MOP Used by Schrade Cut Co

[Doug Marsden]

Would anyone have info about Schrade Cut Co MOP? I have a gent's sleeveboard pattern that needs a replacement scale. I am unsure as to what type of shell that company most commonly used for MOP back in the late-1920s to 1930s. Can anyone help?

Thanks, folks.
-Doug

[tongueriver]

I found the following, by HUKK, on another thread, but I can't remember where:
"The most common mother of pearl shell is Pinctada Maxima from the Philippines to parts of Indonesia. The sames species will produce gold lip mother of pearl also from the edges. As far as I know almost all companies used this species, which has fiery colors.
http://www.knifehandles.com/pearl-types ... r-of-pearl It's not cheap and sometimes the A+ grade can look better than presentation grade. Not always though."

[Doug Marsden]

Thanks, tongueriver. I saw HUKK's post earlier. (And thanks again HUKK! the only comeback I received on that one.)

Now to find two pieces that will support a finished length of 2-13/16" that I can afford!

[orvet]

Doug,
How wide do those 2-13/16" pieces need to be?

Dale

[Hukk]

Here is some that are 3 inches long from Masecraft. http://www.masecraftsupply.com/Merchant ... SLB12513PR
They are 1/8 x 1 x 3 and cost $42 for a pair. The next size down is 2-3/4 inches - just a bit short but those are 1/8" x 3/4" x 2 3/4" and cost $33 per pair.

For a pair of scales that is as cheap as I know of.

[Doug Marsden]

Dale,

Finished MOP scale dimensions (sleeveboard pattern):

Length: 2-13/16"
Width: 9/16" tapering to 5/16"
Thickness: 1/16"

HUKK,

Thanks again for the info. You're becoming my shell scale guru!

Masecraft Supply sure uses a lot smaller numbers on its pricetags than Culpepper & Co. How's the quality comparison?

[Hukk]

HUKK,
Thanks again for the info. You're becoming my shell scale guru!

Masecraft Supply sure uses a lot smaller numbers on its pricetags than Culpepper & Co. How's the quality comparison?

I have not used Masecraft for MOP, but I have purchased sheets of 5.5 inch x 9.5 inch laminated abalone (LVS Paua and Green Abalones) and the quality was exceptional so I have no reason to believe the MOP would be any different. I can look around to find some 1/16 (.0625) or .100 MOP.

[Hukk]

I did not find any inexpensive .100 thick MOP except B grade for $27 which is very reasonable. It would be a shame to buy .125 (1/8") MOP and shape half of it away. Unless you were going to do some dramatic hafting and sculpt half of it away at the bolsters and leave it .125 in the center. I don't know how that would look though.

The less expensive way to go would be to buy 3 x 1 x .100 scales and shape that down and I think that would look much nicer. 1/16" MOP is hard to find at 3 inches and at that length/thickness, 3 inches may be a bit brittle to handle.

Culpepper has MOP in 4 different grades, presentation, A+, A, and B. For 3 x 1 x .100 presentation grade is $78, A+ is $60, A is $45, and B is only $27. What is important to know is that all grades have a flawless front-side. Here is a link from Culpepper explaining the grades which is really a description of the backside that goes against the knife. http://www.knifehandles.com/mother-of-pearl.html IMPORTANT to know is that the scales are usually cut in foreign countries that use the metric system so the measurements in inches is a conversion and is close - not exact! So 3 x 1 x .100 is sold as 76 mm x 25.4 mm x 2.5 mm (it really should be 76.2 mm x 25.4 mm x 2.54 mm). 2-3/4" is 69.85 mm and 2-13/16 is 71.44 mm or 72 mm to be safe. It would not hurt to call and ask if they happen to have an off size set of scales.

Here is a nice link about working with pearl. http://www.knifehandles.com/pearl-types ... r-of-pearl I did not read it all and it is best to make the holes for pins slightly larger than the pins and taper the openings of the holes - 82 degree taper works well and the tool is readily available.

Here is another site that sells scales but they only have 1/8" but there is a You Tube video that shows the raw shell and some places were they are going to cut the scales. http://www.handicraft-vn.com/shop/aaa-3 ... 90_164_162 Their prices are for each scale and they use a different grading system.

[orvet]

Dale,

Finished MOP scale dimensions (sleeveboard pattern):

Length: 2-13/16"
Width: 9/16" tapering to 5/16"
Thickness: 1/16"

Wouldn't you know it!
I have a couple sets that are 2-11/16" X 1/2"
Just 1/8" short & 1/16" too narrow.

I got three sets to play with. I broke one set working it & haven't got around to doing anything with the other two sets yet. I hate working with it. Wear a respirator, SUPER brittle to work with,.........all in all a real PAIN.

Someday when I run out of other knives to do for people, and I am really bored, and if I can’t find something more interesting like having a limb amputated or open heart surgery…………..........maybe then I will get back to working with the MOP.

Dale

[Hukk]

Try this link that I posted above with the comments which are for pins. http://www.knifehandles.com/mother-of-pearl.html It is a lot easier to do it pinless and using B grade to practice with is not to expensive. The .100 is thinner but can be had for $18 to $19 per set. What hurts is buying 5/32 - $$$. There are a lot of little tricks like make sure you don't get it hot or use tape or doping wax when cutting or drilling to avoid chipping. Use a hand jewelers saw with very fine teeth or use an Inland lapidary saw ($200) with a diamond blade. It uses water to keep the surface cool. That Inland saw is a small bandsaw and blades are available for metal, wood, and lapidary. It also has a variable speed so it is very versatile. I use that saw for Mammoth tooth, pearl abalone, Ivory, and just about anything you could want to cut.

Here is a picture from when it was new - pretty dirty now. It will cut just about anything!

[Doug Marsden]

Hukk,

You remain MY MAIN MAN come the subject of MOP !!

I must apologize for seeming to ignore this thread (and you) for so long by not responding to your last incredibly informative posting. I've been "out of pocket" with work the past few weeks and have barely been able even to track the threads of interest here at AAPK, much less respond to all the ones I would like.

Thank you very, very much for the detailed info. The picture below tells why it is so important to me. (Fortunately, I have a near-mint duplicate of this sleeveboard, but I very much want to have this one restored to its original glory.)

First the material, then the artisan. (I would not trust myself to try and restore beauty, having no experience doing that type of work), but you're putting me well on the way to making my dream for this little guy becoming a reality!

Thanks again!
-Doug