understood for celluloid in terms of what sets it off... there have been a few discussions on outgassing on AAPK - here's a link to one that may be helpful - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54367&p=604427&hili ... ng#p604427 ... I would enjoy the knife and do as you please with it (carry or store it) as it is not particularly valuable - I think it is pretty cool that it was found in the mud - certainly doesn't look like it.

Cheers
Lee

[Miller Bro's]

The backspring is broken, still good for parts or restoration

[LongBlade]

Good catch Dimitri ... I missed that in the post if noted and I think when I browsed down through pics I was thinking that was a blade in the liner .... celluloid still looks good at the moment but less of a concern now ...

[FRJ]

Here's a nice Landers Frary & Clark stockman with the composition covers still very much intact. 4 inches closed.

[LongBlade]

Joe - That's one nice LF&C stockman ... I'm guessing 3 5/8" closed????

[FRJ]

Thank you, Lee.
It's 4 inches closed.

[peanut740]

LF&C big cigar jack,salesman sample.

[BWT]

Really enjoying all your Moose patterns in all the different threads Roger! You really did pick up some really nice ones, thanks for sharing all of them

[LongBlade]

Very nice LF&C Roger ... The black compo handles even look good !!