All About Pocket Knives

I am not trying to start another celluloid thread!!!!! But feel free to reply all you want; but if thing gets western I am just on record that I am reporting and that is it.

So, I am learning and have learned (from the good folks here at AAPK) about the celluloid scales. I carried what I have learned to my 12-old grandson and the SIL. I explained what I think I know, and they were both very interested. So, thank you all for putting up with me.

My SIL said he received, from his late grandfather, all of his knives which he kept them in the rolls; I have also learned on here that is also not a good idea and told him that too. Anyway, he said that our discussion on the cell was very informative and cleared some things up for him. He said that in more than one roll he'd be going through them, and it'd be - good, good, good, good, good, WHAT! a self-destruction, good, good, good, OH MY another bad one, and the next one is corroded on the blade, and this one too, good, good.... So, the story goes for each roll.

So hopefully he will get them out of the rolls and get the celluloids separated. So, I say that to say thank you to you all.

It's great that he caught them before everything was destroyed. Here are the results (not mine) of rolls of Bulldog knives, some celluloid, that were left in a safe for many years untouched. They were all pristine when they went in:
Eric

This brings a tear to my eye. I've learned to keep celluoid scaled knives in a zip lock back and away from others. A friends cautioned that WD40 speeds up the self destructive process of celluloid.

I would not recommend sealing them in zip lock bags. They're yours to do with as you wish, but lest anyone else see your post, that's not a recommendation to follow.. JMO

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 5:58 am I would not recommend sealing them in zip lock bags. They're yours to do with as you wish, but lest anyone else see your post, that's not a recommendation to follow.. JMO

Ken

Ken, I appreciate your response. Why would zip lock bags not help? Isn't it the emission of gas that causes the destruction to adjacent knives and what is the best practice? I've got a couple in zip lock bags and away from other knives as we speak.

ea42 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 5:14 am It's great that he caught them before everything was destroyed. Here are the results (not mine) of rolls of Bulldog knives, some celluloid, that were left in a safe for many years untouched. They were all pristine when they went in:

85 Bulldog Knives Offgassed In Safe.jpg

85 Bulldog Knives Offgassed In Safe 2.jpg

Eric

painful.

Placing the celluloids in a plastic bag may protect the other knives a
little bit. Gasses are still permeable to most plastic bags. The celluloids
in the plastic bag will become a unrecognizable mass. ( I have seen pictures,
not for the faint of heart)

Bob

Personally, I just sold most of my celluloid knive last week. I might have broken even on them but at least they are gone and not to be worried about anymore.

QGofLake wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 6:38 am

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 5:58 am I would not recommend sealing them in zip lock bags. They're yours to do with as you wish, but lest anyone else see your post, that's not a recommendation to follow.. JMO

Ken

Ken, I appreciate your response. Why would zip lock bags not help? Isn't it the emission of gas that causes the destruction to adjacent knives and what is the best practice? I've got a couple in zip lock bags and away from other knives as we speak.

Outgas - means it emits gas. The gas emitted is nitrous oxide, which in contact with the water vapor inherent in air creates nitrous acid. That acid is what detrimentally affects the metals in knives. So if the knife is in a sealed baggie there is no where for out gas fumes to escape to - they’re contained within the baggie (or in any case restricted somewhat even if the bag isn’t totally impervious to fumes). Which accelerates the destruction of the outgassing knife and all others confined with it in the baggie (or other confined area).

If the knives are bagged individually in airtight bags I suppose that would limit the destruction to the knife in that bag. Addition of desiccant might help.

I have, and have observed, items made of celluloid other than knife covers, such as celluloid hairbrushes and combs left out on a dresser or dressing table. A 100+ year old mantle clock made with celluloid parts of its case. Those items have always been in freely circulating air, in a controlled (indoors) environment. No signs of any deterioration (however some of the mantle clock’s celluloid parts are slightly loose, from apparent shrinkage). To be sure that’s all anecdotal. But it has led me to “store” celluloid handled pocket knives in the open air, sitting on shelves where air circulates around them. Plus I can see and enjoy them, and if one should decide to “go off” hopefully I’ll see it. Posts from several members here have said they also do not keep celluloids in confined spaces.

As I said, they’re your knives to do with as you please. Maybe your method will work. My main concern in replying was that those reading posts or doing research at some future date might read yours, and assume it to be “the” recommendation for how to store knives having celluloid covers. It’s hard to read all the hundreds of posts here about celluloid and its peculiar problems.

Ken

Thanks Ken. That is excellent info. I put the nicer knife out on a shelf. I've got the other two remaining in their respective zip locks. Added a desiccant. It is weird about celluloid. Some seems to last forever while some goes off all of a sudden.

ok, now I am going to ask another Celluloid question - be gentle with me, I've only done this a couple of times.

How do I tell celluloid from other plastic's or something other non-bone/antler scales. For example, what about the Old Timer Sharpfingers and such. What about a knife made with, say - Plexiglas or something. I really do not know what all has been used over the years; but I think I am making a purpose to stay away from cell. Is there a tell-tale sign that just screams "celluloid"?

Something more to consider in addition to what Ken said above:

Both Nitrous Oxide gas (laughing gas) and Nitric Oxide gas are heavier than air. That means thoses gases will collect at the lowest levels of whatever container they are in. So, in a display, never store knives with celluloid handle covers on an upper shelf with other knives underneath them. And, it would be best to display them on a stand that enables some kind of air exchange beneath the knife. Finally, while some folks caution against storing knives with blades open (citing stress on the backsprings), I believe leaving the blades open on knives with celluloid handle covers is advisable if the blades can then be kept above the level of the celluloid.

enuf wrote: ↑Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:15 am ok, now I am going to ask another Celluloid question - be gentle with me, I've only done this a couple of times.

How do I tell celluloid from other plastic's or something other non-bone/antler scales. For example, what about the Old Timer Sharpfingers and such. What about a knife made with, say - Plexiglas or something. I really do not know what all has been used over the years; but I think I am making a purpose to stay away from cell. Is there a tell-tale sign that just screams "celluloid"?

There are very few questions about celluloid not already answered here on AAPK.

viewtopic.php?p=1096932#p1096932. Be sure to scroll down and read the post there from Eric (ea42) about the smell of celluloid and how to generate that smell from a celluloid item - BTW it’s not the potentially dangerous and destructive “hot pin test.”

If you’re interested in learning more about celluloid, try reading this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrocellulose

Ken

i am very interested - thank you all.