All About Pocket Knives

I posted this also in the Knife Restoration thread but perhaps it more appropriately belongs here.

I have a Case Saddlehorn in Antique Bone. I want to wipe on some yellow oxide dye to add some color. It appears that there's a clear coat of some sort on the existing bone scales, but I'm not completely certain. Any advise on how or if I can do this? Thanks much.

I Have Read Some Horror stories of Guy's Dropping There Knives In 200 Degree Pot of Dye , Only to Realizing the Aftermath on there knife from the salt content of the dye ! With satisfactory Results in the color , Not My Cup of Tea ! Other Than Dis- assembly ,I No Of No Practical means of doing it ! Tuff Decision on your Part , good Luck With Your Endeavor . K.C.

I've dyed many times. No horror stories, just success. I use a cue-tip and put little bit on at a time, dab here or there, or paint it on. Remove shortly for less penetration and lighter color. Let it sit on there or even dry to get deeper, richer, color. Fun mod you can do at home. Rit dye, leather dye for sure. Don't know about others. No hot water day or boiling dye for me. For what it's worth.
Top pic top knife is a Case Mini Copperhead Amber bone before dying. then below after dying. Same with before and after on the GEC 74 Mustang.

Thanks for the info guys. Some nice results there Ivoryman!

Ivoryman wrote:I've dyed many times. No horror stories, just success. I use a cue-tip and put little bit on at a time, dab here or there, or paint it on. Remove shortly for less penetration and lighter color. Let it sit on there or even dry to get deeper, richer, color. Fun mod you can do at home. Rit dye, leather dye for sure. Don't know about others. No hot water day or boiling dye for me. For what it's worth.
Top pic top knife is a Case Mini Copperhead Amber bone before dying. then below after dying. Same with before and after on the GEC 74 Mustang.

Man, those look great! It's also very affordable, fast & I bet it's within my rather narrow range of skills. Thanks.

Ivoryman wrote:I've dyed many times. No horror stories, just success. I use a cue-tip and put little bit on at a time, dab here or there, or paint it on. Remove shortly for less penetration and lighter color. Let it sit on there or even dry to get deeper, richer, color. Fun mod you can do at home. Rit dye, leather dye for sure. Don't know about others. No hot water day or boiling dye for me. For what it's worth.
Top pic top knife is a Case Mini Copperhead Amber bone before dying. then below after dying. Same with before and after on the GEC 74 Mustang.

Knives to dye for Iman!

This is my workhorse. Case medium stockman in bone stag. It was a little to light for my liking so I made a stain out of walnut husks. I then submerged the knife in a half pint mason jar full of the stain for 2 days. I love the way it turned out. It's a great natural alternative to chemical stains.

Very cool dying method!

Do you have a picture of what the covers looked like before you dyed them?

GardenGram wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:36 pm This is my workhorse. Case medium stockman in bone stag. It was a little to light for my liking so I made a stain out of walnut husks. I then submerged the knife in a half pint mason jar full of the stain for 2 days. I love the way it turned out. It's a great natural alternative to chemical stains.

Did you put any kind of clear sealer over the dye?

I have seen people use cold tea or coffee to dye light colored bone scales to a darker color.

Potassium permanganate will dye bone fairly well. I’ve found that gently heating the bone with a torch, heat gun or even a blow dryer will open the pores in the bone and allow the dye to penetrate a little deeper. You’ll first need to use a natural degreaser to remove any oils which otherwise prevent the bone from. Absorbing the dye. I’ve also used leather dyes with limited success.

knfcollector wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 3:41 am Potassium permanganate will dye bone fairly well. I’ve found that gently heating the bone with a torch, heat gun or even a blow dryer will open the pores in the bone and allow the dye to penetrate a little deeper. You’ll first need to use a natural degreaser to remove any oils which otherwise prevent the bone from. Absorbing the dye. I’ve also used leather dyes with limited success.

What do you use as a natural degreaser ? The degreaser i use i have no idea what's in it, does not say on the can, but i can assure you it sure ain't natural.

Here it is when I first bought it 2 years ago. It seemed to lighten up with use. I didn't put any kind of clear on it. I also used my home made apple cider vinegar to degrease and prep for the walnut stain. I use it hard everyday with no caution and the stain has held up for the last 4 months or so.

Heck yeah....

That darker stain seems to bring out the "grain" of the bone. I like that darker look!!

cudgee wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 5:24 am

knfcollector wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 3:41 am Potassium permanganate will dye bone fairly well. I’ve found that gently heating the bone with a torch, heat gun or even a blow dryer will open the pores in the bone and allow the dye to penetrate a little deeper. You’ll first need to use a natural degreaser to remove any oils which otherwise prevent the bone from. Absorbing the dye. I’ve also used leather dyes with limited success.

What do you use as a natural degreaser ? The degreaser i use i have no idea what's in it, does not say on the can, but i can assure you it sure ain't natural.

I usually use Grez off by spray nine.

Those darker scales are much better than the original color!
As to some other comments, I have not tried it yet, but I have been reading that Borax is a good natural degreaser for bone.