Time to retire my favorite knife.

[Colonel26]

This is a sad day for me. My best knife just may have to be retired. Oh I have more valuable knives, and I have prettier knives, but I don’t have a better knife.

It’s a XX era CASE 6375, my first knife love. It was bought for me, in well used condition, most likely for more than it was worth, by my wife as a gift. The scales are worn thin with no jigging left, there’s barely any trace of CASE left on the shield. It’s suffered blade loss until there isn’t much of a bevel left on the clip blade.

But man what a knife. It snaps opened and closed with such authority that you just know it’s going to break in half. Those worn down blades get sharper than any knife I own and hold their edge a LOOONG time. I can peel a tomato or an apple with it and see through the peel. I’ve whittled countless cedar sticks with it. I’ve used the spey blade for everything from fine detailed cuts to surgery on livestock. It fits my hand like no other knife.

But the old worn clip blade has developed a pretty decent wobble. When I noticed it the other day my heart sank. I sure don’t want to make it worse, and I can’t bear to mar it up any more than it has been by beating on the bolster. And I’m sure it ain’t worth fixing.

Man I’m going to miss this knife. I have other 6375s, even XX ones. I have several “better” ones. But I’m going to miss my old friend.

Oh well, just had to vent. If you have an old friend like this one feel free to post them here.

Here she is in all her HOK glory.

[cudgee]

I have had this for 30 years and it has done some hard work, i used it as a go to carry for opening feed bags and cutting rope and twine, never let me down but alas time to pension him off. I don't want to wreck it beyond repair. And just so easy to sharpen and keep sharp.

[Stanwade]

Colonel---What a good old friend!..I think he's worth getting a makeover ! Jmo...

[Stanwade]

Cudgee--- same to you, I think he's got some years left!!

[treefarmer]

Bro. Wade, I know what you're feeling. My old Queen hasn't developed any wobble yet but the blade wear is showing as she was used when I got her and she is with me a lot of the time here on the farm. I have an identical NIB, same tang stamp, but I just can't seem to put this one away. I always feel a little bit "sneaky" carryin' my Queens as my true love is supposed to be Case. I'm going to continue with this one a bit longer and just smile as I go by the drawer full of Case knives, new and used.

Treefarmer

[cudgee]

Bro. Wade, I know what you're feeling. My old Queen hasn't developed any wobble yet but the blade wear is showing as she was used when I got her and she is with me a lot of the time here on the farm. I have an identical NIB, same tang stamp, but I just can't seem to put this one away. I always feel a little bit "sneaky" carryin' my Queens as my true love is supposed to be Case. I'm going to continue with this one a bit longer and just smile as I go by the drawer full of Case knives, new and used. 014.JPG
Treefarmer

[Colonel26]

I have had this for 30 years and it has done some hard work, i used it as a go to carry for opening feed bags and cutting rope and twine, never let me down but alas time to pension him off. I don't want to wreck it beyond repair. And just so easy to sharpen and keep sharp.

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That’s mainly what I’ve used this one for too.

I like your old pal. Fine old knife.

[Stanwade]

Philip-- I love that old Queen!

[Colonel26]

Bro. Wade, I know what you're feeling. My old Queen hasn't developed any wobble yet but the blade wear is showing as she was used when I got her and she is with me a lot of the time here on the farm. I have an identical NIB, same tang stamp, but I just can't seem to put this one away. I always feel a little bit "sneaky" carryin' my Queens as my true love is supposed to be Case. I'm going to continue with this one a bit longer and just smile as I go by the drawer full of Case knives, new and used. 014.JPG
Treefarmer

Bro. Philip that’s a fine old Queen, still in its prime if you ask me. And I’m just like you, I’m supposed to be a CASE man, but I dally with some other brands a whole lot of the time.

This one will go on to a well deserved reward. But I do have two in consideration to take its place.

[Colonel26]

Colonel---What a good old friend!..I think he's worth getting a makeover ! Jmo...

Thanks Ryan.

[cudgee]

I have had this for 30 years and it has done some hard work, i used it as a go to carry for opening feed bags and cutting rope and twine, never let me down but alas time to pension him off. I don't want to wreck it beyond repair. And just so easy to sharpen and keep sharp.

