Vintage Case Knives

[jsfricks]

I started collecting Case knives in the mid 1980's, mainly because as a young firefighter making $12,500 a year I couldn't afford to buy many guns. The Case knives from the 30's-60's could still be bought at reasonable prices. I had a local knife dealer that would sell me mint Case XX marked knives (1940's-1950's) for $30-$45 on a regular basis. I just recently got around to taking some photos of them. All shown are 1930's through 1975. Hope you enjoy these and I welcome pictures of your Case knives.

These are 30's-50's (Case XX) with maybe one 60's in the group with a few original green and red bones amongst them.



These are 1950's-1970's



A couple of red bone XX's. The bottom knife is my best 3 Blade XX true Redbone.



1974 Case Doctors Knife-



1950's-



Two well used Case knives, one green bone Tested marked (30's) and one XX red bone (50's)



1950's XX red bone and 1960's stag handle.

 

[nedlate]

Wow! That is a nice collection of Cases! So I am sure I have read about the Xs before but what does XX signify?
Ed

 

[jsfricks]

Wow! That is a nice collection of Cases! So I am sure I have read about the Xs before but what does XX signify?
Ed

From the early days of Case when blades were tempered and tested not just once (X), but twice (XX).

 

[kwselke]

When you love your knives it tells, and they are the best! Great collection. Thanks for sharing.

 

[D Brown]

Most impressive collection! Thanks for sharing!

 

[cmansguns]

Beautiful collection! Cannot really say more.

That 30's Tested Green Bone really brings back some super painful memories. One just exactly like it was given to me by my Father who passed away in 1974, and he had carried it since brand new. I had just started my Field Service Engineer duties in early 1974 which required some sort of "fine finishing tool" to scrape the last couple thousandths out of a 8, 10 or 12 inch diameter Babbitt bearing before putting $250,000 worth of equipment on the line. Any of you from the Millwright trades know exactly what I mean to say about bearing "patterning" that final scraping that was more art than science by the old timers.

That Case knife was the ONLY tool that did the job properly.

Sadly...........going to a job in 2003 passing through Cleveland Hopkins airport, a dang TSA agent saw the Case in my carry-on on X-Ray and confiscated it on the spot. I asked if I could have it and go to a Fed-Ex kiosk or something and have it sent home, but alas...those days 9-11 was still too fresh and the Case went into the large metal "hopper" (meaning grinder) also located right there at the check in line and disappeared forever.

So...a family treasured heirloom and faithful pocket knife gone forever and even though I have searched flea markets and even fleabay....never run across an exact duplicate.....but here on this Forum.....there one is!!!!

Thanks for the post, thanks for the memories, you have some real treasures there.

 

[30-30remchester]

I as well like older Case's and have spent more than I should have over the years. I am presently carrying a W.R. Case and son made before 1920. Great little folder with green bone handles. You have a great collection.

 

[wundudnee]

Beautiful, I love Case knives and have carried a Muskrat for over forty years. Oh my have they went up in that time.

 

[les.b]

What a marvelous collection of Case knives. They are one of the national treasures, and you have some beauties there. Thank you for sharing with us.

Best Regards, Les

 

[MCorps0311]

That's a great collection of Case xx Knives you have,jsfricks.

 

[garddogg56]

I accumulate knives and yours are pristeen my favorite Case era are pre 80's.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Very nice collection. I like the case doctor's knives and bright colors, but mostly have reds, browns and bones too.

 

[damienph]

That is a great collection of knives. Thanks for the pics!!!

 

[wingriderz]

Awsom thanks for pictures

 

[gregintenn]

Those came from a time when Case made high quality pocket knives. I can't sharpen the stainless steel garbage they produce today.

Bluegrass Cutlery has made, and may continue to make, reproductions of old Case designs. They seem to be of good quality, but they aren't quite the originals.

 

[steveno]

I bought a Case trapper with stag at Cabela's quite a few years and I haven't been able to get a real good edge on it. when did they go to sst blades and wondering if that is part of my problem getting an edge on it? is there a marking on the blades for which type of steel in the blades?

 

[jsfricks]

I bought a Case trapper with stag at Cabela's quite a few years and I haven't been able to get a real good edge on it. when did they go to sst blades and wondering if that is part of my problem getting an edge on it? is there a marking on the blades for which type of steel in the blades?

Depending on year, if it's stainless steel it should have an SS on the tang.

 

[steveno]

on the clip blade there is an "x dot x" and the spey blade there is an "SS" which I guess would stand for sst. there isn't a "SS" on the clip blade

 

[Marshwheeling]

I bought a Case trapper with stag at Cabela's quite a few years and I haven't been able to get a real good edge on it. when did they go to sst blades and wondering if that is part of my problem getting an edge on it? is there a marking on the blades for which type of steel in the blades?

On current knives, Case marks their carbon steel blades CV (for the small amounts of chrome and vanadium that are added to the alloy). The CV appears right below the model number on the tang of a secondary blade (except of course on a single blade knife). CV knives are relatively scarce compared to the SS blades, appearing on a limited number of variants, and not all models.

Th conventional wisdom holds that the stainless, which Case calls Tru-sharp, performs about as well as the CV, and takes about as good an edge, but I don't buy that for a minute. Given the choice, I will take the carbon steel, just as with Mora and Opinel.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I bought a Case trapper with stag at Cabela's quite a few years and I haven't been able to get a real good edge on it. when did they go to sst blades and wondering if that is part of my problem getting an edge on it? is there a marking on the blades for which type of steel in the blades?

What I read is that the Tru-Sharp blades are relatively soft, not a bad thing in itself for an edc knife, but they tend to develop a wire edge or burr in sharpening, which has to be removed to get a good edge. Suggested techniques are stropping, using a steel, or even drawing the blade through wood.

This is not of my own knowledge, but merely based on my reading, so I offer it for what it is worth. Also FWIW, drawing through wood has not done anything for me, and I am not equipped for really effective stropping. I have had my best results with a steel. YMMV. "They" insist that Case stainless can take as good an edge as the CV.