Red and Green

[Steve Warden]

Aside from looking nice, why does it seem red bone and green bone seem to draw so much attention?
Seems there are a lot of discussion/debate over if some knives are really red bone or brown. Why?
Rarity, perhaps?
And can't say I'm a big fan of the green bone, but that's me.

[Mumbleypeg]

In general it's cuz they're old and they're Case - at least the legit ones are. I'm sure that statement about them being Case will bring wails of complaint but those designations originated among Case collectors to describe attributes of Case knives.

Because they bring a premium price many sellers try to pass off most everything they sell as being either red bone or green bone. Caveat emptor!

Ken

[terryl308]

I agree with you Mumbleypeg 100% Terry

[Steve Warden]

Thanks for the answers, but it still doesn't answer the question - why the draw to red and green? Are they rare? Particularly difficult colors to dye? Simple eye appeal?

[Steve Warden]

The question was prompted when I clicked on HANDLE MATERIAL in the SHOP AAPK STORES BY: right above the Quick Links button.
Options were: Bone, Bone (red), Bone (green),...

[Mumbleypeg]

Okay I'll try again. A large percentage of jigged bone Case knives from the Tested era (1920-1945) were "green bone". About the time the XX era began something changed in the bone dye Case used. After that the jigged bone was a different color. Some collectors prefer green bone and will pay more for it. As I said earlier these are by definition older knives, so that also tends to make them rarer and more expensive (condition plays a big part as it always does).

During the XX era 1945-1965), and again related to the dye used, some batches of jigged bone were decidedly red. Not "reddish" - they are red. Hard to describe it in words, but when you've seen a few real red bone handles you'll remember what it looks like. Those knives are also old, and probably even scarcer than green bone. Again, some collectors prefer red bone and will pay more for it.

Condition aside, old + rare + perceived valuable = higher price. The fact that "green bone" or "red bone" Case knives bring higher prices has bled over to other knives, thanks to sellers trying to ride the reputation and hyping it. In some cases the perception that "green bone" and "red bone" knives are more valuable, regardless of maker, has become reality. At least the sellers hope so!

As far as difficulty to dye, remember that at the time Case was just making tools, not collectables. Whatever came out of the dye vat was shipped to retailers and sold. There was no intentional "green bone" or "red bone". Those names were derived later by collectors, not by Case. As to preferences, why do some people prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla? Why do some like iPhones and others like Samsung? Chevy and Ford?

Ken

[Steve Warden]

Okay I'll try again. A large percentage of jigged bone Case knives from the Tested era (1920-1945) were "green bone". About the time the XX era began something changed in the bone dye Case used. After that the jigged bone was a different color. Some collectors prefer green bone and will pay more for it. As I said earlier these are by definition older knives, so that also tends to make them rarer and more expensive (condition plays a big part as it always does).

During the XX era 1945-1965), and again related to the dye used, some batches of jigged bone were decidedly red. Not "reddish" - they are red. Hard to describe it in words, but when you've seen a few real red bone handles you'll remember what it looks like. Those knives are also old, and probably even scarcer than green bone. Again, some collectors prefer red bone and will pay more for it.

Condition aside, old + rare + perceived valuable = higher price. The fact that "green bone" or "red bone" Case knives bring higher prices has bled over to other knives, thanks to buyers trying to ride the reputation and hyping it. In some cases the perception that "green bone" and "red bone" knives are more valuable, regardless of maker, has become reality. At least the sellers hope so!

As far as difficulty to dye, remember that at the time Case was just making tools, not collectables. Whatever came out of the dye vat was shipped to retailers and sold. There was no intentional "green bone" or "red bone". Those names were derived later by collectors, not by Case. As to preferences, why do some people prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla? Why do some like iPhones and others like Samsung? Chevy and Ford?

Ken

Great answer. Thanks Ken!

[wizrd]

I kind of lean towards red & green because of that great Canadian outdoorsman and sportmen's mentor - Red Green...just saying. Made a couple buffalo type skinners for my two sons a while back - one red dymondwood - one green. They do make a nice pair looking at them together, just saying. Sorry, no good pictures of them.

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

Sorry for what may be noob question, but was it Case that dyed the bone red & green, or was it Rogers? I've always been confused on whether there was Red, Green and Rogers, or if Red & Green *are* Rogers...

[Mumbleypeg]

Sorry for what may be noob question, but was it Case that dyed the bone red & green, or was it Rogers? I've always been confused on whether there was Red, Green and Rogers, or if Red & Green *are* Rogers...

There is indeed red, green, and Rogers. Rogers bone is not the same as "green bone", nor is it "red bone". Rogers bone has a distinctive jigging pattern and is known primarily for that, not for its color.

Searches here on AAPK for the terms "Rogers bone", "green bone", and "red bone" may help your understanding of the terms, but photography has its limitations in capturing color variations. There's no substitute for viewing knives in-hand to understand the true colors. Short of buying knives, your best bet might be going to a knife show and asking reputable dealers to show you the knives.

