Delrin vs Bone Handle Material

[1967redrider]

I just figured out an easy way to tell the difference between delrin and bone. Thanks to the fact that Case uses a "6" to denote both, I've found it hard at times to tell the difference. I recall a few members telling about their methods in a post a few months back but I think this is fool-proof. The key to differentiating the two lies not on the outside but on the inside of the liners.

I took 2 pictures using my camera and a flashlight to capture what I'm talking about. The first picture shows a pinned bone handle and you can see the inside of the pin (to right of the blades) where it comes through the brass liner. The second picture shows how the delrin is melt-pinned (to the left of the blades) to the brass liner.

I only have 2 delrin handled Case knives and they both have the delrin melt-pinned to the inside of the liners. Let me know if you find any exceptions and remember I'm somewhat of a newbie so this is like inventing the wheel to me!

[wlf]

All mine (that I know of) don't have Case circled on the shield.Never checked the pinning.

I was wrong,I found one of my Cases with the Case circled(on the shield) on a delrin handle.

[orvet]

That may work with some of the Case knives, but it doesn’t work with Schrade.
Schrade pinned their Delrin handles as well as their bone handles.

The best way I have found to tell, without damage to the handle is to use high power magnification. I use a 45 X pocket microscope (about $5 - $10 on ebay).
Under such high magnification the bone appears crazed, i.e., it has tiny lines checking on the surface. Delrin is smooth where it is not jigged, and even in the jugging it is smooth between jigging lines.

[wlf]

An authority please elaborate on the shields.I guess I need to buy an updated Case book.

The last one I bought was back when I bought my 1st Case.(1979 or 80).

Romance of Collecting Case Knives

[knifeaholic]

I just figured out an easy way to tell the difference between delrin and bone. Thanks to the fact that Case uses a "6" to denote both, I've found it hard at times to tell the difference. I recall a few members telling about their methods in a post a few months back but I think this is fool-proof. The key to differentiating the two lies not on the outside but on the inside of the liners.

I took 2 pictures using my camera and a flashlight to capture what I'm talking about. The first picture shows a pinned bone handle and you can see the inside of the pin (to right of the blades) where it comes through the brass liner. The second picture shows how the delrin is melt-pinned (to the left of the blades) to the brass liner.

I only have 2 delrin handled Case knives and they both have the delrin melt-pinned to the inside of the liners. Let me know if you find any exceptions and remember I'm somewhat of a newbie so this is like inventing the wheel to me!

I have never seen a Case pocket knife that had delrin handles melt-pinned to the liners. Can you elaborate and also show a picture of the entire knife that has melt-pinned handles - including the tang stamp? Much appreciated. My guess is that it was an 048 pattern made by Camillus for Case.

I have seen Camillus and other knives made that way but not Case. And I can say that I have looked at ...a few...Case knives in my life.

[knifeaholic]

All mine (that I know of) don't have Case circled on the shield.Never checked the pinning.

I was wrong,I found one of my Cases with the Case circled(on the shield) on a delrin handle.

It can be a bit tricky. The "Composition" or non circled shield was used starting in early 1974. They were not used after 1986 except on the several delrin handled patterns made by Camillus for Case.

Case delrin knives made from the USA era until early 1974 will have the old style circled shield. Then all delrin knives will have the non circled shield until 1987 when Case went to the raised letter shield on all knives. Then after mid 89 they went to the circled shield again even on delrin knives.

[1967redrider]

I have never seen a Case pocket knife that had delrin handles melt-pinned to the liners. Can you elaborate and also show a picture of the entire knife that has melt-pinned handles - including the tang stamp? Much appreciated. My guess is that it was an 048 pattern made by Camillus for Case.

I have seen Camillus and other knives made that way but not Case. And I can say that I have looked at ...a few...Case knives in my life.

Steve,

They are a 7 Dot 62048 and a 4 Dot 640045 R, both from the 1970's. They are the only 2 Case delrins I have, thought maybe I was on to something?

-John

[knifeaholic]

I have never seen a Case pocket knife that had delrin handles melt-pinned to the liners. Can you elaborate and also show a picture of the entire knife that has melt-pinned handles - including the tang stamp? Much appreciated. My guess is that it was an 048 pattern made by Camillus for Case.

I have seen Camillus and other knives made that way but not Case. And I can say that I have looked at ...a few...Case knives in my life.

Steve,

They are a 7 Dot 62048 and a 4 Dot 640045 R, both from the 1970's. They are the only 2 Case delrins I have, thought maybe I was on to something?

