All About Pocket Knives

Picked this up today pretty unique handle covers lots of depth in the swirls..seems solidly built. I have no clue on the age of it.

Really like that material. Doesn't seem to shrink much and looks great.Can't put a date on it but it's probably the 30's-40''s ?? J.O.

I would not call that material butter and molasses. Imperial never used butter and molasses, it was mostly used by Schrade and some Westerns have it too. I sold all my B&M knives to one guy a few years back, but I am sure somebody will post some knives that show true butter and molasses celluloid.

A CAMCO that I would say is B and M and a Wards (KA BAR?) for comparison. Opinions?? Both show almost no shrinkage. J.O'.

They look good to me.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 2:29 pm I would not call that material butter and molasses. Imperial never used butter and molasses, it was mostly used by Schrade and some Westerns have it too. I sold all my B&M knives to one guy a few years back, but I am sure somebody will post some knives that show true butter and molasses celluloid.

Hence the Question mark I am inquiring what they are called? It’s a beautiful handle cover whatever it is..may not have a name at all. Thanks for the reply

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 5:18 pm A CAMCO that I would say is B and M and a Wards (KA BAR?) for comparison. Opinions?? Both show almost no shrinkage. J.O'.

Fantastic thanks for sharing great looking knives!

I really like the looks of that one Drukai. Don’t recall seeing that celluloid pattern before so not sure what to call it. Maybe “agate”? I agree with Gene, it’s not “Butter and Molasses”. As he says, the true Butter and Molasses I have seen were either Schrade (or a private label made by Schrade) or Western. The material looks just like the name - creamy yellow butter with some molasses lightly stirred in - no other colors present.

It’s not difficult to find examples here using the search function. Here are just a few of many (hat tip to those members posts I klepped photos from. Most of these are Schrade-made Diamond Edge). Hope that helps.

Ken

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 5:18 pm A CAMCO that I would say is B and M and a Wards (KA BAR?) for comparison. Opinions?? Both show almost no shrinkage. J.O'.

I would not call these butter and molasses. Butter and molasses is what Ken posted.

One thing I have learned about knife collecting, a knife is what the cutler calls it.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Oct 14, 2022 11:52 am One thing I have learned about knife collecting, a knife is what the cutler calls it.

Interesting point. Many of the terms used now originated with collectors, not cutleries. Some were later, years after knife collecting became popular, adopted by cutleries. Even though the terms originated with collectors they became so widely accepted that cutleries adopted them. It would be interesting to know if the description "Butter and Molasses" appears in any cutlery's catalog. And if so when did it appear?

I can look in the old Western catalog reprints. I don’t have any old Schrade, DE, etc catalogs but maybe someone who does will find (or not) the term in one of them.

Ken

edge213 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 14, 2022 2:31 am

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 5:18 pm A CAMCO that I would say is B and M and a Wards (KA BAR?) for comparison. Opinions?? Both show almost no shrinkage. J.O'.

I would not call these butter and molasses. Butter and molasses is what Ken posted.

Correct. None of the knives before that are b&m.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Oct 14, 2022 2:45 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Oct 14, 2022 11:52 am One thing I have learned about knife collecting, a knife is what the cutler calls it.

Interesting point. Many of the terms used now originated with collectors, not cutleries. Some were later, years after knife collecting became popular, adopted by cutleries. Even though the terms originated with collectors they became so widely accepted that cutleries adopted them. It would be interesting to know if the description "Butter and Molasses" appears in any cutlery's catalog. And if so when did it appear?

I can look in the old Western catalog reprints. I don’t have any old Schrade, DE, etc catalogs but maybe someone who does will find (or not) the term in one of them.

Ken

I think most (maybe all) of the reference books I have just say celluloid, Pyremite, composite, etc. for the other synthetic scale materials. Will have to look and see what Sargent printed . . .

Schrade used the term "brown lined cream," and most of the examples had a "K" suffix in the pattern number.

Thanks. J.O'.

Thanks for all the reply’s it’s really interesting looking acrylic or celluloid. If anyone is interested I can take a video on phone and send it to see in real time 3d just msg me.