Shell Shock - Let's See some Tortoise

[btmccutcheon]

Lately, I've been perusing the web looking at knives both old and new to try to improve my education so that maybe sometime in the future I can bring good information to the porch. In so looking, I've stumbled upon numerous traditional knives with tortoise or feaux tortoise covers as were recently seen earlier this past year withe the tortoise Beer Scout (I hate that I didn't snatch that one up). Anyway It appears that tortoise was a fairly popular cover back in the day and can still be found on a few newer traditionals today, but they don't seem to be as popular as it appears they used to be. This seems a little odd to me as it seems Tortoise would provide just as unique a character as say for instance cocobolo, soup bone, or stag. Seeing some of these beautiful old tortoises made me wonder why it's not as plentiful today as it appears to have once been.

Since I'm currently looking into finding some tortoise for my collection, as I currently just haven't pulled the trigger, I was curious if the members here find it as appealing as I do. Some insight into the history of this material would definitely be welcome, but truth be told, we know we want to see some pictures.

:thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

I'm all historied out right now! Here's a pic, and I'll try and dig some more out tomorrow :thumbup:

 

[btb01]

Obligatory Tortoise Shell Beer Scout photos...

 

[philllll]

 

[Jack Black]

 

[btmccutcheon]

Now THAT's whatI'm talking about! Absolutely beautiful, Jack!

 

[Modoc ED]

 

[Jack Black]

Now THAT's whatI'm talking about! Absolutely beautiful, Jack!

Thank you I think I may have one or two more, will have to drag them out for a group shot! :thumbup:

 

[btmccutcheon]

Ed, I've already got a soft spot for Sodbusters, and that Bullnose is just making it worse. Very nice!

 

[Half/Stop]

2015 Rendezvous Special

 

[Arathol]

 

[5K Qs]

Tons of torrid tortoise turning up today! :thumbup::thumbup:
My only example is a Canyon Creek sunfish (not convinced that tortoise on a sunfish is zoologically appropriate ):

- GT

 

[Will Power]

Tortoises like the indoors, for obvious reasons..

Small fry: Peanut & Congress

Homeless, Real.
Homie, Faux.

 

[draggat]

Great knives everyone!

Jack, I'm assuming that yours are the real thing? I don't think we can legally buy those here in the states anymore but I did see a French maker not too long ago who occasionally uses it. Very beautiful material IMO.

Mine are all acrylics.

 

[chuko]

Here are photos of a Jim Dunlap custom with tortoise and gold foil.
Charles

 

[black mamba]

Rough Rider

Great Eastern

 

[lambertiana]

I only have one tortoise-handled knife, an old H&B

 

[Ferahgo]

There are some beautiful prices here. How does tortuous handle? I never interacted with it.

 

[lambertiana]

Real tortoise is very similar to horn. A lot of the knives in this thread have celluloid or acrylic scales, and those would behave like any other cell or acrylic scales.

 

[JustinR]

This one should be in the mailbox on Wednesday. This is a Marbles knife that was made by Queen.