Case Yellow Handle Emblems

[Ben_hutcherson]

I tend to carry(and use) Case yellow handle knives for my general-purpose carry knives.

About 6 months ago, the emblem fell out of my medium Stockman. Case was nice enough to send me a replacement, but I've never gotten around to installing it as it sat proud of the knife handle when pushed into place and just didn't seem "right" like the one from the factory.

More recently, I've been carrying a CV yellow-handle trapper. I've used it just like my others-which is every day but usually amounts to cutting open boxes and other fairly "light" tasks. My knife always rides in my left pocket(usually the only two other items there are my cell phone in a heavy rubber case and an ink pen) and rarely gets much of a work out when it is used. The emblem fell out of my Trapper when I set the knife down on a table.

Fortunately, I was able to save that one-I cleaned it up and now have epoxy setting to(hopefully) keep it back in place. This is what was suggested when they sent me my last replacement.

In any case, has anyone else noticed this as an issue? I love Case knives as a whole, but my impression has been that yellow handles have always been intended as "working" knives. I don't abuse mine by any means, but I shouldn't have to worry about the emblem of a $45 knife falling out if I set it down a little bit too hard.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions on actually fitting the replacement to my Stockman? I'd really like to send it back to the factory and have a nice, flush emblem fit back into it, but again I don't know if they'd do that.

While we're at it, does anyone have a lead on where I might find a CV medium stockman yellow handle? I have one in bone, but my yellow handle is stainless and the CV hasn't been made in several years. I have a friend who bought several and put them back when they were discontinued, but he's sitting on them .

 

[Marshwheeling]

I haven't yet had a problem with a shield on a Case knife. I had one fall out on a Rough Rider, but it was a simple matter to put it back in place and secure it with some Gorilla Glue ( the only appropriate adhesive for a member of this forum). Scrape out any remaining glue from the cutout, and then sand the back of the shield if necessary for a flush fit.

As for the yellow medium stockman in CV, I bought one at Cabela's a year or so ago and had no idea they had been discontinued. The 3318 shows up on Amazon, Google and the Case web site, with no indication it is out of stock.

 

[Comrad]

I've been carrying a CaseXX 2 blade pen knife with the brown handle for so many years it's worn smooth as a baby's behind. I carry in the same pocket as my keys and have never had a problem.

 

[sarg1c]

I tend to carry(and use) Case yellow handle knives for my general-purpose carry knives.

About 6 months ago, the emblem fell out of my medium Stockman. Case was nice enough to send me a replacement, but I've never gotten around to installing it as it sat proud of the knife handle when pushed into place and just didn't seem "right" like the one from the factory.

More recently, I've been carrying a CV yellow-handle trapper. I've used it just like my others-which is every day but usually amounts to cutting open boxes and other fairly "light" tasks. My knife always rides in my left pocket(usually the only two other items there are my cell phone in a heavy rubber case and an ink pen) and rarely gets much of a work out when it is used. The emblem fell out of my Trapper when I set the knife down on a table.

Fortunately, I was able to save that one-I cleaned it up and now have epoxy setting to(hopefully) keep it back in place. This is what was suggested when they sent me my last replacement.

In any case, has anyone else noticed this as an issue? I love Case knives as a whole, but my impression has been that yellow handles have always been intended as "working" knives. I don't abuse mine by any means, but I shouldn't have to worry about the emblem of a $45 knife falling out if I set it down a little bit too hard.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions on actually fitting the replacement to my Stockman? I'd really like to send it back to the factory and have a nice, flush emblem fit back into it, but again I don't know if they'd do that.

While we're at it, does anyone have a lead on where I might find a CV medium stockman yellow handle? I have one in bone, but my yellow handle is stainless and the CV hasn't been made in several years. I have a friend who bought several and put them back when they were discontinued, but he's sitting on them .

