Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

iKnife Collector

The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Pearl Handles

Been thinking some of Pearl Handles lately and alot of questions come to mind

How are they made? Are there different types? What about the Smokey Pearl?

How about some pics of Pearl handled knives. I'll post some next week.

2 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on September 20, 2013 at 11:24

Here is a small Case Pearl

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on September 23, 2013 at 12:07

My 2 latest RR Smokey Pearls

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on October 20, 2013 at 13:16

Bought this MOP KaBar Canoe yesterday at the Ohio Classic Knife Show

▶ Reply

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on October 20, 2013 at 16:39

I was in the process of uploading photos to my blog post What Would You Like To See First ?? Update- A few Case 54 Trappers ... when I saw your discussion. I just uploaded photos of mother of pearl, gold lip MOP,abalone,and Paua shell ( New Zealand abalone) trappers if you are interested.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 21, 2013 at 18:40

Pearl used for knife handles is actually Mother of Pearl and made from the oyster shell. There is both salt water and fresh water MOP Most MOP is farm raised.

Mother of Pearl: A translucent material used for scale or handle material and harvested from pearl oysters (genus Pinctada). It comes in a variety of colors Most people simple call it pearl.

Black Pearl: More appropriate called Black Lip Mother of Pearl. Pearl derived from black lip oysters (Pinctada margaritifera). Black pearls are very rarely black: they are usually shades of green, purple, aubergine, blue, grey, silver or peacock

Gold Lip and White Lip Pearl: . Pearl derived from gold or white oysters: Pinctada maxima Water temperature, plankton and sediments determine which color variety is more common in a given area.

South Sea Pearls: South Sea pearls are the color of their host Pinctada maxima oyster – and can be white, silver, pink, gold, cream, and any combination of these basic colors, including overtones of the various colors of the rainbow displayed in the pearl nacre of the oyster shell itself.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on October 21, 2013 at 19:05

Good info - thanks Toby.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 21, 2013 at 20:25

I don't have much pearl. Matter fact, I might only have these three Rough Riders. I've had a few that may be pearl but I suspect are "Cracked Ice" I also have a few with pearl accents.

These are all Black Pearl, a Peanut, a Half "stockman/whittler" and a sleeve board whittler. i think total cost for all three was around $30. All look much better in person!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on October 22, 2013 at 0:58

Tobias, RR makes some beautiful Smokey Pearl Knives - I have a few also. You have some very nice knives.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ricky L McConnell on December 2, 2013 at 0:40

I recently read about "Cracked Ice". Is there any way to tell it from real mother-of-pear ?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on December 2, 2013 at 10:26

Cracked Ice reflects light differently You can also look at the edges and see a difference. Some say that pearl is warmer in the hand and they can tell by touch. I'm not that good. There is also the "pin" test but this will ruin the handle. You heat up a safety pin until it is red hot and touch the handle. If it melts it is cracked ice.

Really the easiest way is in side by side comparison with other known genuine pearl and known cracked ice.

Compare the Cracked Ice (White) with the above pearl knives. It lacks the luster of genuine pearl and you can see injection points for the plastic.