Question about celluloid.....

PointyReckoning · Mar 9, 2003

Is the knife depicted here (Camillus 2 blade congress with abalone celluloid handles) truly made of celluloid?

http://www.camillusknives.com/store/s-pages/1sframe.html?closeout_ca1.shtml~smain

The celluloid that, given enough time, invariably breaks down emitting corrosive gas and discoloring?

I had heard that such celluloid hadn't been manufactured since the 1970's and was just wondering if this was in fact celluloid or perhaps some sort of plastic that is a bit more stable?

I went ahead and ordered one anyway, I mean heck for 20 dollars you can't go wrong. I was just wondering if I should expect this thing to blow up in my dresser in 10 years or if I had a liftime pal

Will Fennell · Mar 10, 2003

Pointy,
Yup, its real celluliod. The real thing is gorgeous to look at, and avialible in alot of different patterns. The problem with celluliod is during the finishing process...that is the fire hazard. When you buff it, it gets warm, and can become unstable. Otherwise, other that some shrinkage over time, usually many years, its a good scale material that can be finished to stunning good looks!

Rest easy, we have done the "hard" part

PointyReckoning · Mar 10, 2003

Thanks for replying!

I'm not too excited about it but that stuff is so purty (and affordable!) I just couldn't live with out.

Rob19 · Mar 12, 2003

Please excuse me, but does anyone know if the Norman Rockwell Boy Scout Knives have Celluloid scales? Thank you.

Will Fennell · Mar 12, 2003

Rob,
Nope, those are NOT celluliod....Lexan I believe.

Thanks for the interest! Here's pic...

Warlock6 · Mar 14, 2003

I have two TL-29`s that are disinagrating as we speak.

PointyReckoning · Mar 21, 2003

I got my congress a day or two ago. Its a wonderful knife, especially for 20 dollars!

I used a bit of "goo-gone" to remove some excess glue on the back spine and now this knife is top notch!

Wonderful little gents knife and for 20 dollars it is a steal.

Evolute · Mar 23, 2003

I recently went to the Museum of Jurassic Technology, in Los Angeles. They had a new exhibit of Ricky Jay's collection of "failing dice". Ricky Jay, among other things, had collected thousands of (gambling) dice over the decades. The some of the celluloid ones eventually "failed".

Anyone who wants to get a good look at the wonders which occur when celluloid and entropy meet, should go and see this exhibit. For those who can't make it to the exhibit, he also produced a book with many oddly beautiful pictures of "failing dice", along with some fascinating discussion of the history of dice, and discussion of how and why celluloid disintegrates.

--Mike