Celluloid Handles on Colonial & Imperial knives

[2Birds1Shot]

Hi all,

Does anyone know when colonial and imperial stopped using celluloid on their knives? Thanks

[tongueriver]

The first Delrin factory was opened by DuPont in 1960. The last of the American knives in celluloid would have been some time after that, how long I don't know.

[orvet]

Schrade and Camillus both started using Delrin in the early 1960s. Schrade in 1961 and Camillus shortly thereafter. I think it would be difficult to find any US knife maker who was still using celluloid on a large scale after about 1964 to 65. I think any celluloid production by US companies after that time would essentially be using up leftover celluloid or perhaps a special issue like an SFO.

I'm not certain about Colonial but I would think Imperial changed over around the same time Schrade did because of the relationship between the two companies.

[zed6309]

Out of interest does Delrin shrink and is Camstag on Camcos Delrin ? On the well used Camco I have its covers have shrunk on both sides and on both covers , is this normal ?

[tongueriver]

Delrin does not shrink.

[zed6309]

Delrin does not shrink.

Thanks , so what is Camstag made of as mines defantly shrunk

[Papa Bones]

Don't know about Camstag, but early composition handles were made of a reinforced nylon and some were variations of plastic. These do have a tendency to shrink over time depending on many factors such as heat or in some cases even certain chemical reactions within the materials. Case used some black sythetic handles that I think was referred to as Plastag. There was also a black composition that some knife companies used back pre 60's that was a hard rubber mixture but I can't remember the name of it, but it was basically a thermoplastic rubber from a tree.