What exactly were "Meerschaum Bone Handles": mystery solved?

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Most of the Old Timer flyers from the '60s that said handle material was "Meerschaum Bone" gave no further information as to what exactly that meant.

I think I found the Meerschaum "Rosetta Stone" advertisement. It's from 1965 and this ad states all knives pictured have "Unique Meerschaum Bone Handles".

When you read the descriptions of the individual knives though it adds that the handles are made of "Meerschaum Unbreakable Plastic".

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/SW-TO-1973/pages/SW-65-9.htm

I think this is strong evidence that "Meerschaum Bone" meant delrin back then.

I think Hal's 58OT discussed here ( http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=829480&highlight=meerschaum ) has a bone handle plain-and-simple and has nothing to do with Meerschaum.

What do you think guys? Mystery solved?

 

[tongueriver]

Bingo.

 

[aggiebuilder2003]

Looks good to me.

Chuck

 

[Rusty1]

Agree as well!! I was looking around some while ago and found that you can color a Meerschaum bone pipe, it can take on a dark brown appearance polished surface, which I think a good deal of pipes are sold with. Somewhat like the brown Delrin handles turn out like on the Old Timer knives. Just an observation!!

http://www.meerschaumpipes.com/ColorYourMeerschaum.aspx

Russell

 

[Larry303]

Jury is still out for me....I think Larry V's suggestion it will relate to the coloring of either bone or delrin <originally called plastic> has merit..to suggest that the 2OT's <59/60> are not genuine bone handled is as wrong as it is to suggest that the stated Meerschaum Bone handles of the later <early to mid 60's> 8OT's etc are bone and not plastic....the paperwork that accompanied the 2OT's in their wood boxes I believe <by reading mine> state...."Handmade..hand honed and edged the blades are made of fine hardened and tempered cutlery steel...The Meerschaum bone handle and solid brass linings make the 'Old Timer' a practical gift for a distinguished gentleman"......
Possibly Schrade continued the Meerschaum bone advertising focus to the' Meerschaum Bone Unbreakable plastic' when they genuinely changed from bone <bovine> to Delrin...yet the colors remained similar.I think it was the transistion period of actually calling handles Delrin/Staglon....just my opinion.....Hoo Roo

 

[thawk]

I think Meerschaum is unbreakable plastic too, but it would not surprise me if there were a few 8OT made with bone stag that hung around and overlapped shipping with the Delrin. When the 2OT was sold out, that was it, any 2OT I've ever seen is bone. I doubt if they cared in packaging if there were some mistakes with the paper that accompanied the knives. This debate has been going on since I joined BladeForums. I'd be disappointed if there became a definitive answer.