Anyone tried replicating Case's dark red from the 70's ?

[Oldy]

I bought this mustard yellow 56 that was dyed over and decided to replicate a brow red like case and got this.

 

[waynorth]

I never talk "Red" with Bill without talking "saturated"!!!

 

[abcdef]

I have an older case bone red that has bled some of the dye. Did/do some of the vintage ones do that? Is there anything I should do?

 

[waynorth]

I have an older case bone red that has bled some of the dye. Did/do some of the vintage ones do that? Is there anything I should do?

How old? I've never seen that happen!!! Not on an XX, Dots or Tested knife!!!

 

[Hickory n steel]

How old? I've never seen that happen!!! Not on an XX, Dots or Tested knife!!!

It's probably an 80's to early 90's knife, all of the worst most poorly dyed red bone I've seen has been from this era.

 

[waynorth]

It's probably an 80's to early 90's knife, all of the worst most poorly dyed red bone I've seen has been from this era.

Case started slipping during that time period!! It's taken them until more recently to "pull their socks up"!!!

 

[Hickory n steel]

Case started slipping during that time period!! It's taken them until more recently to "pull their socks up"!!!

That's when Jim Parker started heavily capitalizing on their collectability and making a big shift towards manufacturing knives that were intended to be collected more than anything else.

 

[meako]

Used to be Cases "New Black" more a sickly grey.....much better with RIT treatment.

 

[Hickory n steel]

View attachment 3075737
Used to be Cases "New Black" more a sickly grey.....much better with RIT treatment.View attachment 3075740

Interesting.

 

[Oldy]

So what year did the process actually change,another case color I appreciated was the old yellow/golden which isn't the same today.

 

[waynorth]

another case color I appreciated was the old yellow/golden which isn't the same today.

Do you mean this one, Robert?? Case's Rodgers Bone version of GEC's antique Yellow (ha ha!!) from ~1920 to 1940!!!
Case Tested 6231 1/2 Yellow Bone!!

 

[SharpBits]

Since we cannot see an original, fresh out of the box Case knife from back in the day, how can we be sure that some of what we like is due to age and use and not just because of the old dying method? Just wondering out loud.

 

[waynorth]

Since we cannot see an original, fresh out of the box Case knife from back in the day, how can we be sure that some of what we like is due to age and use and not just because of the old dying method? Just wondering out loud.

That Yellow Bone might be different from aging, but I like whatever it is!!!

 

[JTR357]

RIT is too complicated for me. I'd try leather dye, if I weren't going to leave it alone.

Rit is easy as heck & I'm super artistically challenged.

 

[SharpBits]

That Yellow Bone might be different from aging, but I like whatever it is!!!

Oh, it looks marvelous, for sure.

 

[waynorth]

Oh, it looks marvelous, for sure.

Thanks !!! Glad you like it !!!!

 

[Will Power]

I enhanced this stainless Slimline Trapper with a Tea bath and well pleased with the improvements.

I have a CASE large Pen in Redbone and the mark & pile sides quite different. Mark much darker and browner, pile brighter with flecks and clearly Red. Both sides attractive mind

 

[Hickory n steel]

Since we cannot see an original, fresh out of the box Case knife from back in the day, how can we be sure that some of what we like is due to age and use and not just because of the old dying method? Just wondering out loud.

I wondered this as well, but it is still obvious that their dark red bone was some degree darker and more deeply dyed.

While I do especially like the old stuff, I most just want a darker shade and deeper dye penetration.
I won't know till receiving the knife whether I need more red or to simply darken the existing red with some kind of brown.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I enhanced this stainless Slimline Trapper with a Tea bath and well pleased with the improvements.

I have a CASE large Pen in Redbone and the mark & pile sides quite different. Mark much darker and browner, pile brighter with flecks and clearly Red. Both sides attractive mind

View attachment 3076564

That looks perfect.
So how long did you have to soak it ?
I have no patience.

 

[Hickory n steel]

That's when Jim Parker started heavily capitalizing on their collectability and making a big shift towards manufacturing knives that were intended to be collected more than anything else.

I should clarify that I was only talking about the Jim Parker days.
Case is doing a decent job of offering working knives these days.