Are Acrylics Traditional?

[AFAustin]

I have a fondness for acrylics, and GEC in particular has produced some stunning ones in recent years. So maybe my question---Are acrylics traditional?---answers itself in that traditional knifemakers regularly use them, and traditional fans obviously buy and love them.

But I think if I were to show some of my traditional knives to a non-knife person, while they would immediately understand how trads with bone or wood scales fit the type, they might not with a flashy acrylic.

Are acrylics "traditional" because they are the modern descendants of celluloid, which has an illustrious if somewhat controversial history with traditional knives? Or maybe because synthetic scales---e.g., delrin---have been around for quite a while and acrylics are just a more "artistic" type of synthetic? Or is there something else to it?

Thanks for any thoughts, background, or history.

Andrew

 

[singin50]

The easy answer is YES! Acrylic has replaced more volatile and dangerous materials such as celluloid, in the plastic category. For years celluloid was used in many forms, from political pins to radios and jewelry. Back in those days little was known or talked about concerning the dangers of this particular plastic. Today, after years of observing what can happen, (flamible mainly!) whether in knife handles or in general, it's replacement has been acrylic. Safer, won't shrink, easier to work with in making knife handles and can come in a myriad of color combinations. While there is corelon, ZLox and the like, acrylic seems to be the choice of GEC. Really the best choice, IMO.

 

[knarfeng]

Are acrylics "traditional"
1) because they are the modern descendants of celluloid, which has an illustrious if somewhat controversial history with traditional knives?

2) Or maybe because synthetic scales---e.g., delrin---have been around for quite a while and acrylics are just a more "artistic" type of synthetic?

Or is there something else to it?

Thanks for any thoughts, background, or history.

Andrew

You nailed it with 1) and 2).
From a non-knife knut standpoint, they look like celluloid, and therefore appear traditional.
From a knife knut standpoint, they are just fancier versions of Delrin.

 

[waynorth]

I agree that acrylic is traditional, although it is growing into its status as such!
There is a desire, if not a need, for colourful knife handles that are more stable than the stuff of yore, and acrylic seems to be it!
Not traditional in the strictest sense but in the long-desired sense!

That's my story and I am sticking to it!

 

[bill2000]

Man made materials have part of the traditional knife world for many years and acrylic is the latest to come down the pike. My opinion and my opinion only is that man-made materials are less desirable than natural ones like bone, horn, stag and even exotic woods. That being said, some of the acrylics I've seen are attractive, others hideous. Make mine natural please.

 

[supratentorial]

Sure, I'd say that synthetic handles are traditional. I don't think the modern acrylics necessarily follow traditional styles but it's a different material and it's manufactured differently. Unfortunately some of the old synthetic materials haven't been reproduced with acrylic or other modern materials... at least not well. A couple that come to mind are candy strip and shell.

shell




candy stripe

 

[shecky]

I don't think the material makes a traditional nearly as much as the construction. Plastics/synthetics have a pretty long history in commercial knife production.

 

[abbydaddy]

In my mind, acrylics are traditional. I feel like the things that make a knife traditional or not are more about an overall feel. In a lot of ways it is a non-aggressive feeling to a knife that makes it feel traditional.

While there certainly were historical karambits, I would not consider a karambit traditional, but that has more to do with the feeling of the knife than it would materials. Some of the custom slipjoints that I drool over are made with Kevlar scales, but the feeling of a Kevlar and S35VN Sodbuster is still quite traditional, even if nothing about the materials is traditional.

Another way to put it is, the material acrylic is not traditional to traditional knives, but the effect achieved through the use of acrylic is very traditional.

 

[Will Power]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1044413-Show-off-your-GEC-Acrylics

Good question Andrew!

I think GEC has really taken up the theme of trying to re-interp the variations and colours of Celluloid without its lethal side-effects by offering a very interesting assortment of acrylics. Of course there's still more scope for improvement But witness their latest offering of faux Tortoise on the Beer Scout Knife, the reception has been ecstatic. Synthetic materials, rubber, early plastics, cell go back to the c19th so that's a long and authentic lineage. Some of the Cell knives of the early to mid c20th are complex and remarkable for their beauty, and must've been even more alluring when new and crystal bright! There's always been a lure for a looker on a pocket-knife, not everybody was or is satisfied by mere brown bone or wood. It's part of a tradition of eye-appeal if you like, and that's been around since flint knapping

Here's my Kryptonite White Owl. I think it has a lot of depth and beauty and suits the frame absolutely. It also garners a lot of interest from the 'other' the 99.5% of the population who are not Knife Enlightened

 

[oldmanrunning]

I only have the one Acrylic, it functions perfectly seems fairly scratch resistant and is just purty as all get out. Is it a traditional ? Well i suppose it depends on your definition.

