The Case "Quality Test Run" process (Long post)

Railsplitter

Railsplitter

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I didn't know that Case did this kind of thing until I recently stumbled upon the "Quality Test Run" Humpback Stockman pictured below. When I first saw the knife I wasn't much interested in the collector value. I just liked the color and I thought it would make a good back up knife just in case anything ever happens to my Rough Black Humpback Stockman. So I bought it for that reason.

Now that I've had a little more time to think about it, the collectible aspect does have me somewhat intrigued. I did some online research and the only information I found on the Quality Test Run knives was this thread posted by Bladeforums member bigfoot1127 a couple years ago. I couldn't find any other information at all.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...55917&highlight=quality+test+run#post14155917

In the link above, bigfoot1127's Copperlock from 1997 was the "first-ever" Quality Test Run according to his COA and my Humpback Stockman from 2008 is the 12th Quality Test Run. According to both COA's each new pattern introduced by Case goes through this Quality Test Run process before it is approved for regular production. The handle material chosen will never be used on that pattern again and even more interesting is that no Quality Test Run knife will ever be sold by Case to the general public. Naturally, the run numbers are relatively low by Case standards.

Since I might end up carrying this knife eventually, I like the fact that it has no special markings. If it had QUALITY TEST RUN in big honkin' letters on the blade that might have been a deal breaker for me. As is it's modestly unique with only the Teal Bone covers to reveal its authenticity. And it makes sense that there's no need for a blade etch to attract collectors since these were never released to the general public.

That being said, I'm a bit puzzled by the tang stamp on my knife. In the link above, the Copperlock has a unique tang stamp and shield to reveal its authenticity. My Humpback has a regular tang stamp and shield but it does appear to have Teal Bone Covers. So either Case switched to regular shields and tang stamps sometime after 1997 or the covers on my knife are not actually Teal Bone which would suggest that my knife is a regular production knife and not an authentic Quality Test Run knife. It almost has to be authentic though because the tang stamp is for 2008 and the Humpbacks were not released to the general public until 2009.

Anyway, I'll figure that out by sending some photos to Case to have its authenticity verified.

I can't help wondering if the same handle material is used on every pattern since both mine and bigfoot1127's are dressed in Teal Bone. I don't recall ever seeing a regular production Case knife in Teal Bone so maybe it is used exclusively for these knives. These remind me of "Salesman Sample" knives but I don't think they are the same thing. Whatever the case may be, I'm amazed that Case started doing this in 1997 and I just found out about it a week ago when I purchased this knife.

It has been mentioned a few times on this forum that there are certain Case patterns that seem to be consistently better made than the average Case knife. Could it be because those patterns were introduced post-1997 and went through this process before being approved for regular production? I don't know the answer to that but it does make me wonder.

Have these knives successfully eluded the general public all this time or am I just now discovering old news? I also wonder if Case still uses this Quality Test Run process 19 years after its inception.

From the link above, 1997 Copperlock from the "first ever" Quality Test Run. (This is not my knife)






My 2008 Humpback Stockman from the 12th Quality Test Run:







 
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Nice knives, Rick. I especially like the deep blue 046 stockman. I'm happy that Case brought back that very cool pattern but I've noticed that there aren't many available anymore. I hope they're not discontinuing it.

I can't contribute anything to the history about "Quality Test Run" knives that isn't already documented in the certificate of authenticity. But the "Associates Set" knives also ended up in the hands of the general public. And I suspect that Case knows that's where the knives will end up.
 
Thanks for your comments, Jake.

I was thinking the same thing. That Case has to know at least some of these will reach the general public. I do find it odd that the post I linked to was the only information I could find. I had hoped that I would find more pictures and information from people who own these but they seem very elusive.

If anyone reading this has one of these Quality Test Run knives from any year I would be very interested in seeing some pics.
 
