What is a Case Tested knife?

[Cowboy7130]

Please excuse my ignorance, and it is possible that this question has been answered in a forum already, but I can't seem to find the answer.

What is a Case Tested knife? I am guessing that it has something to do with the tempering of the blades, and how they are tested to certain limits. But I don't know! And the pics I have seen on the forum the past couple of days have really got my interest up.

Anyway, thanks for your help, and thank you for your patience with a rookie/newbie knife collector!

[mikek]

No such thing as a bad question around here. In this instance "CASE TESTED" means that the knife was made between 1920 and about 1940. On the tang of these knives it is stamped CASE over TESTED XX. Hope this helps, mike

[Cowboy7130]

Ah ... THANKS!

[rigwelder]

I the beggining when Case Bros. started the logo Tested XX it meant that the blade had been heat tempered two times. So really Tested XX was a guarantee that you had good steel. I read somewhere that they Started useing the Tested XX in the ball park of 1900. Dont remember where? But i got the date from somewhere. But i agree that what most people refer to a Case Tested is simply the stamping from 1920-1940,,,,,,,but actually Tested XX was used alot earlier,,,,just not as the main tang stamp!