GEC Black Plum #23

wardleather

wardleather

Joined
Mar 8, 2010
Messages
156
Hello -

First post here on the "Traditional Forum" but I've been hanging around for awhile...

My wife bought me a Dogleg Jack for our fifth anniversary in with antique bone and I absolutely love it. I just bought a #23 at a gun show yesterday in black plum (liner lock) after lusting for one for quite some time. It's a nail-breaker for sure so I followed the advice from a few other recent posts and gave it a bath in detergant and hot water only to have my hands covered in oxblood red dye. I dried it thoroughly and gave it a coat of ren wax and oiled the joints. The blade is definitely easier to open but the bleeding of the dye has me a bit concerned. I build holsters as a hobby and have frequently dyed some rigs so I'm familiar with what's happening here. I'm just wondering if there is something more I can do to seal in the dye or if I'll have this perpetual problem of dye bleeding from the handle. I would usually polish a holster to pull out any excess dye and seal with an acrylic or something similar. I'm just not sure what to do with bone as the material in question. Anyone else have similar experiences?

I still love the knife but I just want to know if there is something I can do to prevent a total bleed out when I take this thing hunting next fall.
 
I had one gentleman tell me that if you let the knife "air out" for a while before cleaning it, etc, that the die will set better.

I guess the die will dry out a bit more if exposed to the air for a while.

The bleed out should resolve its self.
 
Yeah....bft ^^^^ has got it, there was a thread on this exact same thing a while ago, some members have said to ( low) heat it...bang it outside on a nice hot day, do this for a couple of days, you have a new knife and with those coloured scales you will get this.
Dont be too concerned, I also have had stunning Stag that has been dyed a deeper rich colour, and when I received it the tissue had the colour right through it!!... just let it breath, let it air, and dont leave it on your best white tablecloth for sometime :D
I have seen your name a-lurking...welcome :) :thumbup:
 
Great, thanks for the comments. I guess I'm already used to dealing with the dye...just wanted some reassurance that I wasn't going to have a lingering issue. It didn't seem to change the depth of color in the scales. Now I'm curios on how they prep the scales and do the dying process.
 
"just want to know if there is something I can do to prevent a total bleed out when I take this thing hunting next fall. " Send it to me and I'll keep it in my pocket! No bleed out to worry about.... :)

I love those 23Ls and the black plum is super looking. It's the one with a long nail nick isn't it? If so, you got a great lookinig knife even with some dye bleed.

I have a queen mountian man in honey amber and it had the same problem after I cleaned it but it only lasted for three-four weeks. I've been keeping it rolled in a paper towel to check the bleeding.
 
Only if you promise to be standing next to me when I need the knife :)

Yep, it's the one with the long nail nick. I didn't realize the blade has a false swedge on the top until I saw it in person. Definitely makes the blade harder to open but, I have to admit, rinsing it out and oiling it a bit has dropped it down into the usable category. I just need to build a belt sheath for it now. I was thinking something that rides at a 45 - 60 degree angle so it's not straight up and down and digging into my side when I sit down. I'll have to post some pics when I get it done. I never thought I'd like these traditional folders as much as I do. GEC really puts together a nice knife.
 
I've commented on red dye bleed out before, but it bears repeating. Red dyes tend to be unstable. It's like washing a red shirt. All the red-bone scaled knives I own have bled more than any other color.

That being said, you might try a high-quality car wax on the scales.

By the way, I own that very knife, really nice piece. It did...eventually...loosen up (some).
 
Sounds good to me...as I think you wanted to take it hunting! I love to go hunting!
I'd like to see the sheath when you get it done. Sounds like a great idea at the angle you described.
wardleather said:
Only if you promise to be standing next to me when I need the knife :)

Yep, it's the one with the long nail nick. I didn't realize the blade has a false swedge on the top until I saw it in person. Definitely makes the blade harder to open but, I have to admit, rinsing it out and oiling it a bit has dropped it down into the usable category. I just need to build a belt sheath for it now. I was thinking something that rides at a 45 - 60 degree angle so it's not straight up and down and digging into my side when I sit down. I'll have to post some pics when I get it done. I never thought I'd like these traditional folders as much as I do. GEC really puts together a nice knife.
Click to expand...
 
I bought some green Jigged scales from a company a few years ago and noticed the bleed out right away. Was told to wash it in dish soap and dry a few times. After the 5th try, letting it dry between, I was still getting bleeding. Left it to air out for a couple of years now, when I looked through my scales after moving this fall the bleed out still happened on my fingers. Guess green isn't that stable in this case either. I'm very glad that no slipjoint I've ever received has bled out on me, even my reds. Lucky I guess.

Kris
 
Interesting input. Did the color in the scales mellow out and fade away?

I plan on adding a few more layers of wax in hopes of locking in the dye. If all else fails I might just use a liquid sealant like acrylic or another type of clear coating that might soak into the pores.
 
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