A question about delrin.

[el gigantor]

I recently ordered a yellow delrin Case Sodbuster. It's my favourite traditional pattern, and I have a healthy respect for the history of the WR Case & Sons Cutlery Company.

To the knife historians of BF I ask you, how long ago did pocket knife companies start using delrin and similar materials for handle scales? (Also, I'd love to see photos of old examples if you have any.)

Bone handles have usually interested me more than synthetic in the past, but I'm thinking that could change when the soddie finally arrives at my door.

 

[TheChunk91]

Delrin came on the scene in the early 1960’s. I don’t recall the exact date. It quickly took over as the predominant knife handle material.

 

[tongueriver]

Delrin came on the scene in the early 1960’s. I don’t recall the exact date. It quickly took over as the predominant knife handle material.

I don't know how fast they started using it either, Paul, but I know that the DuPont factory was built in 1960.

 

[el gigantor]

Delrin came on the scene in the early 1960’s. I don’t recall the exact date. It quickly took over as the predominant knife handle material.

That's one thing I was wondering; if delrin dominated the market from that point on.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Case first used Delrin on the 2138 Sod Buster (black) at the pattern's debut in 1967. Not sure if any others were using it then - but I imagine it caught on pretty quick with other makers around the same time frame.

In the pic below, a pair of my black soddies, 39 years apart. One is a 1970 model and the other from 2009. I always think of the Case Sod Buster by default, when I think of Delrin.

 

[afishhunter]

I think Schrade started using Delrin and the related "Stagalon" faux Stag round-a-bout 1961. "Saw Cut" Delrin on at least the Ulster and Old Timer lines, almost exclusively. If someone mentions "Old Timer" my first thought is "Saw Cut Delrin covers".
Schrade used Stagalon on pretty much every knife in the Uncle Henry line, and on some of the Camillus made. (my 1990's Camillus contract made "Remington" canoe has Stagalon covers.)
A good cover material. Very stable, tough, durable, and daRn near "impossible" to break, crack, or chip. Schrade even guaranteed the Delrin and Stagalon covers against breakage.
I believe Utica, Western, Colonial, and at least some of the Schrade branded knives had black and other colors jigged and/or smooth Delrin covers.

 

[JB in SC]

Steve Pfeiffer’s book says 1960’s but I didn’t see a specific date.

 

[nickvnlr]

Being a new material at the time I wonder how it priced compared to wood/bone and how it was viewed. Was it considered luxury high-tech or inexpensive & durable?

 

[Will Power]

el gigantor When it arrives I don't believe it will change your attitude about bone, it'll just make you appreciate delrin It works very well on Sodbuster types due to toughness, weight and durability, visibility too if it's any other colour than black I suspect one of the reasons GEC Bullnoses are so popular in various Micartas is due to the practicality and attractiveness of delrin before it. Everybody should have some delrin in the collection, feels right.

 

[black mamba]

Celluloid is possibly the first synthetic material, having been used for about 100 years. A rough black synthetic called "gum fuddy" was used during WWII as a replacement for bone. Several other synthetics were tried during the 1950s, before Delrin became the standard around 1960-'61. This Craftsman by Ulster used a material called "bonite," from the late '50s.

 

[Will Power]

Not at all bad looking stuff that Jeff black mamba

 

[drail]

When I was gunsmithing a I made a whole set of drift punches from Delrin rod for drifting sights and moving finely finished gun parts without leaving any marks. That Delrin is just about indestructible and doesn't seem to be affected by any of the solvents I got on them. It will never be as pretty as bone but you're not going to break it unless you do something real stupid with your knife. I still have those punches and they were beat on with hammers for many years.

 

[Sacto]

You can’t go wrong with a yellow delrin Case knife. They’re classics. It works great on a sodbuster...and a trapper...and a stockman...and a pen...and a peanut.

