
I started collecting them in appx 2003 and LOVED them. Thank goodness I was able to sell the major portion of mine to a collector in AZ for a small profit before "it" hit the fan. I had some of the real rarities too. Some examples: a 52050 1of1 with heart abalone gorgeous slabs, a Tiger Coral 52050, some of the rare salesman samples and many other protos and a memorable Masto 094 with huge pieces of the most beautiful ivory I've ever seen to this day,,etc etc. I considered myself very fortunate to have held and owned these knives. I would love to sell the ten or so I have left, but not at a buck fifty for an 88 pattern mint with low production numbers.
Unfortunately, for those of us who remember what happened then, I still think the reason for their devaluing was mostly because of one seller who lives in SLC. This is not 'necessarily' to bad mouth that person, however, many collectors at the time were quite miffed that they were being grossly misrepresented by him and sold for ungodly prices because of the misrepresentation of same. The people who know me know of WHOM I'm speaking.
I cannot think of another knife brand which has the gorgeous stag slabs and forethought of design, craftsmanship, boxes, COAs,,, all the things which make a knife collectible, nice to hold, look at,,,and love. I see ebay completed listings with knives going for about one third and many times less, of what they did back then, some nice ones not being bid on at all.
Would you please comment on what we as collectors might do to help these beautiful knives regain their value and take their rightful place in the Case legacy? Do you think they will ever regain some of their value? What keeps them from being collected and displayed.
Thanks for reading this and for your time to reply.
