Fix or Keep

O

onejim

Joined
Apr 25, 2011
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My grandfather was a great man, and a major factor in who I am today. He is also the reason I love pocket knives.

I don't really recall him carrying any particular knife, but I remember that he kept an old all metal (western I believe) pocket knife by the door that he always took to the garage with him. I also remember that he always had a small pocket knife on him.

When he passed away several years ago, I was lucky enough to get a box of his old knives. I can only get myself to carry two or three of the knives.....mostly because they mean so much. Though I do carry two of his old Craftsman's once in a while. Most of them have lived full lives and were obviously loved and used.

The one that really sticks out as my favorite is his old Case 5 dot 6208 Half Whittler. The knife has been sharpened many times and shows signs of years of pocket time.

As you can see from the pictures, there is some type of metal wedged between the main blade and the liner. I cant quite tell if its part of the liner or an outside piece of metal that got wedged in there. Regardless, the knife opens and functions fairly well.

I'm torn whether I should send it off for repair or if I should just keep it as is. I do not carry the knife, but I do pull it out and play with it every once in a while.

Any insight or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim





















 
It looks like this was a full, 3 blade whittler at one time. On a full whittler there are 2 springs the main blade sits on, and the secondary blades each sit on a spring with a wedge-shaped liner in between. It looks like one blade and the liner was removed from this, leaving a single spring, which would make the main blade too wide for the spring. By adding the piece of metal (and it may be part of the original liner) it fills in the slot, allowing the blade to sit properly.

This was likely done to salvage the knife when one of the secondary blades broke. You could send it to Case and they might be able to repair it, or just leave it as is and have it remind you of your grandfather just as it is.
 
The 6208 is a two blade knife. It looks like someone put brass shims between the liner and blade to tighten the joint.
 
You are lucky to have a knife owned by your grandfather. I wish I had one from mine. For what it's worth, if I had my own grandfathers knife, I would cherish the character marks, wear, dings, and even any imperfections on it. Those things are irreplaceable, and it would be truly sad if you sent it off, and regretted it later.
 
Obviously you're feeling sentimental about all this, hence the post.
My recommendation:

Keep Grandpa's knife as-is, and put it in a place of honor where you can see it every day.
Then get a new Case 6208 for yourself and continue the tradition.
 
My personal rule for knives that was owned by someone you value is to just clean up the edge free of chips, put the blade back in sharp condition but leave all the handle dings and scratches alone. A knife should be useable after all.
 
I understand the idea of leaving it as is to remember your grandfather, but I would have it fixed if it were me. Only fixed to the point where the joint was made right, don't perform any extra polishing or restoration. Just make it right. I would still cherish the knife.... I'd think that Grandpa would have liked to have just had it right too.
 
A great looking CASE knife :)

I would keep it as it is. It is a piece of your family history and as it won´t be carried much. I´d keep it in good memory with your grandfather.
 
daizee said:
Obviously you're feeling sentimental about all this, hence the post.
My recommendation:

Keep Grandpa's knife as-is, and put it in a place of honor where you can see it every day.
Then get a new Case 6208 for yourself and continue the tradition.
Click to expand...

Woodrow F Call said:
I understand the idea of leaving it as is to remember your grandfather, but I would have it fixed if it were me. Only fixed to the point where the joint was made right, don't perform any extra polishing or restoration. Just make it right. I would still cherish the knife.... I'd think that Grandpa would have liked to have just had it right too.
Click to expand...

@ OP: Congrats on the knives you got from Your grandpa, that is a luck honor. My dad has a sm knife that he got from my grandpa yrs ago, he does not know how old it is but it has to be at least 40-70+yrs old and he still uses it to this day (my dad is 74). however it is still in very good shape.

I do not have much to add but these 2 quoted posts I think say what I believe as well. It's a tough call but whatever way you choose to go will be right, there is no wrong choice here. Best of luck
 
I would have it repaired to working condition. Not restored. Leave all those nicks and scratches, that's him talking to you.
 
daizee said:
Obviously you're feeling sentimental about all this, hence the post.
My recommendation:

Keep Grandpa's knife as-is, and put it in a place of honor where you can see it every day.
Then get a new Case 6208 for yourself and continue the tradition.
Click to expand...

