Shopping for first traditional, Case Knife question.

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vaguy

Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
78
Hey All,

I'm planning to stop at a couple of local pawn shops tomorrow to look at some small traditional folders and had a question about identifying Case steel blades.

Wondering how I will be able to tell stainless steel blades from carbon CV blades, because from what I can tell most are polished. Are there markings I should look for one way or the other?

BTW, I'm wanting to find one with a carbon CV blade.

Thanks!

-vaguy
 
I'm new to this too! Of the mini-trapper and sway back jack that are sitting beside me each has a different blade steel. On the MT's secondary blade, on the tang, is listed USA, the model and SS - for stainless steel. The SBJ, my personal favorite of the two, has CV stamped in a similar pattern on the secondary pen blade. The unused CV can look just as shiny as the SS but if it's been used on so much as cutting an apple the patina will tell on it.
 
Depends on when they were made.

Modern Case knives are by default stainless, unless they have "CV" stamped on one of the blade tangs.

For earlier periods, in case you are looking at older knives, then use this tang stamp reference as your guide:

http://www.wrcase.com/case_college/tang_stamps/

Essentially from 1990 on, they are stainless unless marked CV. Prior to 1990, they are CV unless marked Stainless or SS.

You can browse the current CV families here on the Case web site: http://www.wrcase.com/knives/by_steel/cv/

Note that they make both CV and stainless knives in the Amber Bone and Yellow Synthetic families, so just going by handle material won't always tell you. In other words there is an Amber Bone SS family and an Amber Bone CV family. Same with the Yellow.

Should be marked on the box labels if they come with the box.
 
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It'll say CV right on the box. :thumbup:

If you're at a small dealer or hardware store display, don't be surprised if they have a very limited selection of CV or none at all.
 
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