Found what I think are initials on my new Case pocket knife

[edillow]

I bought what appears to me to be a Case 2001 pocket knife and after examining it I have questions about two markings I found. When you open the blade and place it facing towards you I found what appear to be very small initials engraved right above where the safety lock engages the blade inside the handle, S P is what they look like. Sorry I couldn't get a pic they are very small. Any clues or was this someone working in the forge that signed their work since it looks hand scratched.

The second mark I found actually appears to be a small mutibranched crack that lies above the base in the crook before the blade begins and is sharpened. Is this common or does it ruin the blade?

Thanks in advance it's the first of many knives I hope to collect and use. USA 6154L CV stamped on one side with CASE and five Xs with 4 dots in the correct pattern on the other.

 

[Railsplitter]

As far as I know it pretty much has to be someone's initials.

If the SP was part of the pattern number on the tang it would mean that your knife has a spey blade which it obviously doesn't.

As for the crack on the tang, I think I know what you are describing and I have seen those before. I wouldn't call it common but it isn't rare either. As long as the crack isn't very deep it won't hurt the function of the knife.

 

[edillow]

Thanks, love to hear any other insight but you're right the S P part looks hand scratched into that part and the knife was purchased new from a dealer.

 

[338375]

Thanks, love to hear any other insight but you're right the S P part looks hand scratched into that part and the knife was purchased new from a dealer.

If it was new from a dealer, nobody at Case would have put their initials on it. Its possible someone bought the knife from your dealer, scratched their initials on it, and decided to return it. Other than that, I'm not sure