Red Soup Bone on TC Barlow Shrinking?

A

admiralfuture

Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Messages
15
Hi guys,

Just wanted to ask if anybody has any experience with the red soup bone (or bone in general, I guess) shrinking on their traditional knives?

I have an Anniversary TC Barlow in Red Soup Bone. Yesterday I noticed that, near the butt end of the knife, a portion of the liner/scale underneath the cover was visibly proud from the bone. My finger definitely catches on it and if I look at it from the back the knife looks 'stepped,' with the show side lower than the back spring and far side. It also looks like the bone might be slightly raised off the metal underneath on that side.

As far as I know the knife wasn't like this when I bought it. I haven't abused it or dropped it other than a small (6" or so) drop when my cat knocked it off a stack of books, but is it possible I knocked it loose? Is bone prone to shrinking, and this is to be expected? Obviously the performance isn't affected, but I guess I just want to know whether it was my fault or not, haha.

Sorry for the weirdo pictures, they're the best I can do.

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If the moisture content of bone is high during assembly, very slight shrinkage is possible! Usually not much though, as bone is pretty stable.
I have improved a similar situation by applying mineral oil a few times. I wouldn't "soak" it though.
 
Thanks for the quick reply waynorth! I'll give the mineral oil a shot. Just apply some, let it sit for a minute, and wipe it off?
 
Wipe liberally with mineral oil and let it soak in overnight. Do this every once in a while to help keep the bone, or especially wood, scales hydrated. Works great on old bone/stag/wood and won't hurt your blade a bit. Buy it in the pharmacy and you can use it to keep regular too! (but I don't recommend drinking it!) :)
 
gunstockjack said:
Wipe liberally with mineral oil and let it soak in overnight. Do this every once in a while to help keep the bone, or especially wood, scales hydrated. Works great on old bone/stag/wood and won't hurt your blade a bit. Buy it in the pharmacy and you can use it to keep regular too! (but I don't recommend drinking it!) :)
Click to expand...

Haha so I've heard! Guess I'm not gonna be making eye contact with the check-out person at Rite Aid today...

In all seriousness will give it a shot today and see if it helps. Not the end of the world even if it doesn't. Still my favorite.
 
Mineral oil, or Tony Bose recommends Lemon Oil. I imagine once it's expanded, that Ren Wax would help keep it that way.
 
The bone on my Smooth Ivory bone TC shrunk a bit, but stopped. I don't really notice it now.

Man, those Anniversary versions are awesome. Wish I'd kept mine.
 
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