Miller Brothers Cutlery Pocket Knife Handle Material

[Joe Giaquinto]

I'm not very good yet with some of the handle materials. This looks like layers or scales and something polished in sepia tone color. Is it polished wood, tortoise shell or mother-of-pearl? What do you think? I read in the Standard Knife Guide that Miller Bros. made knives from 1886 to 1925. Is this the same company? Thanks in advance

[chetr1200c]

i will answer what i think i know. it is an old miller bros for sure, i believe it is celluloid handles, it is in the pen pattern design. and might i add,, since this is an old knife, i would advise against opening the the two baldes that way at the same time, in the half stop position,,it puts a lot of pressure on that single back spring which can cause it to snap..
and i do like that knife, value of course is in the eye of the beholder, no matter what any books tell you. i would venture to guess any where from 15 to $35 is a resonable price to expect....we do have a millers bros dude here that can answer your inquiries much better than i can, maybe he will pop in...
welcome to the club,,,chet

[bonehead]

I would agree with Chet, a Celluloid material for sure, interesting article a couple of months back in Knife world regarding celluloid....

Welcome,

BH

[Joe Giaquinto]

i will answer what i think i know. it is an old miller bros for sure, i believe it is celluloid handles, it is in the pen pattern design. and might i add,, since this is an old knife, i would advise against opening the the two baldes that way at the same time, in the half stop position,,it puts a lot of pressure on that single back spring which can cause it to snap..
and i do like that knife, value of course is in the eye of the beholder, no matter what any books tell you. i would venture to guess any where from 15 to $35 is a resonable price to expect....we do have a millers bros dude here that can answer your inquiries much better than i can, maybe he will pop in...
welcome to the club,,,chet

Thank you Chet. That is great info! Thank you also for the tip about not opening both blades - I didn't know there was a single spring there. The handle is really cool looking.

[Joe Giaquinto]

I would agree with Chet, a Celluloid material for sure, interesting article a couple of months back in Knife world regarding celluloid....

Welcome,

BH

I'll check it out. Thank you

[trutemper]

Hi, I think this celluloid is called Pyramite and was used by many many early American knifemakers. Some refer to it as being a "waterfall pattern" since the appearance seems to seems change and flow when the knife is moved from side to side, although I think the true early waterfall patterns were made from ivory/yellow celluloid. From what I have seen this celluloid doesnt "gas out" and disintigrate as much as some of the other early types. Of course other may have not had the similar type of luck with this that I have. Very pretty knife! Thanks for showing!

Bob