All About Pocket Knives

Tom's Classy Cases wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 4:43 pm This is my first post, I have a Case Straight Razor dated 1912 and I can find nothing about it. Can someone help me out? Thanks.20200507_133532.jpg20200507_133559.jpg20200507_133422.jpg

MechanicalBear wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 8:54 pm

Tom's Classy Cases wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 4:43 pm This is my first post, I have a Case Straight Razor dated 1912 and I can find nothing about it. Can someone help me out? Thanks.20200507_133532.jpg20200507_133559.jpg20200507_133422.jpg

Hey, the following wall of text is just a word of warning, since your knifes handle is made of celluloid. Celluloid is a highly flammable unstable form of plastic. Since the handle is made of celluloid store it away from other knives (Including other celluloid knives) celluloid is known to deteriorate. This process is called outgassing, and it releases a gas that causes that knife and any other metal near it to rust. There are warning signs to see if a knife is in the process of outgassing though. Discoloration of the celluloid, tarnishing of the pins, bolsters, and blades, and shrinkage of the celluloid are some of the things to look out for. Once the process starts it can not be stopped. The only thing you can do is to take the celluloid off the knife once it starts outgassing. Keep the knife out of sunlight, and away from heat to lower the risk of it outgassing. Look up celluloid outgassing for more information. As far as flammability goes, do not expose the celluloid to intense heat.

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 9:55 pm

MechanicalBear wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 8:54 pm

Tom's Classy Cases wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 4:43 pm This is my first post, I have a Case Straight Razor dated 1912 and I can find nothing about it. Can someone help me out? Thanks.20200507_133532.jpg20200507_133559.jpg20200507_133422.jpg

Hey, the following wall of text is just a word of warning, since your knifes handle is made of celluloid. Celluloid is a highly flammable unstable form of plastic. Since the handle is made of celluloid store it away from other knives (Including other celluloid knives) celluloid is known to deteriorate. This process is called outgassing, and it releases a gas that causes that knife and any other metal near it to rust. There are warning signs to see if a knife is in the process of outgassing though. Discoloration of the celluloid, tarnishing of the pins, bolsters, and blades, and shrinkage of the celluloid are some of the things to look out for. Once the process starts it can not be stopped. The only thing you can do is to take the celluloid off the knife once it starts outgassing. Keep the knife out of sunlight, and away from heat to lower the risk of it outgassing. Look up celluloid outgassing for more information. As far as flammability goes, do not expose the celluloid to intense heat.

If celluloid is pulled away, sort of curling up from the bolster lining is it automatically outgassing? If not can you glue it back into place? What years would say it was used the most as a handle material?

MechanicalBear wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 10:33 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 9:55 pm

MechanicalBear wrote: ↑Thu May 06, 2021 8:54 pm
the years they produced celluloid online. Celluloid was invented in the mid-1800s, it was used as a handle material from then until sometime in the 1950s. I think it was used the most between 1940 and 1950. Then at some point, they brought it back. I don't think I have found any example of knives with celluloid handles that were made past the 1990s.

Thanks! I have some knives from the 20's and 30's that might be celluloid, I need to check and see if that is the material. I put a knife in "Evapo-Rust" a year ago and it ate away and destroyed the handle/scales, I am thinking it might have been celluloid.

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 11:11 pm

MechanicalBear wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 10:33 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 9:55 pm

Thanks! I have some knives from the 20's and 30's that might be celluloid, I need to check and see if that is the material. I put a knife in "Evapo-Rust" a year ago and it ate away and destroyed the handle/scales, I am thinking it might have been celluloid.

Hey, I have done some more research and it seems celluloid was a popular handle material for knives from the late 1800s to 1950. I will update my previous post to reflect this. I am also wondering if only US companies stopped using celluloid sometime in the 1950s. I will also update my post to reflect that. Also, there is no need to thank me. I'm happy to help .

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 1:48 am I am always glade to learn new things on this site.

Jacknifeben wrote: ↑Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:33 pm All “french pearl” and celluloid knives from 70 years at least made by Cattaraugus and not a bad one in the bunch.