Thinking About Some Collecting

Sulaco

Sulaco

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Nov 15, 2003
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I was born in 1977 (I know, a year late for the bicentennial, oh well!) and I like Case knives (3-dot) made that year. I only have one right now, a nice little yellow scale Peanut I keep in the safe.

But I see them pop up now and again on the big auction site so I'm thinking about picking some more up. I work in a formal office environment so I typically carry a Peanut or some small GEC like a Boy's knife, etc.

Is there anything I should know about these knives before I start picking them up? Anything to look out for with this era possibly? The Peanut I have seems like a much better knife than my current Peanut so I figure they're probably fine.

Thanks for any info!
 
After the change of ownership, quality remained similar for a couple of years before changes to the manufacturing. Some say around 1972 or earlier is the best from Case. It doesn't mean knives made in 77 are bad but many have the opinion that around 72 and earlier is best. I'm not trying to discourage you. I only mention it because you ask if there's anything to know.

If you want to buy knives made in 77, you might also consider picking up an issued Swiss army knife from that year. 77 was stamped on the pile side tang.
 
Steve Pfeiffer wrote a first and a second edition book on collecting CASE knives. They should be in your library. Just 'google' them or on ebay. Captivating reading and more than you dreamed that you would want to know.
 
I think 1970's Case knives represent a pretty good value. Prices haven't gone into the stratosphere so if you want to try a few different patterns that appeal to you then go for it. Just look for ones without cracks, no blade wobble, and good snap.
 
Excellent idea to collect 3-dot Case knives for your birth year. There are very few brands (Case being one of two US brands at that time) where the year is stamped on every knife (discernible via the dots/markings).

One odd thing, though...Case did not produce a yellow handled peanut in 1977. Not saying you're wrong, but it was not in the standard product line (discontinued 1975) and as far as I know not made as a limited run that year. Would love to see yours. Case reintroduced the yellow peanut in the 1990's.

You will find some Case bone handled knives from 1977 with extra nice red bone handles, though the majority of 1977 production had darker bone handles.

Case produced a limited run set of stag handled pocket and hunting knives in 1977 - these are the "blue scroll" stag sets.
 
I am a big fan of the small Texas Jack. I think the quality on those remained high throughout the 70s, at least the knives I have handled.
 
I believe the old and beautiful Case appaloosa bone started in the late 70's into early 80's. That may be something neat to pick up if they made it in 77. I don't know for sure which years it was made.
 
I would second the Appaloosa bone from that era! I have picked up a few Case knives from 1980, and those covers are my favorite:thumbsup: Quality in my experience from my year has been mostly pretty good, I would expect the same from yours.

Happy hunting!
 
supratentorial said:
After the change of ownership, quality remained similar for a couple of years before changes to the manufacturing. Some say around 1972 or earlier is the best from Case. It doesn't mean knives made in 77 are bad but many have the opinion that around 72 and earlier is best. I'm not trying to discourage you. I only mention it because you ask if there's anything to know.

No problem. I'll just have to try some out and see what I think.

If you want to buy knives made in 77, you might also consider picking up an issued Swiss army knife from that year. 77 was stamped on the pile side tang.
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Awesome. I'm a big fan of Swiss Army knives. I'll check that out!

tongueriver said:
Steve Pfeiffer wrote a first and a second edition book on collecting CASE knives. They should be in your library. Just 'google' them or on ebay. Captivating reading and more than you dreamed that you would want to know.
Click to expand...

That should be easy. My wife's a librarian. ;) Thanks!

Travman said:
I think 1970's Case knives represent a pretty good value. Prices haven't gone into the stratosphere so if you want to try a few different patterns that appeal to you then go for it. Just look for ones without cracks, no blade wobble, and good snap.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the head's up. It's hard to tell much on the big auction site. Most sellers are fairly vague with their descriptions.

cilohaefink said:
Excellent idea to collect 3-dot Case knives for your birth year. There are very few brands (Case being one of two US brands at that time) where the year is stamped on every knife (discernible via the dots/markings).

Thanks!

One odd thing, though...Case did not produce a yellow handled peanut in 1977. Not saying you're wrong, but it was not in the standard product line (discontinued 1975) and as far as I know not made as a limited run that year. Would love to see yours. Case reintroduced the yellow peanut in the 1990's.

You will find some Case bone handled knives from 1977 with extra nice red bone handles, though the majority of 1977 production had darker bone handles.

Case produced a limited run set of stag handled pocket and hunting knives in 1977 - these are the "blue scroll" stag sets.
Click to expand...

I checked back and the listing is:

Case XX USA 3 Dot Peanut 3220 CV 3 Dot 1976 Yellow Derlin Handles

So I was wrong. It's listed as made in 1976.

I am fairly certain it has 3 dots on it though. But I don't really know what that means. I'll try to get some pics of it posted this evening.

I really like the yellow handled knives. I usually prefer natural materials but something about the yellow does it for me.

LastRodeo said:
I am a big fan of the small Texas Jack. I think the quality on those remained high throughout the 70s, at least the knives I have handled.
Click to expand...

I don't have any of that pattern. I'll have to check them out. I've got my eye on a Coke bottle pattern right now.

Rookie82 said:
I believe the old and beautiful Case appaloosa bone started in the late 70's into early 80's. That may be something neat to pick up if they made it in 77. I don't know for sure which years it was made.
Click to expand...

That appaloosa bone really is nice. Reminds me of a knife my great-uncle used to carry on the farm. I wanted that knife when he passed but someone else in the family got it and I don't keep up with him, so I don't know whatever happened to it.

Ernie1980 said:
I would second the Appaloosa bone from that era! I have picked up a few Case knives from 1980, and those covers are my favorite:thumbsup: Quality in my experience from my year has been mostly pretty good, I would expect the same from yours.

Happy hunting!
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
Sulaco said:
Thanks for the head's up. It's hard to tell much on the big auction site. Most sellers are fairly vague with their descriptions.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
True. It can be hard to tell much from some of the pictures and vague descriptions on the big auction site. I feel more comfortable with the Case knives offered here on our exchange.

Edit: here are a few that I have found here.
IMG_5134.JPG

IMG_1114.JPG
 
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I agree with you Trav, I much prefer buying off the Exchange than the bay. OP may want to post in the WTB section with specifics on pattern/year desired.
 
The only real challenge with looking for Case knives from a particular year is that you may be tempted to overpay when one of them happens to come up. If you want to spend wisely, you have to be willing to wait for a knife that you both want to own AND it is in your price range.

That and the fact that sellers may not know enough about the knives to properly date them so it's on you to get good pics of the tang stamp. "3 dot" knives can also refer to 1987 knives, since Case used a dot-scheme then too. The difference being the placement of the dots in between Case XX and USA, rather than at the bottom underneath U.S.A.

I have a few Case knives from the 70s and 80s (2 from each decade) and from that small sample my opinion is that they made good products in those days, not significantly different in fit and finish than today, except that the jigged Delrin from those days more closely resembles jigged bone, rather than molded plastic.
 
You also may want to look into collecting the Case blue scroll set from 1977, that could be the centerpiece of your collection. They are quite impressive.
 
Does anyone know when Case stopped pinning shields?

Answer is a bit complicated...

For delrin and composition handles, it was late 60's to early 70's.

For bone and stag handles, 1978 seems to be the year that the change was made. I have seen both glued and pinned on the same patterns from 1978.

Gluing instead of pinning on bone and stag have started in 1977 on some knives.
 
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