Case 6244 scales

[Boattale]

I'm looking into 1974 Case Medium Jack, model 6244. I'm seeing references to jigged bone and delrin jigged to imitate bone. Can anyone tell me for certain which is right? Or if both were made is there a reliable way to tell the difference? Does the first digit in the model # being 6 reliably indicate bone?

 

[Arathol]

I'm looking into 1974 Case Medium Jack, model 6244. I'm seeing references to jigged bone and delrin jigged to imitate bone. Can anyone tell me for certain which is right? Or if both were made is there a reliable way to tell the difference? Does the first digit in the model # being 6 reliably indicate bone?

6 indicates jigged handle material, either bone, synthetic or laminated wood.
Any pictures?

 

[TheJon]

In general no, the code the 62 indicates that it has jigged scales and has 2 blades. The 6 only means that is it jigged, not what type of material they used, one of the flaws of their numbering system. It's difficult to tell from photos much in my experience the difference is pretty obvious in person. Sometimes you can till it photos from the way the pins sit. But that's not fool proof.

 

[TheJon]

Here is an example. The the left a 6254 trapper with real jigged bone, on the right a 6231 1/2 with jigged delrin scales.

 

[Boattale]

Looks like bone to me.

 

[Arathol]

Looks like bone to me.View attachment 2576831

Delrin for sure......

 

[Boattale]

Delrin for sure......

Really. I thought the color variations look like bone?

 

[Arathol]

Really. I thought the color variations look like bone?

Nope....the way to tell is the shield. From the early 70s to the late 80s Case put a different shield on the jigged Delrin handles so you could tell them apart. The word Case on the jigged bone handles has a oval around it, on the Delrin handles there is no oval around Case.
The bone handle shield looks something like this-

Some discussion here-

Bone or Delrin? - All About Pocket Knives

This has been bugging me for a while now. I have a 1975 Case 06244. I'm fairly certain they're bone, but sometimes the handles look like delrin to me so I'm going to ask you guys for an opinion. Bone or Delrin? What say you? ..

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

 

[Boattale]

Nope....the way to tell is the shield. From the early 70s to the late 80s Case put a different shield on the jigged Delrin handles so you could tell them apart. The word Case on the jigged bone handles has a oval around it, on the Delrin handles there is no oval around Case.
The bone handle shield looks something like this-

Some discussion here-

Bone or Delrin? - All About Pocket Knives

This has been bugging me for a while now. I have a 1975 Case 06244. I'm fairly certain they're bone, but sometimes the handles look like delrin to me so I'm going to ask you guys for an opinion. Bone or Delrin? What say you? ..

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

Thanks. More searching told me the same thing. I think I will pass on this one. Delrin needs to be yellow to live here.

 

[PointyThings]

Nope....the way to tell is the shield. From the early 70s to the late 80s Case put a different shield on the jigged Delrin handles so you could tell them apart. The word Case on the jigged bone handles has a oval around it, on the Delrin handles there is no oval around Case.
The bone handle shield looks something like this-

Some discussion here-

Bone or Delrin? - All About Pocket Knives

This has been bugging me for a while now. I have a 1975 Case 06244. I'm fairly certain they're bone, but sometimes the handles look like delrin to me so I'm going to ask you guys for an opinion. Bone or Delrin? What say you? ..

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

I've found that bone scales NEVER have the plain shield (no circle), but Delrin can have either the circle shield or plain shield.

 

[danno50]

The bottom knife is a 1975 6235 1/2 with delrin handles and a circle shield.

 

[TheJon]

I've found that bone scales NEVER have the plain shield (no circle), but Delrin can have either the circle shield or plain shield.

I agree with this. I mean made it's SUPPOSED to be that way, but evidently not always

 

[Boattale]

I agree with this. I mean made it's SUPPOSED to be that way, but evidently not always

Does it ever go the other way? Bone without the circle shield from that period?

 

[PointyThings]

Does it ever go the other way? Bone without the circle shield from that period?

Have never seen bone with the non-circle shield in more than 45 years of collecting Case. At least for the period from 1965 through the late 1970s, when Case was still using reddish or dark chestnut colored bone.

 

[hornetguy]

There are ways to be positive, but they can leave marks, if clumsily done.
I've used the edge of a very finely sharpened knife to scrape against the material.... delrin will allow a tiny curl of plastic to be "shaved" off. Bone will not do that... you'll see a tiny bit of powder being scraped off.
You can also use a very hot needle point to see if it will "melt" into the delrin, but that usually leaves a tiny mark.... so, be judicious...

I've gotten better at being able to simply judge, visually, but I'm not at 100% yet.

Bone color variations are usually not "even"... there will be mottled areas where the color changes. Delrin is a very smooth, too perfect transition...

I agree, the one in post #5 is delrin.

 

[Boattale]

Thanks everyone for the education. It's much appreciated.