Vintage Case question

on_the_edge

on_the_edge

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Jan 31, 2006
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So I recently picked up a vintage (1970s) Case 5137SS Sodbuster with stag scales. The knife's action and blade are in great shape, but when looking down at the knife with the spine up and the tip pointing away from you, the right-side scale is noticeably thinner on the back, top half as compared to the left side scale. I have a few other vintage Case knives with stag scales and none are as starkly different than the scales on the Sodbuster. It was not something I was expecting at all and so I am somewhat disappointed. I can, however, return the knife if I want to. My question is this: Would you return it? On the one hand, it was not purchased to be a safe queen, but a user (so who cares what it looks like?). Still, it makes me wonder if the stark difference in scales will affect how it feels in my hand during use or if I will even notice it. Here is a pic of what I am talking about:

DSC01099.jpg
 
I wouldn't worry about it. If it is a user, then I doubt you will notice it. Nice looking nice, anyway.
 
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That's Stag for ya.
Some times a well figured Stag scale doesn't have the prettiest profile looking down the spine like that:
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Case Stag be pretty blah. I can't be sure from the picture, but it looks like yours has some more figure than my Case knife in Stag:
 
That's just the way the game is played with stag! The maker, makes it fit! This is also the reason I don't buy stag handled knives unless they have pictures from every angle, but most of the time I want the knife in hand. The buldges and irregular shapes of stag scales can make a knife fit your hand like a glove, or be the most uncomfortable thing you have tried to use!:(
 
Stu (and anyone else who might care to look),
Here are some quick pics of the scales.

DSC01102.jpg

DSC01101.jpg
 
Oh yeah Chris, that's some cool old Stag right there :thumbup:.
I wouldn't worry about the overhead profile at all.
 
Sometimes its the things that, at first, not so much, that we come too find we really love. And that stag looks lovable
 
That's some nicely figured and fitted stag you have there. I'd be happy with that.
 
sappyg said:
That's a keeper in my book.
Click to expand...

+1!

That said, if it bothers you now but you decide to keep it anyway, there's the good possibility that it will gnaw at you and you'll never really be able to fully enjoy it.
 
If it is gonna be a user, keep it. Heck, if you're right handed it might make for a nicer grip!
 
Chris...NO ..this would NOT disappoint me at all, I used to own a huge amount of fixed blades, and a lot of them were Solingen Stag handled knives...some where outstanding knives...and many had the same thing going on...
Also, the way the brown bark of the Stag sways in ( on the right hand side ) gives more of an illusion of it being more thinner than what it really is anyway.
Keep that knife my friend, I personally would be proud to own that good looking knife.
With it being a user OR a safe queen...because the nature of Stag...it simply wouldnt be noted as a fault, and to be honest if someone was arrogant enough to point it out, ask him to have a look at his '70's Stag handled Soddie, so you can compare :D
 
JAB said:
+1!

That said, if it bothers you now but you decide to keep it anyway, there's the good possibility that it will gnaw at you and you'll never really be able to fully enjoy it.
Click to expand...

if that does happen?....there would be a que to buy it from him..either way Chris isnt going to loose.
 
That knife has some really awesome stag on it. Real stag should look kinda uneven and random. If they fit it correctly it will feel good in the hand when your holding it. In the old days the pocket knives with real stag would have thinner cuts of it, which had to be harder to fit, but looked and felt better in the hand.
 
I've seen pictures of far worse matched stag on Cases than that. I can't tell you what to do with it...only you can decide if you should send it back or not.

In the future though, before buying a knife with stag handles, always ask for pictures from the top and the bottom so you can see how they're matched (if they're not always provided). If the seller doesn't...there's probably a reason for it.
 
Hi Chris, hi guys!

I´m up to that ones, who think that this is nothing to worry about. Sure, when one handle part is thicker than the other one, that makes the knife a little bit asymetric. But at a working knife, I wouldn´t mind.
As it is already said, there many other knives out there, which are really bad. This one wouldn´t bother me. But it´s your decision how to treat with it.

Kind regards
Andi
 
i'll second the sentiments that i wouldnt be worried about it, personally think its beautiful, got a lot of character!
not too keen on the blade graphics but the knife overall is a keeper
regards
gene
 
I gave never thought that CASE did a very good job with stag. I have seen some examples of excellent work from them, but also looked over tables of stag handled CASE knives at shows that have one thing or another wrong with them. Mismatched stag, poor quality stag, scales that are matched really mismatched in size, etc.

To me, that one looks like a keeper, and a better example of CASE's stag work. I think it looks great, and as far as CASE stag goes, a real winner. I would carry that one all day long.

Robert
 
Thank you all for your input. I appreciate it more than you know.

After sleeping on it and reading your responses here, I have decided to hang on to the Sodbuster. And as I said originally, it will be a user (and one that I will be both happy and proud to carry). My initial reluctance (disappointment) came from not expecting the differences between the left and right sides based on what I have or have seen before. I attribute much of that reluctance to being relatively new in the area of traditional knives and no doubt still having much to learn. Despite the fact that there aren't a lot of parts that go into making a pocket knife, I expect I will still be learning about pocket knives for a very long time to come. That's fine by me as life is and should be a learning experience.

Thanks again!!
 
I see you decided to keep it. Good idea Chris. That's a great looking knife!

Congrats.
 
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