Case Cattaragus ATS-34 Copperlock just arrived.

Ken44

Ken44

Joined
Jun 29, 2005
Messages
16,379
It just got here, and I'm blown away by how well these were made. I was expecting the same knife as a typical Copperlock but with ATS-34, but this thing is made much much better than their regular line of knives.

The blade grinds are perfect and as good as on many customs I've had or seen. This was a HUGE surprise.
They didn't round the blade spine and left it nice and crisp, and the satin blade, nickle silver pins/liners are also a nice touch. Locks up like a vault with a solid sounding "whack" with zero blade play in either direction.
Case Tested Red Bone isn't my favorite, but I like it more than I thought I would. It also has the best edge I've seen on a Case, including the Case Bose collaborations I've had, and the blade grinds are just as good too.

Its raining here so I just took a quick pic on the porch. Tried to get a close up of the blade grinds, but that shot came out blurry. Wish I could've shown those better, as thats the main thing that really impresses me on the knife.

Came in a nice box, and in that box was a very nice wood box that these came in. 250 made in 2004.
I have no need for the box though.

The seller didn't mention it had ATS-34 in the ebay description, so I don't think many knew what it was. Don't you just love it when an item isn't listed correctly. I think I did OK for $79 shipped. I would've paid twice that, but that was the starting bid and no on else placed a bid.

Sorry for the crappy pics. Rainy day, and my $150 camera quit on me, so now I'm down to my $89 camera.:o






Here are my other Copperlocks. Please post pics of yours if you have them.
Thank you.

Another crappy pic. Sorry about that.
One SS with Chestnut bone, and two yellow with CV.

 
Last edited:
Man, that looks great, Ken! Looks like a nice pin-point tip on it, too. I don't have much experience with copperlocks, but I had a couple and the tip was more rounded on them. Congtats on a great deal on a great knife. Love the yellow CV's, too. :thumbup:
 
I'd say you did amazing on that one.
Congrats!
 
IMG_2176copy_zps117f9085.jpg


IMG_2178copy_zps83e262dc.jpg


I have this 2002 Copperlock, in jigged brown Delrin, that has what I believe to be the same blade finish you speak of in your post. The blade tang and spine are polished on mine. The contrast is striking, in hand. I also find it hard to capture the vertical striations in the blade with a camera (tried some reflection to help, in these pics). It has the best point of any of my Copperlocks, as well. Until yours, this was the only one I've seen with this blade finish. Nice catch ! I'm jealous of your good fortune.
 
Ken, not a copperlock, but a copperhead in Wharncliffe trapper configuration. This 1989 knife has the striated, as ground finish on the blades, with a very sharp and square spine like yours. I can only wish it was ATS-34, rather than the Tru-Sharp it is.

CopperheadWTopen_zpsad096599.jpg~original
 
Thanks everyone !


deskil said:
I have this 2002 Copperlock, in jigged brown Delrin, that has what I believe to be the same blade finish you speak of in your post. The blade tang and spine are polished on mine. The contrast is striking, in hand. I also find it hard to capture the vertical striations in the blade with a camera (tried some reflection to help, in these pics). It has the best point of any of my Copperlocks, as well. Until yours, this was the only one I've seen with this blade finish. Nice catch ! I'm jealous of your good fortune.
Click to expand...

I really like that !
They make one like that now with a blue derlin, and I may pick one up since I like the as ground blade finish too.
I would rather have a black like yours though, so I may keep my eye out for one of those for a while. They also make the Carhartt version with an as ground blade, but I sold mine. Got tired of the brass Carhartt shield pretty quick,lol.

The blade on mine isn't an "as ground" blade, but rather more of a cross between that and a satin blade finish. Its almost as matte as an as ground finish, but the vertical lines doesn't show as well as they do on an as ground finished blade.

black mamba said:
Ken, not a copperlock, but a copperhead in Wharncliffe trapper configuration. This 1989 knife has the striated, as ground finish on the blades, with a very sharp and square spine like yours. I can only wish it was ATS-34, rather than the Tru-Sharp it is.
Click to expand...

Thats a great looking knife ! Love that bone, the blade finish, and how they left a square crisp spine.
When they leave the spine that way it makes for a better fit with the backspring.
 
Last edited:
That's cool one. I wish Case, would use more high end stainless. Yours is very nice looking.
 
Wow nice! I have one Copperlock, a mini that Case made as part of the olive bone BSA series:

bsacopperlock.jpg


I managed to find a Case Barlow in ATS-34 awhile back, it's a favorite:

casebarlow.jpg


I wish Case would use more steel varieties, like the BG-42 used in the Slimlock, or ATS-34 like Queen uses, more than just for special runs.
 
black mamba said:
Are these knives marked ATS-34, or if not, how do you know that is what you have?
Click to expand...

Jeff, the Cattaragus ones are marked ATS-34 on the tang, and I also had a knife from their Select series, and a Case Bose that were marked ATS-34. I've never seen a Case with a steel upgrade that wasn't marked, and they've been marking all of their knives for a very long time now.
 
That's sweet. They did a line of olive bone ats-34 knives that included a seahorse whittler that I wanted really badly.

I have that brown delrin Copperlock, it has been my EDC for a couple of years. Funny I never noticed that that tang and spine were mirror finished.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top