Case Mariner

I like it. Is the pouch original for the knife-did it come as a "set"?
 
Though if your folder had a marlilnespike you wouldn't need the separate one. Maybe this was a take-off on the fixed blade and marlinespike combo?
Does it say CAse Mariner on the leather?
 
There should be a model number stamped on the tang. That would tell a story as to what you have there.
 
The knife is a 6265 SAB Folding Hunter; maybe stainless if 'SS' follows the '6265 SAB' mark (should be on the backside of the main clip blade's tang). The 'CASE XX' tang stamp visible in the 2nd pic would indicate it's no more recent than the 1970s, and might be a 1965-'69 knife. If it's 1970s-vintage, there should be some visible 'dots' underneath the 'USA' stamp on the tang (sometimes partially obscured under the pivot/bolster; use a magnifier and open/close the blade partially to see them). The number of dots would give a clue as to the specific year, starting with 10 dots for 1970 and removing one dot for each subsequent year; ending with only one dot in 1979. The 1965-'69 range will not show any dots at all under the 'USA' mark on the tang.

The scabbard and marlinspike were part of a Case-produced 'Mariner's Knife Set', which included the standard 6265 SAB Folding Hunter knife. I have one of these sets with 1981-vintage knife (SS), though it likely wasn't the original knife with the set; I think it was swapped out before I acquired it.


David
 
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The only Mariners I've seen have the marlin spike as part of the knife. I was not aware of these sets which used the folding hunter model. :confused:
 
Case offered those from about 1957 until the mid 1980's. Starting in 1972 when the 6265 in SS was put in production, they offered the Mariner's set in both CV and in SS. The posted knife is from roughly 1974 to 79 based on the visible stamp and the "composition" shield (no oval around CASE).
 
BigBiscuit said:
The only Mariners I've seen have the marlin spike as part of the knife. I was not aware of these sets which used the folding hunter model. :confused:
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This is a 'Mariner's Knife Set', of which the 6265 SAB Folding Hunter knife was a standard component included with the separate marlinspike and scabbard. Not to be confused with the 'Rigger's Knife' pattern '46, which included the folding marlinspike.


David
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
This is a 'Mariner's Knife Set', of which the 6265 SAB Folding Hunter knife was a standard component included with the separate marlinspike and scabbard. Not to be confused with the 'Rigger's Knife' pattern '46, which included the folding marlinspike.


David
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Oh I believe you David. Just new to me.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
The knife is a 6265 SAB Folding Hunter; maybe stainless if 'SS' follows the '6265 SAB' mark (should be on the backside of the main clip blade's tang). The 'CASE XX' tang stamp visible in the 2nd pic would indicate it's no more recent than the 1970s, and might be a 1965-'69 knife. If it's 1970s-vintage, there should be some visible 'dots' underneath the 'USA' stamp on the tang (sometimes partially obscured under the pivot/bolster; use a magnifier and open/close the blade partially to see them). The number of dots would give a clue as to the specific year, starting with 10 dots for 1970 and removing one dot for each subsequent year; ending with only one dot in 1979. The 1965-'69 range will not show any dots at all under the 'USA' mark on the tang.

The scabbard and marlinspike were part of a Case-produced 'Mariner's Knife Set', which included the standard 6265 SAB Folding Hunter knife. I have one of these sets with 1981-vintage knife (SS), though it likely wasn't the original knife with the set; I think it was swapped out before I acquired it.


David
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I bought a copy of Steve Pfeiffers book best I can tell its 1969 Mariner Set during the Case XX era with the Pakkawood scales

Definitely the original set, my Dad was a bosuns mate on a USCG 41' based in Little Creek VA, during the Vietnam era it was either enlist or be drafted, he had worked on a Corps of Engineers boat in High School during the summer and liked the water to it was a good fit

He remembers buying it at the Navy Exchange just could not remember what year was sometime 1967-1969 while he was active duty

What's funny to me is how thin the belt loop is, would love to carry it just ain't got any belts that skinny :)

He does have the riggers knife too from the period but has not figured that one to me yet:) or his S&W Victory Model .38 which if any of you know antique Smith's that's a classic.
 
cilohaefink said:
Case offered those from about 1957 until the mid 1980's. Starting in 1972 when the 6265 in SS was put in production, they offered the Mariner's set in both CV and in SS. The posted knife is from roughly 1974 to 79 based on the visible stamp and the "composition" shield (no oval around CASE).
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I was confused in the lack of the oval as there is no oval on the stamp, however not a SS and no dots on the tang, hence leads me to 1969, but your right the lack of the oval leads to a 1970,s knife

Hmm..... Well maybe...

