Case xx this time

hank_rearden

hank_rearden

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Jun 7, 2002
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been surfing the bay for bargain peanuts and toothpicks when i saw a "melon tester." what does it do and how?

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exactly what it sounds like. farmers would use it to test their fruits. i am sure someone more experienced will chime in with more details though
 
a bit dicey if you ask me. jamming a slipjoint into a large tough fruit? but them, i'm no farmer.

which brings me to a second thread question: traditional slipjoints are known for whittling, skinning, cutting tips off cigars, unravelling thick rope knots, and now testing watermelons. are there any other common uses for which certain models are dedicated?
 
hank_rearden said:
a bit dicey if you ask me. jamming a slipjoint into a large tough fruit? but them, i'm no farmer.

which brings me to a second thread question: traditional slipjoints are known for whittling, skinning, cutting tips off cigars, unravelling thick rope knots, and now testing watermelons. are there any other common uses for which certain models are dedicated?
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Here are couple pattern that were made for specific type of work in the past. Cotton Sampler, Electrician knife and there is a Case 2 bladed jack called a Loom fixer although I dont know if that is an official name.
 
Even though it's called a melon tester, its more common usage these days is as a portable steak knife.

I believe Case has even marketed it as such in some of their literature.
 
The Older Stockmen knives had "For Flesh Only" etched on the Spey Blade. This blade was used by cowboys and farmers for castrating livestock.
 
hank_rearden said:
a bit dicey if you ask me. jamming a slipjoint into a large tough fruit? but them, i'm no farmer.

which brings me to a second thread question: traditional slipjoints are known for whittling, skinning, cutting tips off cigars, unravelling thick rope knots, and now testing watermelons. are there any other common uses for which certain models are dedicated?
Click to expand...

The sodbuster, to my knowledge, was made to have a blunt tip so it could castrate animals
The buck 110 was made to be a compact knife used for skinning game.
 
oh, i though the sodbuster was intended to cut squares of grass sod for use in building shacks (sod houses being convenient in treeless places like prairies.)

thanks for the answers gents!
 
the melon tester is actually found often in the apron of a grocery store produce clerk. The guy that stocks and waters all the fruits and vegetables uses it for trimming ugly pieces of lettuce or roots or whatever-or just any utility needed. I worked at a Buttrey foods for awhile and was given a schrade U.S.A. "produce" knife. We never called them melon testers. I have another one that says on the side "fine meats". That one is quite a bit older and I assume it was for a deli or the meat dept in a grocery. The blade on the case above is proportionately much thinner than my produce knives. That looks kind of weird to me-probably because I am accustomed to a thicker belly on those knives. I do understand that many folks are accustomed to these being called melon testers, and understandably so.
 
I've seen some mention before, that the 'melon tester' knives are designed to cut a plug from the melon, in basically a inverted cone shape, to check for ripeness. The long and very narrow, thin blade on Case's version would suit that task very well.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I've seen some mention before, that the 'melon tester' knives are designed to cut a plug from the melon, in basically a inverted cone shape, to check for ripeness. The long and very narrow, thin blade on Case's version would suit that task very well.
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Interesting! My best guess was that it was used for a thin, direct push cut into the melon, to test that way.

... What does one do if the removed cone-shaped piece shows that the melon isn't ripe?

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
Interesting! My best guess was that it was used for a thin, direct push cut into the melon, to test that way.

... What does one do if the removed cone-shaped piece shows that the melon isn't ripe?

~ P.
Click to expand...

I've wondered about that too. Found this comment on an ag website from New Mexico State University ( http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/1998/070698.html )

"The method with the greatest chance of success for choosing a ripe watermelon is "plugging," or cutting a plug out of the melon to look at the flesh just beyond the rind. Some watermelon sellers will plug melons for you, others do not. Plugging is not acceptable practice in the grocery store unless the produce manager does it for you. In the garden, plugging ruins the watermelon if it is not ripe."
Click to expand...
 
ah, my mind is working properly now. the farmer would know that the melon is ripe and sweet enough without cutting it. the cone/wedge is for the benefit of buyers who want to examine the fruit. just cut the wedge loose and put the fruit on display, allowing shoppers to lift and examine the wedge.
 
Here's an inexpensive one my Dad gave me. It was given to him when doing some business with the owners of this farm.

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Obsessed with edges is correct. The melon testers was made for produce buyers to take samples from produce. Most of tha time they would cut a long plug from a watermelon or cantaloupe to see if the quality from the rine to the middle.
 
Hi guys, looking at a melon tester for a gift - my grandfather loves picking his melons so I figured its an interesting gift.

Curious as to your thoughts on serrated vs non? Wich us better for cutting mellons. Thanks guys
 
What ever knife you have in your pocket will test a melon for ripeness. Just pull it out of your pocket and "thump" the melon with it. If it sounds hollow, its a good un. If you don't want to use your knife, use your knuckle. Works for me!

Blessings,

Omar
 
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