All About Pocket Knives

Well, here are 3 RARE Bulldog Celluloids. First up is a prototype stockman that is a 1 of 1, it never went to production. Notice the Case type oval shield, I've never seen that on a 3 1/4 inch Bulldog stockman and this is the only one I've seen. Other models have that oval shield. The next is a 1 of 5 Copperhead with a single blade, notice, no etch and the blade was not polished. The last is a single blade Oystershell (imitation Pearl) Canoe, this one does not have a locking blade. ENJOY! These are all very rare and you are not likely to find them.

Nice Knives Hukk

Here are a couple scans of my favorite Imperial Celluloid. The blades on this are not dark, in fact they are quite bright & shiny. Does anyone know why my scanner makes them look dark?
Apparently this knife was a advertising knife for Tums. It has a oval shield on one side that says Tums and on the other side, an oval shield that says Nature's Remedy/Tablets.

Dale

Knives are hard to photograph Dale. I always take my pictures outside in the shade on a sunny day. I've tried taking them inside but that just doesn't work for me. Nice knife by the way.

James

Thanks James.
I have about shorted out my keyboard drooling on it while looking at the pictures of your knives.

Here is a little Ulster I got in the mail today. Too bad the handle on this side is broken. I didn't pay much for it, but it is a nice little knife. I think it is Mother of Pearl, but I am not sure. Does anyone know how to tell if it is real MOP?

Dale

Here's a few of my favorites. knife-nut

Celluloid - A Firm Maybe

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/celluloid_02.html

or http://www.oregonknifeclub.org
then click on Articles,
then click on Celluloid.



Good reading stuf here on Celluloid

Beautiful Topsy display Knife-nut!

That is a good article Ken. That kind of goes along with what I have heard, some celluloid seems to last much longer than others. Someone speculated it had something to do with the way it was mixed and what was or wasn't added to the mix. It is interesting that the solid darker colors seem to hold up better.

Speaking of celluloid, I got a few today in a lot auction. I will post a few. I haven't cleaned them up, some are a bit rough.

Thanks,
Dale

Here is an Utica fishtail. Ken

Nice pics guys. Thats a great candystripe fishtail. I love those old antique American knives.

James

great knives.

thanks for the celluloid article ken.

are the parker's new celluloid and old bulldog knives the same as the old celluloid? are they subject to the same potential problems?

jonet143 I am going to stick out my head here and say YES and NO.

Dark not as bad and light color yes bad. But look at jfarmer's old sweet hearts.
After seeing his first photo here I fell that if you just clean with Ren Wax and store well and keep them away from other knives. You will be ok. I have only heard of one Bulldog Cell going bad here yet. Time will tell.

Looks like jfarmer is the one to answer this better than me.

I read some where, in another forum as I recall, that the newer celluloid is much more stable that the older celluloid. I can't say with any authority that is is true or not, but I certainly hope so.

Here is a Boker Whittler with the new celluloid handles.

Dale

Hi I have that very same knife too. (rephrased in the form of a question) Is this the same material as the original celluloid from days of yor . Perhaps you know that it is or maybe someone else has the answer. In either case (no pun) I will have learned something. s-k

justold52 wrote:jonet143 I am going to stick out my head here and say YES and NO.

Dark not as bad and light color yes bad. But look at jfarmer's old sweet hearts.
After seeing his first photo here I fell that if you just clean with Ren Wax and store well and keep them away from other knives. You will be ok. I have only heard of one Bulldog Cell going bad here yet. Time will tell.

Looks like jfarmer is the one to answer this better than me.

The First Generation Red Sparkle Bulldog is one to watch. I bought one and immediately sent it out. It was a 1 of 177 Canoe and in need of handle replacement due to celluloid breakdown. Since Bulldogs and Fightin' Roosters are made in the same factory; I would guess that the celluloid is from the same source. Just a guess.

Here you go Ken just for you!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Queen Schatt & Morgan Farmers Jack, candy-stripe celluloid!

This is not a model that most folks have sitting on top their dresser but I have got to say that it is really a nice everyday pocket knife that fit's well in your pocket.