It would help if old dad could remember he bought at Navy Exchange was active duty 1967-1969 but remained in the Reserves for 20 years after and frequently shopped at the exchange and can only remember he bought before I was born which was 1974

Maybe there are some "x"'s on the tang and just can't see them as the tang stamp is somewhat obscured into the bolsters and brass liner definitely stamped 6265 SAB
 
You guys don't use enough pictures. Purchased at the Navy Exchange at Great Lakes in Sep 1965. I ditched the sheath and made my own sheath and almost never carried/used the marlin spike.

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They used to sell them in the Ship's Store, Gear Locker, or Navy Exchange.
 
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texasshipagent said:
I was confused in the lack of the oval as there is no oval on the stamp, however not a SS and no dots on the tang, hence leads me to 1969, but your right the lack of the oval leads to a 1970,s knife

Hmm..... Well maybe...

It would help if old dad could remember he bought at Navy Exchange was active duty 1967-1969 but remained in the Reserves for 20 years after and frequently shopped at the exchange and can only remember he bought before I was born which was 1974

Maybe there are some "x"'s on the tang and just can't see them as the tang stamp is somewhat obscured into the bolsters and brass liner definitely stamped 6265 SAB
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The 'dots' on the '70s versions of the Folding Hunter, and some other knives of that era, are sometimes VERY difficult to see (maybe impossible for certain years), because they're obscured or hidden under the pivot & bolster. Sometimes at least some dots can be seen by slowly pivoting the blade to a specific position and examining the tang under brightly-lit magnification. The '65-'70s era knives won't have any 'Xs' indicating vintage (aside from the 'CASE XX' tang stamp), as later Case knives did with the combined 'Xs and dots' dating system; just the very small 'dots' were used in the '70s and '80s (making them even more difficult to spot at times, especially if the tang is pitted or corroded at all).

BTW, I do have a '65-'69 Folding Hunter as well, and it does have the 'oval' around 'CASE' on the shield. My particular version of the knife was likely produced in '65, as it still retained the older 'XX-era' (1940-'64) frame, more deeply cut behind the forward bolster, but with the newer tang stamp and 'U.S.A.' mark on the blade, which wasn't used until 1965 (when a new U.S. trade law started requiring USA-made goods to be marked as such).


David
 
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1965 was a transitional knife too David as that is the year that Case introduced the thong hole in the rear XX65 (Folding Hunter) End Cap. Supposedly they used the thong hole starting 1 January 1965 but as with most things Case (and most other manufactures), there were always holdovers from the non-thong hole knife parts that carried over into the new variations. Therefore, there were XX65s made in 1965 that had no thong holes - most likely through the first two or three months of 1965.
 
Modoc ED said:
1965 was a transitional knife too David as that is the year that Case introduced the thong hole in the rear XX65 (Folding Hunter) End Cap. Supposedly they used the thong hole starting 1 January 1965 but as with most things Case (and most other manufactures), there were always holdovers from the non-thong hole knife parts that carried over into the new variations. Therefore, there were XX65s made in 1965 that had no thong holes - most likely through the first two or three months of 1965.
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That's something new I hadn't known; I hadn't thought of it, or been aware of when Case started using the thong holes on these. Thanks Ed. :thumbup:


David
 
It gets confusing on the thong hole - Case also made XX stamped 65s with the older XX frame and with the thong hole. I have only ever owned one like this.

The so-called "composition" shield without the oval, was used on wood and composition handles from 1974 through the mid 1980's. You will see a few transition 1973 knives with it, but that's as far back as it goes. The posted knife has dots but yes they may be hidden.
 

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