Case Sunfish

[just bob]

Look at this one closely it's very possible I'm wrong - as usual, but the pins don't match the bolsters. It looks like they are a different alloy - maybe steel? That is uncommon in an older knife. Then look at the pins in the shield - they don't match either. I also think this has bone handles but this isn't Case 1940 - 64 bone or jigging. These handles have been put on this knife at some point in the past. Very nice job - but not original. I'll add a pic for comparison. Am I seeing things or is this a good repair job?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Case-XX-Sunfis ... SwiZVblAVV

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Bob, That one on eBay looks to me likes it’s made from Delrin. You are right about the pins, those don’t look right to me either. Your second photo is what this ought to look like. Just my opinion.
SSk

[knifeaholic]

I think the posted knife is ok. Trying to discern the color of the pin material based on online photos is very difficult even with good photos - and these are bad photos. I have seen nickel silver pins that I would swear were brass based on the photos, and vice-versa.

Also, it is probable that the handle pins are brass. Case used to use both brass and nickel silver for handle pins, depending on the pattern and oftent times with no consistency. Of course the shield pins have to be NS. Then too, on an older knife, sometimes different parts develop tarnish/patina differently, making some pins look darker than bolsters, etc.

[just bob]

I think the posted knife is ok. Trying to discern the color of the pin material based on online photos is very difficult even with good photos - and these are bad photos. I have seen nickel silver pins that I would swear were brass based on the photos, and vice-versa.

Also, it is probable that the handle pins are brass. Case used to use both brass and nickel silver for handle pins, depending on the pattern and oftent times with no consistency. Of course the shield pins have to be NS. Then too, on an older knife, sometimes different parts develop tarnish/patina differently, making some pins look darker than bolsters, etc.

Do you think the ebay knife has orignal Case bone? I agree with you that these are bad pics but that bone and jigging look way off to me and that is the main reason why I thought the knife had been taken apart years ago and probably the n/s pins weren't all too common and what was handy was used to pin the knife back together with? An interesting knife to study.