Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on January 28, 2013 at 5:22

I'm going to guess Bone. Because coloured delrin would be the same colour throughout. And these scales are white where they're ground down.

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Permalink Reply by Smiling-Knife on January 28, 2013 at 11:33

I am going to say bone too especially based on the shot with the backspring. It appears that the colour does not permeate the entire thickness of the scales.

Polyoxymethylene was not really commercially viable until the 1950s and Delrin was made by Dupont around 1960. If your knife is older than that that it is unlikely to be Delrin. You may also find a definitive answer by finding the knife in an old Robeson catalog. I hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on January 28, 2013 at 12:27

Hey, guys...

Thanks! I really appreciate the responses, thus far. The numbers on the tang stamp indicate that this knife was manufactured sometime between 1965 and 1977. At least that's what I have gleaned from reading the history of Robeson knives on Charlie Noye's (He's a member here) most excellent website: Robeson Knives

Here's the rub, though...(see #6)

The first digit of the Robeson pattern number denotes handle material. The known numbers are as follows:

         0 = Metal (Aluminum or Stainless Steel)

         1 = Ebony, Black Cocobola Wood, or Black Composition

         2 = Rosewood, or Walnut

         3 = Slick Black Composition

         4 = Ivory Celluloid

         5 = Saw Cut Bone, Genuine Stag, Saw Cut Delrin, or Gold-Filled Metal

         6 = Genuine Bone, Jigged Rough Black Plastic, Jigged Delrin Imitation Bone

         7 = Genuine Pearl or Abalone

         8 = Single Colored or Multi-Colored Patterned Celluloid

         9 = Imitation Pearl Celluloid, Christmas Tree Celluloid, ShurWood,  

               or Gun Metal

         C = Older Celluloid Knives

         G = Gold

As you can see, the first digit of this knife's serial number being a 6 could go one of 3 ways. Bone, Delrin, or Rough Black Plastic. I think we can definitely rule out the latter, Rough Black Plastic, leaving us with Bone or Delrin.

Initially I thought that it was delrin but I am now learning in the direction of the more desirable bone, also.

I do wish that the front-side scales had been cut and fitted a little bit better. But, all in all, for a knife this old it's still in pretty good shape. The back-side scale is really pretty! And that's is one more reason that I think it might be bone -- because the front and back show distinct differences. The delrin scales that I am familiar with are usually fairly well matched with no inconsistencies like I can see on this knife. It's still a guessing game with some of these older knives that have such ambiguous serial numbers. 

I thought I read something one time about heating a pin and sticking it in an inconspicuous spot on one of the scales to test for bone or delrin??? But I don't remember what I was suppose to look for once I did that??? Duh!!! I guess if it melts it's delrin??? Hmm, I don't know???

I'm still interested in hearing some other opinions before I put this puppy to bed. So, if you have any thoughts about this, please, I would love to hear them!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on January 28, 2013 at 13:00

Yep that is exactly the problem when I first commented on your photo. Robeson in all their wisdom decided to lump together all three materials(different as could be) and give them all the same number. Go figure! I wonder why they went out of business?

It really is worth your while potentially to see if you have bone or delrin because the bone is worth more money. In light of the fact that the color from the photos does not appear to go all the way through the material of the knife, I have to say bone, because delrin or any other composition I think would have color all the way through and not just on the surface. Just an opinion, but my two cents worth!

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Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on January 28, 2013 at 13:17

Thanks, Steve! I value your opinion highly!

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Permalink Reply by Rick Hooper on January 28, 2013 at 13:22

Hi I have a Camillus scout, same era, appears to be bone, but it is delrin. I think Camillus made yours too! Good looking scout. The brown dye did not pentetrate the delrin as well, so the white at the bolsters.

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Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on January 28, 2013 at 13:42

Thanks, Bob! Good to see your typeface, my friend! I may end up attempting to perform the "hot pin test" at some time in the future. What you described is exactly as I now remember it to be. Spot on, mate!

And, Rick, you have raised some very valid points about who probably made this particular knife. According to the Robeson history here is what I've discovered:

Robeson continued to make knives until 1965, the year that Emerson Case
retired. The company was purchased by Cutler Federal Inc at about that time,
and for the next six years Robeson knives were made by Camillus Cutlery Co,
but were shipped from the Perry headquarters. In 1971, the Ontario Knife Company bought Robeson and continued to offer Robeson brand knives until 1977.

The above was copied from a post on this site in November of last year, 2012 Robeson History Post  - So in all likelihood my knife was indeed made by Camillus. I'm still leaning in the direction of bone, however.

It seems like the more you learn the more confused you get!

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on January 28, 2013 at 16:50

I've seen delrin that has a lighter color underneath. Old Timers are like that. See the lighter ends where they are blended out on the Old Timers? My feeling just looking at the picture is that it's delrin. 

Sometimes you can tell also by how cold it feels. Natural materials, like bone and stag, many times will feel warmer to the touch.

You can get a magnifier and see if you can see the "grain" and texture that bone always has. Delrin will be as smooth as a babies bottom.

If the knife isn't a high priced rare knife, you can take a pin and put it in a flame and touch the tip to and out of the way place. the pin will want to go in the delrin, but not bone. Someplace at a corner, or an already weathered place will work. 

The lighter edge looks too even and distinct to me.

As I say, to me, it looks like delrin.

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Permalink Reply by Sue OldsWidow on January 28, 2013 at 18:55

delrin

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Permalink Reply by Stanley May on January 28, 2013 at 20:17

I think it is genuine bone delrin.

Man, this it tough.  I don't like the rather poor fit between the handles and bolsters.  Makes me think the handles shrunk (like delrin might), but maybe they were sloppy when Robeson made it.  There appears to be rough surfaces at the bottom of the jigs and the jigs do not appear to have any symetry.  Plus the change in color of the handles.  Makes me think it is bone.  Well...................

I vote for bone, but don't ask me to put any money on it.

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Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on January 28, 2013 at 21:04

After reading Craig's response I first looked at it under a magnifying glass with a 5X power. That revealed nothing conclusive. So then I brought out a loupe with a 10X magnification. Still nothing conclusive. So I then grabbed another loupe that has a power of 15X and carefully scrutinized both sides of the knife. And finally, voila! Da da -- Nothing! I kept swinging back and forth between bone and delrin -- delrin and bone? Stumped! So now with the 15X loupe in my hand I start grabbing knives from my collection. Knives that I know what the various handle materials are. I began making comparisons. And, after looking at several knives, each of which had either bone or delrin scales, I have arrived at the inescapable conclusion that I may never know, with any degree of certainty, what this knife has for handles: Bone or Delrin?

Here's the good news, though. I picked this knife up in a fleabay auction for $22 and I feel like I have already had at least $100 in entertainment, alone. Plus, I still have a semi-cool and very mysterious Scout knife. So, I feel like I'm way ahead of the game and regard myself a winner. Maybe one day I'll grab a pin, heat it up to red hot and poke this bad boy somewhere that the sun don't shine? Not today, though. I'm flat-out done trying to figure this riddle out. At least for now. I still welcome any and all guesses and opinions. Maybe one of you can persuade me one way or the other? But as it stands now we have about as many of you that feel it's bone as we do that feel it's delrin. *scratches head & shrugs shoulders * D'oh!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on January 28, 2013 at 21:13

OK well price as they say is one determining factor. If the seller knew he was selling bone the price would have been, should have been more. Lets say though he had no idea and therefore you don't now either. here is another suggestion for a test:

If you had a sharp knife and just slid along a corner or backside just try to shave a small piece of it. Delrin cuts, Bone will not.

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