Posted 9 years ago
PointyEnd
(6 items)
Another Western Knife display case from a local hardware store. This display case did not have the original knives in it when I came across this find so I decided to display a collection of bird and trout knives. Apart from the Western military knives these are some of the most sought after Western knives. Ranging colors and various handle materials are probably one of the reasons these knives are so attractive.
Again I enjoy being able to share the beauty with everyone.
Nice collection Pointy End.
I know nothing about knives except they cut so can you tell me what the wonderful handles are made from?
The colored handles are made of what the Western manufacturing called pyralin. I'm not certain if celluloid is the same but I have see descriptions using both terms as well as bakelite. Celluloid is actually a trade name, like Band-Aid or Kleenex, but the term has been generically used for many years to reference a type of plastic material invented in the mid 1800s and used to make a variety of objects until around 1940. It is actually a product of cellulose dinitrate blended with pigments, fillers, camphor and alcohol to make a unique synthetic material categorized as a plastic. These are the knives that are colored. The majority of knives built in early to mid 1900's were made of stacked leather discs then ground down to shape. Other materials are jigged bone and stag. The knife to the far right has a handle what is referred to as "Cracked Ice" Again another celluloid material. If I knew how to add a picture to this thread I would so I am adding another separate post showing what I am describing. When you hold the knife in the light it is translucent. Link http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/160552-cracked-ice-knive-handle
Great info. Thanks.