Mother of Pearl Handles.................

MercyfulfateXX

MercyfulfateXX

Joined
Mar 2, 2014
Messages
2,107
Good day everyone.


I am looking at buying a new Case XX Jack knife soon and it has very nice looking MOP Handles,Yes they are the genuine MOP Handles.

it will be my first knife with these handles (they are pricey) and was curious do the MOP handles for knives come smooth or will I need to expect divets or pock marks or places that aren't smooth and consistent? The knife looks very nice but im sure they all come different like Stag.

Thanks in advance.

bad internet pic of knife in question,
 
MercyfulfateXX said:
Good day everyone.


I am looking at buying a new Case XX Jack knife soon and it has very nice looking MOP Handles,Yes they are the genuine MOP Handles.

it will be my first knife with these handles (they are pricey) and was curious do the MOP handles for knives come smooth or will I need to expect divets or pock marks or places that aren't smooth and consistent? The knife looks very nice but im sure they all come different like Stag.

Thanks in advance.

bad internet pic of knife in question,
Click to expand...

I'm sure that the mother of pearl handles look nice, but I've never seen a photo that made me want to buy them. Something about the white-on-white next to bolster metal just doesn't come across. I'd love to see one in person, or a good photo.

For those of you that had them and sold them, why did you sell? Is the reality as underwhelming as the photo?
 
Pearl is quite beautiful on a nickel-bolstered knife. Pearl varies in appearance, but should always feel smooth! AAA Pearl will have very good color and "pearlescence!"
 
Mother of Pear handled knives have always appealed to me.

Especially carved/checkered pearl. (not to mention domed gold pins!)

I have read that it is a very stable material, that does not shift or move. But I was always worried about my butter fingers.

I have cracked a few bone handles (dropping on concrete and asphalt are the normal culprits).

Make sure to post up some pictures when it arrives!
 
Thanks everyone for your replies,
the photo did not make me want to buy one I have seen a few in person and really like them a lot. I have a decent Texas Jack/Jack knife collection and wanted to ad a MOP to it but wasn't sure how the pearl evolves over time and what exactly I should expect.

I will certainly post pics and not like the one posted .
 
Pearl should be smooth but the color of each piece is different. This variation in color and sparkle as you tilt pearl is impossible to fully capture in a 2 dimensional photo, but here's one of my shots of a nice piece.

dunlapmop1.jpg


IMO the OP's pic is a stock photo, not the actual knife you are buying. Try to select pearl in person if possible.
 
Chief, that is very nice! and Yes Sir, that's a stock photo,i would have to drive to Tennessee to actually see the knife in Person. but its surely calling my name.
 
Pearl is like stag, in that each piece can look quite different. Do try to at least see pics of the exact knife you are buying, or have the option to return it if not satisfied. This early '90s Bulldog has nice pearl, with pastel gray/blue/greens to pink/purples, depending on light and angle of view.

IMG_9978.jpg~original
 
Only have one Case Pearl knife and it is pretty good on both sides. Ask em to hand pic one for you, a good dealer wants you to be happy.
 
Thanks Black Mamba, very nice. I will have the option to return it. I buy my Case knives from a very reputable dealer.


Chief,The Manager at the place I but my Case knives from will hand pick me one. He has hand picked many for me and addresses my concerns and knows im very particular since I cant hand pick it myself,(and the fact I buy a heck of a lot of knives from them)lol

Thanks Guys, very nice knives! From what I have read MOP is very stable,not prone to shrinkage and is hard as a rock as well?
 
Mercy, I've never had a problem with my Bulldog and it's 20+ years old. Check my photo, see how tight the fit is between cover and bolsters, and around the pins: no gaps and no checks, extremely stable stuff.
 
Like others have said, they're usually smooth and uniform. However, there have been jigged models in the past. I have a smooth Queen #21 Senator in MOP but I've also seen ones with jigging. There are others too and I imagine it would be advertised if it were jigged.
 
black mamba said:
Mercy, I've never had a problem with my Bulldog and it's 20+ years old. Check my photo, see how tight the fit is between cover and bolsters, and around the pins: no gaps and no checks, extremely stable stuff.
Click to expand...


yes it looks very nice for sure, hopefully the one I order will look the same, I guess im just concerned since ive never had one new.

2Dead, it isn't jigged it supposed to be smooth so it should be just that.
 
MOP is great stuff and like you said, each piece is very unique. I tend to like the covers that have pink and green coloration. Here's an old Wade Bros. whittler that has some great covers IMO.

Wade_Bros_MOP_Whittler.jpg
 
From what I have read MOP is very stable,not prone to shrinkage and is hard as a rock as well?
Click to expand...

It's normally very smooth and polished. The color and brightness of each one will vary by individual piece.

It's more durable than you might imagine, but it can crack if dropped. This is a vintage knife that I picked up at a garage sale for $5. In the time that I've owned it it's survived several trips through the laundry. It does have a hairline crack now, undoubtedly from one of the times it dropped to the floor.

DSC_4050_zpsa23268a4.jpg


Here's another vintage MOP knife that I don't use.

Needhamsmallsenator.jpg
 
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