All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:47 am**

What is the difference between Mother of Pearl, Gold Lip Pearl, and Oyster Shell?
(Just getting started in collecting and sure have a lot to learn!!)
Thanks all
Tom

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:07 am**

The main difference between MOP and Gold Lip Pearl is the color.

Goldlip Mother of Pearl or Pinctada Maxima is scientifically the same as White M.O.P. only that Gold is taken from the reverse side of the shell.

From Mother of Pearl co. web site

Most materials I've seen called oyster shell are man made material.
Hope this helps,
Jeff

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:31 am**

Thanks so much for the quick reply Jeff.
Thanks
Tom

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:25 pm**

Hello Jeff & Tom,

Natural Mother of Pearl occur in a spectacular array of colors, ranging from White, Gold, Pink, Purple, Red, Green, Blue & Black! A Pearls color depends on the Species of Mollusk (they just don't come from Oysters) that produced the Pearl & the living environment in which the Mollusk lives in! In general, the crystals of aragonite (the physical properties of Pearl) are White or colorless. The natural color of Pearl is mostly due to the conchiolin (another physical property of the Pearl) , which contains organic pigments! ....Wow , I think I got all of that right?

Tom, Jeff is correct about the material "Oyster Shell" when its used in knife descriptions, its man made celluloid!

"Texas collector", Roger - 50/2050

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:34 pm**

Thanks for the interesting information Roger - 50/2050.

s-k

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:53 pm**

Hey Boys,

Below are a few photos of one of the best knives in my collection I thought I would share with ya'll, the handles are AAA Smoked White Pearl ....This knife shows a good example of the Pearls luster with lots of green, blue & pink hues to it!

Thanks s-k!

"Texas collector", Roger - 502050

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:11 pm**

Roger,
That is one beautiful elephant toe you got there.

If you need someone to babysit it just send it over!!!

Jeff

Posted: **Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:16 am**

OUTSTANDING MOP, Rodger!!

Thanks for sharing that beauty

Dave

Posted: **Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:27 am**

Boy!!!! Thats some purdy pearl.

Posted: **Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:39 am**

Roger - 50/2050 ; What year was this knife made?
I think that older mother of pearl is better looking than they make now days.
This is one Fantastic Mother of Pearl.

Posted: **Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:23 pm**

Hey guys,

Thank you for your comments regarding my knife, they are all greatly appreciated friends! ....Ken, this knife was produced in 1994 & shes a "1 of 2" run ever made! If ya'll would like to see more shots of this Elephant Toe & view the detailed description for her I will be posting this knife along with others in the Case Classic section of this forum!

"Texas collector", Roger - 50/2050

Posted: **Fri Feb 02, 2007 5:02 pm**

Actually I regard that knife, with that pearl as being nothig short of MAGNIFICENT

Yes, I kad to replace another keyboard, but hey, they're only $9.00 and I got some free just to look at knives like your beauty here. Thanks for the pictures-keep em coming-I have more keyboards.

Posted: **Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:12 pm**

Roger; I real need a closer look at her. Can you send her to my loveing home to place her in my soft strong hands. Just to fell her. I will send her home back to you in time for the next Super Bowl.

Posted: **Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:25 pm**

Roger, that mop toe is a stunner and your pictures are always so good,
what do you use to takem? I just have an Epson scanner.

Perry

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:47 am**

Thanks again friends for your generous comments, you guys are great! ....Hello Perry, I use a digital Kodak DX4530 easy share with a 5.0 mega pixel & I edit my photos with the Kodak software package that came with my camera, all I did with the software was just up loaded it onto my computer!

"Texas collector", Roger - 50/2050

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:31 am**

Thanks a heap Roger, I'll check into that.

Perry

Posted: **Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:37 pm**

I know this is a bit of "Billy come lately"...

But since Jeff mentioned The MOP Company, I thought these pictures might be of interest.

http://www.motherofpearl.net/

On the left menu, click on Mother of Pearl...then on Raw Materials at the top.

Billy... arriving fashionably late.

Posted: **Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:13 am**

El Lobo wrote:I know this is a bit of "Billy come lately"...

But since Jeff mentioned The MOP Company, I thought these pictures might be of interest.

http://www.motherofpearl.net/

On the left menu, click on Mother of Pearl...then on Raw Materials at the top.

Billy... arriving fashionably late.

What a great resource; thanks!

OK, here's my dilemma; I love MOP and want to use it on my EDC (did I get that right?) but I'm afraid I'll beat it up.

You know how it is; you slip your old friend into a pocket and soon a handful of change follows or maybe your car keys... even a cell phone (hey, I am in L.A., y'know) and I would feel really bad mucking up a nice set of natural scales. I'm almost embarrassed to even bring it up but would I be committing a cardinal sin if I re-handled my beloved mini-copperlock in... (gasp!) Corelon (whatever that really is!)?

Don't hate me because I'm ignorant!

Posted: **Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:58 am**

hey when i carry a "good" knife i sometimes carry a small suede holster. don't get scratched or banged up.

Posted: **Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:27 pm**

Hey...

Knives are made to be carried and used, IMO. Johnnie has the right idea, I think (note my current avatar). Rehandling is one option...but if you want to protect your pocketknives, here are a couple of ideas...

http://www.cuttersandcollectors.com/leather2.html

I'm not affilliated, but I will say Ron is a straight shooter (and another old gunsmith for all you gunsmiths

).

Bill

Posted: **Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:24 pm**

I have a few leather sheaths; several of my Al Mar knives came with them. I've been resisting using them for some reason; guess I should re-think that.

Thanks for the food for thought!

Posted: **Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:57 am**

I agree that a good knife should be enjoyed rather than locked away in a safe or a display cabinet.

You guys inspired me so look what I picked up:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

A perfect fit for my mini-copperlock, wouldn't you say?

Thanks for the great idea!

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