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                                                                [EXECUTION COPY]

                                 THIRD AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                      SHORT TERM REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

      This THIRD AMENDMENT TO SHORT TERM REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of
October 11, 1996 (this "Amendatory Agreement"), is among HANDY & HARMAN, a New
York corporation (the "Borrower"), certain financial institutions signatories
hereto (the "Lenders"), THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
(formerly known as Chemical Bank) and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as the co-agents
(collectively referred to herein as the "Co-Agents"), and THE BANK OF NOVA
SCOTIA, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Co-Agents and the Administrative
Agent are parties to a Short Term Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of
September 28, 1994 (as amended or otherwise modified to the date hereof, the
"Existing Credit Agreement"); and

      WHEREAS, the parties hereto have agreed, subject to the conditions and
terms hereinafter set forth, to amend the Existing Credit Agreement in certain
respects as herein provided (the Existing Credit Agreement, as so amended by
this Amendatory Agreement, being referred to as the "Credit Agreement");

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

                                     PART I

                                   DEFINITIONS

      SUBPART 1.1. Certain Definitions. The following terms (whether or not
underscored) when used in this Amendatory Agreement shall have the following
meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to the singular and plural form
thereof):

      "Administrative Agent" is defined in the preamble.

      "Amendatory Agreement" is defined in the preamble.

      "Borrower" is defined in the preamble.

      "Co-Agents" is defined in the preamble.

      "Credit Agreement" is defined in the second recital.
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      "Existing Credit Agreement" is defined in the first recital.

      "Lenders" is defined in the preamble.

      "Third Amendment Effective Date" is defined in Subpart 3.1.

      SUBPART 1.2. Other Definitions. Terms for which meanings are provided in
the Existing Credit Agreement are, unless otherwise defined herein or the
context otherwise requires, used in this Amendatory Agreement with such
meanings.

                                     PART II

                                AMENDMENTS TO THE
                            EXISTING CREDIT AGREEMENT

      Effective on (and subject to the occurrence of) the Third Amendment
Effective Date, the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended in accordance
with this Part II; except as so amended, the Existing Credit Agreement shall
continue in full force and
effect.

      SUBPART 2.1. Amendments to Article I. Article I of the Existing Credit
Agreement is hereby amended in accordance with Subparts 2.1.1 through 2.1.2.

      SUBPART 2.1.1. Section 1.1 of the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by inserting the following definitions in such Section in the
appropriate alphabetical sequence:

            "1996 Transaction" means the sale of gold by the Borrower on or
      before December 31, 1996 and certain other events, as more specifically
      described in the letter, dated October 2, 1996, from the Borrower to the
      Lenders, the Co-Agents and the Administrative Agent.

            "Third Amendment" means the Third Amendment, dated as of October 11,
      1996, to this Agreement among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, the
      Co-Agents and the Administrative Agent.

            "Third Amendment Effective Date" means the Third Amendment Effective
      Date as defined in Subpart 3.1 of the Third Amendment.

      SUBPART 2.1.2. Section 1.1 of the Existing Credit Agreement is further
amended by


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            (a) amending clause (b)(i) of the definition of "Consolidated
      Tangible Net Worth" in its entirety to read as follows:

                        "(i) treasury stock (excluding the amount, not to exceed
                  $45,000,000, of cash consideration expended for the repurchase
                  and/or redemption of the Borrower's outstanding common stock
                  in accordance with the 1996 Transaction that results in an
                  increase in such treasury stock), subscribed but unissued
                  stock, unamortized debt discount and expense, good will,
                  trademarks, trade names, patents and other intangible assets
                  (but not deferred charges) of the Borrower, and"; and

            (b) the definition of "Designated Debt" is amended in its entirety
      to read as follows:

                        "`Designated Debt' means the aggregate amount of (i)
                  Current Debt, and (ii) outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit
                  Outstandings (as such terms are defined in the Long Term
                  Credit Agreement); provided, that from the Third Amendment
                  Effective Date until the first anniversary thereof, Designated
                  Debt shall exclude outstanding Loans and outstanding Loans and
                  Letter of Credit Outstandings under (and as defined in) the
                  Long Term Credit Agreement in up to an aggregate maximum
                  outstanding principal amount of $64,500,000, as such amount is
                  reduced Dollar for Dollar by the amount of Debt not
                  constituting Designated Debt incurred during such period."

      SUBPART 2.2. Amendments to Article VII. Article VII of the Existing Credit
Agreement is hereby amended in accordance with Subpart 2.2.1.

