Case "Dark Red" Bone

btb01

btb01

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Jul 26, 2008
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I just got this one in the mail today, and I'm pretty sure it's going back tomorrow. I like everything about this knife... except the color. I'm amazed that Case calls this "Dark Red Bone." I mean, maybe it's sort of dark(ish) there in the center, but towards the bolsters I'd say it's closer to pink.

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No pink on the opposite side, at least, but it's not "dark red" either. I'd call it "Kool Aid Red." :D

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So is this the norm for Case's "Dark Red Bone" these days?
 
Their modern red bone dyes really do vary a lot; I like to pick them out in person - "Old Red" Mini-Trapper and "Brick Red" Texas Jack. OH

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I feel your pain Barrett. I hate to get all pumped up on a knife order it and when it comes it is far less than desirable. :eek:
 
Yea, I agree with you. I got a "cheap" $5 steel warrior at the fleamarket a few years ago and the blue scales turn white near the bolsters. Nice knife otherwise. But I hold Case to a higher level of quality.
 
I won't buy a Case anymore unless I get to coon finger it a bit first. I've seen too many issues with them over the past few years to trust buying one sight unseen. Older ones I have no issues with.
 
The Pocket Worn Old Red Bone generally comes pretty decent. But only in SS. I did just get a 6347, but it got a soak in Tea for a few hours and is fine now.

The CV Old Red Bone are generally pink in color. Not sure if the Tea will work, but I'm not hopeful.... Not enough red to begin with. I have never seen one that wasn't just pink. Case knows there is a problem, but they can't figure out which way to deal with it.... So I avoid this color.
 
Here we go again.
RIT dye and bobs yer uncle.:thumbup:
 
What about differences in density in different areas of the scales? Defects in natural materials in the eyes of some make the object more desirable. Old knives with these defects are called character. To each his own... if I don't like it I don't buy it. I agree that case's description of dark red bone doesn't match my eye's perception.
 
sort of dark(ish) there in the center, but towards the bolsters I'd say it's closer to pink
Click to expand...

Yes and it isn't just Case, Boker has a real problem as well.

Ha, ha
actually you did such a great job of photographing the knife that it looks pretty interesting . . . I am thinking it is a shame you are sending it back.

But
I sent one back to Boker for the same reason and I kept a Case that I wished was darker . . . so what do I know ?

I have been wondering from then until now whether a guy could buusssout some black, blue or brown dye and make 'em like we want them. Last I looked into it it seemed like one has to put the whole knife into a pot of hot dye.

Here's my Case. I really like the knife and glad I kept it but could be a touch darker.



Speaking of darker; that blue Swayback in the photo is supposed to be a great deal darker. Just go to the Case.com site and look at what they claim to be offering and then look at what you get. Worlds apart.
 
case's description of dark red bone doesn't match my eye's perception.
Click to expand...

The silly thing is what they are pushing out the door doesn't match, even remotely, their own photos on their web site. Why they don't change the photos or buy some Rit Dye and dye the scales before they tack 'em on I DON'T KNOW.

I AM awfully happy with my Stag on my Trapper though. GREAT JOB THERE !
 
It's not dark and it's not appealing. When you think how nice CASE Chestnut bone is, it is incomprehensible why they fail to produce dark red- one of their classics from not that long ago.

I'm surprised to hear Böker has the same trouble, the ones I've had have been a decent colour and uniform.

GEC manages to make nice dark red too.

So too does RR....

Odd.
 
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I have a 1993 vintage Boker 712 in red bone. It is drop dead gorgeous and a deep red. This knife is pretty popular and I've seen a lot of images of the same knife. The red bone varies considerably. Mine is a deep dark read, others it goes from whitish, to pink and then light red. Maybe it's not a defect, but just natural variation that's not readily controlled. Red bone knives sell, so most people don't care enough not to buy. It just bites you when you want a specific color and cannot see the knife before buying.
 
I feel your pain. I got all hopeful when I saw the new "Dark" Red Bone and CV steel. Then I clicked on the link and looked at pics of what they were calling "Dark"....my 1st thought was "I'd hate to see what they call Light Red Bone".

Woodrow is spot on about their Pocket Worn Red Bone. I have a Mini-Trapper from 1999-2000? that is beautiful. I'm not a Trapper fan, but that Mini-Trapper was in the sales case at a hunting store I worked at and after a week of coonfingering it I bought it. Turns out my oldest son loves it, came in handy 15 years later lol.

On the up side, Case is offering more options in CV steel at least.
 
I have a few from the Dark Red CV family. Mine aren't too bad:



Same as above, different background and lighting:


Not the same one. This one is in on a cloudy day:


This one is a bit older.


So not all of them fade to white near the bolsters.
 
The best advice I could ever give you for a new Case knife is buy it in person or from a place that shows actual pictures .................... or you could find an old 1970's or before redbone which I imagine might delight you. :)
 
Primble I'd opt for the latter, but that ole Redbone is hard to find in the Old World...

I simply do not understand WHY CASE will not produce dark red now?? I've heard some say that it's due to environmental restrictions on dyes but I frankly doubt it as other US and non US contemporary manufacturers produce it. Perhaps it is simply cost driven? Whatever, they should in fairness call it Scarlet Bone, or Lipstick...:D
 
This thread has got me thinking about the cost of traditional knives verses our expectations of quality. Before I get started please no one get offended by what I am saying as I also have been quite perturbed by things I deemed as problems with knives I have bought and am in no way saying anything derogatory or personal towards anyone . Coming from the world of modern folders when I first started buying traditional knives I was perplexed by the low prices for even the nicest and most revered traditional knife brands. In modern folders brands like Kershaw that are kind of on the bottom rung of acceptable knives yet they will cost you $30 to a little over $100. I equate these to the Rough Riders in traditional knives both good knives yet the Rough Riders will mostly run from $10 to $20. Spyderco's and ZT's will run from about $50 on the very low side (and imported) to a few hundred and are comparable to our Case knives that only run from about $30 to a little over $100. And then there are the CRK's That will cost you from $350 up and these I compare to our GEC's that will run from just over $60 (just ordered a Hayin Helper for that price) to about $200. So I feel the value we receive for our money we spend buying traditional knives is excellent. So I feel that sometimes these little disappointments we have with some of our knives are just that, little disappointments. Overall I think we are getting great deals on our traditional knives and both I and my wallet are very happy that I have chosen to follow this path of the old timey knife. Besides they just look great and are incredible tools.
 
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