Case Mini-Copperhead - sometimes a little tinkering makes it all good

[pertinux]

Beautiful outcome, Sitflyer! You're a brave man.

I have not yet attempted dye, but after reading this thread did indulge in a bit of "hand tinting" with permanent markers, which aborbed into the bone more readily than I'd expected. My amber mini copperhead arrived paler than anticipated (or hoped). I may try to go further, perhaps adding more mid-orange-y background, but am liking the results so far.

Here are some before and afters (different days, so different lighting, but I tried to get close enough to give an idea of the subtle changes).


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Hey, at least I didn't try to burn it, right?

~ P.

[sitflyer]

Beautiful outcome, Sitflyer! You're a brave man.

I have not yet attempted dye, but after reading this thread did indulge in a bit of "hand tinting" with permanent markers, which aborbed into the bone more readily than I'd expected. My amber mini copperhead arrived paler than anticipated (or hoped). I may try to go further, perhaps adding more mid-orange-y background, but am liking the results so far.

Here are some before and afters (different days, so different lighting, but I tried to get close enough to give an idea of the subtle changes).






Hey, at least I didn't try to burn it, right?

~ P.

I had a pair of white jeans to dye anyway soooo...
Nice job on that one Pertinux
If I was going to burn bone, I would probably use a soldering iron...just sayin' is all

[Flying Guillotine]

Nice work sitflyer and Pertinux! It's so cool to be able to adjust these knives for a personal touch. I dig the deeper blue sway back.

[TLARbb]

P., That MCH looks real good now. Of course, I've never seen an ugly one myself...

After much conjecture, mine may be a "too light" autumn bone instead of the amber bone I thought it was.

Here are a couple pictures taken this afternoon with my amber bone Texas jack for comparison. Notice that the Texas jack is much darker on the pile side than on the mark side, looking almost black.





The difference between my knife and yours may just be lot to lot variation in the dying process.

Ed J

[caseguy]

Here are a couple pictures taken this afternoon with my amber bone Texas jack for comparison. Notice that the Texas jack is much darker on the pile side than on the mark side, looking almost black.
Ed J

I've been dyeing knives and flashlights for several years. Recently I received a few kinves that had overly dark areas like your Texas Jack. I started scraping at them with a very small jewelers screwdriver and found that it was excess dye sitting on top of the bone. With a little work it flaked off.

[pertinux]

P., That MCH looks real good now. Of course, I've never seen an ugly one myself...

After much conjecture, mine may be a "too light" autumn bone instead of the amber bone I thought it was.

Here are a couple pictures taken this afternoon with my amber bone Texas jack for comparison. Notice that the Texas jack is much darker on the pile side than on the mark side, looking almost black.





The difference between my knife and yours may just be lot to lot variation in the dying process.

Ed J

Thanks for your encouragement, and for the comparison pictures. As you may have guessed, the colors in your mini copperhead were what I was expecting, in at least a general way, based not only on your pictures but also those of other Case amber bone knives (of a variety of patterns) posted here. On the other hand, once it arrived, mine does (did? heh) look a lot like Protourist's. I'm guessing his is amber bone as well?

The pile side of mine also had more coloration than the shield side; both are fairly even now.

I'd say that both your knives above are amber bone, with any variation due to lot-to-lot dyeing differences, as you mentioned as a possibility between our two copperheads. But, I've never seen any examples of Case's autumn bone in person, and few in pictures.

In the meantime, I'll keep your above photograph in front of me as a reference if and when I decide to "color" some more. :-)

~ P.

[Humppa]

Congratz guys!

You all made great work on your handles. The pics are really great.

Kind regards
Andi

[pertinux]

Not too long ago I received a Case mini-copperhead, admittedly purchased due to the great reviews and images from folks on this forum. Unfortunately, the knife was a disappointment: The deep canyon chestnut dye job was a lemon, basically more fleshtone pink with bright red in the deeper sections of jigging. Sadly, it looked like one these fake Halloween scars:

Hi,

Just an update to add that I saw a Swayback Jack in person today labeled, "Deep Canyon Chestnut Bone," and I immediately thought of your description above, which is far more accurate than I dared imagine. Also, .