This is a splendid idea - one day you can hand down both worn knives to a child or grandchild. OH
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I understand the idea of leaving it as is to remember your grandfather, but I would have it fixed if it were me. Only fixed to the point where the joint was made right, don't perform any extra polishing or restoration. Just make it right. I would still cherish the knife.... I'd think that Grandpa would have liked to have just had it right too.
Click to expand...


I agree. just make the knife correct.
 
daizee said:
Obviously you're feeling sentimental about all this, hence the post.
My recommendation:

Keep Grandpa's knife as-is, and put it in a place of honor where you can see it every day.
Then get a new Case 6208 for yourself and continue the tradition.
Click to expand...

Old Hunter said:
This is a splendid idea - one day you can hand down both worn knives to a child or grandchild. OH
Click to expand...

Plus 1
 
Markesharp said:
The 6208 is a two blade knife. It looks like someone put brass shims between the liner and blade to tighten the joint.
Click to expand...

Interesting. If that is the case, then removing the shim and gently squeezing it in a vise (lined with some leather, or with plastic or wood jaws), followed by some gentle peening, should fix it. It looks like the pivot pin in sunken in, indicating that the joint is spreading. Seems like an easy fix.
 
That's a tough call. A knife that is in otherwise solid condition like that, I would not do much to. And this is coming from me, and I mod just about anything. It looks like the blades were a very tight fit, so a shim was inserted to give the blades room to nest.

However, I will say this. This is not the only knife you have of his, so fixing it to original working order, is not necessarily a horrible thing.

If it was the only one you owned of his, I probably wouldn't even carry it for fear of damage or loss.

Anyway, great looking knife.

Glenn
 
I'm leaning towards getting my own and leaving her as she is.

Does anyone know if this knife is cv or ss? I'd like to get one just like it. I believe case used cv on this model through the 80s. So this being a 5 dot (1975... Correct) would make it cv. Looking at the blades I'd say it's ss...thoughts?

Thanks for all the comments! I'm still very torn id still love to fix her.

Either way, I think the only natural first step is to get my own. Isn't that always the answer?
 
Being your grandfather's knife, I would leave it, most likely. You probably would not carry it much for fear of losing it.

If you do decide to have it repaired - be very clear about your wishes and that you do not want the finish altered.

Anything that is done to the knife MIGHT alter it for the worse and make you regret having the work done.

It takes a knife lover to really appreciate an old knife like that. Many people have no connection to grandpa's old knife and that is why we see so many up for auction/sale.

I appreciate your respect/fondness for your grandpa and his knives. :thumbup::thumbup:;)

The knife has carbon steel blades.
 
onejim said:
I'm leaning towards getting my own and leaving her as she is.

Does anyone know if this knife is cv or ss? I'd like to get one just like it. I believe case used cv on this model through the 80s. So this being a 5 dot (1975... Correct) would make it cv. Looking at the blades I'd say it's ss...thoughts?
Thanks for all the comments! I'm still very torn id still love to fix her.

Either way, I think the only natural first step is to get my own. Isn't that always the answer?
Click to expand...

I'm betting it's carbon steel, a.k.a. 'CV' before Case actually marked it as such (starting stamping 'CV' on blades in ~1990s or so). The blades look a lot like one of mine in Case's old carbon steel (~1965), and it doesn't seem to tarnish darkly like some others, but instead patinas to a nice even grey. You could test it by dabbing a tiny bit of white vinegar on the blade with a Q-tip; if it's carbon steel, it'll develop a darker spot within 5-10 minutes (can be cleaned up with a little metal polish; no worries). You'll see nothing change, if it's stainless.

The collecting guide* I refer to often doesn't even show the 6208 in stainless into the 1980s at least. All versions listed in the book (pre-1940 thru 1980s) are non-stainless. Also, since at least the 1970s, and possibly back into the '60s, I think all of Case's stainless knives were stamped as such, showing either 'SS' after the pattern name, or sometimes additionally stamped 'STAINLESS'.

* = The 'OFFICIAL Price Guide to COLLECTOR KNIVES', Fourteenth Edition, by C. Houston Price (2004)


David
 
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