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need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 4:38 pm
by dhens
The Tang on the knife says it's WR case and Sons Bradford PA
Re: need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 5:15 pm
by gsmith7158
Could be real. The stamp is difficult to see but looks ok. Most likely rehandled.
Re: need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 8:09 pm
by dhens
Better picture of the tang
Re: need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:29 pm
by danno50
Since there have been 24 views and no other comments, I will venture forth. This was a tang stamp used from 1904 to 1914 (from Sargent's 7th). Looked through all the W.R. Case & Sons knives in Sargent's 7th and did not see a lot of smooth bone handles. The third handle pin (above the centre pin) looks suspicious to me. Most Case jacks have only the two handle pins and the centre pin? Looking through Sargent's, the only patterns with 3 handle pins are the 6216 and the 12130. How long is your knife closed?
Dan
Re: need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:57 pm
by dhens
3.750 inches long
Re: need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:25 am
by danno50
3 3/4" is the correct length for a 6231, which your knife looks like (other than being a single blade). Actually, the photos of the 6231's of this vintage in Sargents, appear to have 3 handle pins. The only book I have with a complete list of W.R. Case & Sons patterns is the 1976 Price Guide to Romance of Knife Collecting by Mrs. Dewey Ferguson. It does not list a one bladed 31 pattern? I am now way over my head on this and can only speculate that Greg is correct, that the knife was rehandled at some time. Could have been a 6231, which had the pen blade removed when it was rehandled? However, looks to me like if this was the case that it was done a long time ago?
I have already speculated far beyond my knowledge. Whatever it is, it is a good looking old knife!
Dan
Re: need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:26 am
by orvet
I'm the first to tell you I'm no expert on Case, I have worked on a lot of old knives. That handle may not be smooth bone, it may be stag but it has been worn smooth. It looks pretty porous for bone.
Again I don't know a lot about Case specifically, but on wider frames it was fairly common to use a handle pain across from the rocker pin, especially if it has been rehandled and the first handle was a synthetic of some sort like celluloid.
Re: need help identifying old case knife
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:50 am
by dhens
Back spring view