All About Pocket Knives

Newly discovered the site. Wondering if anyone can help with the history of this knife. Told it is from 1918 possibly? Advertisement?

OK here goes for what it's worth:
It would be necessary to find out who the two people are on the handle to establish a base line.
Also the name on the other side.You might try to see if you can find an on line listing of old business directories in Vancouver or Victoria British Columbia.
The tang stamp looks to be that of Bontgen & Sabin(now known as Bonsa)which makes it of German manufacture.The first celluloid handles I believe were created around 1910 so the 1918 date is possible.
I have never seen a picture handled knife by Bonsa although I'm sure they existed.What is amazing is that it doesn't show any signs of deterioration that normally occur with celluloid scales.Possibly the fact that it was in the leather sheath(that looks original to the knife)helped to preserve it.
Be aware that celluloid is a very unstable material and when(and if)it starts to degrade there is no stopping it.A couple of hints:
DO NOT get oil on the handles or subject them to high temperatures as this will sometimes initiate degradation.Try to keep it separate from other knives just in case this starts to happen.Check previous threads relating to celluloid preservation;they show up about once a month on here.
You have a very nice knife there and to a collector of picture handle knives probably a very desireable one.

While I'm not famiiar with the brand name, it looks to be an advertisement knife for that souvenir company and was probably an example of something they sold. To me, the picture looks to be of Tsar Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias (official title), Russia's last Emporer and his wife Alexandra. They were kind of over-thrown (killed) in 1918, so the period makes sense if I've guessed the faces right.

But just a word on celluloid: I've owned and seen 100+ yr old celluloid in near mint condition while some I've owned as new knives went bad before the knife was ten years old. Unpredictable is the best word I've found to describe the stuff, but flammable, smelly to work with, and a few others also come to mind.

knife7knut wrote:Be aware that celluloid is a very unstable material and when(and if)it starts to degrade there is no stopping it

It appears to that it is already starting, look at the left side on the pen blade end. The picture is blurry and dark spots are forming under the surface

Wow, You guys are awesome, as I was told by a knife enthusiast! Thanks for the input, it really helps!

I think thats King George V and Queen Mary, this would date to 1911
Kevin