Plastic, Bakerlite and Arabian Arms

Rick · 27th August 2020, 07:42 PM

Interesting Gavin. I might have a bead of Faturan in my miscellaneous treasures drawer. It's large 2" long X 1" thick and has a clear cherry amber color and is at least 100 years old and shows signs that it was turned on some sort of lathe to achieve its tapered lozenge shape.

David R · 29th August 2020, 12:33 AM

Re "synthetics", German WW1 sabres had Bakelite grips, (shortages forced them back to using Walnut wood) I have an Afghan Kukri with a Gutta Percha hilt, and Belgian pinfire pistols of the 19th C often had grips made from compressed blood and sawdust. Casein dates from the 1830s, and Amberoid goes back to the Bronze Age. Celluloid is another 19th C product, and appears as fake Rayskin on WW2 Shin Gunto..... You have to look at stuff on a case by case basis. Sometimes the synthetic (not plastic) outperformed and had a higher status than the natural material.

sfenoid13 · 29th August 2020, 02:04 AM

if you an find 32 others like this one in your drawer you will have a very expensive TASBIH (prayer beads) in your hands

The 33 count tasbih goes for about $1000 in Turkey, if old and authentic..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Interesting Gavin. I might have a bead of Faturan in my miscellaneous treasures drawer. It's large 2" long X 1" thick and has a clear cherry amber color and is at least 100 years old and shows signs that it was turned on some sort of lathe to achieve its tapered lozenge shape.

corrado26 · 29th August 2020, 09:47 AM

Very interesting the link with Faturan. I have in my collection two koummiyas with hilts that might be made of Faturan.,

francantolin · 29th August 2020, 10:40 AM

Hello,

Sometimes strange hilt material are mixed on really nice quality items

I have a yemeni jambiya with an hilt made of plastic-amberoid
and a yatagan with broken horn grip with a large old bakelite repair
( around 1900 I think )
I'll post some pictures

27th August 2020, 07:42 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Faturan Interesting Gavin. I might have a bead of Faturan in my miscellaneous treasures drawer. It's large 2" long X 1" thick and has a clear cherry amber color and is at least 100 years old and shows signs that it was turned on some sort of lathe to achieve its tapered lozenge shape. Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 27th August 2020 at 11:38 PM. Reason: added picture

29th August 2020, 09:47 AM	#4
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,240	Very interesting the link with Faturan. I have in my collection two koummiyas with hilts that might be made of Faturan., Attached Images

29th August 2020, 12:33 AM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,134	Re "synthetics", German WW1 sabres had Bakelite grips, (shortages forced them back to using Walnut wood) I have an Afghan Kukri with a Gutta Percha hilt, and Belgian pinfire pistols of the 19th C often had grips made from compressed blood and sawdust. Casein dates from the 1830s, and Amberoid goes back to the Bronze Age. Celluloid is another 19th C product, and appears as fake Rayskin on WW2 Shin Gunto..... You have to look at stuff on a case by case basis. Sometimes the synthetic (not plastic) outperformed and had a higher status than the natural material.

29th August 2020, 10:40 AM	#5
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 922	Hello, Sometimes strange hilt material are mixed on really nice quality items I have a yemeni jambiya with an hilt made of plastic-amberoid and a yatagan with broken horn grip with a large old bakelite repair ( around 1900 I think ) I'll post some pictures