Are the shields on newer case knives plastic?

K

Kadmos

Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
83
Pretty much what it says.

Picked up a 2010 model Russlock with the silver script and it seems to me it may be made of plastic, wondering if it is, and if the smaller oval sheilds might be also.

Does anyone know?
 
I don't know but Case knows.

Phone: 1-800-523-6350
Fax: 814-368-1736

Maybe on the cheapies. Hate to think so.
 
maybe it depends what model but usually they use the same shield on on different knives, and the new case knives i have are all metal. It sounds kind of dumb but if you dont feel like calling, tap the shield against your tooth... if it feels as if your tooth is harder (the shield kind of "gives in") then its plastic; if it produces a high pitched sound in your head and feels like glass then its metal.... i hope you get what im saying.

Some companies use a proprietary metal plating process where they actually coat plastic with a metal, which is a time consuming process but proves to be cheaper than using solid metals (usually found in buttons), but you will still be able to tell with the test i mentioned above.

either way i'm with modoc ED...id hate to think so...its bad enough they epoxy them on as it is...
 
I tried tapping them with a fingernail last night. Still came away unsure. I was hoping someone had one fall off or break...well, not in a wishful thinking sort of way, but had it happened, they might have seen one off the knife and had a better idea..
 
I think most of the 'standard' Case shields are probably 'nickel silver' (metal), as with the bolsters. However, there have been some deviations among special lines. Case used to make a 'red shield' series of knives which, I'm pretty sure, had molded or cast shields (painted red). I also have one or two 'Barb Wire' series Cases with cast & painted shields. See pics below for each. Not sure what the cast shields were made of, but I'd think some form of plastic was probably the least costly option. The nickel shields will usually patina or tarnish a bit, over time, so that might be one way to tell. And I bet the stampings/engravings in the nickel shields would displace some material around the perimeter of the stamps, which probably wouldn't be seen on the cast/molded shields (use a magnifier to look).

My Case 5344 SS 'Red Shield' stockman, alongside my Schrade 8OT:


My Case T.B. 6339 SS Tony Bose 'Barb Wire' Sowbelly:
 
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I'm pretty sure they're all metal. Most Case shields are nickel silver, but the cast/ coined ones may be zamac (zinc alloy with aluminum, magnesium and copper). They use mother of pearl for some of their SFOs, but I don't think I've ever seen a plastic shield on a Case knife. Shields don't use much material, there's probably not much money to be saved by using plastic. Plus the concept of a plastic shield just seems wrong. I did have one of the cast shields knocked off (knife fell out of my pocket into the driveway, and was subesquently run over) and the shield was definitely a metal alloy of some sort, seemed like zamac.
 
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