Schrade Walden 896k

[CluelessNick]

Could someone educate me on the Butter and Molasses handle of a Schrade Walden 896k. Is it celluloid or some sort of composite plastic? Don't have a photo yet. Also would like to find out about an 896k with Delrin? handles. They are worn smooth and have a translucent look to them. Kind of like a faint wood grain under a clear coat. It is also marked Schrade Walden .See photo please. Thanks in advance.

[treefarmer]

Nick,
Here is an 896K that I bought for my dad back in the mid '70's:

Someone will correct this but my assumption that these B&M handles were the same material as the saw cut Old Timers of that era, that being Delrin.
Pop was famous for sharpening the clip blades down to a needle point for some reason. I try to carry this one on Father's Day.
Treefarmer

[CluelessNick]

Great old knife ! I started gathering in some these knives in this pattern last year but don't really know much about them. Hopefully someone will take the time to teach me about them. These are all Delrin but I'm curious about the 896k.

[tongueriver]

They came 3 different ways. b&m celluloid, b&m Delrin, and Delrin 'barnwood.' The celluloid handles are more translucent and the same pattern in Delrin is more opaque. An experienced eye can easily see the difference..

[CluelessNick]

Thanks Tonguriver. I definitely don't have an experienced eye. I'll post a photo of the knife when it arrives and see if you can tell from that.

[CluelessNick]

The internet is amazing. I made this post seeking info and then went and searched on Duckduckgo for more info. Crazy thing is many of the search results were directing me to my own post right here. All within an hour of posting.

[CluelessNick]

So the 896k came today. mint in the tube, looks great. seems like delrin to me.

[tongueriver]

Yes, it is.

[black mamba]

Here is an example of the older celluloid B&M, beautiful material! Schrade Walden from the mid to late 1950s.

[Meridian_Mike]

BEAUTIFUL pattern on those covers!

[orvet]

So the 896k came today. mint in the tube, looks great. seems like delrin to me.

You are spot on Nick, that is a Delrin handle.
As you can tell in black mambas post, the celluloid butter and molasses handles are much more transparent as well as more colorful.

Camillus also had a butter in molasses celluloid that looked very similar to Schrade's butter and molasses handles. I believe they also had a Delrin version, but I'm not positive.

Western also had a version of butter and molasses celluloid that was very close to the coloration used in the Schrade and Camillus handles. IHowever, Zazaowever, don't recall seeing any Delrin versions of Western's butter and molasses handles. Someone may know for sure if they Western even made a Delrin B & M handle.

[CluelessNick]

Thanks Dale, appreciate the info. Always more to learn it seems.

[CluelessNick]

Here is an example of the older celluloid B&M, beautiful material! Schrade Walden from the mid to late 1950s.

896Kopen.jpg
896Kpile.jpg

I'm gonna try and pickup some of these soon. Those look really nice.

[GregoryK]

Hi guys
I’m new to the forum and put my knife find on AAPK under another topic and it was suggested I share it here as well.
I found this while organizing a tool box in the cellar and since I’m trying to learn how to sharpen, nothing with a blade stands a chance!

Anyway I was informed that I have an unfinished Walden from the factory. Sounds cool to me. I’ll keep it safe and get another everyday knife.

Oh another question
Any suggestions on how to clean up the blades some more?
Thanks

[CluelessNick]

Very nice old knife. I personally would not clean the blades on it other than a little soap and water followed by a good oiling. I like my older knives to have some patina on the blades. It's perfect the way it is to me. Those cell covers look great and the fact it is unfinished makes it special.

[GringoBombero]

They came 3 different ways. b&m celluloid, b&m Delrin, and Delrin 'barnwood.' The celluloid handles are more translucent and the same pattern in Delrin is more opaque. An experienced eye can easily see the difference..

Here is an example of the celluloid vs Delrin.
The celluloid has a tiny bit of shrinkage (looks much worse than it actually is for some reason) but I still love the looks much more than the Delrin.