Let's see your Traditional Case knives, old to new.

Driften said:
I realized I never put up the first Case knife I have ever had. I had other slipjoint knives before it, but it was my first Case. It is a Case mother of perl Eisenhower pen knife. My best friend gave it to me and its been too nice to feel right carrying it. The problem with that is I don't see it very often. Maybe I should actually carry it ;)

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Carry it, if you're worried about the pearl get a slip case for it. It's pretty tough stuff though, I've got pearl over 100 years old and I put it right in my pocket without much thought.

Love the jigging on that Red Bone Paul. :)
 
I'm pretty new to older Case knives and I'm trying to determine the approximate year of my 11031 SH rope knife. I believe it is a 1940-1964 or older because it has the CASE with XX underneath tang stamp.

My main question is about the shield? Is this considered a tall "S"? If so, then I'm pretty sure this means that this knife is an early 1940-1964 version. What does early XX mean? 1940-????. Any insight you can provide would be much appreciated.

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Travman said:
I'm pretty new to older Case knives and I'm trying to determine the approximate year of my 11031 SH rope knife. I believe it is a 1940-1964 or older because it has the CASE with XX underneath tang stamp.

My main question is about the shield? Is this considered a tall "S"? If so, then I'm pretty sure this means that this knife is an early 1940-1964 version. What does early XX mean? 1940-????. Any insight you can provide would be much appreciated.
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I don't know anything about the S but if it helps, I've been told that case started stamping pattern numbers on the blades sometime in 1949. If that's true then any XX era knife without a pattern number stamped on the blade is actually 1940-1949.
 
Thanks Rick. That helps a lot. My knife does have the pattern number stamped on the other side of the tang. So that would point to sometime in 1949-1965.

The reason I was asking about the tall "S" is because the book I have shows a difference in shields based on the tall "S" and block "S". I just found the same information at this website:
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com...h/case-knife-reference-guide/case-xx-shields/

Oval shield with open C and tall S. Used on late tested era and early XX era knives.
case-xx-shield-oval-late-tested-xx-early-usa.jpg


Oval shield with open C and block S. Used on late xx era knives through to the mid 1980s.
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I'm pretty sure the shield on my knife looks like the first picture.
 
That's interesting about the S, Travman. Thank you for sharing the information. Thanks also for the link. There's some stuff on there that I didn't know including the S thing.

I wonder if there's a way to determine what year Case switched from the tall S to the block S. I'll bet that info is in one of the Case books of which I own none.
 
Just in today a Case Sway Back Gent in pocket worn red bone...
Its a nice size. Only wish the pull was a little lighter.

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Travman that's a BEAUTY! I once owned it then it went to Todd. It is one SOLID knife with no play and a snap that would wake a sleeping Baby. I agree somewhere between 49-60:thumbup:
 
paulhilborn said:
Travman that's a BEAUTY! I once owned it then it went to Todd. It is one SOLID knife with no play and a snap that would wake a sleeping Baby. I agree somewhere between 49-60:thumbup:
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Paul, it's good to know the ownership history. Todd referred to it as a beer trap. I love the super dark walnut. This one is in really nice condition. I'd like to find another that is more of a user.

Thanks for opinion on the age of the knife. I understand why you think it is no older than 1949 since it has the pattern stamped on the backside of the tang. But what makes you think 1960 would be the end year? Is there another sign that separates early XX knives from later ones?
 
This one was my go to blade before I got my first Davison. Patina on main is natural. Few pepper spots but a solid knife. I have it for sale but I think I'm gonna take it down.

 
Travman said:
Paul, it's good to know the ownership history. Todd referred to it as a beer trap. I love the super dark walnut. This one is in really nice condition. I'd like to find another that is more of a user.

Thanks for opinion on the age of the knife. I understand why you think it is no older than 1949 since it has the pattern stamped on the backside of the tang. But what makes you think 1960 would be the end year? Is there another sign that separates early XX knives from later ones?
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Sorry Travman, typo on my end, meant 49-64:thumbup:
 
Here's a Case shadow bone half-whittler that I received as a gift from a good friend a few years ago. (I tend to favor and cherish knives that have been given to me.)

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Jeff_R said:
Here's a Case shadow bone half-whittler that I received as a gift from a good friend a few years ago. (I tend to favor and cherish knives that have been given to me.)

tjj1Ul0RIzqy1BVndLU7Sg
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I really like that shadow bone half whittler, I've never seen that particular pattern variation before, thanks for sharin'. :)
 
Just ordered my first Case. :) Went looking for a peanut but had a different pattern catch my eye. Can't wait until it comes in!
 
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