IMAG0293.jpg

IMAG0292.jpg

IMAG0291.jpg

That’s mainly what I’ve used this one for too.

I like your old pal. Fine old knife.

I love that you have worn the jigging off the scales, that is a work knife.

[royal0014]

I believe a man who has a knife in his pocket that is as genuinely pocket-worn
and honestly used as the two examples Wade and Phil have posted ....

... well, that man can be taken at his word and a firm handshake


Sadly, this world is running out of those men

[cudgee]

I believe a man who has a knife in his pocket that is as genuinely pocket-worn
and honestly used as the two examples Wade and Phil have posted ....

... well, that man can be taken at his word and a firm handshake


Sadly, this world is running out of those men

A good philosophy, and correct on both counts.

[Old Hunter]

I remember when you first posted that knife Wade. I think you should send it to one of the fine knife mechanics on AAPK and let them tune it up for you - maybe a new pin and adjustment by a man who knows what he is doing will restore your wobble - you could get some new scales too. Same goes for Cudgee. Nice to have an old pal in your pocket. OH

[cudgee]

I remember when you first posted that knife Wade. I think you should send it to one of the fine knife mechanics on AAPK and let them tune it up for you - maybe a new pin and adjustment by a man who knows what he is doing will restore your wobble - you could get some new scales too. Same goes for Cudgee. Nice to have an old pal in your pocket. OH

Nah, i couldn't do that, it has too much character and memories. I like it as it is, and just as happy to keep it in it's fully lined knife box with others that i rotate, you must know what i mean being a knife person. I have more knives than i need, so will never be short of an old pal in my pocket.

[Colonel26]

Chris, I wish I could say that I did all that west and tear in the knife, but I didn’t. I put my fair share on it, but someone got it most of the way down the road before it came to me.

OH, thank you. I thought about having the pin replaced to keep it from getting worse, but I don’t know. I definitely want to keep those old worn scales though.

[Doc B]

I agree with keeping the old scales! I think it's worth a couple of light taps, with a ball pean hammer, on the pin. Checking after every tap, for improvement. Without a spacer...you could make it too tight. You could sand the bolster, if it picks up any dings. Generally speaking...the bolster can take a bit of beating without looking too bad. I'd try that before I replaced the entire pin.
Or you can just put it somewhere, where you can admire it daily...as an old friend and companion. It takes a lot of love...to get one with that look and feel.

[RevolverGuy]

Great looking knife. I would hate to retire it if that were mine. Perhaps you can send it in to Case's Warranty & Repair dept. and they could fix that wobble on the clip blade. I'm sure it would make it like new again. https://caseknives.com/pages/warranty-repair

[kootenay joe]

Is blade play due to wear on pivot pin ? or due to wear at end of tang & spring ?
If due to pivot pin, a skilled knife mechanic could replace the pin and you would get many more years of use from it.
Would be interesting to have a knife mechanic post as to what conditions cause blade play. I have long wanted to know this.
kj

[Colonel26]

I’m afraid it’s probably wear on the spring/tang area. The spring on the clip sets lower than the other spring.

[Doc B]

I’m afraid it’s probably wear on the spring/tang area. The spring on the clip sets lower than the other spring.

Ahhh...maybe time to retire it

[FRJ]

I carried this old Robeson at work for several years. 626056, Long before I knew of AAPK. It was and still is a real pal.
Due to some wobble in the main blade and obvious blade loss I set it aside to keep it secure.
I do pack it once in a while.
Funny how old standby tools will tug on you.
Nice knives all.

[garddogg56]

I like that hoc Robeson This old two dot .112. Wil get retired when I retire with 45 years of service in the construction industry and she's gut a few deer in her time

[cudgee]

I like that hoc Robeson This old two dot .112. Wil get retired when I retire with 45 years of service in the construction industry and she's gut a few deer in her time

and love the pouch, she has done a few miles. I just reckon leather gets better with age and use.

[Colonel26]

Boy it’s something I tell ya. Knives and old guns seem to have the same effect. I’ve got pretty and shiny of both. But there’s something about an old worn knife or an old shotgun with no blueing left on it that just calls to me when it comes time to use one. I can’t explain it, that’s just the way it works with me.