Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 12863
Loc: Central Florida
Wally, Although of much more recent production, this nice #11-4" was built out of old canvas micarta. It has been called several names in the past: A) Bees wax B) Honeycomb It is very way-cool old material. As many of you know...I gotta' lot of handle material, aquired over 4 decades (or so). I have a few more examples of this stuff, which I plan on making up. Here's a couple of photos... Best, Capt. Chris
Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 12863
Loc: Central Florida
Rod, I wonder of you could post a pic of your Bearcamp, along with it's sheath? I ask for a very good reason. All of this "white/ivory/yellow" topic stuff had me doing a little diggin' in the Ol' "Captain's Stash". I have come up with "my" Bearcamp Spl. It is S/N 28 and is of much...MUCH later vintage. I would like to do a bit of comparing...and it is all on topic with this thead...Because: You ain't gonna believe what my handle is made out of? Thanks, Capt. Chris PS: Ain't that just like a redneck to end a sentence (in this particular case, a question) with a preposition!...CCS
Speaking of Ivory (linen) Micarta............. I picked this model 8-4 up a few weeks ago. Is anyone familiar with the scrimshaw artist, Bruce Paxton? The scrimshaw was done in 1987. The name sounds familiar, but I just can't place it.
This a a knife I found recently. It came to me with the original white paper wrap that stated the handle is IM (imitation ivory). I've had a couple other knives with this handle material and they did check or crack similar to real ivory. I've never seen Westinghouse micarta do that. - Buckspen
The was a Bearcamp Special offered for sale recently on eBay. It was #33 and had a white handle. It was previously sold in an Amoskeag auction in September 2013 and again in May 2014. The handle was described as "mammoth ivory" in the 2013 auction and as "ivorite" in the 2104 auction. This is a much later knife than #1 and #5. - Buckspen
Here's what I'm certain is old Westinghouse micarta. The scrimmed side was displayed, so some difference in the yellowing between the two sides is noticeable.