      SUBPART 2.2.1. Clauses (c) and (d) of Section 7.2.11 of the Existing
Credit Agreement are hereby amended by:

            (a) amending clause (c) of such Section in its entirety
      to read as follows:


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                        "(c) such sale, transfer, lease, contribution or
                  conveyance is (i) in connection with the 1996 Transaction
                  (provided, that the Market Value of the gold sold or otherwise
                  disposed of in connection therewith shall not exceed an
                  aggregate amount equal to $45,000,000) or (ii) if not in the
                  ordinary course of business, or not otherwise permitted
                  hereunder, the assets are sold for fair value (as determined
                  by the Board of Directors of the Borrower or the Subsidiary
                  owning such assets) and the commitments of the lenders under
                  the Long Term Credit Agreement are reduced by an amount equal
                  to the Net Disposition Proceeds (as defined in the Long Term
                  Credit Agreement) of such sale, transfer, lease, contribution
                  or conveyance; or"; and

            (b) amending clause (d) of such Section by deleting the words
      "Effective Date" wherever appearing therein and inserting the words "Third
      Amendment Effective Date" in each case in place thereof.

      SUBPART 2.3. Amendment to Exhibit E. Attachments 1 and 4 to Exhibit E
(Compliance Certificate) to the Existing Credit Agreement are hereby amended in
their entirety to read as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.

                                    PART III

                           CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS

      SUBPART 3.1. Third Amendment Effective Date. This Amendatory Agreement
shall become effective on the date first set forth above (the "Third Amendment
Effective Date") when each of the conditions set forth in this Subpart 3.1 shall
have been satisfied.

      SUBPART 3.1.1. Execution of Counterparts. The Administrative Agent shall
have received counterparts of this Amendatory Agreement, duly executed on behalf
of the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

      SUBPART 3.1.2. Amendment Fees. The Administrative Agent shall have
received an amendment fee in the maximum amount of $155,875, which shall be
payable for the pro rata account of each Lender (as set forth in Schedule I
hereto).


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      SUBPART 3.1.3. LT Amendment No. 3. The conditions to the effectiveness of
the Third Amendment to the Long Term Credit Agreement, also dated the date
hereof ("LT Amendment No. 3"), (other than the effectiveness of this Amendatory
Agreement) shall have been satisfied and such LT Amendment No. 3 shall,
concurrently with the effectiveness of this Amendatory Agreement, have been
declared effective by the Administrative Agent.

      SUBPART 3.1.4. Legal Details, etc. All documents executed or submitted
pursuant hereto shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Administrative Agent and its counsel. The Administrative Agent and its counsel
shall have received all information and such counterpart originals or such
certified or other copies or such materials, as the Administrative Agent or its
counsel may reasonably request, and all legal matters incident to the
transactions contemplated by this Amendatory Agreement shall be satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

                                     PART IV

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      SUBPART 4.1. Cross-References. References in this Amendatory Agreement to
any Part or Subpart are, unless otherwise specified or otherwise required by the
context, to such Part or Subpart of this Amendatory Agreement.

      SUBPART 4.2. Loan Document Pursuant to Existing Credit Agreement. This
Amendatory Agreement is a Loan Document executed pursuant to the Existing Credit
Agreement and shall be construed, administered and applied in accordance with
all of the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement.

      SUBPART 4.3. Successors and Assigns. This Amendatory Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns.

      SUBPART 4.4. Counterparts. This Amendatory Agreement may be executed by
the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which when executed and
delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute
together but one and the same agreement.

      SUBPART 4.5. Representations, No Default, etc. As of the date of
effectiveness of this Amendatory Agreement, the Borrower hereby represents and
warrants to the Agents and the Lenders that

            (a) the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI of
      the Existing Credit Agreement (excluding,


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      however, those contained in Section 6.7 thereof) are true and correct in
      all material respects (unless stated to relate solely to an earlier date,
      in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct as
      of such earlier date);

            (b) except as disclosed by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent
      and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.7 of the Existing Credit Agreement,

                  (i) no litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation
            or proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
            threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which may
            reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the
            Borrower's, or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries' taken as a whole,
            financial condition, operations, assets, businesses, properties or
            prospects or which purports to affect the legality, validity or
            enforceability of the Existing Credit Agreement, the Notes or any
            other Loan Document; and

                  (ii) no development has occurred in any litigation,
            arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding disclosed
            pursuant to Section 6.7 of the Existing Credit Agreement which may
            reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the financial
            condition, operations, assets, businesses, properties or prospects
            of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
            whole; and

            (c) no Default has occurred and is continuing.

      SUBPART 4.6. Limited Waiver, etc. No amendment, waiver or approval by the
Agents or any Lender under this Amendatory Agreement shall, except as may be
otherwise stated in this Amendatory Agreement, be applicable to subsequent
transactions. No amendment, waiver or approval hereunder shall require any
similar or dissimilar amendment, waiver or approval to be granted after the date
hereof, and except as expressly modified by this Amendatory Agreement, the
provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect, without amendment or other modification.

      SUBPART 4.7.  Governing Law.  THIS AMENDATORY AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.


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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendatory
Agreement to be executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day
and year first above written.


                                    HANDY & HARMAN


                                    By_________________________________________
                                      Title:


                                    THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
                                       in its capacity as Administrative
                                       Agent, Co-Agent and Lender


                                    By_________________________________________
                                      Title:


                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                       in its capacity as
                                        Co-Agent and Lender


                                    By_________________________________________
                                      Title:


                                    THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (formerly known
                                       as Chemical Bank), in its capacity as
                                       Co-Agent and Lender


                                    By_________________________________________
                                      Title:
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                                 FLEET PRECIOUS METALS INC.


