Plastic, Bakerlite and Arabian Arms

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Rick

I'd suspect it might be Bakelite then Gavin, it is after all a polymer and as one that was introduced almost a century ago it would have by now accumulated a nice patina. I would guess your buckler was probably more for show than combat use.

Bakelite, also Aluminium was probably a big deal when first introduced and considered as quite special back then. Napoleon III had a dinner service made from this new miraculous metal.

It may well be a dress related item Rick

There is a small paragraph within this Wiki page that may turn up better data if the few references cited are investigated

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatura...20the%20market.

Gavin

[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.

[David R]

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]

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..

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]

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

[francantolin]

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