Traditional Delrin

RDaneel

RDaneel

Joined
Apr 23, 2000
Messages
5,501
I have knives in stag, bone, celluloid and Delrin. Not all, but several of my favorites are handled in Delrin. I find it servicable and many times attractive. It's been around awhile (over 50 years), so it qualifies as "traditional."

I can imagine a collection of traditional slipjoints in only Delrin to be a possibility.

Anyway, just thought I'd see what folks thought about Delrin on slipjoints. Can a knife be quality, collectible and handled in Delrin?

Dean
 
Can a knife be quality, collectible and handled in Delrin?
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Absolutely. Take Schrade pocketknives for example. Their Old Timer knives were usually handled with brown sawcut Delrin. And since going out of business in 2004, the prices of many Old Timer models have skyrocketed.

I collect Old Timer knives, but not because of the handle materials. I collect them as perfect examples of "everyday" knives no longer produced. Nothing special as far as materials, but fairly priced and with a consistant quality.

If buying a knife based on design and beauty, I would select natural handle materials.

-Bob
 
Knives with man-made composite handles are an integral part of the history of traditional folders. I have one CASE delrin knife.
Knives051.jpg
 
Sure! Derlin is O.K. in my book. It takes a lick'n and keeps in tick'n! The bulk of my Schrade collection is clad in Derlin or Staglon.

Here's a Camillus lock back with attractive Derlin handles - thick as hell too!

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u131/kevins73cigars/CamillusLBA.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u131/kevins73cigars/CamillusLBA001.jpg

Manufacturer's needed an inexpensive durable material for handles and I think Dupont hit a home run with Derlin. As far as inexpensive traditional handle materials, before Derlin, I like the durability and look of wood scales.

My old LB7's are "wonda-wood." I don't know what species that really was, but it looks pretty good and holds up well.

I just started carrying a knife with ebony scales. Ebony has a nice honest look and feel. I can see why more makers choose not to use it though, probably too expensive and not "flashy" enough for most customers. Here's a couple of pictures of my new EDC. It's a S&M equal end harness jack in 1095.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u131/kevins73cigars/SNMHJ3A.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u131/kevins73cigars/SNMHJ3B.jpg

Back to the original thread idea, Derlin is definitely a part of the traditional slip joint scene and A O.K. in my opinion. Derlin does not crack easily (trust me). It holds up well to use and can take being knocked around in a tool or glove box whereas bone will crack at the pins and wood will just get too scratched up. I really don't see any downside. It's not gorgeous, like stag, but I don't think it was supposed to be...
 
Delrin is a great handle material IMO. It may not draw collectors like natural materials, but it has graced many, many quality knives.

As an aside, it is Dupont that owns the Trademark for DELRIN...and here is kind of a cool site about the product...

http://delrin50.dupont.com/

Schrade was really imaginative with the use of Delrin, IMO...as they jigged it to look like bone...sawcut for the Old Timer line...and used it to make "Staglon" for the Uncle Henry line.

A good tough, nearly indestructible product.

Bill
 
I like delrin, it's better than cell, durable, dosen't gas and at times can look very similar to the real thing.
787improved2.jpg

MM
 
I like Delrin, it took awhile, but it has grown on me.

From this 1978 Case Jack:
Case-6235-1978.jpg


To this new Queen Forest Edge #49 Stockman:
Queen-49-Forest-Edge-2.jpg
 
I've been told these Case 10-dot knives are Delrin. I think they are, but it never hurts to have another opinion.
08s.jpg

Delrin003.jpg
 
Sure look like bone, normally if the word "Case" on the shield has the oval around it, it means bone, but sometimes Case used them on Delrin also.

This 1940-64 Case 6244 1/2 has the oval around the Case, but it's Delrin.

Case-6244-Front.jpg
 
The Last Confederate said:
Sure look like bone, normally if the word "Case" on the shield has the oval around it, it means bone, but sometimes Case used them on Delrin also.

This 1940-64 Case 6244 1/2 has the oval around the Case, but it's Delrin.

Case-6244-Front.jpg
Click to expand...


No, that Case XX knife is definitely bone. Delrin was not used until 1967 and not on that pattern until 1970.

And Delrin knives 1974 and later had the oval removed from the shield.
 
I could have sworn these were Delrin, if they are bone, they are in amazing shape for their age!

Thanks knifeaholic!
 
I know this is in another forum, but here is some traditional delrin on one of my knives.

DSCN1317.jpg
 
Here is a set of three Ulster Old Timer knives, all with Delrin handles, one jigged and two sawcut.

UlsterOldTimers2.jpg


IMO, Delrin doesn't look too bad when it's jigged or sawcut. But there's something about plasti-stag (UH's Staglon, for example) that's totally phony and unappealing.

-Bob
 
Those are some pretty knives, Bob. I really like the one in the middle. That's a nice set, especially with the Prince Albert can.

Back when I was a kid, one gag we used to do was call someone and ask if they had Prince Albert in a can. If they said yes, we told them to let him out. You had to be very young to think that was funny.

Dean
 
RDaneel said:
Those are some pretty knives, Bob. I really like the one in the middle. That's a nice set, especially with the Prince Albert can.

Back when I was a kid, one gag we used to do was call someone and ask if they had Prince Albert in a can. If they said yes, we told them to let him out. You had to be very young to think that was funny.

Dean
Click to expand...

Yep, remember that gag well. :D
 
I really like the one in the middle.
Click to expand...

That's the Ulster 58OT, an early Old Timer model. There was never a 58OT with a "Schrade" tang stamp, but they made the Ulster model for many years. They also made that model for Belknap Hardware as the John Primble Old Timer #934.

Making a long story short, the set in the photo was displayed at Schrade and was auctioned on eBay with the rest of the factory collection. The Prince Albert isn't just a can; it contains the original wrapper with the mail-in coupon and 30-year-old tobacco. :)

You can learn a lot more about these Ulsters and other Old Timer knives in the Schrade Collectors forum section.

Best Wishes,
-Bob
 
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