 

[Half/Stop]

I really do not know if these are made with Acrylic or some other man made material

But I do know for sure that they are Traditional and quite common on German Cutlery of the 70's and 80's

 

[Arathol]

I really do not know if these are made with Acrylic or some other man made material

But I do know for sure that they are Traditional and quite common on German Cutlery of the 70's and 80's

Those are probably celluloid. A lot of German made knives from that time still had celluloid handles. Older Bulldog, Fightin Rooster and Buck Creek have known issues with outgassing and scale degradation. Those scales appear to be in the early stages of decomposition. The waterfall pattern handles (the brown one) seem to be shrinking a bit and the blades on both are starting to corrode.

 

[supergnat]

Don't SAKs still use celluloid?

 

[texasshipagent]

I would say that they are to me what makes a "traditional" is the pattern itself over the years knife makers have used many different plastics, dating as far back as industrial revolution with Bakelite which believe (history buffs correct me if wrong) the first mass used plastic for things like this. Slightly off topic I found that autopoint still makes their all American pencil which is no longer Bakelite but otherwise the original design good companion to a traditional EDC knife carry

Some of the acrylic scales are pretty cool and will totally buy one at one point that kinda have a 1920's feel and retro-ness which is very "traditional" [emoji3]

 

[supratentorial]

Don't SAKs still use celluloid?

Most are cellidor which sounds similar but it is not the same as celluloid. Some are nylon. There were some very old Swiss army knives with celluloid handles--they're rare.

 

[Blake the Blade]

This one may be of interest in that I've heard the material of it's scales described as Lucite, which, as I understand, is an early form of plastic. Now I estimate that this knifes could be something like sixty years old though I'm not certain, but it must be seen as a predecessor of the more modern celluloid, nylon and acrylic handled knives that we recognise today. So if a knife, it's construction, materials and, or design have a lineage that can be traced back to historical precedents, and their are many older examples than mine, then it must be seen as traditional to a greater or lesser degree. This would surely depend on the modernity of it's other elements and not simply the materials of which it is made. :fatigue:

Untitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr

 

[rma100]

More Modern Celluloid? I think not! Celluloid for knife handles dates to at least the 1890's. According to American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors, 7th Edition, Jim Sargent, Celluloid Handles were widely used by the Case Brothers Cutlery Company, circa 1896 to 1915. That is just one reference. To get back on topic, I consider Acrylic a wonderful and worthy replacement for Celluloid on modern production Traditional Knife Patterns. Same basic attraction, colorful and sturdy, without the well known drawbacks of the Celluloid.

 

[RDaneel]

More Modern Celluloid? I think not! Celluloid for knife handles dates to at least the 1890's. According to American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors, 7th Edition, Jim Sargent, Celluloid Handles were widely used by the Case Brothers Cutlery Company, circa 1896 to 1915. That is just one reference. To get back on topic, I consider Acrylic a wonderful and worthy replacement for Celluloid on modern production Traditional Knife Patterns. Same basic attraction, colorful and sturdy, without the well known drawbacks of the Celluloid.

What great information!

Just as manufacturers have sought out other kinds of wood and bone for handles, they have sought out other artificial materials. I've got one celluloid handled knife, which I really like and which is really beautiful, but it has begun to outgas. Acrylic is a great replacement material to me!

 

[dave308ek]

My first traditional with Acrylic covers. Mint Chocolate Swirl 33 conductor 1 of 7.

 

[Blake the Blade]

More Modern Celluloid? I think not! Celluloid for knife handles dates to at least the 1890's. According to American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors, 7th Edition, Jim Sargent, Celluloid Handles were widely used by the Case Brothers Cutlery Company, circa 1896 to 1915. That is just one reference. To get back on topic, I consider Acrylic a wonderful and worthy replacement for Celluloid on modern production Traditional Knife Patterns. Same basic attraction, colorful and sturdy, without the well known drawbacks of the Celluloid.

I think my point was that celluloid was one material amongst many used after my Lucite example. The fact that celluloid was used before that date does not surprise me and I'm pleased to learn that it was. I said that their were earlier examples than mine. My point was to do with the tradition of synthetic materials and thankfully your argument helps to support that point. Enjoying the discussion.