All About Pocket Knives

That's what I'm calling it atleast.

My best friends father passed a while back, and on a trip to the house that he inherited I found a pair of old knives. I decided to take both and fix them up to give to my friend and his brother, the surviving sons. Each knife will get a makeover, a new sheath, and a display stand.

This bone was pretty sickly looking. Faded, cracked and ugly. I cleaned it with a dremel and wire brush, alcohol and toothpicks to clean out around the guard and under the broken pieces of bone. I used a bupane torch to toast the scales a bit, then I used orange rit dye on a qtip like a pit brush and sauced up the scales 5 or 6 times, one coat every 15 or 20 minutes. I have to clean up the glue that I stabilized the cracks with yet, but I was so pleased with the dye I thought I'd share.

I know your buddy will be very happy with your results. Looks great!

I hate to be a curmudgeon, but torching the bone is not the way to color it. It causes cracks (as you found out) and it looks-burned.
Potassium permanganate or leather dye is the preferred method of dyeing.

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Sun Jun 22, 2025 7:14 pm I hate to be a curmudgeon, but torching the bone is not the way to color it. It causes cracks (as you found out) and it looks-burned.
Potassium permanganate or leather dye is the preferred method of dyeing.

No worries dude it's all good, I appreciate the input. The cracks were actually already there, just more visible with the color change. I have read a few posts lately about folks pondering using various around the home type dyes for knife projects. Rit is one that is common and commonly mentioned, and I like to use what I've got on hand if I can. I figured worst case scenario it doesn't work and Im at square one. Can't speak to its longevity yet, but it hasn't bled out on my sweaty mitts yet.

I like the burnt look. Like the cheese on the outer edges of a deep dish pizza; caramelized for extra flavor
But as I was doing it I was pretty sure a soldering iron would work better.

That treatment gives the bone a nice warmth. Your friend should be pleased!

“Toasted Cheezer Worm Groove Bone” sounds like something you’d shout in a fever dream, but man... it fits. Torch, dye, and pizza metaphors? That’s knife modding at its finest.

Kudos on the color match you achieved!
The color is a good match to an old Kutmaster I have like the knife you posted.
I have used Rit to dye bone, but prefer potassium permanganate or alcohol based leather dye. To me they seem to get greater depth of color.

Thanks for the compliments gentlemen. This is the finished product that I'll present to my friend. The base plate is from the reclaim/repurpose section of my local thrift store. The antler is local wild shed. I used the mid section for scales (not these scales), so I had the button and tines leftover. They are attached with a wood screw and the tines are reinforced with epoxy. I've not yet added leather work to my repertoire to be able to make a nice sheath, and a synthetic one wouldn't look right, so I think I'll end up ordering one off the bay for it. I'll be making another stand like this for the knife that'll go to his brother.

ThatWeirdKnifeGuy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 3:48 pm Thanks for the compliments gentlemen. This is the finished product that I'll present to my friend. The base plate is from the reclaim/repurpose section of my local thrift store. The antler is local wild shed. I used the mid section for scales (not these scales), so I had the button and tines leftover. They are attached with a wood screw and the tines are reinforced with epoxy. I've not yet added leather work to my repertoire to be able to make a nice sheath, and a synthetic one wouldn't look right, so I think I'll end up ordering one off the bay for it. I'll be making another stand like this for the knife that'll go to his brother.

Very, very knice!

Looks awesome and that's a sweet display. Personally, I would look for one of those beaded sheaths, it has a native American look in my opinion. Like a fur trade knife.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 4:24 pm Looks awesome and that's a sweet display. Personally, I would look for one of those beaded sheaths, it has a native American look in my opinion. Like a fur trade knife.

You mean something like this on

doglegg wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 6:39 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Thu Jul 31, 2025 4:24 pm Looks awesome and that's a sweet display. Personally, I would look for one of those beaded sheaths, it has a native American look in my opinion. Like a fur trade knife.

20250731_133653.jpg
You mean something like this on

Dog

The second knife and display. There's an embedded magnet at the tip to hold it in place. I miffed the back side of the display base up, but you can't see it when the knife is there. This knife just needed cleaned and sharpened, and I added extra jimping in a more logical place. The material list is exactly the same as the first, just did different things with the antler. I added a small tine to where the handle rests. It helps hold the knife upright, the magnet really isn't needed, the antler was contoured to fit the blade tip and handle to hold it securely.

These were both inexpensive knives, but well used and well loved by the man that owned them. I hope that his sons find some measure of comfort in owning them.

Another winner!