New versus old

singin50

singin50

Joined
Jan 31, 2012
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So I was thinking today who does the best job at recreating the look of Celluloid without actually using this volatile material today?
GEC obviously comes to mind as my first choice because I own several of their acrylics and some do come close to the original in look but is there anyone else out there that can actually get closer?
Here are the 2 I think come closest to actual celluloid. One Tidoiute and one Northfield, GEC called these Tortoise.
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The only moderns I own with acrylic covers are a couple of GEC's. A grey pearl #06 and a Mardi Gras #81. I feel both compare favorably to the old celluloids, the grey pearl more so. I really want to try their coffee house acrylic as this one mesmerizes me whenever a picture is posted.
 
Never had one of these, but how does GEC's acrylic stand up against daily use? How about in the pocket with change, nail clippers, etc? Wondering how durable it is - guessing it would stand up to assorted pocket clutter BETTER than wood or bone? Any commentary here appreciated.
 
arizonaranchman said:
Never had one of these, but how does GEC's acrylic stand up against daily use? How about in the pocket with change, nail clippers, etc? Wondering how durable it is - guessing it would stand up to assorted pocket clutter BETTER than wood or bone? Any commentary here appreciated.
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I would think that the acrylic is more durable than bone or wood, but doesn't age as well. I'd expect it to pick up a dull, milky appearance as the surface gets scratched and dinged.

- Christian
 
kamagong said:
I would think that the acrylic is more durable than bone or wood, but doesn't age as well. I'd expect it to pick up a dull, milky appearance as the surface gets scratched and dinged.

- Christian
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I agree with Christian here that if carried with other pocket items the finish would glaze or become milky? I would think the opposite if carried solo in pocket as the cotton/denim would act as a polishing cloth?

I never had one before a few days ago and I'm hooked now!!!

I love this Tomato acrylic on this HJ6 (separate thread upcoming) ;):cool:

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Paul
 
I think Christian is probably right on. This acrylic is pretty sturdy stuff.
 
For reference, this Robeson is the real celluloid from before WWII.
GampMopen_zps39a30cbb.jpg~original


GEC does do it right. I just picked up one of their tortoise, and it is beautiful.
Tortoise61_zps02c3c935.jpg~original


Some other GEC favorites (L to R): blue denim, smokey pearl, twilight, kryptonite, lava lamp, blue oyster, and cat's cradle
FaveAcrylics_zps38c526d6.jpg~original
 
That 'twilight' is just..Wow! I've never seen that before. Beautiful.
 
The Red River acrylic on the #81 looked really nice ,don't have one due to a love affair with African Blackwood and a shortage of money !
 
black mamba said:
Some other GEC favorites (L to R): blue denim, smokey pearl, twilight, kryptonite, lava lamp, blue oyster, and cat's cradle
FaveAcrylics_zps38c526d6.jpg~original
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Thanks for the group shot Jeff:thumbup: Something about that lava lamp really floats my boat!!!

Off to see if any are out in the wild;)

Paul
 
Wooohoo, I guess you guys have figured it out by now. I just wanted to see what everyone had in the way of newer acrylics. Hey Jeff, these Tortoise shell acrylics were made in very numbers so hold onto it! She's a beauty!
 
Are there various formulas of acrylics? I see Case and others using the term "Corelon". I also see the term "Mica Pearl" used. Are these different substances? I've always thought acrylics would be as durable and tough as delrin but I'm not sure anymore.

I only own one knife with acrylic panels--a Hen & Rooster Stockman. Based on that knife, I'm not sold on the durability of modern acrylics. I've hardly carried it at all but I once dropped it from about 18" to a wooden surface and it sustained a crack in one of the panels. My delrin knives have met with considerably more major mishaps without damage. Wood might have dented slightly and I guess it's possible, although very unlikely, that a bone panel might crack from the same incident.

Have others put their acrylic handled knives through hard use and had different experiences?
 
From what I've seen of kirinite it seems like that could approximate the look of some of the old celluloids.
 
Nate, I'm not familiar with Kinnite but would like to see some examples if you or anyone has some. Lee, it obviously depends on the angle it was dropped at. Any hard material, even Sapphire crystal, can shatter or crack when dropped on a hard surface. Acrylic is certainly not impervious to a drop, anymore than any other material. Not a Super material but certainly stronger and less dangerous than celluloid.
 
Lee48 said:
Are there various formulas of acrylics? I see Case and others using the term "Corelon". I also see the term "Mica Pearl" used. Are these different substances? I've always thought acrylics would be as durable and tough as delrin but I'm not sure anymore.

I only own one knife with acrylic panels--a Hen & Rooster Stockman. Based on that knife, I'm not sold on the durability of modern acrylics. I've hardly carried it at all but I once dropped it from about 18" to a wooden surface and it sustained a crack in one of the panels. My delrin knives have met with considerably more major mishaps without damage. Wood might have dented slightly and I guess it's possible, although very unlikely, that a bone panel might crack from the same incident.

Have others put their acrylic handled knives through hard use and had different experiences?
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The term "acrylic" means a specific family of plastics.
In general, that family is relatively hard and brittle, harder and more brittle than Delrin. I've heard it said that "Corelon" is "DuPont Corian", but cannot confirm that as being true.

"Mica Pearl" is not a specific plastic. Rather, it is a description of the pigmentation of that plastic and the visual effect imparted by that pigmentation. Specific grades of mica can impart a pearlescent appearance to paints and plastics. You most commonly see it in some car paint jobs. As far as knife handles go, the toughness and other properties will depend upon the resin system, rather than the pigmentation. So you cannot define the properties based on a plastic being called "mica pearl".
 
GEC Rootbeer acrylic is rather tasty to my mind



Bulldog were doing a range of handles that might be cell or acrylic a few years ago, very hard to photograph as they have an iridiscent shine about them.
 
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More GEC the rather acid-trip Kryptonite. It has an interesting pearl swirl in it



Here's the pile side of that Bulldog in Cell/Acrylic?? Ram's Horn on left is neither, sorry!:D
 
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