-John

John;

You are on to something and thank you for pointing these out. Now I recall that I have seen some 048 patterns with the melt-pinned construction. These were made by Camillus for Case. In the 70's Camillus made some percentage of the 048s and Case made some in house. Camillus also made all of the 640045R scouts for Case. So those are the only two patterns that you will find with the melt-pinned delrin handles, but not all of the Camillus made versions of those knives were made that way, some (maybe most) had conventional pinned handles.

All delrin handled knives made in the Case factory (that means all other patterns) will have conventional pinned handles.

Thank you for reminding me of this oddball Camillus variation though!!!

[Elvis]

I'm glad the question was asked and answered. I've had to rehandle a couple of 048's (okay, lots more than that) and have seen that variation first hand after removing the factory delrin. Kabar used that method on some of their folders sometime after delrin came along also. I've just been drilling them out to pin them as the knife gods intended and have yet to have a problem (knock on wood). Thanks for the explaination.

[knifeaholic]

I'm glad the question was asked and answered. I've had to rehandle a couple of 048's (okay, lots more than that) and have seen that variation first hand after removing the factory delrin. Kabar used that method on some of their folders sometime after delrin came along also. I've just been drilling them out to pin them as the knife gods intended and have yet to have a problem (knock on wood). Thanks for the explaination.

Bob

Kabar standard production pocket knives were made by Camillus after about 1976 so that might explain those.

[orvet]

Camillus called this method of attaching the Delrin handles the “prong” method.
Prongs of the liner metal were stamped out to hold the handles on.
The method works pretty good. If you have ever have to remove a set of handles attached that way you will know. Often they come off in pieces with considerable effort.

Here are two quick scans of a Camillus stockman built with “prong” construction to show the prongs.

Hope this helps.

[1967redrider]

Thanks for the info guys!

Back to the drawing board on a fool-proof delrin vs bone testing method. I guess orvet has the most scientific so far. Why didn't Case just use a "D" or a different number!

[orvet]

Back to the drawing board on a fool-proof delrin vs bone testing method. I guess orvet has the most scientific so far.

Thanks for the vote of confidence but even that is not 100%.
I have an old 4-line Camillus that I cannot tell if it is bone or composite.
It has jigged black handles with no shrinkage, & the surface is so micro-scratched from being carried that I cannot tell for sure if it is bone. If it is bone it is the blackest I have seen. It looks like bone in the 45 X scope, but I am not 100%.

I guess that is why it is good to have a variety of testing methods.

This is the knife I can't be sure of the handle material.

[Miller Bro's]

This is the knife I can't be sure of the handle material.

It`s black plastic, has to be, bone would not press into the spurs and hold very well.

This method was in use as far back as 1913.

[orvet]

Duuh!
I was looking at the material, not at how it was mounted.
No external pins.

I checked inside and viola, I can see where the prongs are!


Think it is bed time.

[Elvis]

All very interesting stuff guys! The Kabars made by Camillus had a fastening method like the one used on the models for Case instead of the prong method. They would punch a few holes and leave the edge of the holes with a lip, or slightly mushroomed. The Delrin would flow around the lip to keep things in place.

[wlf]

This is why I love this site. That and I've gained a respect for the general integrity of the posters.

[orvet]

After the prong construction Camillus used the ‘post’ method of attaching handles.
A post or peg of handle material was cast on the back side of the handle. The post fitted through the liner and was melted off, or perhaps the handle was molded on the liner. I am not sure exactly which method was used.

The outcome was very securely fitted handles.

Here is a pile side handle and liner/bolster assembly (aka; the scale).
The easiest way to remove these handles is to take the knife apart and drill out the post part way, and flex the liner a few degrees.

[wad4729]

The difference in bone and delrin has always been simple. Bone is pourous, you can see the pours like sweat glands and it is much shinier. Delrin is always smooth. It never has the gleam that bone has

[jerryd6818]

The difference in bone and delrin has always been simple. Bone is pourous, you can see the pours like sweat glands and it is much shinier. Delrin is always smooth. It never has the gleam that bone has

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[orvet]

The difference in bone and delrin has always been simple. Bone is pourous, you can see the pours like sweat glands and it is much shinier. Delrin is always smooth. It never has the gleam that bone has

to AAPK.
The discussion on handle material is always a good one. There are some finishes of Delrin and some finishes of bone that are really difficult to tell apart. That's why I rely on a small 45 power field microscope to tell the difference between them. The Delrin will be smooth under the microscope and bone will have pores or if it has been sanded it will have a sort of crazed look to it which is scratches & minut cracking and checking on the surface.