Richard Rogers Sowbelly Stockman

richstag

richstag

Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
9,008
Happy holidays to everyone!

A quick question for all of you with far more knowledge and experience than me:

I ordered a Richard Rogers Sowbelly Stockman (bone handles). I found it the other day and thought it looked perfect for my taste. I have been reading about the use of bone handle scales recently and am wondering if all the precautions I am finding about the material are valid.

I have stag and mop handled knives and never encountered any problems. Ivory grips with the same results.

Keep in mind I will carry and use the knife daily.

Thanks!
 
Rich,
Take a look atop the forum screen here,the "sticky" thread "Old Knives"
Theres a lot of proof as how bone will hold up after a long life,in there :thumbup:
-Vince
 
Any Time Kevin,
Tony Bose recommends lemon oil,every now and then,just put a drop on there & it keeps the bone nice
Homer Formby's makes a Lemon oil penetrating formula I got a bottle at Wally World & I use it on wood handles,too
Sounds like a great knife you ordered :thumbup:
-Vince
 
I have knives that are 120 years old and the bone, although worn, is still tight and crack-free. I have some knives that are just a few years old and the bone sucks. It's all about how you use it and maintain it. The same can be said with other handle materials as well.

Let's see a picture of that bad boy.
 
Hey Kevin,

Congratulations on a knife I think you will enjoy. I am pretty sure I have more examples of Richard's work than any other maker and have been lucky to get to know Richard and his wife Sally over the years. Great people and great knives are always a good combo.

Like Vince said, one thing about bone is that you have to make an effort to mess it up or at least drop it from a good distance. ;). I guess pinwork that stresses the bone might cause cracks, but I don't think you have anything to worry about since Richard is the type who would start all over. Come to think of it I have only seen stress cracks around pins on factory knives.

Bone usually will look better if you decide to carry the knife. If you are going to put it up, a little lemon oil and Ren Wax will do and that might be overkill, but it will not hurt while adding a natural looking sheen.

Like any natural handle material, it is best not to expose it to extreme temps, but even at that, bone, that has been cured properly should last for generations with minimal consideration.

Hope you enjoy the new knife.
 
Vince,

Thanks again. I will look into the lemon oil.

I appreciate the help,

Kevin
 
cnas122 said:
I have knives that are 120 years old and the bone, although worn, is still tight and crack-free. I have some knives that are just a few years old and the bone sucks. It's all about how you use it and maintain it. The same can be said with other handle materials as well.

Let's see a picture of that bad boy.
Click to expand...

I do not have it yet. That will be Thursday, at which time I will take pictures and post them. I guess I will have to renew my membership that just expired.

For now, here is the link to the knife: http://www.nordicknives.com/GenGAL1.php?id=3843

Thanks,

Kevin
 
Hey Bastid,

I guess I should call you that??? Anyhow, I read most of your posts about Ricard Rogers before the purchase, so thank you.

Knowing that a knifemaker is a good person also helped me in deciding.

Your comments are exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the clarification.

It was not until after the purchase that I found "knife care" topics on certain knifemakers websites that made me wonder. I also wondered if what I was finding was true but not really relevant to my application, which it sounds as though that is the case.

So thanks again,

Kevin
 
One more day..... To you guys this is another walk in the park....

I am excited.

I guess the anticipation is half the fun. I need help.

sorry for the pointless rambling....
 
I could be wrong but aren't dinosaur bones some of the oldest organic things that we are digging out of this planet that are still intact
Ken.
 
Blues said:
I think it goes to the question of durability and longevity of bone. ;)
Click to expand...


I was thinking that, but not knowing much on the subject I was still curious to know if there were any underlying thoughts.

Wouldn't dinosaur bone be fossilized unless preserved somehow?

Please excuse my ignorance on the subject.

If that is what the comment implied then I hope my handle will last as long as the dinosaur bones. It would be cool if in millions of years people found it and others deep beneath the soil. Then they could make handles for there knives out of it.

Sorry for my delirium. I am working nights right now. :)
 
All I meant by the comment was that bone is very long lasting, its one of my pet handle materials. I too have had some very old knives go thru my shop with bone scales and except for pocket worn no problems
Ken
 
kc custom said:
All I meant by the comment was that bone is very long lasting, its one of my pet handle materials. I too have had some very old knives go thru my shop with bone scales and except for pocket worn no problems
Ken
Click to expand...

haha, I figured. I was just having fun. I got the feeling this group can have a little fun to pass the time by. All while discussing something of interest.

Thanks for your input;)
 
Well, UPS dropped off the knife about five minutes after I left for work today. I got home and opened the box with much anticipation to find….

….a nice little black pouch with a knife inside. I slipped out the knife and the first thing I noticed were scratches on it. The next thing I noticed was that none of the blades were very sharp.

Okay, just forget about the scratches and dull blades and look at the fit and finish. Well that is pretty good.

I am very happy with the knife overall. The only knife like it that I can compare it to that I own is an Ohta. I have to say, the Ohta was razor sharp and in mint condition.

I guess I can look at it two ways:

Great, I don’t need to worry about scratching it up, and I will never have that, “I have to get it sharper than it came” thing going on since it’s not sharp to begin with.

Or

Why did I just pay all of that money for a scratched up dull knife?

Now, with all of that being said, it is a beautiful knife. Who knows why it is scratched up and dull. BTW, the scratches are not that bad, it is just not mint condition by any means (or at least by my standards).

I know I said I would have pictures posted today, but an unexpected power surge took out my power conditioner…. So the membership will have to wait. Maybe I can link to Snapfish or something?

Okay, so does any of this sound unusual to anyone? You know, the scratched and dull thing?

I already used it to open the new power conditioner and it is in my pocket now. Again, user, so I guess it is whatever.

Thanks again everyone,

Kevin
 
It does sound unusual. My bet is that this has to be a preowned knife.
Have around 20 of Richards knives in my collection (all but one coming directly from him) I never encountered one from him that had any problems with finish or dull blades. Richard takes a lot of modest pride in his finish.
 
Bastid said:
It does sound unusual. My bet is that this has to be a preowned knife.
Have around 20 of Richards knives in my collection (all but one coming directly from him) I never encountered one from him that had any problems with finish or dull blades. Richard takes a lot of modest pride in his finish.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it was a pre-owned knife as I recall seeing it on Nordic Knives' site a while back. (Though I don't think there was any indication that it may have been less than mint.)

Sharpen that baby up and use her. If it ever needs a tune-up, Richard is one of the good guys. :thumbup::cool:
 
Thanks for the advice! I did not think for a minute it would have been due to the makers finishing.

No big deal. I think it must have been previously owned also.

That’s okay, just a surprise. And I agree 100% about there being no indication that it was anything but mint condition.

I have it in my pocket now and am headed off to work with it.

Thanks again everyone. Btw, the bone handles are beautiful. I think I like them more than my other handles, aside from the ivory.

That is great to know that Richard Rogers would help me out if I needed it:thumbup::thumbup:

Respectfully,

Kevin
 
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