What would YOU do?

T

Tripwire895

Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
341
Okay so I've been weeing a bunch of these "Antique Shop Finds" and I thought I might as well see what was at the antique mall down the street. For a whopping $10.77, I picked this up. I've found it to have been made in the seventies and seems to be well used. My question to you is is there anything you'd do to it? I plan on fixing the bevels but I think I'm going to leave it as is beyond that.

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I'm pretty happy with this thing. Oh and it has "Case XX USA" on one side and "11031 SH" on the other of the tang, incase anyone is curious. Thanks for looking!
 
Just clean out the inside, and the joint, oil the joint and get a nice edge on it, and throw it into your pocket.
The wood scales still look really nice. I wouldn't clean them though, because imho it gives the knife a lot of character.
You did good at 10 dollars and change....
 
It looks to me like it has already been buffed within an inch of its life. Sharpening it and use it.
 
What everyone else said. Looks like a good using knife. But I would take a nice clean rag with a little linseed or lemon oil and give the wood scales a bit of a rub down. Wood always appreciates a little TLC now and then.

Carl.
 
Mike and Carl have it covered. Sharpen the blade, oil the joints, clean the well, and buff the covers, then . . .

Let the coonfingering begin!
 
I'd do just what they said. But I would also take a corner file and get that edge straightened out next to the tang. Always like to keep that done so I could keep the edge straight.

Nice little find. Always like seeing a knife that has got some good honest use under its belt.

Will
 
Yeah, what everyone else said...

Drop that baby in your pocket!
 
You are a fortunate man. That knife has 'use me' written all over it. As my knowledgeable colleagues above have mentioned, clean her up, oil her up and drop her in your pocket.
 
That one reminds me a lot of an older Case 12031L pattern (electrician's knife) I have. Same walnut on the scales, and looks to have essentially similar aging/patina/wear. I've been happy just to make sure the wood is adequately protected from excessive dryness (used some mineral oil-based furniture treatment for that), and I still need to regrind the tip on the spear blade (it's VERY rounded off; looks more like a peanut butter spreader :D) and otherwise re-bevel. Aside from that, I'd see no need to dress it up too much. :)


David
 
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338375 said:
Just clean out the inside, and the joint, oil the joint and get a nice edge on it, and throw it into your pocket.
The wood scales still look really nice. I wouldn't clean them though, because imho it gives the knife a lot of character.
You did good at 10 dollars and change....
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Just what Mike said...

Paul
 
So here's the latest: I've taken the plastic picks from the gun cleaning kit and gotten most of the 4 decade old gunk out, straightened the edge, sharpened it (paper trembles with fear when it comes near now), and oiled the pivot. Next up is to put a really light coat of some protective finish on and that'll probably be it, well short of kicking the Cadet out of the pocket and replacing with this. I thought it was nifty when I got it, and the more I mess with it, the more I like it. Thanks for all the advice and compliments.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
That one reminds me a lot of an older Case 12031 pattern (electrician's knife) I have. Same walnut on the scales, and looks to have essentially similar aging/patina/wear. I've been happy just to make sure the wood is adequately protected from excessive dryness (used some mineral oil-based furniture treatment for that), and I still need to regrind the tip on the spear blade (it's VERY rounded off; looks more like a peanut butter spreader :D) and otherwise re-bevel. Aside from that, I'd see no need to dress it up too much. :)


David
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You should post a couple pictures. I'd love to see it.
 
An 11031 - that's one old Case I always wanted to find at an antique store or yard sale but never did...yet. Glad you found it and showed it some love.
 
jujigatame said:
An 11031 - that's one old Case I always wanted to find at an antique store or yard sale but never did...yet. Glad you found it and showed it some love.
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When I first walked in the store, the first two knife displays I looked at contained mall ninja and fake SAKs. Luckily I looked around found a couple other shelves containing knives that wouldn't break just by looking at them. That's where I found this one. I'm pretty happy. I mean, what else can 11 bucks buy with such character?
 
Tripwire895 said:
You should post a couple pictures. I'd love to see it.

Obsessed with Edges said:
That one reminds me a lot of an older Case 12031 pattern (electrician's knife) I have. Same walnut on the scales, and looks to have essentially similar aging/patina/wear. I've been happy just to make sure the wood is adequately protected from excessive dryness (used some mineral oil-based furniture treatment for that), and I still need to regrind the tip on the spear blade (it's VERY rounded off; looks more like a peanut butter spreader :D) and otherwise re-bevel. Aside from that, I'd see no need to dress it up too much. :)


David
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I'll see if I can take a few tomorrow, and I'll add them here when I do. Edit: Pics of the older one (1974) added below. I have three similar knives; the older & more worn 12031L, a cleaner & more pristine version of the same, and a 13031L 3-blade version of the same electrician's pattern, including a hawkbill blade. :)

This one is missing a bail and some wood is chipped away from the cover on the back side. And the wear on the blade is obvious :)D). But, aside from it's rough appearance, it still has good snap and locks up tight.

David
 
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