Tortoise shell handles

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Joss

Joss

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All,

I am curious if you like tortoise shell handles. I tend to find them among the most beautiful of materials, and obviously it is one of the most exclusive.

I have read some description explaining that the shell was backed with gold leaf - is that often done? Also, I wonder how makers maximize the beauty of the material - for example, do they drill the frame to act as a window?
 
Joss said:
All,

I am curious if you like tortoise shell handles. I tend to find them among the most beautiful of materials, and obviously it is one of the most exclusive.

I have read some description explaining that the shell was backed with gold leaf - is that often done? Also, I wonder how makers maximize the beauty of the material - for example, do they drill the frame to act as a window?
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I love the way it looks, but it is an extremely fragile material, and is prone to bending easily, which is why windowframes are popular.

I don't own anything in tortoise shell, I have a personal issue with the harvesting of the material. Same thing with elephant ivory.

MOST of the time, in modern knives, gold leaf or a similar appearing substance is applied to the back of the shell.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I have only used a few pieces of tortoise shell salvaged from an antique box. It was quite thin, so I backed it with white fiber material. The result was very attractive from my perspective. Joe Kious told me he backs his with gold leaf.
 
I'm a big fan of Tortoise Shell and currently have one Bill Pease folder with it. Bill. ,like other makers, prefers to use the "antique shell" harvested from old mirrors, boxes etc.

Yes, it's almost always backed by gold leaf.

Win
 
As a tortoise owner I'm not entirely objective on the usage of tortoise shell ;)
I like how it looks, but I know for a fact that it's a fragile material, quite prone to scratches. From all the pretty natural materials, I prefer shell, because it's hard to scratch and doesn't move. This is not counting nice stag, which is my favorite (it has the looks and it isn't that fragile).
 
I have numerous examples of shell with the goldleaf. I will post them later tonight as a point. Not all acquisitions are illegal, as Don pointed out. Antique brush sets are a legal, if not common, source for this material, as I have learned.

Coop
 
I like the classic look of tortuous shell especially on folders, however it’s not very durable.
 
I have a few folders in tortoise.
All them use tortoise that was bought in the form of old combs, etc.
I don't think it is legal to get tortosie any other way now, anyway.

The tortoise on my knives is backed with gold foil.

There are actuall 2 kinds of tortoise shell, Asian and Mediterannean.
One has spots (the more common one) and the other streaks. (info from Dan Burke).

To be honest, the folders that I have that are tortoise handled are small, Sheffield-type knives, made by Gray Taylor and Dan Burke. I am not sure if the material is more fragile than say, ivory.
 
Though I do not know for sure, I always assumed the part used was the outer tough covering of the shell, rather than the actual bone. I've picked apart plenty long dead local turtle shells as a kid. This outer covering never seemed especially "fragile" to me. As in, would break in half if you dropped it. It was quite flexible, more like horn. The simple fact that it was used widely for combs also suggests this- think how the teeth would break otherwise. When used in something like an interframe type construction, I would think you'd never have any problem since it is supported and protected by the surrounding metal, and you wouldn't have to worry about it shattering like pearl. The concerns about getting scratches sound reasonable though.
 
I love tortoise shell. That knife Chuck Gedraitis posted is stunning. Unless I can pick up an old jewelry box or something, I don't think I will ever have a knife with a tortoise shell handle. Even if I see one for sale, unless it was made in Canada, it would be more of a pain to try to import it into Canada than it would be worth.
 
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It appears everyone uses the gold foil treatment.

Coop
 
1. I would want proof that the Bennica tortoise shell came from old sources.

2. Possum, it is like horn, in that it scratches easily, it is shaped by putting it into hot water. That is why I would be reluctant to edc an interframe with this material in my pocket on a hot day. Couldn't it get steamed out of shape under those conditions?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Coop - those are pieces you own??? In any case, they're mind boggling.

Steven - why would you need proof for the Bennica and not the others?
 
As always Coop, the photos are outstanding. Especially the double exposure of the Warenski.

And as for the knives, I really like the Bennica.
 
I like the stuff and the makers I know who use it get it by browsing antique stores looking for brushes and other items that were made of it. I limit what I have purchased to the folks I know would never obtain it any other way.


Coop thanks as always for the pics.
 
Joss: No, they aren't mine. I just mentioned I'd show you some of my examples, not my knives.

They arrive, I photograph them. All I allow is it is about the most sought-after and elegant handle material. I don't ask, so I don't know. That's up to the client/dealer/maker to handle.

Now, since you asked, I DO own one knife with the material, and at the time I was assured it was legitimately acquired (that's all I can do):

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The knife's lines and fitment are so stunning that I just had to own it. Not often now, do I pickup gent's folders, and this one changed me around.

That said, look at this one which arrived months later:

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You can really see the difference the gold foil makes.

Coop
 
Coop,
Those pictures, especially that Bennica are beautiful as are the knives. That Warenski isn't too shabby either.

I don't like inhumane treatment of annimals at all but I do like ivory, tortoise, stag etc. To me, shell, especially pearl, seems to be more fragile than tortoise. Tortoise, like horn will recede and warp, but pearl is very prone to cracking.

Thanks for the eye candy,
Peter
 
Kohai999 said:
2. Possum, it is like horn, in that it scratches easily, it is shaped by putting it into hot water. That is why I would be reluctant to edc an interframe with this material in my pocket on a hot day. Couldn't it get steamed out of shape under those conditions?
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As I've never owned one, I won't claim to know via first hand experience. ;)
However, I have seen several old slipjoint folders with this material, including a nice English pen knife I saw at a show a couple months ago, that looked like they were well carried. Never saw one with warped handles yet, but the maker has to understand the possibility and use proper attachment methods to prevent it.



For those into this material, I will mention that some time ago I stopped in a small antique store and found a small old box for cards or somesuch that was made of tortise shell with a silver frame. If somebody here is genuinely interested, I have to go by that way for work sometime soon, and I could see if they still have it. It would be a bit of a shame to see a nifty box like that cut up, but maybe somebody here values it more for knife handles. Let me know.
 
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