                                    By_________________________________________
                                      Title:


                                    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                                     (formerly known as NBD Bank)


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:


                                    BANK OF TOKYO - MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:


                                    LTCB TRUST COMPANY


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:


                                    CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:


                                    CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND BRANCH


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:


                                     THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:

                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:
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                                    THE FUJI BANK, LIMITED,
                                      NEW YORK BRANCH


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:


                                    ABN AMRO BANK N.V. NEW YORK BRANCH


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:

                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:


                                    COMERICA BANK


                                    By_________________________________________
                                      Title:


                                    YASUDA TRUST & BANKING CO., LTD.
                                       NEW YORK BRANCH


                                     By________________________________________
                                       Title:
<PAGE>   10

                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                              TO THIRD AMENDMENT

                                                                    ATTACHMENT 1
                                            (to __/__/__ Compliance Certificate)

                    ADJUSTED CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH
                               (________ __, 19__)

      Adjusted Consolidated
      Tangible Net Worth:

      A.    The par value (or value stated on
            the books of the Borrower) of the
            capital stock of all classes of the
            Borrower...............................................  $_________

      B.    The amount of the consolidated
            surplus, whether capital or earned,
            of the Borrower and its
            and its Subsidiaries...................................  $_________

      C.    The sum (or difference, in the
            case of a surplus deficit in
            Item 1.B) of Items 1.A and 1.B.........................  $_________

      D.    The aggregate amount of treasury
            stock (excluding the amount, not to
            exceed $45,000,000, of cash
            consideration expended for the
            repurchase and/or redemption of the
            Borrower's outstanding common stock
            in accordance with the 1996
            Transaction that results in an
            increase in such treasury stock),
            subscribed but unissued stock,
            unamortized debt discount
            and expense, good will, trademarks,
            trade names, patents and other
            intangible assets (but not deferred
            charges) of the Borrower and its
            Subsidiaries ..........................................  $_________

      E.    The aggregate amount of all write-
            ups in the book value of any assets
            owned by the Borrower or its
            Subsidiaries subsequent to March
            16, 1992, other than write-ups of
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            assets (and assets of Subsidiaries)
            acquired by the Borrower and/or its
            Subsidiaries (exclusive of goodwill)
            that are made in connection with
            the acquisition thereof................................  $_________

      F.    Sum of Items 1.D through 1.E...........................  $_________

      G.    Consolidated Tangible Net Worth:
            The excess of Item 1.C over Item 1.F..................   $_________

      H.    40% of the excess of the Market

            Value of the Borrower's and its
            Subsidiaries' owned precious metal
            holdings over the LIFO cost of such
            holdings as set forth in the
            Borrower's most recent consolidated
            financial statements delivered
            pursuant to clause (a) or clause (b)
            of Section 7.1.1 of the Credit
            Agreement..............................................  $_________

      I.    ADJUSTED CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH:
            The sum of Items 1.G and 1.H...........................  $_________
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                                                                    ATTACHMENT 4
                                                         (to __/__/__ Compliance
                                                                    Certificate)

                                 DESIGNATED DEBT
                           (as of _________ __, 19__)

      Designated Debt:

      A.    Current Debt: The aggregate amount
            of current maturities of the
            consolidated Debt of the Borrower
            and its Subsidiaries, determined in
            accordance with GAAP...................................  $_________

      B.    The sum of the aggregate
            outstanding principal amount of all
            Loans plus Letter of Credit
            Outstandings (as such terms are
            defined in the Long
            Term Credit Agreement).................................  $_________

      C.    The sum of Item 4.A and Item 4.B
            (excluding, from the Third
            Amendment Effective Date until the
            first anniversary thereof, Loans
            and Loans and Letter of Credit
            Outstandings under (and as defined
            in) the Long Term Credit Agreement
            in up to a maximum principal amount
            of $64,500,000, as such amount is
            reduced Dollar for Dollar by the
            amount of Debt not constituting
            Designated Debt incurred
            during such period)....................................  $_________

      D.    90% of the Market Value of the
            gold, silver and platinum group
            metals and the gold, silver and
            platinum group metals' content of
            alloys then owned by the Borrower
            and its Subsidiaries in inventory
            and not held in consignment............................  $_________

      E.    75% of the Eligible Receivables of
            the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
            as computed on Attachment 5 hereto.....................  $_________

      F.    The aggregate amount of cash and
            Cash Equivalent Investments of the
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            Borrower and its Subsidiaries, but
            only to the extent that such cash and
            Cash Equivalent Investments are not
            subject to any Lien and (if held or
            owned by a Subsidiary) are
            transferable to the Borrower without
            the consent or approval of
            any other Person.......................................  $_________

      G.    The sum of Items 4.D through 4.F.......................  $_________

      H.    The excess of Item 4.C over Item 4.G...................  $_________