All About Pocket Knives

A very nice Christmas gift. Now for the questions. I know syracuse knife co was a Camillus brand, and since it's not marked "Poland" it is probably between 1935 and 1940. Now, the silly question. The handle doesn't appear to be celluloid, so who can tell me what it is. Pretty sure it's not mother of pearl. Can't find that handle anywhere on the internet. TIA. NFS.

Looks like celluloid to me. Try this viewtopic.php?f=35&t=57923&hilit=Celluloid+Rub

Ken

Yep, celluloid.

Known as "Butter & Molasses". Fight'n Rooster used this on knives in 1980's and when new is very attractive.
kj

cell.

Thank you all (especially for the butter and molasses tid bit). I knew I would find the answer in this group. I've learned a lot in a little time.

This old BladeForums posting gives a good look at the variety of colors and patterns that fall into the butter and molasses category. It sure makes for some pretty knives.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the ... s.1065603/

Dennis

That’s celluloid all right. This one is more “butter” and less molasses. Most of the butter and molasses knives that I have seen have a pretty even mix of both colors. I have one in my store from Keen Kutter, most likely made by Camillus and it’s evenly mixed.
SSk

Dennis, those knife handles shown in the BF post are not the same "Butter & Molasses" and i think Camillus might have had a different name for the cell they were using.
The B&M on OP knife is the same type of cell used by F'nR with molasses 'blobs' scattered lightly in the 'butter' background. The look is completely different from the Camillus knives. If Camillus did call it B&M then there are 2 different celluloids with the same name.
kj

Here is my one example of a Fight'n Rooster with Butter & Molasses cell handle. This one got very little 'molasses'. Pictures taken using light from a flashlight but came out looking like the knife.
kj