Case Copperlock (full size) ???

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Maximumbob54

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People keep posting some stunning looking full size Copperlocks and I'm super green with envy!!! I've managed to order one in a green Kentucky bluegrass bone and I'm thinking of ordering one in orange Delrin but they are hard to find listings for the full size.

Some webstores allow you to sort by blade length but many of them you just have to search "Copperlock" and sift through the hundred or so minis, find a full size, crud it's out of stock/backordered/discontinued/nosoupforyou.

So I'm twofold on this.

Is the mini just more popular so they make more and keep them in stock and the full size isn't as popular so they don't make as many and when they sell out they are gone again...

OR

Is the mini a good enough constant seller they keep them in constant production and wide variety and the full size is more popular because they are harder to get thus leading to people GEC'ing them up as soon as they are listed?

My only justification in this is you can go to any knife retailer that sells Case and it's almost a sure thing they will have a good selection of the mini Copperlocks, but you are lucky if you can find a few in the full size.
 
There's a certain herding website that currently has 7 listed for sale and 2 4 on back order.
I'd say that's pretty good.

To answer your question, the mini copperlock is more popular, so they produce more of them.
 
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Personally, it seems more like it is a less popular size for the copper lock.

I’ve got a couple of them (I’ll add pictures later today if I remember) that I have purchased from a Case Outlet, and between the small and large copper locks, more of the large ones hang around than the smalls do in that store, and talking to the people who worked there, seemed like it was one of the patterns they got fairly commonly as inventory, meaning it wasn’t selling super well.

Now, this was a long time ago, so I’m not sure if it is still the case, but the small copper locks are definitely more popular and widely produced from everything I have seen as well.
 
EngrSorenson said:
There's a certain herding website that currently has 7 listed for sale and 2 4 on back order.
I'd say that's pretty good.

To answer your question, the mini copperlock is more popular, so they produce more of them.
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I saw that when "researching" for this post. It pains me that a quantity of 7 is good.

And I don't mean to sound like I dislike the mini since I do own a couple of them. They are just so tiny almost to the point of feeling fragile. I know they aren't going to fall apart cutting my apple, I'm not that silly, it's just dainty.
 
Maximumbob54 said:
I saw that when "researching" for this post. It pains me that a quantity of 7 is good.

And I don't mean to sound like I dislike the mini since I do own a couple of them. They are just so tiny almost to the point of feeling fragile. I know they aren't going to fall apart cutting my apple, I'm not that silly, it's just dainty.
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I prefer the term "pocket friendly"
 
Charr said:
Personally, it seems more like it is a less popular size for the copper lock.

I’ve got a couple of them (I’ll add pictures later today if I remember) that I have purchased from a Case Outlet, and between the small and large copper locks, more of the large ones hang around than the smalls do in that store, and talking to the people who worked there, seemed like it was one of the patterns they got fairly commonly as inventory, meaning it wasn’t selling super well.

Now, this was a long time ago, so I’m not sure if it is still the case, but the small copper locks are definitely more popular and widely produced from everything I have seen as well.
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It feels like a catch 22 in that it's hard to say they don't sell well when they aren't so easy to find much less in a finish you may be wanting. But then if they really do just set around not selling then why make more... Definitely no denying the mini is far and beyond more available.
 
Maximumbob54 said:
It feels like a catch 22 in that it's hard to say they don't sell well when they aren't so easy to find much less in a finish you may be wanting. But then if they really do just set around not selling then why make more... Definitely no denying the mini is far and beyond more available.
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Yeah, which is why I kind of caveat it with just being my experience and what I heard chatting with the people who worked at the Case Outlet.

On the off chance you’re ever out in Branson, Missouri, that is where this particular outlet is located, and the last several times I have been there they have had by far the largest selection of the full size copper locks I have found.
I will admit, I have not been digging for one in a while though. I found the 2 variations I wanted there and they have been somewhat off my radar since.