I'm not a fan of yellow plates on knives because when I carry them in my pocket with change, keys, screws maybe a spent case or two, they don't look so good after a while . When I get them, they are layed up somewhere.. Never lost an emblem from a knife handle.If you ever get to the Smokie Mountain Knife Works in Pigeon Forge TN, get a copy of the knife repair book they sell. A great addition to a knife collector or some one just wanting to repair one.I've used my book several times with great success. (KNIFE REPAIR AND RESTORATION by ADRIAN A. HARRIS). Great read along with my gunsmithing books.

 

[Texas Star]

I think Case will fix it for you. They and Zippo lighters, same owners, have a rep for looking after their customers.

I never carry anything in my right pants pocket but the knife and a handkerchief. By the time I was about ten years old, I knew that keys, coins, etc. will scratch a knife. I try to keep mine looking as new as possible.

 

[30-30remchester]

I have collected Case knives for a few decades now. A proud, made in America company. Case emblems started falling out occasionally in the 1970's after the company was sold and family ownership was no more. I carry and collect mainly bone handled knives from the 60's and earlier as after this time, bone dying was a lost art and about all are just plain ugly in comparison. That being said, the yellow handled knife was a sign of a working man. I myself have given up most of my bone handled knives as carry pieces after a few mishaps. The final straw was when my car keys snagged my early Case Tested XX, with beautiful green bone handles and a factory unlisted knife, and flipped it out of my pocket and it went tumbling into a pile of rocks. The handles are too old and fragile to carry but on Sunday. So I joined the yellow handle club. Was able to locate a Case mini copperlock with yellow handles, The only one I have ever seen. It is my daily carry now. When it gets knocked off the work bench onto a concrete floor I do not worry. I carry my knife in my left pocket in a special pouch my wife creates. I dislike a big knife turning sideways in my pocket, so the wife takes my pants, turns them inside out and sews a small line of stitching vertically near the rear edge of the pocket. When I stand or sit, the nice rides in this pocket along the seem of the pants. I have even been frisked in a training exercise and the knife was not detected as the frisker though the lump was my pants seam. You can easily retrieve the knife with the thumb in the pocket and the middle finger, aka the driving finger, pushing up from the bottom. Easily retrieved when sitting in a car or standing. I get about 2 new pairs of pants a year so the wife is not over worked. As for looking for a yellow medium stockman, I have such a knife. A model 3318 I might be willing to send down the road. PM me if you want to talk.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Thanks everyone for all of the responses.

I don't know what my issue with the emblems is. I may try to see if I can sent my medium Stockman back and have an emblem fitted.

Past experience has shown me how good their service is. I have an old yellow handle that belonged to my Grandfather, but unfortunately had gotten wet before it came into my possession. I shot them an email to ask about having it repaired. They told me they no longer had parts for that pattern, but would be happy to exchange it for a similar pattern at no charge. I declined, but none the less was impressed.

As for Smoky Mountain Knife Works-I stop in every time I'm in the area, which is usually once a year, and a new Case knife is usually my one main "souvenir" from the trip. I know they stock nearly every brand under the sun, but I still just head straight for the Case counter(after looking at guns). I'll look for the suggested book, though.

 

[30-30remchester]

I think Case will fix it for you. They and Zippo lighters, same owners, have a rep for looking after their customers.

I never carry anything in my right pants pocket but the knife and a handkerchief. By the time I was about ten years old, I knew that keys, coins, etc. will scratch a knife. I try to keep mine looking as new as possible.

Texas Star is quite correct when saying many things can scratch and scar a knife. I have about stopped collecting any older item that is in mint condition. I admire greatly items with a colorful history. So in the last decade I pursue well worn but well taken care of items, from shovels to guns and about anything in between. Many of my knives have well worn bone handles that are getting smooth. My all time favorite is a Case XX stag handled trapper. The blades are full length but are close to half width due to sharpening. The handles on this well loved and cared for knife are smooth as glass. Not a bump. As if it had been sanded, but it has not been. It has "feathered" edges even. I can only imagine the life this old blade has lead. Its previous owned cared for the knife but used it as well. Makes me wonder how much pocket change this knife rubbed against to get it so smooth. I carry this knife one or two times a year just to give it a ride. What a thing of beauty it is.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Thanks everyone for all of the responses.

