Any ways to darken bone?

K

knifecollector73

Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
425
I recently got a "chestnut bone" Case Peanut, but i think i was sent a dark red bone peanut. It didn't bug me that much, and i still love the knife, however i think the darker the prettier. Is there anything i can do to darken it. I've heard about dyeing bone knives, but I've heard that can be messy. Sending it back isn't an option for two reasons. 1) I'm already attached to the knife and it was a Christmas gift. 2) The knife already has a great patina. Are there any fairly easy ways to darken bone?
Thanks for any help!

Picture for reference
P1030493_zpsc9b4d59e.jpg
 
It's really not messy if you're careful. I did wear surgical gloves to protect my hands when using the RIT dye. I also poured the extra down the drain in my basement stationary tub. I wasn't about to risk dying the sink and have to explain that to my wife.
 
I read once you can put the knife in coffee grounds, I personally have not tested it though.

Nick
 
From this -its meant to be black
DSCN6502.jpg

To this in one easy RIT process/no mess great result for me.
DSCN6538.jpg
 
Wow! That saddlehorn turned out great! I always liked the look of second cut black bone in the Case catalogs but I have never seen one in person that has not faded to a light gray or khaki color. Your swayback looks real nice too.
I second what Medicevans said. I rit dyed a sunset orange sowbelly and it stayed permanent. I soaked the knife in mineral oil afterwards to seal it in. The only issue is that maybe one side of the knife takes or absorbs the dye better than the other due to porosity.
thank you,
Nathan
 
No RIT is a dye typically used for clothes but works for many things. Your local Wal-Mart should carry it. At mine its back by the laundry detergents & what not. It comes in liquid or powder form. There is a whole thread & write up on how to use it just use the search & you should be able to find it. :)
 
knifecollector73 said:
Will it mess with my CV blades at all? And is RIT a brand of bone dye?
Click to expand...

Hello, I would not use this method on cv blades. I used it on a stainless knife with great results but I personally would not risk on a cv knife. Part of the process uses quite a bit of salt and it will definitely attack the carbon steel. Maybe try it on junker first.
Thank you.
Nathan
 
I've used the stovetop RIT dye method several times with Case knives. I don't add salt, just water, a little Dawn detergent, and the liquid dye. It will definitely cause some tiny pits to appear on CV steel blades. Not many, and not all over, but a few here and there. It works wonderfully on the stainless blade versions, though.
 
From what I see in the pic, that actually is the 'chestnut bone' from Case, these days. My peanut in the same color looks just like it. The 'dark red' bone from Case in recent years has tended to look more bubble gum pink, at times.

I have a Case Sowbelly in what looks to me like it should be 'chestnut', but Case called it 'Midnight Black'. Also have another knife named as the same color, but it looks more a slate grey. Everything from them these days tends to be a lot lighter in shade than the given name for the color.


David
 
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