All this talking about them makes me want to get one of them out and toss it in my pocket for tomorrow now. Been too long since I carried one! 😂
 
EngrSorenson said:
I prefer the term "pocket friendly"
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Almost watch pocket friendly. Not quite but closer than the other direction.

I bought a sort of wallet that had a pen holder and slot for a knife that I never ended up carrying. I'll have to find it. It still has one of the minis hiding in it. So it was small and thin enough it was selected so I get the point on being pocket friendly.
 
Charr said:
Yeah, which is why I kind of caveat it with just being my experience and what I heard chatting with the people who worked at the Case Outlet.

On the off chance you’re ever out in Branson, Missouri, that is where this particular outlet is located, and the last several times I have been there they have had by far the largest selection of the full size copper locks I have found.
I will admit, I have not been digging for one in a while though. I found the 2 variations I wanted there and they have been somewhat off my radar since.

All this talking about them makes me want to get one of them out and toss it in my pocket for tomorrow now. Been too long since I carried one! 😂
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I guess if the demand was really there they would be rolling them out to collect that money.

The only model I currently have is the wharncliffe and for me at least it strikes that good middle ground of not too beefy big and not to tiny. But I need that clip point in my life.
 
What good is a thread about the Case Copperlock without a picture and some info about the pattern and how it came to be?

Full size Case Copperlock with Dark Amber Barb Wire Bone covers.





Case Copperlock History (Introduced in 1997)

By Shirley Boser

When we started working on the design of the CopperLock, our Sales manager at that time, Dick Kearney, had requested Tom Hart, our designer, to design a single bladed lock trapper. Dick had request the handles be made of old red color bone with Roger's jig. Tom liked the flat blades with the long nail mark and a cut swedge and they both decided where to put the lock mechanism.
The first sample was great. Dick says "This was by far the nicest looking knife I had seen." He had more samples made, passing them around to get feedback. Since the back of the tang stuck up above the bolster about 3/8", it was suggested that it needed a larger bolster to prevent the knife from catching in the pocket. Hence, the Copperhead bolster was put on the pocket end of the next set of samples and was the design we went with.
The pattern numbers, 549, was given to the CopperLock, by yours truly as it was a combination of the 54 pattern and the 49 pattern.
The name CopperLock was determined when they went to the Copperhead bolster. Up to that point the knife had been referred to as the "Lockback Trapper".
I hope this answers your question.

Shirley @ Case
W.R. Case Historian
 
Lest anyone think I was fibbing about having minis (and a large wharni)

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From fully clothed to nekkid:

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And I look forward to packages in the mail soon!
 
I've been waiting for the right large copperlock and have thrown some bids at a few but haven't reeled one in.

The mini copperlock is cool but it's kinda small for a lockback. It is nice and thin with a very useful blade. Disappears in your pocket.
 
RickHuf said:
I've been waiting for the right large copperlock and have thrown some bids at a few but haven't reeled one in.

The mini copperlock is cool but it's kinda small for a lockback. It is nice and thin with a very useful blade. Disappears in your pocket.
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That's part of the problem for me. I almost washed one forgetting it was in that pocket. When I did the hand squish pocket check to jeans before tossing them into the hamper I nearly missed it. So I bought the pocket clip sheath which did work for a while but I want to find a better clip.

I'm complaining far too much when I really do like the design. If for nothing else besides aesthetics, the clip point is my favorite design and I've always preferred a lockback.

Oh, and good luck in your search!
 
Find the Mini a much better carry, and fragile it is not :D It's certainly the more popular. These are slim knives with decent sized blade, the full size Copperlock is too thin and feels the worst of both worlds, skimpy and unwieldy. Have a full size in an interesting Rattlesnake etched bone, take a few drinks and you'd swear it moved:eek::poop:

Saw some fine looking Micarta Minis on another thread the other day, very tidy. :cool:
 
I wished the full size was more popular. I wanted to creep up to someone at Case and whisper "If you build it, they will come". Seems like the models I prefer are always playing second fiddle to the cutlery exec's. The mini is just too small for my taste. I do really like the Tribal too, but I may be one of the few.1000002649.jpg
 
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