Wow, did something go wrong with Case's dye job(s). Ew.

I'm all the more glad to see your salvaged Copperhead. :-)

~ P.

[Flying Guillotine]

Heh, glad I wasn't the only one. Disturbingly accurate comparison, no?

[pertinux]

Heh, glad I wasn't the only one. Disturbingly accurate comparison, no?

Disturbing accurate comparison, YES.

Oh, dear.

~ P.

[meako]

Absolutely amazing-that green SBJ has gone from a kind of sick,pasty looking green to a deep classy looking green. I love it .
Please tell me -what is RIT dye and what is its primary use? never heard of it .Great work guys.

[whetrock]

I think your mini copperhead came out grand. The color came out very distinctive and unique. I like your diy spirit and ability as well. Unlike a lot of people who would have just posted a case bashing thread you actually fixed it and made an improvement IMO .

[Seals]

Hey F.G. I really like the big stockman i got from you dyed black.Did the shield also take the dye?I had actually planned to put stag on the knife,but its too nice to mess with.If i do switch the scales,im saving these.

[Flying Guillotine]

Hey F.G. I really like the big stockman i got from you dyed black.Did the shield also take the dye?

Yep, the shield used to be filled in with red. I was surprised to see it take up the color so well, and really enjoyed the overall effect. Glad you like it, too!

[Flying Guillotine]

Please tell me -what is RIT dye and what is its primary use? never heard of it .Great work guys.

RIT dye is primarily used to dye fabric, ideally to change the color of clothing. That's why you'll find it at craft stores and the like.

[SurfingSalmon]

Mr Guillotine, thanx to you here is my "new" Sway Back Jack


before:





after: ooops...what happened to the graffiti on the blade???







Must have gotten some acetone on it

Oh man, that blew my mind up for a good fifteen seconds....

[meako]

Thanks FG -lo and behold they had RIT at the store where mrs meako does her embroidery.
I took delivery of my new black case saddlehorn today.I was expecting it to be jet black like in the picture and all I can say is if thats black i'd hate to see wishy washy grey purply puce.
Its in the RIT dye as I type.pics to follow.
cheers.

[pertinux]

I was expecting it to be jet black like in the picture and all I can say is if thats black i'd hate to see wishy washy grey purply puce.

Wow. I'm sorry. But your description is so very funny!

It's in the RIT dye as I type.pics to follow.
cheers.

I look forward to seeing your pictures. Like the OP, did the sight of your knife compel you to resort to dye so quickly as to preclude "Before" pictures, or can we expect to see the above in addition to your results?

From what I've seen, including a variety of white-with-pink to decent to very-good scales on different knives all labeled "dark red" in the same display, Case runs its dye right out to the end, with later batches getting very little. Least. Or something. I really don't understand it.

~ P.

[meako]

Apart from Mrs Meako being a bit put out that half her kitchen and stove got dyed,the results are excellent in person and I'm very happy.
I must add that other than the friday arvo dyeing job on the scales it is as usual a very well made knife.Pics may not show the full effect .
If this thread hadn't come up I would have sent it back to the dealer-(their wood is not alive.That would be a hassle but they are good and I will deal in future.
Before-straight out of the box.

After-


Honestly the pics don't do it justice.The solid black dyed version looks like a bought one.
I'm wondering if they dye the bone before or after they put it on the knife.
I love my case knives but this one was shonky.A GOOD FIX -SIMPLE & CHEAP.

[sitflyer]

That looks nice meako

When I use the dye...I used an old tin can on top of a frying pan...it allows the dye and knife to be gradually heated...and LOTS OF NEWSPAPER!!! LOL
My wife would KILL me if I got dye all over the kitchen