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The following is MY OPINION-
This is a beautiful knife marked CASE XX but was NOT MADE by W.R. Case and Sons!
Most Gentlemen’s knifes (also known as Pen, Lobster, Advertisement, and Grooming knives) were made in Solingren Germany and many have extraordinarily beautiful detailed embossing. The fine details within the pattern were often similar and often copied and duplicated, but the key to dating any specific one lies within those details.
The majority of these knives were produced in the 1920’s – 1990’s by different makers in Soligren Germany. Some of these makers were: Ruderer Broch nachf., Wilhelm Wagner, Justus Bierhoff, Herkenrath and Pfeilring.
It is my belief that this knife was made by Herkenrath. In the late 30's and early 40's Herkenrath made many samples with different company logos in order for salesmen to go acquire those companies’ business. I believe it was made by Herkenrath- for the purpose of presenting TO W. R. Case or his son, in order to secure his business in manufacturing knives for them. ---They DID NOT secure his business- therefore very few were made.
WHY do I believe this:
The precise detail within the embossing and blade stamps exactly fit 3 other samples made in the late 1930's by Herkenrath for; Pontiac Automobiles, the first "Bayer" advertiser, and J. Aron and Company (New Orleans). The intricate patterns of the many hundreds of versions of gentlemen's knives are hard to replicate- even with fresh molds or fresh stamps!
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Case DID MAKE a version of a Gentleman's knife - The CASE XX T3105 SS. This is NOT THAT KNIFE.
Case originally manufactured the T3105 in the 1950's, then did another run in 1973 using the same blades and design. However, the 1973 run had little dots on the borders running around the inlayed color. The original run from the 50's does not have these dots on the borders.
They are often called “Toledo Scales” knives. The Toledo Scale reference has nothing to do with the company that manufactured scales to measure weight. It has to do with the fancy decoration on the knife scales which is reminiscent of Moorish design which might be found in old Toledo in Spain.
The later version of the T3105 SS was assembled in 1973 using newer handles with original older CASE XX era blades that were stamped out in the 1950s. There were approximately 2,000 of these made in 1973.
BOTH Case made versions have blades stamped CASE XX over STAINLESS.
BOTH the 50’s and 70’s versions had a 3-rivet pattern
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Neither- had the Block "CASE XX" centered on one side of the handle.
In addition, the block CASE XX logo ((and)) the blade stamp W. R. CASE & SONS were only used ((together)) randomly between 1914- into the mid 1940's. - This combination is not used again.
The rivet pattern also rules out most versions- especially CASE MADE T3105 knives. Herkenrath had 4 evenly squared. Case’s versions have 3.
What is most unique is that the second stamp on main blade says “Bradford Germany” There is no Bradford Germany- W. R. Case’s office was Bradford, PA. (Case knives made in Germany were most often marked "Soligren Gemany".
In Summary, Herkenrath made a sample featuring Case’s logos in the late 1930’s- but Case didn’t buy it... Case did like the knife and replicated a version of it, with different scroll pattern, stamps, rivets, in the 1950’s and again in the 1970’s. This is NOT a CASE knife- it’s the original one he copied…
I only know of two in existence, and the other was thought to be a “salesman’s sample”. Surely there are more -But you may be hard pressed to find a photo of one on the internet that was not posted by me…
Measures: Blades Closed 3-1/4". Almost 8" open from the larger blade to the file blade. 7" from open large blade to open small blade. Larger blade measures almost 2-3/8". The smaller blade measures 1-1/2". File Blade almost 2-3/8"
This one has been in my collection for more than 30 years.
What do ya'll think???
) but if so they’re certainly not common. I seem to recall it was about that time that we weren’t getting on too well with the Germans. 
to AAPK!