Next best is buy a copy of the second edition of Steve Pfeiffer's excellent book Collecting Case Knives.. Therein is a thorough multi-page tutorial, with color photos, on the varied bone types and colors produced by Case up to about 1990 or thereabouts.

Ken

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

As always, thanks Ken!

[RobesonsRme.com]

I was pointedly corrected years ago by a Case enthusiast when I described a Robeson knife as having "green bone" handles. I was informed that Case and only Case knives, can have "green bone" handles. Actually, that might have been Bernie Levine, now that I think about it.

From that point forward, I referred to my knives as having "green/brown" or "brown/green" or "green colored" bone handles.

I think that is because Case collectors, being pretty much the initiators of this entire hobby, coined the term, "Green Bone" to describe that specific handle material, including its jigging, found on most of the TESTED XX era bone handled knives and some of the early CASE XX knives.

If you can locate photos of the old Case Factory Collection, you'll see what they mean by "Green Bone".

While Jim Parker owned Case for a very short time, he sold all those knives to his brother, I think.

I'm happy to cede that terminology to the vintage Case collectors and I try not to violate it in any way.

I do not know if the hard core Case collectors stake the same claim on "red bone", but I always refer to my red handled Robesons as "Strawberry Bone" in caps.

I'm sure there are wide ranging opinions re' all that.

Charlie Noyes

[jlw257]

If you can locate photos of the old Case Factory Collection, you'll see what they mean by "Green Bone

Charlie Noyes[/quote]

After seeing some old Case photos, I knew I wanted to start collecting Greenbones. To me they are what old Case knives should be.

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

I don't understand why Case doesn't have a line of vintage-style green & red bone knives as part of their core line. I have a hard time believing they sell more of those silly fluorescent pink & blue knives than they would honest jigged green & red bone. If I were them, I would have never stopped making those original handles - I think no matter what it cost, people would still buy them. I suspect they have either lost the skill to do it, or they don't do it to keep it reserved for vintage knife collectors.

In a way, I think the entire reason GEC was able to enter the market was because they were willing to produce the old knives with the old handles and at the old quality.

[knife7knut]

Just my twopence but I could never understand why it was called,"green bone". It looks nothing like the color green to me and color is what I work with a great deal of the time. Red bone I can understand because it is in fact red. I understand strawberry bone on Robeson knives because I have one that looks like a strawberry color. I also have a New York Knife Co.harness jack that has PINK handles.
Sorry folks but Case "green bone" is brown to my eye anyway. Let the fun begin.

[Mumbleypeg]

Just my twopence but I could never understand why it was called,"green bone".
Sorry folks but Case "green bone" is brown to my eye anyway. Let the fun begin.

You'll get no argument from me. Why someone decided to call it green is a mystery. But I know it when I see it, and I think it's wonderful. I just wish I had more of it!

Ken

[terryl308]

I guess I'm going to have to find a "green bone" Case knife and buy it! I never heard of "green bone and red bone" till I got started here at AAPK. Thanks to all the knowledge here, I'm a little more in the know. To me the term "green bone" meant not cured or dry but that is not the case with old Case knife handles or they would crack and split with time. I am currently working on making 4 knives with real Green buffalo bones (they just butchered the bison! It's going to take a long time to get it dry and it sinks! And it is not going to be green in color. Thanks for explaining the green and red bone dyeing to me, learn something everyday here on good ole AAPK. Terry

[doglegg]

I guess I'm going to have to find a "green bone" Case knife and buy it! I never heard of "green bone and red bone" till I got started here at AAPK. Thanks to all the knowledge here, I'm a little more in the know. To me the term "green bone" meant not cured or dry but that is not the case with old Case knife handles or they would crack and split with time. I am currently working on making 4 knives with real Green buffalo bones (they just butchered the bison! It's going to take a long time to get it dry and it sinks! And it is not going to be green in color. Thanks for explaining the green and red bone dyeing to me, learn something everyday here on good ole AAPK. Terry

Hope you post pictures when finished, actually the process as well.

[Sut Tatersaul]

Hi, All:
Well, Folks, there seems to be as many ideas, of the meaning of the terminology, "Green Bone", as there are people that collect knives. Now, if, that don't put a "hitch in your come along", nothing will. Just to make the "Cheese More Binding", I'd like to ask a "Green bone Question". Green being my favorite color, and the light greens offered by Case, really "Flop My Mop", I'd like to obtain Knives in that light Green color, a Cheetah, a Trapper, a clip point Russlock, and a Drop point Russlock. I can find no offering of a drop point Russlock, in light green, other than one with a serrated blade. I have asked this question elsewhere, but have found no answer. Does anyone know if the Russlock was ever offered in a light green, Drop point, with a non serrated blade? I hate to be looking for a "Hen's Tooth". Thanks.

Sut Tatersaul