Tribal Lock Mod

[Pinemoon]

I finally pulled the trigger on a Tony Bose designed Tribal Lock from Case.
I love lockbacks and have recently tried my hand at dyeing some bone handled knives.
I also added a lanyard hole, something I wish Case put on their larger knives.
What'ya think?

As "Amber bone"

Tribal b4 by D P, on Flickr
TL b4 by D P, on Flickr


My take:

Tribal after by D P, on Flickr
TL after by D P, on Flickr

 

[RayseM]

Way excellent Don, Pinemoon . Very nicely done and I dare say - an improvement The Case Tribal has been one of my favorite "big" folders. Yours is now extra special.

Funny and subjective though - I think of small folders (under 3" blades) needing
lanyards for graspability. Still, even in the big folders it can be useful I'm sure.
You might need to make a spear with it.


Ray

 

[Wowbagger]

Not bad !
The lanyard hole is in a good spot / looks like it belongs there.
The dye jobs on the original Case knives has been about my only real gripe with Case.
I swear they use second rate dye or don't fix it properly and it fades over time. None of my knives are stored in direct sun (or any sun really) and when I look at them a year later or compare photos of when they were new I swear they have lost significant brilliance.
Or maybe I have.
Anyway good job and thanks for posting.
A satisfying knife to use, the Tribal Lock !

 

[Pinemoon]

Way excellent Don, Pinemoon . Very nicely done and I dare say - an improvement
The Case Tribal has been one of my favorite "big" folders. Yours is now extra special.


Ray

Thanks Ray
It was a good way to spend the rainy day here!
So you have a Tribal? It Ifeels like a good size for a user.
I've yet to carry it yet but I think I'll like it!
And here's the pics rotated... Better view.

Tribal b4 by D P, on Flickr

TL b4 by D P, on Flickr

Tribal after by D P, on Flickr

TL after by D P, on Flickr

 

[fishface5]

good job!!

 

[Pinemoon]

Not bad !
The lanyard hole is in a good spot / looks like it belongs there.
The dye jobs on the original Case knives has been about my only real gripe with Case.
I swear they use second rate dye or don't fix it properly and it fades over time. None of my knives are stored in direct sun (or any sun really) and when I look at them a year later or compare photos of when they were new I swear they have lost significant brilliance.
Or maybe I have.
Anyway good job and thanks for posting.
A satisfying knife to use, the Tribal Lock !

Thank you sir!

good job!!

Thanks!

 

[NativeCraft]

Wow, that looks nice.
Would you mind sharing your dyeing process?

 

[Pinemoon]

Wow, that looks nice.
Would you mind sharing your dyeing process?

Thanks
I have dyed two of my bone handled knives with good results.
I use leather dye. They all seem to be alcohol- based.

It's easy, but can be a litle tedious.
Just wipe the knife down with some rubbing alcohol first.
Get some gloves, paper towels and q-tips, or a fine tipped artist's brush.

Have a few spare q-tips that you'll dip in rubbing alcohol to spot clean the dye off of pins and shields, metal parts, etc.

Put on the gloves and paint the dye on with a q-tip or brush
It won't really stick to metal parts but just use an alcohol moistened q-tip to clean up the overage on the bolsters, etc.
It will look somewhat blotchy but you can even it out by rubbing with a paper towel or rag. I used a couple of coats/applications to get the color I wanted. I didn't let the dye sit very long before I wiped it to even it out, maybe 2-3 minutes.

You'll find the dye comes off any metal parts with some good pressure from the paper towels or rag. Just use alcohol if you find anything stubborn.

That's it!
I've come across threads here where folks "cook" their knives in pots with water and Rit dye. That just seems too involved and some have cracked their bone handles. No thanks.

I've had great luck with this leather dye approach, but as a woodworker, I also feel wood stain would likely work pretty well. I'm anxious to try that sometime.

Best of luck

 

[NativeCraft]

Thanks
I have dyed two of my bone handled knives with good results.
I use leather dye. They all seem to be alcohol- based.

It's easy, but can be a litle tedious.
Just wipe the knife down with some rubbing alcohol first.
Get some gloves, paper towels and q-tips, or a fine tipped artist's brush.

Have a few spare q-tips that you'll dip in rubbing alcohol to spot clean the dye off of pins and shields, metal parts, etc.

Put on the gloves and paint the dye on with a q-tip or brush
It won't really stick to metal parts but just use an alcohol moistened q-tip to clean up the overage on the bolsters, etc.
It will look somewhat blotchy but you can even it out by rubbing with a paper towel or rag. I used a couple of coats/applications to get the color I wanted. I didn't let the dye sit very long before I wiped it to even it out, maybe 2-3 minutes.

You'll find the dye comes off any metal parts with some good pressure from the paper towels or rag. Just use alcohol if you find anything stubborn.

That's it!
I've come across threads here where folks "cook" their knives in pots with water and Rit dye. That just seems too involved and some have cracked their bone handles. No thanks.

I've had great luck with this leather dye approach, but as a woodworker, I also feel wood stain would likely work pretty well. I'm anxious to try that sometime.

Best of luck

Thanks for sharing. I do leatherwork and must have easily 30+ different colors of leather dye. And you are correct - they all use alcohol as a carrier, even the "oil" dyes. It's the pigment that is oil, in a solution of alcohol.
I'm going to have to find me some cheap knives to practice on. Maybe some Rough Riders or something.

 

[Pinemoon]

Thanks for sharing. I do leatherwork and must have easily 30+ different colors of leather dye. And you are correct - they all use alcohol as a carrier, even the "oil" dyes. It's the pigment that is oil, in a solution of alcohol.
I'm going to have to find me some cheap knives to practice on. Maybe some Rough Riders or something.

That's great, you have plenty of dye and experience with it.
I've wanted a blue knife for a while, and now I have it