I don't know what my issue with the emblems is. I may try to see if I can sent my medium Stockman back and have an emblem fitted.

Past experience has shown me how good their service is. I have an old yellow handle that belonged to my Grandfather, but unfortunately had gotten wet before it came into my possession. I shot them an email to ask about having it repaired. They told me they no longer had parts for that pattern, but would be happy to exchange it for a similar pattern at no charge. I declined, but none the less was impressed.

As for Smoky Mountain Knife Works-I stop in every time I'm in the area, which is usually once a year, and a new Case knife is usually my one main "souvenir" from the trip. I know they stock nearly every brand under the sun, but I still just head straight for the Case counter(after looking at guns). I'll look for the suggested book, though.

While at Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW), take a look at some of their other brands, particularly Rough Rider and Colt. Rough Rider has a wide variety of patterns and finishes with overall quality about on a par with Case. They usually come shaving sharp. Unfortunately, they do not offer carbon steel, but their stainless is comparable to Case's Tru-sharp. For quite a while, their prices hovered around ten bucks, but they are inching up, with some patterns nearing $20. You can still buy some very nice knives for six or seven bucks.

Collectors have been buying these inexpensive China-made knives for years as a cheap way to see how they like a pattern before buying something more expensive from Great Eastern. Along the way, they are finding that these knives are worth carrying and even collecting in their own right. You could easily afford to pick up a RR and still buy the Case you want.

 

[Mule Packer]

While we're at it, does anyone have a lead on where I might find a CV medium stockman yellow handle? I have one in bone, but my yellow handle is stainless and the CV hasn't been made in several years. I have a friend who bought several and put them back when they were discontinued, but he's sitting on them .

Case still produces the yellow-handled Medium Stockman (model 3318CV) with the chrome vanadium blades. You can find them through Shepherd Hills Cutlery. Hope this helps.
Case knives Case XX Knife Item # 035 - Medium Stockman - Yellow Synthetic CV

 

[shouldazagged]

I don't presently own any Case knives--keep giving them to my sister and my son--but I always liked the CV blades much better than the Tru-Sharp. I just prefer carbon steel.

I did have a yellow-scaled medium stockman, but gave it as a gift. Silly me.

 

[model70hunter]

I too like the yellow handled Case knives, love the real stag and jigged bone but there is something unique to me about the yellow. I've carried them off and on for 30 years. About 40 years ago I noticed one of the local lumberyards had a large and tall Case knife display off in a corner. I love knives and Case in particular. I perhaps needed a knife. I went oover and when I saw the prices I bought 4 or 5. They were marked with early 60's prices. I ran the pawn shops and bought lots of nice knives for a few bucks. Yep GI's would pawn a pocket knife, Buck, Case and Queen Steel for a buck. Gas or cigs I don't know. I got them cheap and guys knew I aways had knives for sale. I started selling the Case knives at about double ow what I was paying,
I cleaned them out of most everything in the yellow, sodbusters, jigged bone and stag. I had sold a pocket full and went after more.

The owner came over to assist, well I thought the jig is up. Perhaps he knew I was the buyer. He went into a I'm ticked off rant on how someon ehad bought most of his knives and the Case jobber just happened to come by, not knowing the case of Cases was almost empty he told the jobber to fill in the empty spots and fill up the back thinking it would only be a few knives. The jobber gave him a 4 digit bill, he was ticked and ranting like I said. All knives were now priced at the new prices. Well just to make him feel better I bought a Sunfish and a yellow handled stockman. Some guy I worked with had always wanted a sunfish and ended up giving me what I paid. I don't know what happened to the yellow stockman.

I have one yellow stock man now, it is the large one, a gift from my daughter and grand kids one Christmas. I'm giving that one to my grandson this year.

