Hen and Rooster

J

Joe Real

Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
170
Hi guys,
I am not a connoisseur like most of you are around here therefore wanted to ask you about a Hen and Rooster canoe knife, blue bone, that I was able to get a couple of months ago. It has Solingen stamped on the big blade and is stainless. The previous owner told me that the blue bone is real bone, but I am not sure.
I had been looking for a canoe for some time but did not wanted to spend too much money on it. The knife is intended to be a user, carrying it two or three times a week.
So my question: How is the quality of Hen and Rooster knives? Is this blue bone real bone or is synthetic?
Thanks + Regards
 
If you want to check if the bone is real or synthetic an easy way to do it is this...

...take a sharp knife (or razor blade) and place it lightly (without any downward pressure) vertically on the "bone". See if it will slide or skate side to side with very slight sideways pressure.

If it feels like it "digs in" to the scale and resists moving it's probably delrin or synthetic. If it "skates" sideways then it is most likely bone.
 
If this is the knife, the online vendor info states that it's bone.

41zxTBweRAL._SS500_.jpg
 
+1 to what Elliot said. With experience, you might also be able to do that 'skate test' with your fingernail. Plastic or delrin is very soft, so even a fingernail might dig in or scratch it. Bone is quite hard, so a fingernail will skate across it, if you attempt to scratch it.

You can also take a close look at it with a good magnifier and BRIGHT light. Bone has pores in it, plastic & delrin don't. The pores are especially easy to see on the inside edges of the jigging marks. Synthetic materials (plastic or delrin) will not show any pores at all.
 
As for the quality question: what do you think? Is it of good enough quality to perform the tasks you need it to? Do you feel good about what you payed for it? Then there ya go! Quality is all relative...I have several inexpensive knives that I would say are great quality for the money. So if you feel good about what you got for the price you paid, I would be happy with it.
 
Pretty knife that one - I had a H&R in blue bone once - a congress

As with the others I have had, it was excellent in the fit and finish department. I find H&R springs a little soft for my taste - just an opinion - though I definitely err towards the tougher spring in a slipjoint
 
The knife that I got is exactly the same that Blues posted in the picture.
Thanks guys for your imput, I really like this knife, seems to be a keeper.
Best Regards
 
I have a Hen & Rooster in my pocket as I type this. An older, small stockman in stag with carbon blades. It bumped a pair of Bokers (pen and large stockman) from rotation. It'll have to be a really nice knife (or one with great sentimental value) to make it leave my pocket. It looks like you got a good user.

Frank
 
Hi Joe Yes the "Bone " Is real bone albeit it is probably cattle bone, (cow). I only collect Hen & Rooster knives. The older ones from C.Bertram were and still are GREAT knives. I can compare them to the finest handmade knives. The ones after AG Russell, (1980), when the courts bankrupt the company and sold the rights of the trademark to James Frost who has the "new" Hen Rooster made by various knife makers by contract, (Boker, Kissing Crane, etc.) These knives are not as "refined" as the originale H&R's but cost less and are probably worth the money. Remember "you get what you pay for", if you are lucky. I only collect The Hen & Rooster knives that were made by Carl Bertram, (C. Bertram) Or Voss, (Voss Cut), Karl Guttmann, (Guttmann over Germany). I am sad to say I been duped by buying two "Fakes" by the Con Artist Jim Parker. Happy knife Collecting, H&Rjunkie
 
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