There are two parts to the Rag and Bone Man quest. The bones needed for the first part are easier to obtain compared to the second part. The second part is a list of bones posted on the wall of the Odd Old Man's hut. The names of the bones in this Wish List will be taken off as they are turned over to him. Both parts of the quest have to be completed for the Quest Cape.
Details
| Start point |  Go east of Varrock, through the gate near the earth altar, to Paterdomus. The old man is in a little quarry just north of the path.
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| Official difficulty | Novice |
| Description | Everybody needs some body, and the Odd Old Man knows exactly which bits of those bodies he needs. Can you help him finish his extensive and extremely creepy collection? |
| Length | Medium |
| Requirements | The ability to defeat a level 27 monster. |
| Items required | A few Coins, at least 1 Pot (can be reused), 8 Logs, Tinderbox, a light source. |
| Enemies to defeat | Several: see below. |
Starting out
- Go east of Varrock, through the gate near the earth altar as if you were travelling to Canifis (north of Digsite). Halfway there, you will find the Odd Old Man in the limestone quarry to the north.
- Talk to him, and he will tell you that he needs several bones to complete his collection. (Talk to him again after getting the list to skip the step of taking the bones to him, then making a second trip for the vinegar.)
Seeking bones
Here's a list of the creatures you need to kill to obtain bones, and their locations (Talk to the old man before you begin gathering). The special bone are not 100% drops, killing multiple monsters may be required.
| Monster | Drops | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Goblin | Goblin skull | Near Lumbridge, south of Varrock, West of Al Kharid, and North of Ardougne. |
| Big Frog | Big frog leg | In Lumbridge Swamp Caves, south of fairy ring AJQ (note: Giant Frog does not work). |
| Bear | Bear rib | South of Varrock, Above Varrock Sewers, or north of Falador. Bears near Ardougne also work. |
| Ram | Ram skull | In the northern end of Lumbridge (in the paddock full of sheep), south of Varrock, or north of the crafting guild (by the make-over Mage). |
| Unicorn | Unicorn bone | South of Varrock, West of Catherby, Draynor Village and Lumbridge Swamp, south of Edgeville, or on Entrana, west from the Law altar. |
| Monkey | Monkey paw |
South Karamja, East of Karamja volcano, Ardougne Zoo. (Must have 33 Magic for Telekinetic Grab if you choose to go to Ardougne Zoo. Also bring a staff and/or extra runes to kill a monkey.) |
| Giant rat | Giant rat bone | Southeast of Varrock, Varrock Sewers, Lumbridge Swamp, West of Varrock Mine, Near Port Sarim Prison and the Barrows Tunnels (not recommended unless going there for other reasons) |
| Giant bat | Giant bat wing | Yanille dungeon or south-west of Catherby, Heroes' Guild or Karamja Volcano. |
- Just south of the eastern Varrock mines Giant rats, Unicorns, Rams, Goblins and Bears can all be found within close proximity of each other.
Polishing the bones
Once you have collected the bones, go to Draynor Village and talk to Fortunato (found by the market square) there. He will be able to sell you some jugs of vinegar for 1 coin each. Note: Do not steal from the market stall or he will not talk to you. After you buy 8 Jugs of vinegar, talk to the Odd Old man for further instructions.
- Use a jug of vinegar with a pot to get a pot of vinegar, and then use the bone with the pot of vinegar to get a bone in vinegar. Repeat for all 8 bones.
- NOTE: Be careful that you do not accidentally "empty" a bone in vinegar, because if you do, you will lose the bone and have to collect that bone again.
- Go back to the old man taking the 8 bones-in-vinegar, a Tinderbox , and 8 logs. Or alternatively, bring a hatchet; there are trees near the Odd Old Man at the bottom of the stairs where logs can be cut.
- To polish the bones, use a log on the pot-boiler next to the Odd Old Man, then use a bone in vinegar on the pot boiler, and finally use your tinderbox to light it (you will not receive XP for lighting logs). It takes 12 seconds for each pot to boil. Repeat this for all 8 bones.
Finishing up
Talk to the Odd Old Man and give him the polished bones to complete the quest.
Reward
- 1 Quest Point
- 500
experience - 500 experience
Additional bones
Once the quest is completed, a player can read the wish-list located on the odd old mans hut. There is a list of 27 additional bones to be collected and prepared in the same method as the quest, completing this list provides the player with 5000 Prayer experience and the choice of either a bonesack or a ram skull helm.
Trivia
Rag-and-bone man is a British phrase for a junk dealer. Historically the phrase referred to an individual who would travel the streets of a city with a horsedrawn cart, and would collect old rags, (for converting into fabric and paper), bones for making glue, scrap iron and other items, often trading them for other items of limited value.