Hollow Bolster IMPERIAL question

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afishhunter

afishhunter

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Should I retire this knife?
BEFORE
IMG_20240216_120231.jpg
AFTER
IMG_20240315_121428.jpg
Is the tape's glue on the pile side failing?
It didn't have what looks like bubbles under the tape before I carried it a few consecutive days.
The "bubbles" cannot be felt.

Thank you for your opinion and/or expertise.

The only other hollow bolster Imperial knives I've had are the Jackmaster Barlow.
 
afishhunter said:
Should I retire this knife?
BEFORE
View attachment 2528825
AFTER
View attachment 2528826
Is the tape's glue on the pile side failing?
It didn't have what looks like bubbles under the tape before I carried it a few consecutive days.
The "bubbles" cannot be felt.

Thank you for your opinion and/or expertise.

The only other hollow bolster Imperial knives I've had are the Jackmaster Barlow.
Click to expand...
I think it's a celluloid veneer that is starting to break down. I would expect it to become thin and brittle and lose its design. There won't be any glue under the veneer; it's just formed around the covers so there are little flaps of it between the covers and the liners.
If I were going to take off the veneer, I would slit it down the middle and tease it out from under the covers. If I left it alone, I would expect there to not be enough celluloid to do much damage to the knife.

You reminded me of one.
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725nRJ5.jpg

What could possibly go wrong?
vAJl7y8.jpg
 
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daRn. 🤨
I'm going to guess having an engraver replicate the mark and pike sides (with or without coloraration) would cost several thousand times the knife's value, and hundreds of times more its value to have a modder (like Glenn) convert it to real copper or bronze bolsters and install recently cut 'n kiln dried wood ... or a couple pieces of ancient wood, from an Bog or pre CE/AD shipwreck (or from Noah's boat's keel, deck, or window ledge, come to that.)
Oh well.
"Retire" it is. I believe I have something to put it in so it won't damage anything else ... I'll have to consume the gunpowder green tea I made and put in it this late A.M first ... 🙄

("Gunpowder" Green Tea is just a "High Caffeine" brew.)
 
There's enough spring in the covers that you can stick a knife under them to free up the trapped edge of cel.
 
afishhunter said:
"Retire" it is. I believe I have something to put it in so it won't damage anything else ... I'll have to consume the gunpowder green tea I made and put in it this late A.M first ... 🙄
Click to expand...
Too bad.
Remember I don't know much about anything.
 
screened porch said:
Remember I don't know much about anything.
Click to expand...
I will disagree.
You no a lot more than i.

I just did the sniff test in the pile side.
PEW!!!!! 🤯🤯🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢
It is definately outgassing now. 🥺
Mark side dont's stink ... yet. 😁👍

Put a heavy coat of HOPPE'S Numer 9 on the closest blades, and have it in the open, away from anything metal. Hopefully the secondary blades won't get corroded.
I'm not going to pull the "covers" yet.

I wonder if a tape of some kind can be made with the same designs printed on it is an option ...🤔

Might try to save enough green to send it to Glenn for real bolsters and wood or bone covers. Send it to him without the tin covers, since they would just go in the trash anyway.

Knife won't be "collectable" anymore, but it will be usable.
 
I love the look of the blades.. I'd strip off the celluloid and add wood scales and keep on using her.
 
JM2 said:
I love the look of the blades.. I'd strip off the celluloid and add wood scales and keep on using her.
Click to expand...
If not a hollow bolster/shell construction I would.
Bolsters and celluloid "covers" are on a sheet of tin that is clipped to the liners on both ends.
I popped off the offending cover to show you what I'm talking about.
IMG_20240315_173735.jpg
IMG_20240315_173713.jpg
There does not seem to be any damage to the liner or the understde of the shell.
That is a good thing.

NO! I am not going to re-install the shell ... actually, I will. I have a baggie I can store the celloloid "cover" in. It came off in one piece.
IMG_20240315_175241.jpg
I doubt soaking it in a baking powder solution would arrest the outgassing.

I wonder if a bit of skateboard deck tape would make a "good" faux cover ... be "grippy" no doubt ... mebby too rough ...
Since the mark side is not outgassing (yet) I will leave alone for now.

I agree. I really like the "Old Hickory-ish" blade detail.
 
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ea42 said:
Guys that's not celluloid, those hammer forged knives were made in the '70's with genuine plastic handles. They won't outgass.

Eric
Click to expand...
Stinks like outgassing celluloid though. 🤢
Better "safe" than "sorry".
If it is plastic, I can always put it back on. 😁👍

After removing it, I don't see the spotting I was concerned about.
I'll give it a week or so. If still no spotting or noticable deterioration,, I'll put it back on. 😁👍
 
That knife would be cool as a shadow and bolsterless. Nice piece of hardwood with a cool shield!!!!
 
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