I purchased the Candy Stripe model from one of the classiest gentleman in the knife collecting business Charlie Campagna, nothing but first class in my book and then some

Here is a little history on this knife;

This 3 1/2" harness or farmer's jack was inspired by an original that appeared in the 1911 Schatt & Morgan catalog. The design for the secondary punch blade is based on a 1908 patent for what was called a "Mayer" punch. Moritz Mayer of Syracuse, N.Y. invented this punch in 1906, finally receiving a patent in 1908. The goal was to be able to produce an easily manufactured, and thus inexpensive, tool for cutting a round hole in leather and other soft material. Schatt and Morgan used it in their 1911 catalog of knives (see attached pics for an image of model 1149, the basis for this modern knife, in the old catalog).
The steel is traditional, high-carbon, non-stainless 1095. The blade is hardened to Rockwell 57-58 while the punch is at Rockwell 51-52. The punches have to resist snapping when twisted, hence the lower Rockwell, while the blades do better harder, in keeping an edge. Made to use!

A total of 109 were made, 75 in Goldenroot bone and 25 in ebony and 9 in candy stripe. All have a nickel-silver Federal-style shield. The blades on the bone knives are etched "1 of 75", the candy stripe are marked "1 of 9" and the ebony "1 of 25". This means "one among" that number; they are not individually serial numbered. There are three stamps on each knife. The front of the master blade and the punch blade are both marked with the S&M logo {over} Titusville {over} PA. The reverse of the master is marked with the old Queen City stamp: Queen Cut. Co {arched, over} Titusville, PA.

This project was commissioned by Charlie Campagna, collector in Washington state, and will not be repeated. This is the second harness jack this collector has had Queen make up for him. The first piece, also made by Queen, is still available in several bone colors.

sunburst thanks I would hate to have your Cell missed. They so so so nice



How can I get ONE of NINE ?

Is it for SALE ?

Another Hammer Brand Congress. This one isn't as nice as the one I previously posted.

James

James,
I just love those Hammers!

Dale

Thanks Dale I thought y'all might have been getting tired of my pics so I haven't posted any in a few days. Here is a nice 3 blade Imperial.

James

That is another nice one James. Keep them coming!

I got a strange knife in the mail yesterday. It is a shell handle, except it looks like perhaps a vinyl cover over the shell instead of celluloid. There are several strange things about this knife:
1-The tang stamp is Ulster/USA/58OT. This is the tang stamp used on the early 58 OT Old Timer that Schrade Walden offered through Prince Albert tobacco. (See the Prince Albert Story at http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/ ). The 58OT should have the saw cut Derlin handles and not a shell handle.
2-It has a raise diamond shield with the letters DE in it and an arrow through them. This was the Diamond Edge logo that Imperial picked up in 1960 after Sharpleigh Hardware went out of business.
3-Imperial, Ulster and Schrade formed Imperial Knife Associated Companies in 1947. This knife seems to have a little bit of all three companies in it. The shell construction and Diamond Edge name from Imperial, the Ulster name on the tang and the OT for Old Timer from Schrade Walden.

You can see why this knife is such an enigma.
(Historical sources: Bernard Levine's fourth edition & C. Houston Price's Price Guide to Collector Knives.)

I would appreciate anyone's comments or observations on this knife as it really has me puzzled.

Dale

I posted this one some time ago but since this thread is going strong, I'll add it in to keep-up the momentum. Schrade Cut Co pen knife with very nice yellow and white swirly cell. Apologies for the repetition. s-k

Nice knives Dale and s-k. Here is another Hammer toothpick.

James

smiling-knife Apologies for the repetition ????
I am glade your showed this. First time I saw it.

jfarmer Keep them comming but to tell the truth I find that is still go back to page 2 here just to dream of your forth photo. Man thats hard to beat.

Dale (this knife as it really has me puzzled.) Dont fell bad I to am very PUZZLED

Thanks Ken. Here is another non-auto Hammer.

James

A couple of Schrade Cut. Co. marked pen knives.