Bone handle missing.

[Jacknifeben]

I have a Cattaraugus 12839 lock back that is in new condition that some how has a big piece of bone missing on the front side. Probably impossible to find a replacement in as good shape as the rest of the knife?

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

I suspect you would need to rehandle the entire knife for it to look "right" - but then you would also have to determine if a rehandled Catt is worth more or less than an original Catt with a broken handle. That might be a tough call. If value is not the priority, and you just want a good looking knife, then rehandling is probably the way to go.

[herbva]

A picture would help. Maybe yes, maybe no. I recently had the same dilemma with a case toothpick, which is a few posts back.

[Jacknifeben]

Here a couple of pictures of 12839 Cattaraugus with bone missing. It looks like some one bought a new knife and tried to install a small compass.

[Reverand]

You have a few options, all according to what you would rather do with your knife:

1) You can do a handle repair (which keeps your knife as original as possible).
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=57370&p=652341&hil ... ss#p652341

2) You can find an old Catt of the same model with a broken or badly worn blade, and donate the handle to your knife - if you can find one in great shape. This preserves the value best.

3) have the knife rehandled with new bone. You can find some that looks very similar, or something completely different that you like the look of. This would hurt the value the worst, but might look best.

4) or you can do nothing, and keep it an Honest Old Knife that has scars from use.

No easy answers, but since it is yours, you do whatever makes you happiest with the knife!

[Doc B]

I'd repair it with acraglas, as posted, in the link from Reverend. That has really nice old bone and only a small portion missing.