What does the "CS" on my Case Classic mean ? (Pic included)

S

s.f.makinster

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Apr 23, 2006
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I find myself with a knife I cannot but vaguely recall obtaining. It is a Case Classic 53091, 1990, 4-9/16 inches long whittler, with beautiful honest-to-goodness stag scales. On the pile-side bevel of the blade is scribed the small upper case letters "CS". Scribed or engraved, not stamped as the usual lettering.
I suspect that this is a "second". Does "CS" means "Case Second", or "Cosmetic Second"??? Looking very closely, I can see where the stag scale on the master blade end is just slightly thinner than the bolster: the bolster stands slightly proud. There is a 1/4 inch section of the end of the scale that looks over-ground - making it thinner than the bolster it's surface is supposed to meet. The springs are strong; the blades snap open and closed; it's a beautiful item!
case-cs-forum-1.jpg

I have only seen one other Case second, and that had the "CASE" name ground from the blade. Is this a second? Sure would like to hear from an expert on this one!!!
makinster
 
I've had a few of those, and none had a "CS" like that on them.

I'm not an expert on Case knives, but my guess is either it stamped as some kind of a "second" or it was done by someone with the ignitals "CS" as it appears to have been engraved rather than stamped...?

Keith
 
Ask someone at Parker's knife collector service. They probably know more about the Case Classics than anyone. Jim Parker (now deceased) produced most of them through Queen Cutlery.
 
Your're right, the "CS is engraved or scribed. I've tried to google Parker's Knife Collector Service, and get nothing but court abstracts of Parkers testimony at some court case. I appreciate your suggestions; this is as close to solving this riddle as I've come in over a decade of hap-hazard searching.
sfmak
 
I took the liberty of posting your picture and question in the Case Collector's Club forum, and the consensus opinion of the few that had seen them, was that it does mean "Case Second". But neither of them was 100% sure.
 
This one is a mystery to me also and I have had over 1000 Case Classics pass by over the last 15 years or so.

Buzz Parker will know if it was done before or after distribution. (The Classics were distributed via Parkers and Cut&Run Cutlery.)

The Sunfish, '91 and 55 patterns were my favorites.
 
Kdarmy said:
I've had a few of those, and none had a "CS" like that on them.

I'm not an expert on Case knives, but my guess is either it stamped as some kind of a "second" or it was done by someone with the ignitals "CS" as it appears to have been engraved rather than stamped...?

Keith
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I can't find any reference to Case ever marketing any seconds .... has anyone heard of them doing such?
One other thing that strikes me as unusual - all my Case knives also have SS stamped near the model number, but this one doesn't. Has anyone seen one like that before?
 
jerrinfla said:
I can't find any reference to Case ever marketing any seconds .... has anyone heard of them doing such?
One other thing that strikes me as unusual - all my Case knives also have SS stamped near the model number, but this one doesn't. Has anyone seen one like that before?
Click to expand...

Case knives before a certain date that are CV instead of stainless were not stamped "CV" like they are now.
 
Seconds are usually offered to the person contracting the knives, at a reduced rate. Or they "go home" with employees I recall Jim Parker marketing "cosmetic seconds" on ebay, but never saw how they were marked.
 
I vaguely recall, during the 90's when the Case Classics were being made and distributed, that there were seconds sold and that they were marked somehow to designate cosmetic seconds. I have never seen one though. The other poster is right, Buzz Parker would be the guy to ask.

Remember the Classics (oher than 4 patterns) were not made by Case and none were actually distributed by Case.

Case has in the past actually sold seconds, the only ones that I have seen for sale are from the period of roughly 1978 to 1983.....the tang stamps ahd a couple of X's stampred through them to designate a second....or in some cases the stamp was partially ground off.

I have never seen any other Case seconds from the Post WWII era, with the XX, USA, or dots (up to 78) stampings....so its possible that they never sold seconds during that era.

They did sell the seconds in the old days, I have seen Tested and older knives with the name ground off the shield and either partially or fully ground off the tang.

In fact I have a Case Brothers 4-blade stockman with stag handles, and appears to be a second, the name is partially ground off of 3 of the 4 blades.
 
2toes said:
If you really want to know the answer write to Shirley Boser at: sboser@wrcase.com Shirley is the Case Historian and she will know the answer to your question.
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She will not know anything about the Case Classics, sincs they were not actually distributed by Case (this has come up before).
 
Thank you all for your help. I have enjoyed the knife forums with occasional vists, but have followed them more intently of late. As I strive to simplify my life, I will be selling a select few of my meager collection on that universally known Internet auction site, e-whatsis. I'd like to know the facts about each item as I describe them for listing for auction. Sadly, my worldly possessions are beginning to own me, rather than the reverse.
I am, by nature, an eclectic accumulator of edged items and shooters. Items I presently own are ranked by their "N" value ("N" stands for "neat"). Items with a high enough N value will probably be divided amongst by grandchildren. The rest will become someone elses responsibility. If I've read about it, or seen one somewhere, if I find one and it's price is negotiable, I'll try to make it mine. I live in a House of a Thousand Books. The more I read, the more my "N" list expands. You have no idea of the treasures I've shared!
Oh, yes... In spite of the skeptics and nit-pickers, I am tickled to see the wealth of knives of all styles and sizes offered for sale, with enough manufacturers and buyers to support the number of periodicals and knife shows available. Life is good!
MAKINSTER
 
The Case Classics made in Titusville Pa, if defective, were stamped DU. If that's any help.
And they are stamped on the tang. bruce
 
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