This Case wins the MOST USED award!

The W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company has a very rich history that began in 1889 when William Russell (“W.R.”), Jean, John, and Andrew Case began fashioning their knives and selling them along a wagon trail in upstate New York. The company has produced countless treasures and it continues to do so as one of the most collected brands in the world.
58chevy348
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This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 58chevy348 »

This one is heading to the restoration shop later this year. A super rare W R Case & Sons 6539 sowbelly. Someone just kept on using this knife until there was just nothing left to use! Believe it or not, all 5 blades still have a strong snap! Hoping to get it back to the ballpark condition of the black and white photo.

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FarSide
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by FarSide »

Wow, that's a well used & loved knife. Probably the only knife they ever had. Maybe I should be more content with all the knives I have. Or at least till I find that next old Case I'm looking for :)
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by XX Case XX »

When you say "restoration", do you mean the blades too?

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58chevy348
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 58chevy348 »

Yes, in this case, the blades will have to be re-welded (retaining the original tangs of course) with the correct donor blades of the same era. I've had a few knives done this way, and the results were amazing. Will hopefully be re-scaled with vintage green bone as well.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by XX Case XX »

I certainly hope you post "Before-After" pics as I would really like to see that.

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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 58chevy348 »

I'll definitely post the before and after, but it will probably be a few months. The blade guy is backed up a bit right now.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by Gunsil »

I certainly hope whoever does the "restoration" marks their work visibly so somebody down the line isn't sold a totally re-worked knife as original.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 58chevy348 »

They do mark the restored knives, usually on the inside of the liner.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by treefarmer »

I'll agree, this one appears to be the MOST USED winner. ::tu:: Do you have any information on the history of this knife? Had it been used by someone in your family? Your knife must really have a story to end up with all the blades used up, even the awl/punch. ::shrug::
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by richard »

that knife , done sum cutin. alright. :shock:
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by tallguy606 »

Seems hardly possible to wear / sharpen on a stone those blades to that extent. Maybe the owner was in the habit of using a grinder to sharpen the blades, over and over.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by timb »

tallguy606 wrote:Seems hardly possible to wear / sharpen on a stone those blades to that extent. Maybe the owner was in the habit of using a grinder to sharpen the blades, over and over.
I'd say you're correct. For years my dad used a valve grinding machine to sharpen his work knives. It was fast and worked well, but he did tend to go though a lot of blades. :)
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by Lansky1 »

Properly re-welding 5 blades onto vintage tangs seems like incredibly exacting work, requiring great skill (I didn't even know this could be done) - I would love to know roughly how much it would cost to have this type of high end work done ??
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by knifeaholic »

timb wrote:
tallguy606 wrote:Seems hardly possible to wear / sharpen on a stone those blades to that extent. Maybe the owner was in the habit of using a grinder to sharpen the blades, over and over.
I'd say you're correct. For years my dad used a valve grinding machine to sharpen his work knives. It was fast and worked well, but he did tend to go though a lot of blades. :)
You may be right. On the other hand, I have had Case CV knives that I bought new and used/sharpened for a year or two and had the blades down by 40% to 50%. That with just manual sharpening on Arkansas stones and Norton India stones.

With the older softer carbon steel, it would seem that a few decades of use and proper hand sharpening could get the blades down to those shapes.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 58chevy348 »

lansky1, I’m not really sure what the cost for this one will be, but given its rarity I have a “no expense spared” attitude with it. I have had blades expertly Re-welded in the past for around $25 per blade. It takes a skilled welder to get the blade joined, centered, and ground correctly while maintaining a proper choil above the tang. It’s a tedious job, but worth it in the end.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by Drukai »

Yea that would hit my junk drawer.. Used, abused, came in wet n' dirty she needs a break. Let her ride retired in the drawer.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

That's one of the most used knives I've seen. There's no way those blades would be able to cut very well, being about the same thickness of the spine behind the edge.
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by Tsar Bomba »

treefarmer wrote:I'll agree, this one appears to be the MOST USED winner. ::tu:: Do you have any information on the history of this knife? Had it been used by someone in your family? Your knife must really have a story to end up with all the blades used up, even the awl/punch. ::shrug::
Yeah but...which one's the punch? ::paranoid:: :shock:

::rotflol::
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by slimtrap48 »

::clapping:: ::rotflol::
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by doglegg »

That is funny. :lol:
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by deltaboy »

That one is wore out!
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 58chevy348 »

Knife is now in the hands of the repair shop. It will probably be a while before I get this one back, but I will definitely post the "after" photos. A knife this scarce deserves to be restored. I'd never let it retire to the junk drawer. :)
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 58chevy348 »

It finally arrived! As promised, here are the before and after pics!

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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by 1967redrider »

58chevy348 wrote:Yes, in this case, the blades will have to be re-welded (retaining the original tangs of course) with the correct donor blades of the same era. I've had a few knives done this way, and the results were amazing. Will hopefully be re-scaled with vintage green bone as well.
Do you know someone who welds blades? Interested because I have one of those O. Barnett Tool Co. horseman's knife/pliers with a great tang stamp but only about 1/4" of a broken blade. Wouldn't mind getting a blade welded to what's left if someone is good at doing that.

They did a great job! ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: This Case wins the MOST USED award!

Post by Mumbleypeg »

I’m with Gene (Gunsil). Restoring an old knife is a noble pursuit but I’d prefer to see it marked somewhere more obvious than “inside the liners”. Not implying you have any nefarious intent but what happens after the knife is no longer in your possession? IMHO it should be clearly marked somewhere more conspicuous.

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