A bone handle Damascus knife is a pattern welded blade with camel bone or cattle bone scales. Bone is the oldest handle material there is and it still earns its place, because it is light, it holds a little grip even when wet, and it takes dye in a way horn and antler do not.
What is on this tag
Folding pocket knives, skinners, daggers, seax knives and hunting blades. Blade lengths run 2.75, 3.5, 4, 5, 7 and 8 inches, with overall lengths from about 6.5 to 13. Nearly all are Damascus of 1095 and 15N20, forge welded and acid etched, at 58 to 60 HRC, with one in plain 1095 high carbon at 54 to 58 HRC. Handles split between camel bone and natural white bone, several paired with hardwood bolsters, brass pins or a stag bolster for contrast. Fixed blades ship in a stitched cowhide sheath and the folders with a leather slip.
Camel bone against white bone
Camel bone is denser and more even in grain, which is why it takes color so well and why the dyed scales here are usually camel. Natural white bone is left undyed and yellows slowly under the hand, which is what people mean when they talk about a knife looking lived in. Neither will crack in normal use, though a dropped knife landing handle first on stone can chip a scale, so use the sheath.
Looking after it
Wash and dry rather than soak. Keep solvents and degreasers away from dyed scales, since they will lift color. The blade needs the usual carbon steel discipline, which is dry it and oil it, and the etch is a finish rather than a coating so it will wear at the contact points over years of use. The Damascus care notes cover keeping the pattern legible. If the destination is a hunting belt, the hunting knife notes compare the shapes. Browse the Damascus knives or, for the Norse patterns, the Viking seax.
Bolsters and pins
Most of these break the bone with a hardwood or stag bolster and brass or mosaic pins. That is not only decoration. A bolster protects the front of the scale where a knife gets knocked and gives the hand a stop, which matters on a wet handle. Bone alone, edge to edge, looks cleaner and grips slightly worse.
Free US shipping
On most pieces. Heavier and oversized ones carry a flat charge.
Hand Forged
Heated, hammered and ground by hand.
Engraving available
Names, dates or Norse runes on most pieces.
