bone vs. derlin

[dirtyfonzie]

this may not be the best first post in the world, but i am newer to the world of pocket knives. been going to lots of flea markets and most often striking out. is ebay a good place to buy knives? i am mostly attracted to bone knives.

i was wondering, is there a sure fire way to tell the difference between bone and derlin?

thanks

[1967redrider]

Welcome aboard!

eBay probably has the widest variety of knife sales out there but you really have to do some research BEFORE bidding, read the FULL ad and look at ALL the pictures carefully. Also, ask the seller questions. Knife shows, yard sales or estate sales that you can actually go to and handle the knife first might be a better bet and you might be able to get some info about the knife from the seller. A lot of eBay sellers play dumb on purpose, in my opinion.

Sometimes it is hard to determine if a knife is bone or delrin just from a picture and Case's numbering doesn't help much. Ask the seller if you're not sure. The only knife I have ever had to return was a Case slimline trapper advertised as bone but when I got it I easily determined it to be delrin. Also, there are a few delrin Case knives that are valued higher than bone or stag because they were produced in a low quantity.

Do some reading, talk to some people and have fun with it!

[dirtyfonzie]

thank you red ryder. i have already found quite a few ebay sellers playing dumb and have tried to avoid the ebay purchases accept for a nice winchester bone jack. im in it for the thrill of the hunt.

garage sales have been my bread and butter lately, other than a occasional find at a flea market.

[jerryd6818]

Ahh, another Illinoisan. Welcome aboard.

If you have the knife in hand, you can tell the difference between Delrin and bone or stag by tapping the handle against your teeth. (A method I learned right here on AAPK.) Delrin will make a dull thunk sound. Bone will make a sharp click sound. It's a combination of feeling it against your teeth and hearing it. Compare two knives that you know for sure are Delrin and bone, the difference becomes immediately obvious. That said, as you gain experience, you will be able to pick up a knife and most times be able to tell the difference just by looking. As you gain more experience, you will be able to tell most times from a good picture.

Hey, come out to "That Pec Thing" next weekend. It's the big flea market at the Winnebago County Fair grounds in Pecatonica Illinois on September 17-18. Don't show up until I've had a chance to cruise through.

[dirtyfonzie]

thanks for the tip. ill be that guy at the market with knives against my teeth.
serioulsy though, ill be giving it a try when i get home on a case xx and a cheapo derlin from the market.

im gonna come up that way and check out that market at some point. always like to check out something new.

have you ever gone to this show?
http://aecaknifeclub.org/

its in a couple weeks.

[jerryd6818]

Never been to that show. It conflicts with my Pec Thing next weekend so maybe next year. Thanks for the heads up.

[texastoothpick]

Knife expert Bernard Levine tells new collectors to handle as many knives as possible. That will help you know the difference. Handle every knife you can, particularly at knife shows, at the tables of knowledgable and honest sellers, knife shops, ect. You will learn as you go that some brands you can expect to find handles made of bone, and others not so much.

[woseyjales]

If in doubt as to handle delrin or bone, try examining the
edge along the liner instead of the jigged surfaces. Delrin will
appear smoother, no texture. Bone more likely to show grain
or porous surface unless it's been highly polished.
I suspect the teeth method works best with your own teeth.
If you have delrin teeth, results may vary.

[chetr1200c]

wht if yur toofless

[wishful]

Rub it on yer wool pants !

[jerryd6818]

wht if yur toofless

Then rap it against your buddy's tooth.

[Jethro Bodine]

i was wondering, is there a sure fire way to tell the difference between bone and derlin?

thanks

For Case knives, remember that in 1974 they started putting an oval around Case on the shield for bone handled knives.

Oval around Case = bone
no oval = delrin

[dirtyfonzie]

i appreciate all of your help. i need to do some learning, that's for sure.

[vikingdog]

You came to the right place.