Case Copperhead

[just bob]

We've seen these before and it never ceases to amaze me at the amount of money these types of knives bring. I think I have 2 very similar knives in my junk box right now. I wouldn't pay $5 for this knife, but it is green bone - right. Nothing about this knife is right including the amount bid on it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/case-xx-knife- ... ition=3000

[Beavertail]

But it has those rare Tennessee rattlesnake bone handles,so it must be worth a fortune.

[rea1eye]

Could you kindly tell us what is wrong with the knife? I am still learning to spot the fakes.

Thanks!

Bob

[Daryl]

I'm with Bob. We novices could use some more information, please. What all are you seeing that's wrong with this one?

The shield and Case lettering look wonky to me, but I'm not seeing the other flaws.

Thanks!

Daryl

[Beavertail]

Case never used a jigging pattern like this.
Fakes like this have been offered on eBay for years.
They usually come from the Tennessee valley area.
Stamping looks cold stamped also.

[RalphAlsip]

Here are some annotated comparison pictures. After you see enough good knives, it only takes a glimpse of a knife to know something is wrong with it.

[just bob]

Here are some links in this same forum where similar knives like this have been discussed. With pictures and comments.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=58039&p=662738&hil ... ad#p662738

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=49570&p=520768&hil ... ad#p520768

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=44911&p=456501&hil ... ad#p456501

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=41632&p=410087&hil ... ad#p410087

Here's a really good link with a lot of info;

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=40097&p=390776&hil ... ad#p390776

[Kolvir]

Thanks, that helps a lot to the uneducated like me.

[Treejakal]

after reading this post I have a concern for this knife that I thought was an early XX era knife because of the shield and no pattern number. Where the jigging hits the bolster there are small indents in the bolster and the small "notch" where the scales meet the liners by the back spring. Can you please tell me what you think?

[RalphAlsip]

Can you please tell me what you think?

Your knife looks fine to me. Nice example. The early XX is supported by the shield and the lack of a pattern number. The bone looks early to me, too.

[Daryl]

Thank you, folks!

Now that you've pointed out the flaws, I can see them clearly. As a novice, though, I wouldn't have caught on to many of them on my own. I really appreciate the help and education.

Thanks.

[Treejakal]

Thanks RA I was worried for a moment now I will sleep tonight

[Mumbleypeg]

after reading this post I have a concern for this knife that I thought was an early XX era knife because of the shield and no pattern number. Where the jigging hits the bolster there are small indents in the bolster and the small "notch" where the scales meet the liners by the back spring. Can you please tell me what you think?

Your knife is fine. Those small indents where the “jigging hits the bolster” can be a sign that the knife is legit, or at least the handle covers are. Those marks are made when the knife is being polished at the factory after hafting.

What happens is that during the buffing operation, where there is a jigging mark (depression in the bone) touching the bolster, when pressure is applied by the operator the “grease buff” may go down into the jigging depression and polish away some of the nickel silver bolster touching the bone at that point. The same thing can happen with stag. The operators call the result “sucking out” marks. Therefore when you see those marks in the bolsters and they are adjacent to the jigged depression in the bone or stag, those are likely the original handle covers installed at the factory.

Some time back I posted an old article from the Case Collectors Club which explains it better. I’ll see if I can find the article and post it here again.

Ken

Edit: here’s a link to the article I referenced. Click the picture to expand to readable size. See page 2 for what I was trying to describe. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=45848&p=695438&hili ... le#p695438

[Treejakal]

Ken,
Thanks for the article, it was very interesting and informative.

[rea1eye]

Thanks everyone for the posted information.

Bob