Question about phenolic handles.

[DeSotoSky]

Were the black phenolic handles used prior to incorporation in 1961?

 

[mbjannusch]

Yes Phenolic handles were used in pre factory production knives. Early advertising referred to Melamine as Ivory and Phenolic as Ebony. I believe it was introduced in 1961

 

[David Martin]

I have tracked its named use to that being with the use of melamine and black on the twin set model 210 and the 110 Skinner. I found the flier with the above reference but that carries the 3220 Congress Street address which was 1961.Yet, that is very close to the date in question and these being hard to pen down. Larry Oden has the most extensive collection of melamine handled Buck's I know of. Are some of these from 1960? Maybe, certainly close. You ask a hard question to verify and I'm not certain I can point to concrete evidence on this at this time. DM

 

[mbjannusch]

I not quite sure what DM is trying to say, but the phonolic handle material is the samething they used for boweling balls and was introduced on Buck knives in 1961. Prior to that Melamine, LV, Bone/stag and lucite were the most common handle materials. They stopped using melamine due to it having a high fracture rate in cold climates.