Remember Bakelite?

Karl B. Andersen

Karl B. Andersen

Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Messages
5,686
This beauty here is for one of my VERY! discriminating customers who discovered my stash of early 20th century Bakelite.
I got this from an old demolished building in Wisconsin that was built in the 190....s. This stuff here is right at 100 years old.
So, the old century meets the new century with some clay processed W2 tool steel and hot-blued steel take-down fittings.
Hope you enjoy the viewing!

RNf-1.jpg
 
Wow, Karl- that came out nice! I have some bakelite, but not that pretty. Lovely hamon, too. Very Nice.

Dave
 
I like that hunter. The blade has nice belly and looks pretty badass for a hunter. Is that bake light supposed to be tougher or similar to micarta? This blade kinda reminds me of Ed Fowler style.
 
jonathan brand said:
I like that hunter. The blade has nice belly and looks pretty badass for a hunter. Is that bake light supposed to be tougher or similar to micarta? This blade kinda reminds me of Ed Fowler style.
Click to expand...

Jon, this is the world's first official "plastic" of the modern age.
I would say it is NOT as hard or as tough as Micarta.
It even has some irregularities along its length that can really only be observed in person.
It's rather unique, and I only have a limited supply.
 
Great contrast of materials.... :)
Stunning simplicity.


Now, was this the stuff that does some weird things (odors/fumes) as it ages?
 
Karl,
Knives like the one you are showcasing is the reason why I got into knife collecting!

Beautiful in it's simplicity.
 
Karl,

That's a very nice hunter. The Bakelite is a unique treat, and looks really good, in my opinion.

Another opinion is that you're doing some of the very neatest hamons around, and that's one!

John
 
Thanks, John.

Oddly enough, I just got an email from one of my customers who was a good friend of Leo Baekelund's grandson.

The Development of Bakelite

Around 1907, Belgian-born chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland took two ordinary chemicals, phenol and formaldehyde, mixed them in a sealed autoclave, and subjected them to heat and pressure. The sticky, amber-colored resin he produced in his Yonkers laboratory was the first plastic ever to be created entirely from chemicals, and the first material to be made entirely by man.

Dr. Baekeland's new material - he called it Bakelite - opened the door to the Age of Plastics and seeded the growth of a worldwide industry that today employs more than 60 million people. Today, synthetic plastics are everywhere. They are just as familiar to us as wood or metal, and as easily taken for granted.
 
Cool knife Karl - I like the Bakelite set off against the blued fittings.

Roger
 
Sooo, does bakelite age? I have a sheet of some type of phonelic that has a similar color when ground. Over time it turns a rust color.

By the way I am a huge fan of manmade handle materials. That is a beautiful knife!!!
 
And you can make it yourself! At least I did in freshman chemistry.

Nice work Karl. I will bring a bakelite recipe next time I visit and we can go into production.
 
Just a super looking hunter, Karl! The old and the new combine for a top notch hunter for your customer. :thumbup:

- Joe
 
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