All About Pocket Knives

Well lads, it happened again last night for the second time in just a few months. In checking some of my older Eye Brand and Schlieper knives I discovered yet another yellow handled stockman that had outgassed and severely damaged the knife. In another recent post referencing another older large stockman, I mentioned that previously in my collection the yellow handled knives seemed to be very stable and did not demonstrate the volatility of other celluloid knives from Eye Brand. I now have had 2 ugly examples challenging that thought. This post is just a "Heads-Up" for those that collect Eye Brand and Schlieper cutlery. Recommend we all watch the yellow handles more closely now for signs of breakdown. Hope you are spared from discoveries like this one.

Joe D.

Joe,
Sorry that happened to your knife.
I can't tell from the photo but is it what I think of as a newer Eye, not a 3 Eye knife? I think I saw a pattern number on the back tang but I can't be sure.
I will check mine out but I haven't had a problem yet with the yellow handled knives.

Ray

Ray, you are correct as to the pattern i.d. stamp. I think this was a mid 1980's example. This is frustrating as I don't know yet what I'm going to use to isolate the yellow handled knives in the safe.

Joe D.

Wow that's really sad. You just never know when those things are going to do that. Maybe you can get them re-handled.

___________
Mike

Strangely enough...I was just about to google celluloid breakdown and when to get rid of it, on the handles. I remember a month or so ago, someone posting a nearly 100 year old Case, with beautiful celluloid handles. Then...you see this. I've recently started to play around with trying to give old knives a second chance and bought a few knifes for repair. I've seen the spectrum of celluloid "mush" falling off the liners; to, some cheap Imperial knives, that the celluloid looks fine on. I'm assuming there are different formulations of celluloid? Y'all have suggestions on storage? Makes me think that every celluloid should be stored separately, in a well "aired" environment.

EyeBJoe wrote:Ray, you are correct as to the pattern i.d. stamp. I think this was a mid 1980's example. This is frustrating as I don't know yet what I'm going to use to isolate the yellow handled knives in the safe.

Joe D.

Put 'em in individual sock/pouches.

My cell knives do not go into the safe. They are in cigar boxes, with all blades opened, and the lid cocked. No sunshine and very low humidity. Everything else DOES go into the safe.

Well, it's supposed to rain here all day so I guess I needed a good Saturday project.

Joe D.

I store my cells with blades fully open and away from other knives. Last thing I want is one to grenade and take out a few others.

Today I bought a very nice Bulldog Stockman with stag handles. The seller explained that the previous owner had replaced the original celluloid with the nice looking stag. I'm very glad he did. I do think replacement is the way to go if a celluloid handle gives even the slightest indication it might be losing its cookies.