All About Pocket Knives

I know it has been a topic many times before, but I have just seen the bad effects on a beautiful collection... and it has left me with my head in my hands . I was looking at some knives from an estate sale that were bought by a dealer and then offered for resale. There were some sleeves of beautiful knives that were ( at one point) in mint condition... until they were exposed to outgassing in the sleeve (it appears). There was a sleeve entirely of Bulldog Brand knives that were absolutely beautiful... except for the rusting/frosting from Celluloid Knife Handle Deterioration (Out Gassing ) on several of them ... ... some other great knives from the 30's and 40's and 50's that were exposed as well.

It looks like you can never be too careful when it comes to Out Gassing ... there were some really wonderful knives that took a terrible beating in that collection. ... AAPK members ... Beware ...

Does that mean, not only should we store our celluloid knives separate from the non-celluloid knives, but we should store the celluloid one's separate from each other?

More modern knives like those pictured are some of the worst offenders when it comes to out gassing. I trust the old pre 1940 celluloids much more as they have already stood the test of over 60 years without deteriorating. It is irresponsible of all the companies that have used celluloid handles on knives since the 1970's. I am sure they knew the potential of these knives to self destruct but if they could sell them that seems to be the priority rather than making a quality product that would last.

Stumpstalker, that's up to you, but I certainly would. You never know when one is suddenly going to decide to "go off", and if the collection is in any type of sealed storage (even a desk drawer) all of them can be injured.

Sad. At least some of them will be good users now.

As much as I appreciate mint knives. I find knives wrapped up and never used to be sad to begin with.

All things carry the seeds of their own destruction, but celluloid is a time bomb

Thanks for the post. I believe I have one celluloid knife. Will take a gander
at it in 5 min.

Bob

I've had it happen to me, and I learned my lesson from that little escapade. Anyone who tells you that the secrect to safe storage of celluloid is <insert any theory here> is blowing smoke up your skirt. Keep your celluloid knives away from other knives, and away from each other. It's the only way to prevent collateral damage.

Celluloid can outgas for a long time before you can see any damage to the knife scales. In the meantime it's attacking innocent bystanders. Seperate them, or get rid of them...

btrwtr wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 11:26 am More modern knives like those pictured are some of the worst offenders when it comes to out gassing. I trust the old pre 1940 celluloids much more as they have already stood the test of over 60 years without deteriorating. It is irresponsible of all the companies that have used celluloid handles on knives since the 1970's. I am sure they knew the potential of these knives to self destruct but if they could sell them that seems to be the priority rather than making a quality product that would last.

Wayne is right, the modern day celluloid is a time bomb! Harold

That's most unfortunate, Dog, if you bought any I hope you didn't get stung.

I simply refuse to keep any celluloid knives any where near my collection. I know, some of the older celluloid seems to be much more stable, and I have owned examples of older celluloid knives that, other than some shrinkage, seemed to be aging in place just fine. But, I don't think it's worth the risk and I don't want to have to worry about it. I do have to admit that I have a collection of Camillus Streamlines that I keep away from everything else, out in the open, and when time permits, I am slowly, lovingly, restoring one-by-one.

I have had Bulldogs and a couple Case Classics with celluloid go bad on me. I caught the Case Classics in time to have the celluloid ripped off and replaced with something nice.

Another real loss was a Winchester (made by Bluegrass/Queen) Glitter Stripe Large Coke Bottle knife. While I caught it in time, I really liked that Glitter Stripe. I still have the knife with an imitation Glitter Stripe, but its not the same. The top two pictures are the original Glitter Stripe Celluloid. The bottom two pictures are the same knife with Mica Pearl and G-10 spacers.

btrwtr wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 11:26 am More modern knives like those pictured are some of the worst offenders when it comes to out gassing.

I still wonder why newer celluloid tends to be so much more volatile. Best theory I can come up with is that an ingredient in older celluloid was banned and whatever replaced it made the new formulation more prone to self-destruction.

I have one knife that I can say for sure is celluloid; luckily it seems quite stable (confirmed by Herb). Another had celluloid, but it's been stripped off. There are a couple-few others that might be celluloid, but I can't confirm it. The only sure-fire way I know to tell is destructive...

hardman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:32 am
Another real loss was a Winchester (made by Bluegrass/Queen) Glitter Stripe Large Coke Bottle knife. While I caught it in time, I really liked that Glitter Stripe. I still have the knife with an imitation Glitter Stripe, but its not the same. The top two pictures are the original Glitter Stripe Celluloid. The bottom two pictures are the same knife with Mica Pearl and G-10 spacers.

