All About Pocket Knives

edge213 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 13, 2025 9:58 pm I'm not afraid of celluloid!
Just some of mine.

Beautiful collection sir

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 4:40 am Warning, the pictures below may be disturbing to some viewers.

I’m no expert, but something just doesn’t look right here.

CarMan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 4:42 am

edge213 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 13, 2025 9:58 pm I'm not afraid of celluloid!
Just some of mine.

Beautiful collection sir

Thanks man.

I wonder how time and storage affect celluloid. For example, if you buy a brand new celluloid knife today, approximately how long would it be before it would show signs of deterioration? Secondly, how would storage affect it - room temperature, if it’s away from sunlight, in a drawer or out on display, cleaning regularly, etc.?
Maybe these are just unanswerable questions?

tvic wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 5:21 pm I wonder how time and storage affect celluloid. For example, if you buy a brand new celluloid knife today, approximately how long would it be before it would show signs of deterioration? Secondly, how would storage affect it - room temperature, if it’s away from sunlight, in a drawer or out on display, cleaning regularly, etc.?
Maybe these are just unanswerable questions?

I don't think anyone can accurately answer your question.
Some of mine have been stored in this manner for a few years, so far no outgassing .
You can't really see in the picture, but the plexiglass is sitting on dowels to allow for air circulation.
Also, I have never put a knife in there that shows signs of outgassing. I check them most every day.

I agree. If we knew the answer to those questions we would be a long way down the road of understanding the mysteries of celluloid. Most of what we think we know is anecdotal. Unfortunately to my knowledge and literary research of the subject, there hasn’t been any scientific research (controlled studies) on celluloid. And since it is a limited market for a near-obsolete material, it’s unlikely any company will fund such research.

Maybe some deep pockets collector will pony up to fund the research, but I’m not holding my breath.

Ken

Celluloid- 1 of the few topics we all know a little about or
have some experience but can never find definitive
answers.

I have 1 celluloid. It is doing well all by
itself out in the open being anti-social.

Bob