All About Pocket Knives

This is another one I just completed from my "future projects" bin. I was looking for something a little less traditional for this Camillus 70 4-line cattle knife. This one, like most of what I work on, was in bad shape with totally trashed scales. I have used the worm stripes pattern (aka worm grooves) from Culpepper before and didn't like the results. I thought the "worm grooves" were too sharp and deep and overpowered the overall look of the knife. But, this time I did more sanding on the front sides of the slabs, and think the worm stripes are an interesting "dress-up" for this old guy. I was planning to put this one up for grabs on my next round of fleabay auctions, but an having second thoughts. So, do worms actually eat these grooves in bones?

Another job done well Herb!!

Excellent work, Herb, and I'm waiting for an answer to that question too.

You can't beat an ol' Catt with those sweet worm-grooved scales in my opinion.

I dig the worm groove! Love the 70 pattern and the result!

Oh, I like me some worm groove amber!

Excellent Herb.

Nice job Herb!
She looks great in her new worm grooved clothes!

My opinion on the worm grove - it is jigged in, not done by worms.


But I've been wrong before.

Steve Warden wrote: ↑Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:36 am My opinion on the worm grove - it is jigged in, not done by worms.


But I've been wrong before.

Steve, I suspect that you are right. I bought a few of these at the time when they were on sale, and they all look the same. I might be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that the worms would follow the same route every time.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

That is some nice worm.

Nice job Herb!
I agree, sanding down the bone makes it look much better then it does with the deep grooves as it comes from the factory. It also brings out more of the color.

I believe the name is just descriptive, not literal. The older wormgroove patterns seemed more random to me, while most new scales have the exact same pattern repeated. I like the randomness better, personally. I have made wormgroove jigging with a 1/8" ball cutter and a dremel. Mine certainly was not as nice as Cattaraugus bone though!

Nice!!!