Celluloid Handles

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LongBlade
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by LongBlade »

As Joe said - quite a great showing of celluloid handles of all patterns ::tu:: ...

For what it is worth Lyle - I heard dark celluloid is more stable because of additional binders added to the mix.. the exception for a lighter celluloid is French Ivory which I underand is also very stable - that’s good news for that lovely Remington FJ :) ...
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by Edgewise »

Owd Wullie wrote:
Interesting that some company's celluloid lasts forever, while other company's stuff self destructs with frightening regularity.
Can the good ones be considered safe and stabilised or are they still too unpredictable to trust?
Some pre-1940 cell. looks so good I'm tempted to take a chance. ::shrug::
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by LongBlade »

My opinion - there are no guarantees with any celluloid because of the chemicals involved in the production - though I mentioned dark celluloid and supposedly French Ivory are stable I wouldn’t take the chance of storing them with other knives nor buying a very expensive celluloid knife. I hope Charlie doesn’t mind but he shared the story on AAPK of a very very expensive celluloid Robeson that he bought and eventually offgassed - I think there is something to be learned from that story. Personally it doesn’t matter if a knife has been stable for 100 years as it can still be set off to self destruct and the reasons for why are not clear. I guess storing them in the dark and cooler stable temperature may help but one never knows. I believe there are some here who stored celluloid with their other knives in safes that are dark and temperature controlled including humidity and yet there are reports of the celluloid going bad.. as pretty as it is sometimes I still will not buy it with few exceptions... the above is my opinion but based on the experience of many who collect celluloid.
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Lee, you can share that horrid tale anytime you want.

I think sometimes, outgassing can be precipitated by the handle coming into contact with an antagonistic material, such as that sometimes used in storage or display cases that we see marketed.

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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by Edgewise »

Thanks for the opinion, LongBlade. Knowing Charlie's experience will save me (and others) similar heartache because this thread was starting to break down my resistance to celluloid. No wonder it was such a popular material. Hopefully they can do as much with acrylic.
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

I picked up this 3 1/2" Imperial Jack over the weekend at a gunshow for a few bucks. It has what I would call green swirl celluloid and the 1930-1936 tang stamp.
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IMG_2653.JPG
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by KAW »

OC... ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: 8) ::drool:: :mrgreen:
'til later....
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by michaelspayth »

KAW wrote:Wow Joe... Neat lookin' knife & thanks for bumping up a thread on one of my favorite subjects...
Lyle... super cool lookin' knives... too bad having to rehandle the one... I really like the swirl effect it originally had...
...and that goes for yours as well OC...

... and speaking of favorites... an old (altho it doesn't look like it) Schrade Cut Co stockman:
10052 10053

another old Schrade... this time a jack...
10251 10253

a couple of Schrade butter & molasses including a fishtail button knife...
10262 10571

A NY Knife Co. whittler...
10152 10150 10149

One of their other brands... the Electric Cut Co:
10159 10157 10154

Not sure about this one altho it is definitely some form of plastic, but is totally flat...
NYKC's Wallkill River Works (1928 - 31)...
10614 10617

...and while I don't have any Ulsters with celluloid handles... I do have this Kingston...
10903

Love the Wallkill. One of my favorite brands and, from what I've gathered, pretty rare to come across.
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by michaelspayth »

Just to show a few..
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Wallkill River Works
Wallkill River Works
Ulster <br />Butter Molasses
Ulster
Butter Molasses
Snakeskin
Snakeskin
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by Old Folder »

Great Celluloids being posted. ::nod::
Many color configurations I've never seen before. Love the "Snake Skins"
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by michaelspayth »

A few others.
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Here is a schrade cut with nice orange marbled looking celluloid handles.
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IMG_4766.JPG
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by galvanic1882 »

Great looking knives posted. I really like so of the fantastic colors of celluloid knives that were made early on. I am also not too afraid about gassing out. Never had one do that actually plus I store mine, mostly Utica's, in their own cases just in case.
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Nice butter & molasses celluloid on this schrade cut.
IMG_5387.JPG
IMG_5388.JPG
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Henry Sears
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Voos
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Clear cut
Geo Worthington
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Re: Celluloid Handles

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Western States
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Wyeths
Warrented
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Re: Celluloid Handles

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Shapleigh DE
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Cattaraugus
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Challenge
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Unknowns
20191001_162221.jpg
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by edge213 »

Couple of more unknowns
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Re: Celluloid Handles

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

These golden pearl celluloid handles are very attractive.

IMG_6406.JPG
IMG_6408.JPG
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