All About Pocket Knives

Bought this a good while back at the Mason-Dixon Knife Club Show. It was beautiful, shiny and clear handles with trains and streetcars under the clear.
After moving five years ago and being packed away it was discovered to have a fine coat of rust and the celluloid had gassed and cracked. The metal cleaned up okay but the scales are ruined. It's such a nice piece, 4-1/2 " with an original sales envelope stamped "JAN 16, 1914" . Maybe someone could fix it up. Shame to see it go to ruin. J.O'.

That's a shame. But why, after all these years, would the handles outgas?

Hello TALLGUY,
Celluloid is always a mystery ?! I've seen old tool boxes sit for years and one day you open one to find one of the clear yellow screwdriver handles has blown up and all the surrounding tools are covered with a fuzzy rust. Maybe one of our members with some knowledge on it can chime in. It's ruined a lot of cool old knives, yet some seem unaffected. Real bummer, I had big $$$ in that knife. Could re-handle it but it wouldn't be the same. ???? J.O'.

If you do not remove the handles they will continue to outgas until they are shriveled pieces. The only way to save the knife is to remove the handles, the sooner the better. Or just allow it to deteriorate which is not in the knife's best interest.
kj

KJ: I know I have to do something soon. Know anybody on the site who could put a nice set of scales on it?
Has the subject ever been treated scientifically, other than experiences like this? Thanks, J.O'.
Merry Christmas!

Not sure what you mean by "treated scientifically" but people who know organic chemistry can explain why and how celluloid beaks down.
I have never read of any treatment that can be applied to celluloid to prevent it's breakdown. If there was such a treatment i'm sure people here would know of it. There are still many intact celluloid knives that would be great to 'save' if it was possible.
Acrylic is stable and available in many colors. Perhaps re-handle with acrylic in colors close to what this knife originally looked like ?
kj

Also, kirinite makes a good replacement. It comes in many colors.

KJ/EDGE
Thanks. I posted it on the REPAIR thread. Maybe some good mechanic is interested. I've repaired knives before but I'm no yeoman. Like I said, it a piece for which I paid more than most of my others. We'll see who's interested. J.O'.