 

[OklaMoose]

I will also add this, and someone may correct me on it if I am wrong. But if I remember correctly from past research I have done, the "true delrin" of yesteryear is no longer put on the Case yellow handle knives. (Hence Case calling it "Yellow Synthetic" these days). It's still pretty much the same exact thing, just different chemicals and such within the synthetic material, even though we all still call it delrin. Regardless, it is a great material and all of us "yella handle" fans still love it.

(P.s.) I will try to remember where I found the research on that, and post it. If I can find it again.

 

[Sacto]

I will also add this, and someone may correct me on it if I am wrong. But if I remember correctly from past research I have done, the "true delrin" of yesteryear is no longer put on the Case yellow handle knives. (Hence Case calling it "Yellow Synthetic" these days). It's still pretty much the same exact thing, just different chemicals and such within the synthetic material, even though we all still call it delrin. Regardless, it is a great material and all of us "yella handle" fans still love it.

(P.s.) I will try to remember where I found the research on that, and post it. If I can find it again.

I think you’re right. I’m pretty sure that Delrin is a brand name of a DuPont product. So if they switch products, they can no longer call it Delrin. Similar to how micarta is a trademark of Westinghouse, so other companies that make a similar product have to give it a different name.

 

[afishhunter]

"My knife has bone handles. Bone is imitation Delrin." (Quote from a knife Review on Amazon.)

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

"My knife has bone handles. Bone is imitation Delrin." (in a knife Review on Amazon.)

as we say where I'm from "Bless his little heart"

 

[veitsi_poika]

Celluloid is possibly the first synthetic material, having been used for about 100 years. A rough black synthetic called "gum fuddy" was used during WWII as a replacement for bone. Several other synthetics were tried during the 1950s, before Delrin became the standard around 1960-'61. This Craftsman by Ulster used a material called "bonite," from the late '50s.

I concur with Jeff I think the plastics really started to evolve post WWI and polystyrene was the one that emerged between celluloid and Delrin. I think Ulster's "bonite" was a polystyrene as well as Case's famous Gum Fuddy and most of the black plastic covers we see from that era. Styrene was more stable than celluloid but it was brittle and prone to cracking and some shrinkage. Post WWII all knife manufacturers were struggling and were ready to try anything cheaper than bone. So when DuPont developed Delrin in '60-'61, Schrade was all over it with the saw cut look, jigged and the Uncle Henry Staglon. Other manufacturers followed, Camillus had their "Cabone"and Queens imitation winterbottom. Case and Queen both started using Delrin in the later 60's due to manufacturing costs. Interesting to note that many people talk about "Roger's Bone" but Roger's Manufacturing Co. also made Queen's first Delrin winterbottom scales

 

[veitsi_poika]

There are pictures of the Roger's Delrin winterbottom at the end of this article...

https://franksclassicknives.com/pages/winter-bottom-bone-knife-handles

 

[veitsi_poika]

I concur with Jeff I think the plastics really started to evolve post WWI and polystyrene was the one that emerged between celluloid and Delrin. I think Ulster's "bonite" was a polystyrene as well as Case's famous Gum Fuddy and most of the black plastic covers we see from that era. Styrene was more stable than celluloid but it was brittle and prone to cracking and some shrinkage. Post WWII all knife manufacturers were struggling and were ready to try anything cheaper than bone. So when DuPont developed Delrin in '60-'61, Schrade was all over it with the saw cut look, jigged and the Uncle Henry Staglon. Other manufacturers followed, Camillus had their "Cabone"and Queens imitation winterbottom. Case and Queen both started using Delrin in the later 60's due to manufacturing costs. Interesting to note that many people talk about "Roger's Bone" but Roger's Manufacturing Co. also made Queen's first Delrin winterbottom scales

On a side note... Case's regular customers initially did not like the Delrin handles and were bypassing new Delrin Case knives to search for the "good used" bone handled knives they loved. Case recognized this and quickly started making more bone scales again while wisely promoting them as "collectible" editions.