I am confused about the different terms of yellow micarta, other than AGM. I understand AGM was available 2004 to 2008 or so. As well I have seen and handled Delrin, so understand that material, I think.

But when it comes to Ivorite, linen Micarta, paper micarta, ivory micarta and Old Yellow, which I understand did not always start out yellow, I am flummoxed.

I welcome everyone's opinion and ideas. I have included a pic of 5 Model 5's I took recently. Buck feel free to "touch them up" with your picture magic.

The top pic is the Capt's Bone Linen. The second pic is a Kit knife constructed by Gail White in which he supplied the micarta.

No. 3 knife, all the spacers are equal, so I date this knife to 1985 or newer.
No. 5 knife is the Bear Camp Special I own and was made in June 1982 according to old RKS newsletters.
Now No. 4 knife, if you look at the spacers near the butt cap, the dark one looks gray. I believe this knife fits into the time period, 1977-85, when the middle spacer was black, but frequently turned green or gray.

The most important question, why does this knife have NO grain in the micarta?

Why the difference in the micarta of the Bear Camp and knife No. 4? They are from the same period.

Rod,

Great question! I thought I was the only one who doesn't know the difference. BTW, that Bear Camp is awesome.

Rod,
Can you email the pics to me? Do you have photos of these guys seperately?
Thanks, Capt. Chris

Tom

I have been talking to a few of our fellow Forumites. I think each and everyone of us has at least one "yellow micarta" query.

Cap

I will email you this pic and I will take individual pics tomorrow afternoon.

Rob,

Great topic, and even greater knives.

Alan Grombacher
RKCC-CMI-010

The pics are awfully small and difficult to do much with. This is the "1st" Model #5, i.e. one of my bone linen micarta ones. I commisioned this material to be made in Germany. It is "definetly" linen!
Here goes, Capt. Chris

I think I'll wait until tomorrow's pics come in. Rod: Try taking them...one at a time, using much higher pixel settings and send them to me "full size", as opposed to reduced.
Thanks, Capt. Chris

I bought a small model two "boot knife" out of the Randall showcase in the early seventies. The handle was called ivorite, and it was absolutely Snow White. By the nineties, the handle was yellow , and seems unchanged since then. I gather that it was made from Westinghouse micarta. The Randall folks have advised me not to tamper with the handle, by rubbing, scrubbing, or whatever, in an attempt to restore it to pristine white, as that will do nothing but harm whatever value it has.

Just generic micarta comment. The older formulas use resins which turn yellow with age and or exposure to light. Original paper or finest bleached fine weave linen use, especial on "decorative" instead industrial micartas.

That fine weave seems to be inaccessible to industry now, or too expensive.

Resins have improved but only time tell how improved. Can spot winners from past, though as switched from phenolic to epoxy resin in many case and process improved with better control.

If knife dates correct, no reason to doubt mix of older or newer supply as stock sized for certain knife. Also no knowing exposure of knife since made.

Wow, that is an impressive line-up, Rod! I'm sorry I can't contribute anything substantial but I'd like to learn more about the "Yellow Micarta Mystery"
And I must confess that I absolutely adore this Bearcamp Special