Old Adhesive Identification

[ARTIST]

I removed the handle on a German made rat tail tang dagger that had a heat sensitive adhesive that glued the grip onto the tang. Is anyone here familiar with the adhesives the early 20th cent cutlery makers used. I would like to find this out. The grip had to be ground off. That's how strong the adhesion was.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is likely "Cutler's Resin" (AKA Cutler's wax or Cutler's shellac) … which is a kind of sealing wax. It is fine clay and various shellacs, resins, and other hard waxes. Most are reddish to brown, but some were made with coal dust and were black.

Here is the definition:
Cutler's Resin is a synthetic resin made of pine pitch, beeswax, and sawdust or carnauba wax used for centuries to attach knife handles. It is used as both an adhesive and for waterproofing. The word cutler means "one who makes knives".

 

[ARTIST]

Thanks for the reply Stacy. That's what it looked like. I'm sure they had effective recipes for glue. I would like to replicate it.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You can buy it. It is also called Dop Wax, and used in stone cutting. It comes in square sticks. Ebay will have lots.
This is what I use:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/rle-RED-DO...h=item5d7bf35c83:g:PcsAAOSwpcBatFx7:rk:5:pf:0


You can find lots of recipes if you google "Cutler's Resin".
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/paleoplanet69529/how-to-make-cutler-s-resin-t55490.html

 

[ARTIST]

Thanks again. I found a thread on the forum that lists a variety of mixes. Great information on here. I never thought of dop wax used by jewelers and engravers.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Same basic stuff.

 

[MBB]

Interesting. I was going to guess hide glue, which is grossly similar in appearance (as well as just plain gross) but not particularly waterproof.

Love this site!

 

[ARTIST]

Pretty sure it was "cutlers resin" as I have now learned. The knife was a classic German solingen.