In case you're interested, here's some info on the Case Copperlock

Case Copperlock History (Introduced in 1997)
By Shirley Boser
When we started working on the design of the CopperLock, our Sales manager at that time, Dick Kearney, had requested Tom Hart, our designer, to design a single bladed lock trapper. Dick had request the handles be made of old red color bone with Roger's jig. Tom liked the flat blades with the long nail mark and a cut swedge and they both decided where to put the lock mechanism.
The first sample was great. Dick says "This was by far the nicest looking knife I had seen." He had more samples made, passing them around to get feedback. Since the back of the tang stuck up above the bolster about 3/8", it was suggested that it needed a larger bolster to prevent the knife from catching in the pocket. Hence, the Copperhead bolster was put on the pocket end of the next set of samples and was the design we went with.
The pattern numbers, 549, was given to the CopperLock, by yours truly as it was a combination of the 54 pattern and the 49 pattern.
The name CopperLock was determined when they went to the Copperhead bolster. Up to that point the knife had been referred to as the "Lockback Trapper".
I hope this answers your question.
Shirley @ Case

W.R. Case Historian
Click to expand...
 
It is interesting to see these knives. At my local knife shop, the owner picked up a mini muskrat or moose with the teal bone scales. I think he picked it up at the Case Bradford reunion. I will check the year and take a pic of the knife if I have a chance. It would be a nice addition to a collection.
Nathan
 
navin74 said:
It is interesting to see these knives. At my local knife shop, the owner picked up a mini muskrat or moose with the teal bone scales. I think he picked it up at the Case Bradford reunion. I will check the year and take a pic of the knife if I have a chance. It would be a nice addition to a collection.
Nathan
Click to expand...

Nathan, that would be great if you could post a pic. I'm very curious if Case uses the Teal Bone exclusively for these Quality Test Run knives or if they use it on regular production knives too. I'm not sure if you/we can determine that but any information would help.

Thanks for your input.
 
Thanks, Mike!

(I should clarify that the Copperlock is not my knife. It belongs to the member in the link that I posted in my original post. I thought it would be easier for readers if I included his pics so they wouldn't have to jump back and forth between posts to see the comparison)
 
UPDATE:

I contacted Case with some questions and I thought I would share some results here in case anyone is interested.

My Humpback Stockman is in fact an authentic Quality Test Run knife. I was a little concerned that it might not be because it has no special markings identifying it as such. I also found out that there were only 12 Quality Test Runs. They began in 1997 with the Copperlock and ended in 2008 with the Humpback Stockman. One pattern each year during that time frame.

I'm happy to own the knife and I'm glad I got its authenticity verified. I still might end up carrying it one of these days but for now it will remain unused.

I took some updated pics for the good folks at Case to review. Might as well share those here. They show the Teal Bone color a little better than the pics in my original post.



 
Railsplitter said:
I took some updated pics for the good folks at Case to review. Might as well share those here. They show the Teal Bone color a little better than the pics in my original post.
Click to expand...

Nifty! The mark side bone reminds me of a troubled sea. I like it a lot! :thumbup:
 
Rick, great post and very interesting bit of Case history. And your Humpback is a real beauty!:thumbup:

Andrew
 
People seem to be pretty critical of Case's bone dying nowadays, but they certainly don't get enough credit for their jigging. The teal blue color is terrific, and the jigging is spectacular, near custom quality. A very beautiful knife, Rick!
 
Thank you, Jeff. The color is what attracted me to the knife right from the start. The seller only provided one photo and it was with the unfolded COA included in the photo so I didn't get a close up look at the knife until I received it. To be fair, the seller did offer to provide more photos but I wanted to snatch this up before someone else did so I pulled the trigger right away. I'm very fond of the jigging too. Thanks again for the nice compliments.

It's very difficult not to stick this one in my pocket. The only thing keeping me from doing so is that the Humpback Stockman that I carry now was a gift from my wife. If anything ever happens to that knife, this one will definitely take its place.
 
I know this is an old post but I just wanted to share a little information. Case did these knives from 1997-2008 which would result in 11 knives total but in 1997 they actually produced 2. The copper lock, and the mini copper lock. I just recently came into possession of a complete set of 12 with original COA and boxes. The 12 went. Copperlock, mini copperlock, hobo, russlock, cheetah, small congress, tiny trapper, baby doc, cheetah cub, tiny muskrat, sway back jack and finished with the humpback stockman.
 
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