Found and Need info, Schrade 881 and Hammer brand

NJBillK

NJBillK

Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
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Hey folks, I found some knives in Good condition near me for a good price. I was curious if anyone had any other information to add to what I have.

I know the Schrade is prior to '73 and though some had bone, this likely has delrin scales which have no cracks anywhere, which are firmly mounted, no wobble on scales (I lucked out there). Blades have no play vertical or side to side, main blade has about a 4 pull, the sheepsfoot and spey have 5-6 pulls respectively. Carbon steel blades, 881, not 881y. Almost no damage to edges, 2 Small chips near tip of main blade and one near the tip of sheepsfoot, one sharpening would rid the blades of All damage to edges.
I feel this was a user and a loved one at that.

The Hammer was made from '45-'55 and I think also has delrin scales, but not sure on this. No cracks or wobble in scales which are mounted firmly. Main blade pull is around a 4, sheepsfoot is around a 6, neither of which have any dings or visible chips. There seems to be a Very Small amount of Very light pitting but little patina and no rust, so someone likely polished it?
I am not sure if this was a light user/dress knife or just sat on a dresser.

Walden Schrade:



Hammer Brand:

 
Re: the 881.
delrin scales which have no cracks anywhere, which are firmly mounted, no wobble on scales (I lucked out there)
Click to expand...
Delrin seems to last forever if not left in the sunlight or exposed to heat.

There are some good topics about the 881 in the Schrade Collectors forum area. For example: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/433098-Schrade-881Y-age

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Re the Hammer brand knife.
Handle looks like celluloid to me, and it has shrunk quite a bit. I would not store it with any other knives.
 
Bob W said:
I would not store it with any other knives.
Click to expand...

I was curious as to the reasoning behind this. Is it just due to the age and current condition of the knife and the wishes to preserve if as best as possible or is the celluloid likely to be brittle due to aging?
Is there something I am missing here?

Thanks for the info too.
 
Great info there, thanks!

Seems like I will either be parting with that one or rescaling it.
Decisions, decisions...
 
A modern acrylic would give the knife a similar 'feeling' and aesthetics without the hazards. That is, if you choose to rehandle it.
 
Isn't that Hammer Brand a shell handled knife, rather than cell? Maybe it is cell that has pulled back a bit, but there are no pins... :confused:
 
I will agree with Bob regarding celluloid, and being careful storing knives using this cover material with other knives. A knife that looks great, can otherwise, for no apparent reason, start out gassing and deteriorate quickly.

I have not seen the cell-wrapped shell handle knives do this nearly as much as the solid-covered ones. The shell handle cell wraps usually shrink, but don't typically outgas like the solid versions.

Your Hammer would make a good user. Not much collector value unless pristine, but the steel is good stuff and will take a wicked edge.

The 881 is a nice knife also, it looks like it was cared for pretty well and used a fair amount. No pin cracks, as are many times common with the delrin schrades.

A couple nice users, thanks for sharing.
 
Bob W said:
Shell is the construction method. Celluloid is the material. Many shell-handled knives were made with celluloid.

Scroll down to Mr Levine's post: http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/31594/
More examples here, " It has a shell handle in cracked ice celluloid." http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...d-Colonials-are-they-the-poormans-collectable

Or I've got it all wrong?
Click to expand...

Thanks for that clarification Bob. And Glenn. I did not realize the thin shell material was celluloid. I thought it was only the solid ones.
 
thawk said:
Thanks for that clarification Bob. And Glenn. I did not realize the thin shell material was celluloid. I thought it was only the solid ones.
Click to expand...

It can be difficult to tell, with so many different plastics and other synthetic materials being used over the years. Many of those have the same problems of shrinkage and deterioration over time, but don't have the reputation for "off-gassing."
And even with celluloid it's difficult to predict the speed or inevitability of deterioration. Clearly, not all "celluloid" was the same.
 
This! This is why I love this place. Thank you everyone! Users they shall remain.
Now to contemplate and research if and how to rescale the Hammer, if I decide to do so.

Any info regarding personal experiences rescaling is welcomed, as is any further reading on these 2 knives.
 
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yellow delrin on the "y" vs "stagalon" delrin on the regular... I will look further into that tonight to make sure that is the only difference.
 
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