Will natural bone pick up color from leather?

hsherzfeld

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
559
I just got a GEC 78 in natural bone and I plan to carry it in a dark brown leather pocket slip. Will the bone covers pick up any color from the inside of the slip?

I would actually like for this to happen, if possible, just to give the knife more character. IMG_5116.jpeg
 
the probable answer is most likely. if you observe those who carry their smooth white bone knives in the white bone threads, youll see in time, the white bone takes on very unique characteristics. Especially once that finishing coating is worn away,
 
Would suggest White Bone may slightly change colour regardless, just as some woods and Westinghouse Micarta does too - often UV reaction more than anything else. White Bone will change hue though if in contact with sweat and some dirty substances.
Have not personally known leather to alter the handles of anything I own, though am aware it can react with some metals.
 
It depends on the dyes, and tanning substances used!! And the porosity of the bone!!
It should enhance the aging characteristics at least slightly, if not more!! Every one is an experiment!!😁
 
I just got a GEC 78 in natural bone and I plan to carry it in a dark brown leather pocket slip. Will the bone covers pick up any color from the inside of the slip?

I would actually like for this to happen, if possible, just to give the knife more character. View attachment 2750315
I think it's going to depend a lot on how the leather was tanned and dyed, as well as how the bone was treated.

A person wearing white clothes can sit on a leather couch or car seat without fear of dye transfer, in fact - I've had blue dye from jeans transfer color to the leather seats in my truck, but not the other way around. That said, couches and car seat leather may be treated differently than the leather that was used to make your slip, and in that case, I think you'll just have to find out through experience.
 
I find for whatever reason my white bone gets the green(can't remember name for it)come out around the pins when in a slip more easily,and I'm sure it changes the bone a touch but nothing hideous,just a faint yellowing that I like.
 
I find for whatever reason my white bone gets the green(can't remember name for it)come out around the pins when in a slip more easily,and I'm sure it changes the bone a touch but nothing hideous,just a faint yellowing that I like.
I think Verdigris is what you are thinking of.
  1. A bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on copper or brass by atmospheric oxidation consists of basic copper carbonate.
 
I think it will pick up more color from your skin oils than from the leather
I think Verdigris is what you are thinking of.
  1. A bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on copper or brass by atmospheric oxidation consists of basic copper carbonate.
Yes verdigris
That is probably true about the skin oils,so the combination of the leather pouch and your skin color 17359360903274980237190283206141.jpgfrom this to this
 
Oldy Oldy I suspect verdigris reaction is compounded on light bone or Stag slabs by the presence of brass liners. They seem to react more than stainless/all steel liners.

Hand oils and carry seem to change light bone rather than leather slips. However, some safe queens I've kept in a roll have yellowed very satisfyingly. Odd o_O🤷‍♂️
 
I just got a GEC 78 in natural bone and I plan to carry it in a dark brown leather pocket slip. Will the bone covers pick up any color from the inside of the slip?

I would actually like for this to happen, if possible, just to give the knife more character. View attachment 2750315
I worry more about the Verdigris coming out from the Brass Liners and Pins . Which some people like but I do not . I usually will carry a White Bone and Stag handled knife in a Slip but never store one in a Slip . Let the knife breath a little . Some slips have leather that is processed in a proper way to not affect the steels and some are not . I have seen color changes in most of my White Bone knives and they are all stored in drawers and or enclosures with some Desiccant packs in them . That is an outstanding 78 that you are showing . It is a fine knife and will age well if you just do not let it get overtaken with the Verdigris . Sweaty Hands are not a good thing when you handle Stag or White Bone when you have Brass Pins and or Brass Liners . The Greenish color was caused by Sweaty Hands .
PdhijB6.jpg


Carry your 78 beauty in Good Health my friend .

Harry
 
Oldy Oldy I suspect verdigris reaction is compounded on light bone or Stag slabs by the presence of brass liners. They seem to react more than stainless/all steel liners.

Hand oils and carry seem to change light bone rather than leather slips. However, some safe queens I've kept in a roll have yellowed very satisfyingly. Odd
It's just that I find after a periodic soap and water cleaning the the verdigris doesn't show and when I carry the knife in the pocket no verdigris,but once it is put in a leather slip I find when pulled out voila verdigris
 
As has been mentioned, I'd also keep an eye out for verdigris around the brass pins, which will stain light-colored handle materials like bone or stag. Some leathers really seem to be a catalyst for that, and others not at all. I assume it's got something to do with how the leather was tanned and the particular substances used for that.
 
Is it the acid in the dye that causes verdigris?
Verdigris happens regardless of whether you use a slip are not,in my response saying Verdigris happened after being put in a slip i only meant that it quickened the response,but I still get the Verdigris back after my monthly soap and water wash removes it,just from regular sweat and body oils,just with a slower response .
 
Verdigris happens regardless of whether you use a slip are not,in my response saying Verdigris happened after being put in a slip i only meant that it quickened the response,but I still get the Verdigris back after my monthly soap and water wash removes it,just from regular sweat and body oils,just with a slower response .
I have often thought about soaking the brass pins areas and the brass liners areas with mineral oil to see if that stops the progression of the Verdigris but just have not done it yet . Have you ever tried that ??? I am afraid that it may make it spread faster ???? I basically will never carry a White Bone or Stag when I am working outside and always in a slip . The one exception is this Northfield 73 which I did carry in a slip while working outside for a very short amount of time back in 2015 . And I never stored it over night in the slip . No signs of Verdigris or Brown Color transfer from the slip that I have seen yet .
f4rxkuz.jpg


Harry
 
I have often thought about soaking the brass pins areas and the brass liners areas with mineral oil to see if that stops the progression of the Verdigris but just have not done it yet . Have you ever tried that ??? I am afraid that it may make it spread faster ???? I basically will never carry a White Bone or Stag when I am working outside and always in a slip . The one exception is this Northfield 73 which I did carry in a slip while working outside for a very short amount of time back in 2015 . And I never stored it over night in the slip . No signs of Verdigris or Brown Color transfer from the slip that I have seen yet .
f4rxkuz.jpg


Harry
Ya I have tried mineral oil but seeing as when I carry a knife daily it is going to be used on food at sometime so I give them a soap and warm water washing ,I find that it removes the Verdigris and will stay that way for a long time.but after the washing I soak it in mineral oil to make sure the knife is lubricated so I assume it is also playing a roll in keeping the Verdigris at bay,but I soak all my knives I use in mineral oil,I'm not sure it's healthy but it looks better than motor oil lol.
 
Just about any natural material will take up anything it is exposed to to some degree. And it depends on the leather, how it was tanned and dyed. Even synthetic materials will change over time and exposure, especially in the sun light

Nothing in this world stays the same always changing with time and exposure. Some people like patina and others don’t but it happens. You can delay the effects by keeping it clean, dry, oiled and removing it from the slip when you store it away.
 
I just noticed that the slip in which I've been carrying my GEC 78 cocobolo has little dots of verdigris at all the locations where the pins contact the leather.
 
Back
Top