I have one green handled stock man one grandson gave me in the box and most often now carry a jigged bone blue steel stock man my Dad gave me many years ago. But I only wear it when at the farm or deer season, too many places do not allow knives in town.

I have my paternal grandfathers pocket knives, they've been around perhaps a hundred years, sharpened a lot, he replaced the original scales on one with wood, looks like pine, stays sharp and I carried it and field dressed a deer one year, he would have liked that.

I have one that I gave him for Christmas when I was about 4 or 5. Dad picked it out. Many years after he was gone Grandma gave me his knives and said he told her to make sure I get back the one I gave him.

This is what I will do with the Case My number one grandson gave me for Christmas, make sure he gets it back still new in the box. On 2nd thought maybe I need to gut one deer with it, take a photo and then give it back.

If someone mentions pocket knives I'll walk over. I've had a thing for knives since 1950 when I won one at a carnival on the steam shovel grab at the ripe age of 4.

 

[Texas Star]

If you use crock sticks or other ceramic hones, you won't wear down the blades nearly as fast as most people do when sharpening on carborundum stones.

 

[wundudnee]

I had an early bone handled Case muskrat and lost it. I replaced it in the seventies with another Muskrat. I didn't have it for a year when I lost the emblem. I have never liked this knife like I did the old one. At the Tulsa gun show I asked a Case collector/dealer if he had an old Muskrat? He did and when he priced it to me I started to like the one I have better.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I had an early bone handled Case muskrat and lost it. I replaced it in the seventies with another Muskrat. I didn't have it for a year when I lost the emblem. I have never liked this knife like I did the old one. At the Tulsa gun show I asked a Case collector/dealer if he had an old Muskrat? He did and when he priced it to me I started to like the one I have better.

I never had much interest in a muskrat until I saw the Rough Rider Improved Muskrat. Since I do not trap and skin muskrats, I did not see the point of a knife with two identical clip blades. The improved muskrat addresses that objection:

(Not my picture, but mine has the same covers, smooth tobacco bone, which didn't impress me in photos, but is surprisingly nice in person. RR also has one in yellow delrin.)

The substitution of a long sheepfoot blade for one of the clips transforms the knife into something I use a lot. I think of the straight edge as the primary blade.
I don't know that Case ever made an improved muskrat, but Schrade made one with what looks like a wharncliffe. I am not really on the prowl for old knives, but that is one I would buy.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

While at Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW), take a look at some of their other brands, particularly Rough Rider and Colt. Rough Rider has a wide variety of patterns and finishes with overall quality about on a par with Case. They usually come shaving sharp. Unfortunately, they do not offer carbon steel, but their stainless is comparable to Case's Tru-sharp. For quite a while, their prices hovered around ten bucks, but they are inching up, with some patterns nearing $20. You can still buy some very nice knives for six or seven bucks.

Collectors have been buying these inexpensive China-made knives for years as a cheap way to see how they like a pattern before buying something more expensive from Great Eastern. Along the way, they are finding that these knives are worth carrying and even collecting in their own right. You could easily afford to pick up a RR and still buy the Case you want.

My BIL actually has a pretty sizeable accumulation of Rough Riders and swears by them. The price is certainly tempting on them, esp. on a pattern comparable to a Case. From 10 ft. away, though, they sure look a lot alike.

BTW, I have quite a few pocket knives that belonged to my grandfather. Most of them stay put away, although I do keep them sharp and oiled and will sometimes carry one on Sunday or at a family event.

He had a bunch of Schrades(including one of the ones with no end bolsters in virtual perfect condition) and an absolutely beautiful unused 1960s Case Elephant Toe(still has the factory edge on it). With that said, my favorite to carry is an old John Primble, Belknap Hardware. It's a smallish knife and is in what I think is called a "Constitution Pattern" but is a really nice carrying knife.

Also, thank you to everyone for all the leads on the 3318. I have made a deal with 30-30remchester to buy one.

 

[bamacisa]

Try www deadwood knives