New Case 61549 L SS Copperlock in hand

[Modoc ED]

This Case Copperlock arrived today.

It is 4 1/4" long and has Dark Amber Bone handles with a laser engraved barb wire pattern in the bone. When I first saw Case barb wire handles on other Case knives some time ago, I knida thought they looked a little hokey/corny but am quite pleased with the way these barb wire handles look on this knife primarily because of the richness of the Dark Amber Bone coloring. The blade is stainless steel, is 3 3/16" long, and locks up solid with no movement what-so-ever. This particular knife was manufactured in 2001.

Edited to correct spelling error in Title line.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

That looks darn good. The dark amber bone really does look nice on these. :thumbup:

I have a Case TB Sowbelly in the 'Barb Wire' series. My only complaint about it is, the round shield was slightly askew, so the 'XX' doesn't look quite straight on it. Don't know if the factory did it, or if the shield came out and was 'fixed' a bit carelessly.

 

[Modoc ED]

Thanks David. As to your shield being slightly askew, I'd say it was installed that way. The barb wire pattern in the handles may slightly contribute to the off set appearance of the shield too.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Thanks David. As to your shield being slightly askew, I'd say it was installed that way. The barb wire pattern in the handles may slightly contribute to the off set appearance of the shield too.

Maybe so. I'll have to dig that one out and look at it again. It's been stashed away for a while. The somewhat serpentine shape of the handle probably contributes to the slightly 'off' look of it, too. Between that, and the barb wire pattern, there's little or no clear-cut 'straight' reference to align to. I've debated trying to gently extract the shield and re-install it so it might conform to my personal aesthetic expectations, anyway (how selfish of me, I know... ).

(Edited to add pics, below):

The 'XX' looks to have been aligned to the 'wire' in the scale, more or less. Don't know if it'd look better aligned with the pins at the scale ends. Maybe, maybe not?

 

[tleav61]

Looks like it is supposed to be slightly off ? Kinda like a branding Iron look.??

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Looks like it is supposed to be slightly off ? Kinda like a branding Iron look.??

Since I posted those pics, I've been looking around at some photos on the web of the Barb Wire Sowbelly. Seen three different samples thus far; all seem to have the 'XX' aligned with the scale pins. So, for whatever reason, mine seems to be a little 'unique' in it's off-kilter tilt. Still trying to decide if I like the look of it. In a way, it does seem to have a certain flair, I suppose.

 

[Modoc ED]

David. If you adjust the shield to make the XX align with the first two pins, it will still be off for the third pin at the end cap. The barb wire on my knife's handles runs straight up and down the frame but your handles curve and it looks like whoever set your shield decided to align the XXx with the barb wire as you have said. Yes, it does look askew but it doesn't look bad. I'd say you'd best be served leaving it like it is. Why take a chance on possibly breaking the handle while trying to pry the shield from the handle? All in all you have a fine looking knife.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

David. If you adjust the shield to make the XX align with the first two pins, it will still be off for the third pin at the end cap. The barb wire on my knife's handles runs straight up and down the frame but your handles curve and it looks like whoever set your shield decided to align the XXx with the barb wire as you have said. Yes, it does look askew but it doesn't look bad. I'd say you'd best be served leaving it like it is. Why take a chance on possibly breaking the handle while trying to pry the shield from the handle? All in all you have a fine looking knife.

Thanks Ed. :thumbup:

The more I looked at it, the more I'm convinced I can live with it. The kicker came when I looked at the shield with my lighted 10X loupe. I was looking to see if there were any gaps there, into which I could work a small pin or similar tool. I bought a Case 5344SS 'Red Shield' stag stockman a while back, and it's shield literally DROPPED in my lap when I was examining it. So I thought it possible that removing this one might not be a big deal. But in this case, the 'XX' shield is in there TIGHT; no open space whatsoever around the periphery of it. No visible seam at all. The fit & finish of this one is especially good overall, too. So, the thought of 'messing with it' with some mean, ugly, nasty tools makes me shudder, just a bit. I'll just leave it be.

 

[quattromori]

David, let it be...
Here there has been a series of coins (years and years ago, it was a kind of "trial" series) where they put the flags of the ships blowing backwards (opposite to the wind/sails). It does look awkward, but still, they're pretty unique...and worth alot more
Maybe if u had seen it when u bought it, or if u had had the chance to choose this or a "regular" one, it would have been another matter...but now, just keep it...I have no idea of how much u carry that knife, but if u do carry it often, I guess u will like its "flaw" more and more with time. It's like with women...
Fausto

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

David, let it be...
Here there has been a series of coins (years and years ago, it was a kind of "trial" series) where they put the flags of the ships blowing backwards (opposite to the wind/sails). It does look awkward, but still, they're pretty unique...and worth alot more
Maybe if u had seen it when u bought it, or if u had had the chance to choose this or a "regular" one, it would have been another matter...but now, just keep it...I have no idea of how much u carry that knife, but if u do carry it often, I guess u will like its "flaw" more and more with time. It's like with women...
Fausto

I think when I bought this one, I hadn't even noticed the 'irregularity' in the seller's pics of it (posted on a certain 'auction site'). Obviously, at the time, I was impressed enough with it to buy it. It didn't start to bug me until I started comparing it to others I saw listed at the time, and noticed the shield was a little 'different'. I stashed it away for a long time and (fast-forward to now), when examining it more closely yesterday, I realized how nice it feels in the hand. The relatively flat, smooth bone, with that barb wire 'texture' carved into it, feels quite comforting. And the seams between scales, liners and bolsters are all flush; no sharp corners or edges anywhere (except on the blades, where they're supposed to be ). This feels like one of those 'worry stone' knives that'll get a good deal of rubbing while thinking & pondering about whatever comes to us in any given day. So now, I think it'll get a bit more pocket time.