Bone flaking off

[solphilos]

Hey guys. A few days ago I got a new Case mini trapper with bone stag covers and the bone has begun to flake off. Looking closer I noticed that I can see layers in the bone that goes all the way down to the liners and it looks as though eventually this will all flake away as the top layer has done already.

Has anyone else had this issue and if so how did it hold up?
I should return it, but I've already returned two Case knives this past month and don't feel like sending another.

Sorry for no pics, my camera isn't good enough to pick up the subtle detail required to point out the issue.

 

[jwb01]

I’ve never experienced that. I carried a bone stag sow belly for a good while and it is holding up as well as any bone.
Send it to Case, it is not right.

 

[Jack Black]

I've stabilised/repaired it with epoxy in the past. Any pics?

 

[solphilos]

I've stabilised/repaired it with epoxy in the past. Any pics?

Unfortunately no, my phone doesn't get close-up pics without significant blur.

I was thinking about using super glue in hopes of preventing it from getting worse. I can deal with superficial flaking from the top, but Im concerned about a fatal loss of material from the bone. The mark side cover looks like the cross section of an onion

 

[Jack Black]

Unfortunately no, my phone doesn't get close-up pics without significant blur.

I was thinking about using super glue in hopes of preventing it from getting worse. I can deal with superficial flaking from the top, but Im concerned about a fatal loss of material from the bone. The mark side cover looks like the cross section of an onion

Bone can be surprisingly fragile. I've used two-part epoxy (eg Araldite) in the past, which you can also colour, but I don't see why Superglue wouldn't work

 

[solphilos]

Victorinox mag lens to the rescue.

 

[Jack Black]

Victorinox mag lens to the rescue.
View attachment 956170

Good pic. That doesn't look too bad

 

[Will Power]

It doesn't look like anything is actually flaking off, the surface is bright and polished. That could be the composition of the bone itself, are pieces coming away???

 

[johnny twoshoes]

I’ve seen this before to the point the bone does flake off and somewhat splinter. A layer can “lift” a little and cause a sharp end. If you end up dropping the knife (I know it’s bone and any drop could result in damage) but in my experience it has amplified the issue.

 

[solphilos]

It doesn't look like anything is actually flaking off, the surface is bright and polished. That could be the composition of the bone itself, are pieces coming away???I've had to sand it a bit after a few layers came off. Nothing too drastic yet, but it looks like the potential to continue to flakeis still there.

I’ve seen this before to the point the bone does flake off and somewhat splinter. A layer can “lift” a little and cause a sharp end. If you end up dropping the knife (I know it’s bone and any drop could result in damage) but in my experience it has amplified the issue.

Yep, it is as you describe. The layers are thin and are easily lifted up with a fingernail, which I'm trying to avoid of course. The keys that ride in the same pocket caused the first layer peel away, which is how I discovered it.

 

[SteveC]

Superglue works really well on bone.

 

[johnny twoshoes]

Yep, it is as you describe. The layers are thin and are easily lifted up with a fingernail, which I'm trying to avoid of course. The keys that ride in the same pocket caused the first layer peel away, which is how I discovered it.

I would definitely send it back for repairs unless it had special meaning, or there is something about it you don’t want to risk having changed.

 

[sitflyer]

Meh, send it back and get a replacement knife, no need to fret over a thing the had
poorly selected materials in its construction, either that, or beat the snot out out of it as a user and trash it when it's worn out.

 

[flylock]

Yep superglue does usually get the job done. I’ve had some do this same thing

 

[Shurke]

If you're really concerned about the integrity of the handle, you could look into how people consolidate fossils. Basically, it involves dissolving a consolidant in something like acetone. You let the solution soak into the material you want to harden. The acetone will evaporate, leaving the material impregnated with resin (or whatever consolidant it is that you used).

With a knife handle, you'd probably have to paint the solution onto the bone in small quantities.

Of course, this process might affect any dye or color that's on the bone.

 

[Campbellclanman]

I was speaking to a very well known Knife Collector and I brushed on the subject of keeping knives in a dehumidifier cabinet of sorts as maintenance on knives here in NZ is extremely difficult- it was suggested to me that such a controlled environment was actually bad and “ Potato Chipped” Bone Handles.

 

[Will Power]

Looking at the picture again I think there's only two options

a) Return it to CASE as defective item, they'll likely just replace it not fix it up.
b) Fine grit paper the surface and repolish. Might stabilize it.

 

[solphilos]

Thanks for the tips guys.

After a few small slivers came off I sanded those areas down and now only see one area that may eventually peel away. It looks like a thin super glue will fix this and maybe prevent it coming off.
I suppose my initial concern was these layers 'delaminating' so to speak, but now I can't really see that happening unless I drop the knife just right.

 

[traumkommode]

I would send it back to Case. They have excellent customer service and theyll handle it however you want them to do.