Bakelite Fighter

[Karl B. Andersen]

Pretty straight-forward 5160 Fighter forged from my 1984 square 5160, mated with some 100+ year old Bakelite and hot-blued mild steel take-down fittings.
Dead-on 8" clipped blade and 13 1/4" overall.
Not much else to say!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

That carmel coloured Bakelite still doesn't do anything for me, but I love the look of this knife nonetheless.

 

[stabber]

Lookin good Karl!! I love the blued fittings against the Bakelite!!:thumbup:

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

That carmel coloured Bakelite still doesn't do anything for me, but I love the look of this knife nonetheless.

Then it probably never will. But the customer loved it.
I appreciate your kind words, however.
Guess there's something for everybody!

 

[Raymond Richard]

Karl, You ought to name the color, nicotine cream. I keep forget I have that piece you sent me. I think it looks good!

 

[Lorien]

blued fittings against the Bakelite!!:thumbup:

I agree.

 

[ckerwin]

Bakelite rocks:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[RogerP]

Real good looking piece Karl. I also like the blue with the Bakelite.

Roger

 

[Kevin Jones]

Very well executed as are all of your knives.
As Keith, I just don't like the bakelite.

 

[John M Cohea]

Another nice one Karl.

 

[Unsub]

That bakelite just rocks me! Love the name "nicotine cream" as well.

Funny how it can have such different effects on people. It looks like old ivory but more matte. The blued fitting is stunning as well.

 

[joeshredd]

Karl,
One of the first ones of yours that I saw that grabbed me had the Bakelite handle, IIRC, it was at my first Blade show about two years ago?
I like it! And I think it's the blued steel fittings that actually set it off and makes it more appealing.
I'd have to handle it for a final judgement, though... Especially 'cause it's got that blade style I like! :thumbup:
If I'm lucky and can swing it, I may try and make it down to Atlanta for late Friday and early Saturday veiwing... If so, I hope to see you there and maybe even get to hold this one if it doesn't jump out of your hands before then!

 

[Doug C]

The Bakelite seems to be fairly divisive.
I like it. Especially on the nicely sculpted handle.
Great looking fighter, Karl.

Doug

 

[stabber]

Hey Karl, Is the Bakelite the same as the Westinghouse Micarta that was used a lot years ago?

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

No, it may be considered the predecessor.
It's the world's first plastic/phenolic.
It was developed by Dr. Leo Baekeland, of Belgium in 1907.
It was created in many forms by the Baekeland corporation.
Actually, Michael Kanter (AdamMichael Knives) discoverd this in Wisconsin headed for the dumpster!
It was a huge sheet bolted to the wall and had all of the old fuse boxes mounted to it.
The building was built in the early 190-s.
It's pretty easy to validate by the smell - it's based on formaldehyde.
I've got probably enough to do maybe 50 knives.

 

[stabber]

Ah! Interesting, Thanks:thumbup:

I have a beautiful knife from Micheals. It's actually the Adams Micheals knife! Wanna see it?