It may not be the same, but it sure looks nice in the photos at least! Did you do that restoration yourself--and if so, how did you do it?

I’ve got several celluloids. I keep them out on display away from my other knives. I did drop one, and a chunk of the handle broke off. Although the blades have always looked good, the metal underneath the handle was rusted.

I've had 2 new cel handled knives(a Unite Boker & a Buck Creek) self-destruct in a very short time. Only sign was corrosion on the blades;handles looked fine....until the back of the knife broke off when I tried to use the lock!
What puzzles me is seeing a knife w/one handle completely destroyed & the other side like new!
Remember reading about how they constructed the cel storage sheds with hinged roofs so when they exploded the damage would be minimal!

hardman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:32 am I have had Bulldogs and a couple Case Classics with celluloid go bad on me. I caught the Case Classics in time to have the celluloid ripped off and replaced with something nice.

Another real loss was a Winchester (made by Bluegrass/Queen) Glitter Stripe Large Coke Bottle knife. While I caught it in time, I really liked that Glitter Stripe. I still have the knife with an imitation Glitter Stripe, but its not the same. The top two pictures are the original Glitter Stripe Celluloid. The bottom two pictures are the same knife with Mica Pearl and G-10 spacers.

That's unfortunate, HM, I too find the Glitter Stripe most attractive.
The Mica Pearl isn't bad, but it's just not the same as the genuine article.
Very cool knife you have there.

beresman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 1:48 pm
It may not be the same, but it sure looks nice in the photos at least! Did you do that restoration yourself--and if so, how did you do it?

I would like to say I did the work, but I don't have that skill. Michael Prater of Painted Pony created the "Glitter Stripe Like" handle covers on that knife. BTW, his pricing to me on that job was extremely reasonable. I am betting he had more time and effort in to that knife than I paid for.

The Ugly look of out gassing this is a Case XX yellow Handle Marlin Spike Pattern #3246R. Mint in every way except the handles Hope I can get it fixed before it gets any worse Sent it to Case for a Rehandle .Will Post pictures when it come home

Yellow Delrin would be just what that knife needs. Hopefully Case will be able to fix it right up!

kennedy knives wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:55 pm The Ugly look of out gassing this is a Case XX yellow Handle Marlin Spike Pattern #3246R. Mint in every way except the handles Hope I can get it fixed before it gets any worse Sent it to Case for a Rehandle .Will Post pictures when it come home

What a beautiful knife! Too bad about the out gassing I had thought it was just a problem with the old knives from the1900's to the 30's and early 40's ... I thought newer knives were safe... ... Now I know I can't rest a moment... .... as long as this threat remains ...

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 2:06 am

kennedy knives wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:55 pm The Ugly look of out gassing this is a Case XX yellow Handle Marlin Spike Pattern #3246R. Mint in every way except the handles Hope I can get it fixed before it gets any worse Sent it to Case for a Rehandle .Will Post pictures when it come home

What a beautiful knife! Too bad about the out gassing I had thought it was just a problem with the old knives from the1900's to the 30's and early 40's ... I thought newer knives were safe... ... Now I know I can't rest a moment... .... as long as this threat remains ...

kennedy knives wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:55 pm The Ugly look of out gassing this is a Case XX yellow Handle Marlin Spike Pattern #3246R. Mint in every way except the handles Hope I can get it fixed before it gets any worse Sent it to Case for a Rehandle .Will Post pictures when it come home

I don't believe these handles are celluloid. They won't outgas and corrode metal like celluloid will. They just shrink up and deteriorate as shown. At any rate not stable and the white plastic Case used in this same time frame will unfortunately do the same.

I believe this is what you are talking about had to clean the blade a little and the brass liners but otherwise it's fine

Theo wrote: ↑Sat Aug 12, 2023 10:18 pm I wouldn't trust any celluloid, be it 1 yr old to 100 yr old. You just never know what is going to set it off, being lubes to lubricate the joints , cleaning or polishing. And never put them in a sealed plastic bag..or in a glass case where sunlight can get to it..

I totally understand, but it makes such good looking handles! I’m not in the market to add any more to my collection at the moment, but I can’t seem to part with the ones I have, either!