Question for the Case knife experts

ljusmc

ljusmc

Joined
Mar 14, 2013
Messages
216
I'm not too savvy on the particulars on traditional knives, so forgive my ignorance. I have owned a few Case knives (still do), and they have all been purchased by me from Case distributors, with the exception of one.

Now, I never thought much about it, but earlier today I was tinkering around with all my other Case knives and I noticed they all had something in common: a highly polished blade. I remembered a Mini-Copperlock that I have stashed in my vehicle's ashtray, and how the blade looked noticeably different than the others. So, I retrieved it from my vehicle and took some photographs of the mini-copperlock next to a different mini-copperlock.

As you will notice, the yellow handled knife has the CV blade steel; however, this doesn't change the fact that it, like all the others, is highly polished. The blade on the blue handled knife is a quite obvious satin finish, and the swedge on the top of the blade is noticeably smoother on the yellow knife, whereas it is pretty sharp on the blue knife.

Also a matter of note is the "Case" stamping on the inlaid handle shield looks different on both knives.

The blue handled knife was purchased on that famous auction site a few years ago, and I don't remember who sold it or what I paid for it. The stamp on the tang is "61749LSS" and a quick Google search shows the handle color to be quite different.

So, what do I have? A fake? I don't really care, so give me your best ideas. The knife is pretty well made, and other than the cosmetic differences I never would have given it a second thought.

Thanks,
Lee

Pictures:





 
Certainly not a fake. I think it's part of the American Workman series that CASE put out with blue synth scales and brushed matte finished blades.

Some of their brown delrin have this brushed finish blades, which in many ways I prefer as scratches etc don't show so much. The thing is that CASE has such a vast output of styles and editions that it is mind-boggling trying to keep up with them. Very nice knives you show.

Thanks, Will
 
Thanks for the input. I never gave any thought to it being a fake until I remembered the satin blade. It is really well made, though, so I think I'll put it back in my vehicle and use it as I have been. :)
 
ljusmc said:
As you will notice, the yellow handled knife has the CV blade steel; however, this doesn't change the fact that it, like all the others, is highly polished. The blade on the blue handled knife is a quite obvious satin finish, and the swedge on the top of the blade is noticeably smoother on the yellow knife, whereas it is pretty sharp on the blue knife.

Click to expand...

The Fort said:
I believe that it's "as ground". Case does that on occasion.
Click to expand...

Yup! "As Ground" is Case's name for this matte-finished blade treatment, and I prefer it to their highly-polished offerings.

My peanut (a Select model, for whatever that's worth) features blades with the As Ground finish....

Peanut.jpg~original


You're right about the sharpness of the swedge corners. I softened pointiest parts of mine (ever-so-slightly breaking the angle at the top of the vertical 'cut' of the swedge) with some sandpaper, making the knife a more pleasant surprise when re-encountered in a pocket. ;)

IMG_4457.jpg~original


-- A Mini Copperlock was my first Case pattern, and remains a favorite. Nice knives! :)

~ P.
 
The first number in the pattern denotes material.
3 - Delrin or plastic

5 - Stag

6 - Bone

or so I read somewhere. :confused:
 
personally I've always liked the as ground look, a cv sodbuster with as ground would be too cool
gene
 
Markesharp said:
The first number in the pattern denotes material.
3 - Delrin or plastic

5 - Stag

6 - Bone

or so I read somewhere. :confused:
Click to expand...

The official explanation from Case: http://www.wrcase.com/case_college/handles/handlematerials.php

2 = Smooth black synthetic (Delrin, Zytel, or whatever they use for black handles - other than G-10 or Micarta which have their own numbers)

3 = Yellow synthetic (Delrin).

6 = Jigged or smooth bone, jigged synthetic, or jigged laminated wood

As to the original post, and already answered: Case makes several series of knives as "working" knives, usually handled in a jigged or smooth Delrin or smooth G-10, and they leave the blades as they were ground (i.e. "as ground") rather than polishing them out.

I believe it is both a practical choice (no need to polish up a blade that's going to get used and scratched up) and a cost-saving choice on what are more value-priced knives. In some cases it's for variety (gotta give collectors a reason to buy another knife of the same pattern they already have) or to appeal to people with different tastes.

What you have is a genuine Case knife, intended to be used well, which looks like what you are doing with it. Part of the American Workman series from them: http://www.wrcase.com/knives/standard/american-workman/
 
The smooth, black g10 flavor also comes with the as ground finish, which I love on my peanut.
 
I think the as-ground looks better than the overbuffed polish Case uses as the default finish for their knives.

- Christian
 
This 1989 Case #0200W SS Wharncliffe Copperhead Trapper was somewhat of a grail knife for me . . . nice, crisp "as-ground" blades,
but with a drawn swedge it still does not have sharp corners projecting.

CopperheadWTopen_zpsad096599.jpg~original
 
kamagong said:
I think the as-ground looks better than the overbuffed polish Case uses as the default finish for their knives.

- Christian
Click to expand...

I agree Christian, I like sharp crisp edges, case goes a bit wild with the buffer for my taste. I really do like the feel of the teardrop in it's high polish but the buffer guy went a bit wild on this one. Notice the indents in the ebony at the rear bolster.

Best regards

Robin
 
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