Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
So I bid on this auction for the Case pattern 28 (top of the first picture), won, and along with it came the pattern 051 " fishtail" or "bowtie", and a spare Case Tested blade. I stupidly started tinkering around with the fishtail without taking a picture, so the first picture, which is a screen shot from the auction, will have to do. The knife was badly abused, with a broken blade tip, rough gouges where someone had apparently tried to turn it into an "easy opener", missing scales, and although I couldn't see it in the auction pics, a badly bent frame. But, I thought I noticed what might be an early Case Bradford tang stamp on the blade. The remaining pics are the finished product (or at least finished for now). I reprofiled the broken blade, put on nutmeg catalina jigged bone from Culpepper, patched the messed up liners and tried to straighten everything out. As you can see from the picture of the back, I didn't get everything straightened out as well as I would have liked. I've done some research on this knife, and since there are no holes in the mark side liner for pinning a shield, I think this one might have had either the candystripe or tortoise shell celluloid scales, which were popular at the time. Unfortunately, I can't do anything about the blade, which is about 3/4" short. Well, at least now think I have an early Case Bradford in my collection. Now, I can't wait to start on the 6228. Sorry for the long tale. P.S. if anyone is familiar with these, I would like to know if the tang stamp looks authentic.
"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller
Herb
Herb
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Nice save Herb!
I know nothing about Case knives, especially the older ones, but I am confident someone will be along and verify the authenticity of your knife.
I know nothing about Case knives, especially the older ones, but I am confident someone will be along and verify the authenticity of your knife.
Dale
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“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Turned out nice! Looks like the blade has nice proportions, when open, despite being a bit short.
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Thanks Dale. I wish I could figure out how to do a better job on those bent liners, particularly on these oldies. I think I've gotten them straightened out, but when I put the knife back together and peen the pins down, those unsightly gaps along the springs show up.
"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller
Herb
Herb
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Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
For a knife in that state of disrepair, I'd say you did a stellar job. Depending on the condition of a knife when it arrives, sometimes, there is only so much you can do. I think this is one of those instances.
That being said, I feel you did a fantastic job with what you had to work with. Nicely done.
____________
Mike
That being said, I feel you did a fantastic job with what you had to work with. Nicely done.
____________
Mike
"If there are no Dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went". Will Rogers
I work hard so my Dog can have a better life...
I work hard so my Dog can have a better life...
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Very knice herbva, nice warm handles.
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Looks good, nice save!
Jeff
Jeff
Hey … it’s a pocketknife for gosh sakes. I’m not selling the Mona Lisa….Bullitt4001
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Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Very knice Herb!!!!
SCOTT
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)
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HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Man..... that is really nice work! Good save!
2 thumbs up!!
2 thumbs up!!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Good choice on those handles!
I have not tried to patch liners like that before, but that is a good save! I probably woukd have cut new liners for it, which doesn't always work out as well as I would like.
You should proudly add this one to your collection!
I have not tried to patch liners like that before, but that is a good save! I probably woukd have cut new liners for it, which doesn't always work out as well as I would like.
You should proudly add this one to your collection!
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Thanks for all the kind words. Yup, this was my first try at patching liners and the first time I recall ever having to do it. I trimmed up those gnawed out areas into small rectangles and then luckily found a "donor" liner of exactly the same thickness in my parts bin. Then all I had to do was epoxy the new pieces in when I epoxied the new scales on before sanding an pinning. And yes, this one will reside in my "permanent" collection unless someone makes me a really good offer for it!
"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller
Herb
Herb
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
Looks nice! You have more ambition than I do, that would've went right into my junker pile. Good save!
Re: Case Fishtail/Bowtie (or Fish Tale)
LOL, it actually was headed for my parts collection, but I started tinkering with it and couldn't stop!
"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller
Herb
Herb