So, what constitutes good bone jigging?

[Woodrow F Call]

While I have almost always carried a traditional pocket knife on my person, I'm still pretty much a newbie and have only recently come to appreciate all the different details of the traditional pocket knife. One of those details is the jigging. I find myself appreciating jigging that doesn't perfectly repeat itself over and over. Something that looks like it was done by hand, but is not perfectly symetrical. Close, but not perfect. I'm liking some of GEC's newer jigging patterns (GEC Pemberton, Cody Scouts, Eureka Jacks), but there are a still a few that look a little bland. I also dig the peach seed jigging that schrade did, but I don't see that much anymore.

Anyone got a rundown on the finer aspects of bone jigging? Patterns?

That being said, what is considered "good" bone jigging?

Feel free to post examples, but tell us about it!

 

[TLARbb]

I find myself being head over heels in love with Case's pocket worn peachseed jigging such as they use on the Bermuda green series. The jigging pattern that GEC used on the 2011 jack (85 bullet end jack) is really nice.


Youy are right, that Schrade peachseed jigging is special.

Ed J

 

[Humppa]

Actually I´m a sucker for nice jigged bone - as it not that common here in Germany which makes every knife with that handle material some kind of unique and just great.

I like the jigging that GEC does as well as that one Case does.



The random jigging of Case makes a great contrast to its own - while the "shaped" (I don´t know the word) jigging of GEC is great as well. I really like their copperhead jigged bone

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Uncle Andi, what is the jigging on that Case?

 

[Humppa]

Thats the Chestnut Brown Bone. One of my favorite colors in Case knives. On this stockman it´s a pretty worn down example as I carried this knife for more than nine months as my only edc in the pocket beside coins, lighter etc etc...

Here´s the same jigged bone on my Peanut

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I would love for them to do that on a large stockman.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I would love for them to do that on a large stockman.

That would look very good indeed, on a '75 pattern. Very warm color in that chestnut bone. :thumbup:

BTW, Andi, that's a nice pic of the chestnut Peanut. I recently picked up one of those in CV, but haven't patina'd the blades yet (still shiny). Your pic gives a very appealing glimpse into that knife's possible future.


David

 

[Shaggy]

Sorry I don't have any pix to post but the NICEST example of jigging I've ever seen in this forum was on an early GEC model 25 called "horsecut." I wish GEC would bring that one back but I think I read somewhere that GEC had that jigging outsourced (someone correct me if I'm wrong). As far as bad jigging, I guess that's a lot like pornography: can't describe it but I know it when I see it!

-Greg

 

[Humppa]

Thanks David. It´s a great knife. I carry it frequently. The patina on this one is not forced, it´s performed naturally by cutting food and other items.

Back to topic about jigged bone - until now I just own one Queen made knives. The bone which is used by Queen is just great looking. Here is an example for Queen´s Stag Bone which is also nicely jigged

 

[quattromori]

I have to admit, I prefer smooth handle materials (out of habit, I guess), so to me the "good jigging" is a relatively shallow one, or, much better, a pocket worn jigging; I don't really dig the "acute" deep jigging on some knives.
To me, it's more a matter of feel than looks. Among the new jigged bone handles, the Case Bermuda green bone is a good example of what I like.

Fausto

 

[pertinux]

Sorry I don't have any pix to post but the NICEST example of jigging I've ever seen in this forum was on an early GEC model 25 called "horsecut."

Absolutely!

Horsecut Antique bone, as seen on a 2008 #25 (other iterations of Horsecut jigging, on other patterns, can look similar but I haven't seen anything else quite like this).

The combination of the variegation in the bone coloring plus the non-template randomness not just of each cut but in the depth of the cuts really sets this one apart.

(The pile side's color matches that of the mark side; this is just the best image I have of the back, under different lighting conditions than most of the pile side pictures.)

With its 2008 compatriot, also fine:

~ P.

 

[Sonnemann]

I like random jigging usually seen on older knives--that took a longer time but made for a nicer presentation. Case and GEC do this in some bone variants like the chestnut. There are also some good non-random ones like the regular GEC jigs (the 2011 forum knife as mentioned), akin to Schrade peachseed. GEC's best right now is the Chestnut bone on their new Muskrat and the Copperhead bone on the Outlaw Jack (which is no longer available anywhere as far as I can tell!)

As far as coloring, there are a number of nice examples-- original Case greenbone, their redbone from later years, Robeson and Schrade's brown bone, etc. I have read that some of the old chemical processes used to achieve those are now unlawful and were harmful to the environment or the workers, so they are truly rare gems. But with KMnO4 and various dyes I think that modern processes can still yield some really nice results.

But more important than jigging for me is the wear and tear that bone exhibits after years of use and pocket carry, that we all know and love. That's why bone and stag are still my preferred choices over wood or synthetics.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I like that P.

 

[Shaggy]

Thanks for posting that, pertinux....simply stunning. (insert smiley for "jealous" here).

 

[Jack Black]

Yes, that is absolutely TOP! P

 

[Humppa]

Yes, that is absolutely TOP! P

What Jack says... I really love the bone on the #25s

 

[kamagong]

I like the old Rodgers bone.

Anyone know what type of jigging is on the scout?

Queen's goldenroot is pretty nice too.

- Christian

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Kamagong, you are posting up some beauties today.

 

[kamagong]

Thanks Woodrow. Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Tommy Lee Jones?



- Christian

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Thanks Woodrow. Has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Tommy Lee Jones?



- Christian

Actually, I really look more like this guy:

Though lately many have said, I look like the Duck Commander. I'm not sure I see the resemblance.