How do bone handles age?

sogflash

sogflash

Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
1,600
I've got a couple of bone handled slip joints now. They are new and haven't been carried or used much yet.

How can I expect them to wear over time? I guess they'll get some scratches from other stuff in my pockets. They'll most likely get exposed to some sweat, especially on warm summer days.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The jigging wears down over time, eventually over YEARS of carry it will eventually become nearly smooth. There are many examples I've seen here on the forum of 100+ year old pocket knives. The degree of wear varies with it's use and care of course. In some cases it shrinks a bit, but the cause of this I can only guess. Others can explain it perhaps but I'd guess excessive exposure to sunlight or heat over time?

Look in the "Old Knives" thread in the Sticky section of page one here and you'll see some fine examples of how pocket knives age and wear.
 
Hi,

Don't sweat it. Unless there is a flaw in the scale or it suffers unforeseen damage, bone will out last you by a wide margin. As pointed out, there 100+ year old knives out there that look nearly new. And some that show a bit of wear from use. I enjoy watching my bone scales age.

New bone scales are often impregnated with polymer resins under pressure, (Case does this), that are nearly impervious to the environment. I choose mostly bone scales myself, but I like jigging.

Dale
 
031.jpg

image by 1scooter

Everything wears over time, whether it's bone covers or nickel silver bolsters.

sunandsteel said:
I'm started to think if wood wears better than bone.
Click to expand...

EVERYTHING wears.

germanworking.jpg

image by ots 15

- Christian
 
I just became aware of my misspelling in the title. Is it possible for someone with a lot of power here to edit it to "How do bone handles age?"
 
kamagong said:
031.jpg

image by 1scooter

Everything wears over time, whether it's bone covers or nickel silver bolsters.



EVERYTHING wears.

germanworking.jpg

image by ots 15

- Christian
Click to expand...

Hi,

Nice pair of Case! What is that tool? And are they still available?

Dale
 
IIRC that's a frog tool. Not mine. Wish it were though, I've been looking for one for a while.

- Christian
 
Bone handles only improve with age and use in my opinion. I just told my wife that the same is true for me, but she looks skeptical. ;)
 
kamagong said:
031.jpg

image by 1scooter

Everything wears over time, whether it's bone covers or nickel silver bolsters.

EVERYTHING wears.

germanworking.jpg

image by ots 15

- Christian
Click to expand...

Knives like that are what i live for. I love that look the most and how they feel in-hand. That old girl on the bottom is perfect.
Wish I could buy 'em like that, hehe.
 
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