How long does it take to get jigged bone handles looked "worn out"?

[Humppa]

Hi guys!

I see a lot of knives in this forum, which have jigged bone handles. After using and carrying them a long time theese bone handles get a nice "used" or "vintage" look. The Case Catalogue call them "pocket worn".
How long do I have to carry a knife to get the handles look this way?
In my case, the only knife I call really an EDC (under all the knives I own) is a Case Medium Stockman Chestnut Brown in CV. I carry it now for alread about 10 months nearly every day.

What do you think; how long will it take to get the bone handles look that way?
BTW: Normally I use to wear jeans or cargopants, if this is important

Kind regards
Andi

P.S. I think some of you guys have asked this question to youself...

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I've wondered about that too. I'd have to assume, in the case of a 'true' pocket-worn knife, at least a little dirty/dusty abrasion might've been involved, over a fairly long period of time. Bone is pretty hard stuff, and so far as my experience has taught me, simple clean denim doesn't make much of a dent, or at least doesn't do it without some serious long-term carry. I also think handling plays a big role. A bone or wood handled knife makes a nice 'worry stone' to rub the thumb against, when lost in thought over who-knows-what. I bet at least a few were 'polished' in that fashion.

 

[synthesist]

You could just help it along with some 220 wet or dry.........................

Syn

 

[Nathan L]

My grandfather has a case stockman that he has carried every day since the 1970's and it looks very used, vintage, smooth and all that( it also had a huge ball of lint in it when i finaly got to clean and sharpen it for him, he never had cleaned it ). I have a case that i have carried on and off for about 2 years and the bolsters are starting to look dull and kinda vintage, but no where near to papa's. If i had to guess i would say that after 10 years of edc it would look used.

 

[Humppa]

Hi guys!

@ david: Yeah, I also think, that a long period of carrying it in a sandy or dirty pocket will remove a lot of the bone which is on the handle.
@ syn: Well, I wanted to do it the "natural way"
@ nathanL: This would is what I have already thought, or even feared. After carrying and using it for about 40 years might take the handles down to a pocket worn look. Then I´m nearly 70

Kind regards
Andi

 

[kc custom]

Think buffer spinning at say 1725,-2000rpm's and how quickly it wears down jigged bone. Now
lets take the fabric of a pair of jeans and either multiply or divide, plus tumbling it in your hands
every waking hour for 6 months voila "pocket worn"
Ken..

 

[thesouthernguitarist]

I've been carrying my Peanut everyday for the past 3 months and it has scratches on the bolters, a dark patina, and that's about it. I've been wondering this same question myself! Great thread...

 

[pwcb2005]

It took 7 years for my standard jigged case trapper to be smooth. and by smooth, I mean look like a pocket worn knife. My boss had a "pocketworn" case trapper from 1998 and in 2008, it was nearly smooth bone with about 2 or three dimples where there was once jigging. So probably 10 years +.

 

[yablanowitz]

In a pocket by itself, many years. Throw in your keys, some coins and another pocket knife or two, it only takes a few years.

 

[kamagong]

Not as long as you might think. Here are pictures of my KHnutbuster, new and after a year of nearly daily use.

The edges of the jigging have smoothed out nicely, and the color of the bone has changed as well. It's starting to pick up that warm glow that you often see on old knives.

- Christian

 

[Robert.B]

Not as long as you might think. Here are pictures of my KHnutbuster, new and after a year of nearly daily use.

The edges of the jigging have smoothed out nicely, and the color of the bone has changed as well. It's starting to pick up that warm glow that you often see on old knives.

- Christian

That looks amazing, I googled KHnutbuster but couldnt find nothing (could you email me some details)...you really have a fine looking knife there and its wearing in great!!!

 

[CWL]

Yes, keep the knife with your keys and some coins, then let time do it's work.

 

[matt]

I have carried a stag peanut for around 6 years and it has turned almost white and very smooth just riding in the watch pocket of my jeans every day.I may be wrong but it seems to me that stag wears faster than bone, if that's what you are looking for. My knife has never been carried with coins or keys but the bolsters look nice and worn in. I wouldn't trade it for a new one.

 

[2Dead]

Christian, that looks great!! That from just using it or keeping it in your pocket with keys/change or what?

That looks amazing, I googled KHnutbuster but couldnt find nothing (could you email me some details)...you really have a fine looking knife there and its wearing in great!!!

The KHnutbuster is Kerry Hampton's custom sodbuster.

 

[yablanowitz]

My old 6308 about three years ago.

Same knife after riding in my pocket with keys, change and other knives every day for those three years.

 

[kamagong]

That looks amazing, I googled KHnutbuster but couldnt find nothing (could you email me some details)...you really have a fine looking knife there and its wearing in great!!!

Robert,

The KHnutbuster is a custom sodbuster and Kerry Hampton's signature pattern. You can specify the steel and scales used. This one has Case antique bone scales and an A2 blade.

Christian, that looks great!! That from just using it or keeping it in your pocket with keys/change or what?

Trand,

Both. This knife has been the closest thing to an EDC that I've had. I carried it almost every day for a year. It's been thrown in my pocket with keys, coins, phone, flashlight, and I can't remember what else. It now sports a few dings and scratches. I even dropped it onto asphalt once, taking a good sized chip out of the bone scale. Some people would probably say that I don't deserve to own a custom slipjoint.

- Christian

 

[Javelin]

So its the change and the keys that does the trick huh? I've edc'd a jigged bone Case minicopperlock for a while and never saw any wear, however my keys go on a belt loop and change in with the wallet. I never carry anything in the same pocket as my knife to keep it from being bulky and prevent my knife from scratching up any electronics.

 

[xbxb]

I've been carrying some kind of a pocket knife for over 55 years. That does not mean I'm and expert it just means I have a little history to look back on. To answer your question---- The other comments above are correct. It depends on the materials the knife is made of, and the number of pennies nickels dimes stuff and keys you have in your pocket where you are carrying your knife. So there are many variables which are going to influence how soon it looks pocket worn. If you're like me and you drop it in the same pocket with all the other stuff you are carrying, I'd say on average---oh, about 5ish years and you will start to see the pocket worn look. As you can see it's a bit of a guess. here is a nice little AG Russell I have carried for a few years that is starting to look pocket worn. Sorry about the pic. I used my phone to snap it real quick.

A nice little k horn Schrade

. This is not my picture of my Schrade

and a small toothpick getting a little pocket worn.

 

[A. G. Russell]

Case has an entire line that they call "Pocket Worn" that already has the wear done for you. Ask them for a dealer who carries the model you want. Good luck.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Great pics. That Knutmaster looks great!