Different types of celluloid and attachment to knife frames

[Ozwelder]

I saw herbva's restoration of his CASE 024 folder. I was duly impressed.

There seems to be 2 varieties of celluloid and construction types of the knife body that the celluloid is attached to.
The one like Herb's, I surmise, was a higher cost knife as it appears the original celluloid may have been solid.

The other type is a one piece stamped sheet handle including bolsters that clips to the knife frame and is wrapped in a veneer of celluloid.

I have seen repairs to this second type where the stamping was painted but can't say I am keen on on it.

As an alternative repair,is it possible to solder solid bolsters to the liners and pin solid bone or wood handles to the liners.
At the moment I have a 3 blade German made "Farmers Stock Knife" -stamped on blade- and stamped Made in Germany on the tang face. Pics to follow when my phone charges itself up.

The celluloid is a faux jigged bone pattern which I believe would look better clad with the real Mc Coy jigged bone.

Has anyone attempted this before.
Advice,opinions and comments on this repair would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Ozwelder

[Reverand]

Sure thing. These are called "shell handled" knives. You can search and find several examples of people altering and rehandling them.
Here are a couple of examples I found quickly:

On the first one, someone rehandled the knife with wood and had no bolsters. That would be a fun project as a beginner.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... le#p678294

On this second one they made new liners, but plenty of knife mechanics have flattened the original steel liners and pinned or soldered bolsters onto them.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... le#p621482

I recommend buying a handful of cheap Imperials or Richards shell handled knives and try them. Then when you have learned the process, try on a knife that you really like.
It is good fun!

[Doc B]

You can search "shell conversion" and come up with several. Here is one I did recently...
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... conversion

[Bill DeShivs]

If the knife is worth it, the shell wrap can be replicated by:
Texturing the underlying metal, and using tinted casting epoxy to coat the wrapped portions.
I use this method with electroplating nickel, copper, gold, brass, and silver.
You have to file/sand the hardened epoxy to shape-being careful not to cut through it-then it is polished.
Using a jeweler's saw, you can cut the ends of your new "wrap" so that it looks/fells just like celluloid.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Shell handle conversions are kind of a fun project, although they can be a of of work. Sometimes I used the original steel liners, and sometimes make new brass ones. Bolsters can be nickle silver or brass. A few I have done.
2 Imperial Kamp Kings, in Patriot Kirinite and stag, an Imperial Barlow in elk stag, Hammer brand cattle knife in ironwood, and an Imperial stockman in aromatic cedar.