Small Case Stockman?

Psyop

Psyop

Joined
Oct 17, 2011
Messages
9,412
Was wondering if you guys could educate me on my pocket knife. I'm getting more interested in traditional slip blades but don't know much about them. Anything you could tell me about it age, model, is this normal condition for an old used knife? What the scales are made out of? If cleaning it hurts value. I'm not going to be selling them but Id like to buy more and need to know what I'm doing. Thanks.
100_0176.jpg
 
It looks like a small Case XX stockman from the 1940 - 1964 period with jigged bone scales. You don't have to worry about losing value with a knife in that condition. You should feel free to clean, sharpen and use in any manner you see fit.

There is no "normal" condition for vintage knives per se. You can find them in any condition from "mint" to well worn (such as your knife).

The main thing to do is educate yourself over time as to the traits and characteristics of the particular knives you are interested in so that you don't overpay for a knife in any given condition from any particular period.
 
Wow, that little knife was somebody's companion for many years. Got lots of use out of it, from the wear on the blades. Very neat old knife!:thumbup:

I'd clean it very, very gently, with some 0000 steel wool and some oil. Over oil the joints to work out any old gunk and wipe clean with a soft rag. From then on, just keep it clean and dry.

Carl.
 
Blues said:
It looks like a small Case XX stockman from the 1940 - 1964 period with jigged bone scales. You don't have to worry about losing value with a knife in that condition. You should feel free to clean, sharpen and use in any manner you see fit.

There is no "normal" condition for vintage knives per se. You can find them in any condition from "mint" to well worn (such as your knife).

The main thing to do is educate yourself over time as to the traits and characteristics of the particular knives you are interested in so that you don't overpay for a knife in any given condition from any particular period.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Im glad to hear its old I didnt know if it was 80's and just had a hard like or what. How can you tell the difference between 1940-64 vintage and a newer one. If there is a place to read up on it that would be great too.
 
Psyop said:
Thanks for the reply. Im glad to hear its old I didnt know if it was 80's and just had a hard like or what. How can you tell the difference between 1940-64 vintage and a newer one. If there is a place to read up on it that would be great too.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. If you examine the tang stamp on Case knives you'll find that they have a dating system. (Check the attached thumbnail for reference.)
There are many good guidebooks and references to vintage and production knives. It would be well worth your while to spend some time with them to avoid the pitfalls which await the unwary.
 

Attachments

  • Case Tang Stamps.jpg
    Case Tang Stamps.jpg
    75.5 KB · Views: 37
Maybe a 6333 pattern stockman (2-5/8" closed), 1940-1964 vintage, as mentioned earlier. The tiny size narrows it down a bit (the guide I'm referring to, actually calls it a 'Tiny Stockman'). Scales do look like bone.
 
My grandfather left me one exactly like this by the looks of it. I love it, but I think his was just his Sunday knife, so that one looks a bit more used (and cared for). I enjoy carrying it around and I hope you do too. We've got to give those Case Peanuts a run for their favorite-small-Case-pocket-knife money!

Mine was all rusted, but I cleaned it up because I know it's a heckuvalot more valuable to me than it is to anyone else, so resale value was superfluous. I did see a few on Ebay going for about thirty to forty dollars in used condition. Mine has the "Case XX" stamping which means it's from around 1960, around when my father was born! The scales feel and look very much like jigged bone to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top