Help with old Case knife

[vwb563]

Hey guys I found this knife in my fathers collection that I inherited and was wondering if you all could help me with authentication and dating it. What’s y’all’s opinion on this one?

 

[Bigburly912]

1920-40 peanut. No reason not to think its real.

 

[KentuckyBlackBird]

To my knowledge, and from checking the only Case chart I have, I don’t see that as a design. I’m limited on reference material regarding tang stamps on specialty runs by them as well. Good luck in your search.

 

[Bigburly912]

Dont see what as a design?

 

[Modoc ED]

 

[vwb563]

Dont see what as a design?

I think he might be referencing the tang stamp but not sure.

 

[Bigburly912]

I think he might be referencing the tang stamp but not sure.

Its real and its a peanut. Take care of it. Great little knife.

 

[KentuckyBlackBird]

Delrin wasn’t invented until 1952, so it could fall into the era after that was introduced as a scale material.

 

[KentuckyBlackBird]

I think he might be referencing the tang stamp but not sure.

I think he might be referencing the tang stamp but not sure.

Yessir, a tang stamp.

 

[black mamba]

It looks more like the 87 pattern medium jack than a peanut, pattern 20.

 

[Modoc ED]

Doesn't have to be Delrin to be yellow. Could be any one of the many composites used back in the day.

 

[vwb563]

It looks more like the 87 pattern medium jack than a peanut, pattern 20.

I think you’re correct. It’s bigger than a peanut.

 

[Bigburly912]

Yeah could be a medium jack. I just glanced at the tang

 

[KentuckyBlackBird]

I stand corrected. I learned something just now. Celluloid was used from the 20s until ‘45 when plastic composition was first used and Delrin was first used in the early-mid 60s. Apologies.

 

[vwb563]

To my knowledge, and from checking the only Case chart I have, I don’t see that as a design. I’m limited on reference material regarding tang stamps on specialty runs by them as well. Good luck in your search.

I don’t see an “exact”matching tang stamp from your chart. Is that normal?

 

[vwb563]

I stand corrected. I learned something just now. Celluloid was used from the 20s until ‘45 when plastic composition was first used and Delrin was first used in the early-mid 60s. Apologies.

It feels more like celluloid than plastic.

 

[afishhunter]

Delrin wasn’t invented until 1952, so it could fall into the era after that was introduced as a scale material.

According to my research, Case first used Delrin in 1967, on the then new Sod buster pattern.
(Top search Result)
Case first used Delrin on the 2138 Sod Buster (black) at the pattern's debut in 196712. Delrin was invented by Dupont in the 1950s2. Prior to Delrin, Case used different materials for their knives2.

 

[afishhunter]

I'm pretty sure Case has used yellow 'composition' handles as far back as the 'Tested' era (1920-1940). That material wasn't actually Delrin, which Case first used in 1967 on the black-handled Sod Buster (pattern 2138). 'Delrin' specifically, as named and trademarked by DuPont, wasn't invented until sometime in the 1950s.


David

Case first used Delrin on the 2138 Sod Buster (black) at the pattern's debut in 1967. Not sure if any others were using it then - but I imagine it caught on pretty quick with other makers around the same time frame.

In the pic below, a pair of my black soddies, 39 years apart. One is a 1970 model and the other from 2009. I always think of the Case Sod Buster by default, when I think of Delrin.

 

[mph57]

I’m a small time Case collector….really small compared to some of the people around here. But here are a few things I look for in a “tested era” knife.

1. The correct tang stamp for this period.
2. The correct oval shield for this time period. (Some people call it the “closed C”) There is also an “open C and tall S” option on a few from this time period as well.
3. On a yellow knife (smooth yellow) from the Case Tested time period it would be celluloid. It would have a bright lemon color and white liner, which means there will be a distinct layer of white where the handle meets the liner.
4. Does the wear and patina on the blade and springs match.

There are other things to crosscheck, but this is a quick start. So my opinion counts for absolutely nothing, but I’m not sure I see the tang stamp matching examples from this time period, not sure I see the “closed C” on the oval shield, and I can’t tell from the photos about the white liner on the knife. Other people might disagree with my observations…

My reference is the book, “Collecting Case Knives” by Steve Pfeiffer….he is also a member on this forum.

 

[Tyson A Wright]

The "C" on the tang stamps looks different than any I've seen on tang stamps charts (see Modoc Ed's pic in post #5 above). The left side of the letter is vertical (not curved) and the top overhangs the "A" with a small serif. I don't see that in the chart. Maybe the charts are incomplete?