All About Pocket Knives

Thought you guys might get a kick out of this one.

What's wrong with that?

Could you post close up of stamp . The sheath is right the bone is right looks to have been sharpened . Pattern Tested XX Green Bone 651

Case did make a knife like this,I believe pattern 651.The blade folds into the handle with part of the blade extending out the bottom.The sheath and bone handle looks like a Case to me.I would like to see a tang stamp.A sought after knife.

I agree with what others have said - looks good to me. Case did make one like that, fairly rare and desirable knife. Sheath looks good, handle jigging looks good. Not in perfect shape. I think it would be a difficult knife to fake but would like to see better pictures.

I suppose next we’ll see it on eBay at an astronomical asking price as you’ve done in the past?

Ken

Definitely an original Case knife! The bone version is rarer than the stag version, and the sheaths are really hard to find. These had chrome plated blades as did most Case hunting knives of the day. The chrome prevented rust but when sharpening scratched the chrome it looks a little funky. It's a shame that the previous owner did mark up the chrome, it will greatly reduce the value.

This thread is an education for me. I am not a Case collector and my assessment would have been: definitely not a Case, because it does not resemble any Case knife i have seen.
That it is a Case knife tells me to reserve judgement on knives i have not seen previously.
kj

I learned a lot too; I wasn't aware Case made what I call a "Folding Bowie".

A few have been posted here in the past. viewtopic.php?f=35&t=46132&hilit=551&start=30#p472518 They come up for sale on eBay occasionally. As Gene said, the stag handle version (551 pattern) is seen more often.

Ken

One term for this type of knife is "d'Estaing knife". Supposedly this design of having a handle that folded over a longer blade making a two different length blade knife was thought up by a French Admiral d'Estaing in the 1700s. I have seen early 1800s versions, usually with longer blades, and often with fine mounts. As the Case version does they usually had a locking mechanism which kept the blade locked in either position. There are many newer ones made in Germany usually that most folks call "folding bowies" although this is not quite correct since the bowie guys call folding bowies a large folding knife which has the blade completely covered by the handle as do most folding knives. D'Estaing knife is likely still more the proper term and although few know it or pronounce it properly the next time you see one being sold by a knowledgeable owner you will impress them by using the old name for them.

Mumbleypeg wrote:I agree with what others have said - looks good to me. Case did make one like that, fairly rare and desirable knife. Sheath looks good, handle jigging looks good. Not in perfect shape. I think it would be a difficult knife to fake but would like to see better pictures.

I suppose next we’ll see it on eBay at an astronomical asking price as you’ve done in the past?

Ken

Yes, 1 million dollars lol

...the next time you see one being sold by a knowledgeable owner you will impress them by using the old name for them.

I'll only impress them if I pronounce it correctly, so one of you French speakers please give me the correct phonetic pronunciation. Otherwise I'll end up saying (in a heavy Southern drawl), "That sure is a beauty Day-Ess-Tang knife 'ya got there."

Dennis

Dave you pretty well have the pronunciation, just drop the 'ay' in Day, and make just a 'D' sound: D'estang and soft on the 'g' at the end so you barely say it.
kj

Dennis, you are close. I say it sort of like the word "disdain" with a soft "G" on the end. Or maybe more like d'stang, the E is silent here. By the way, are you coming down to Lewisburg tomorrow? I leave today will have my usual two tables full of old knife goodies. If not, likely I'll see you at Marlboro. Speaking of Marlboro, Doug Growitz had a fantastic early 1800s D'Estaing knife on his table there last fall.
----Gene

Thanks for the French help Roland and Gene.

By the way, are you coming down to Lewisburg tomorrow? I leave today will have my usual two tables full of old knife goodies. If not, likely I'll see you at Marlboro.

I won't make it to Lewisburg Gene; it's just too darn far from Boston. I sure miss being one hour away from that show. I'll probably miss you at Marlboro as well as I think I will be at an antique radio collectors show in Nashua on March 3rd. How about Mystic? Will you be selling there this year?

Dennis

Gee Dennis, John Majuri is coming down to Lewisburg from near Cape Cod, maybe you could have caught a ride with him. I know, it's a long ways, I probably wouldn't drive that far either, but then again, I do drive to Harrisonbuurg, VA for the big show there in April. I do have two tables reserved for Mystic or Groton as it should be called, and god willin' and the river don't rise I'll be there. Do you go to the big antique radio meet in Kutztown??

I hear ya Gene but I'm getting lazy in my old age, 6-1/2 hour road trip just not as attractive now as it once was. I'm hoping to hit Kutztown for the first time this year, but I think it will be in September rather than May.

I wish you a really successful show tomorrow and look forward to looking through your goodies in Mystic/Groton. Do you have any d'Estaings? Now that I can pronounce it (sort of) maybe I can add one to my collection. If so, bring 'em along to CT. Regards,

Dennis

Gunsil wrote:Definitely an original Case knife! The bone version is rarer than the stag version, and the sheaths are really hard to find. These had chrome plated blades as did most Case hunting knives of the day. The chrome prevented rust but when sharpening scratched the chrome it looks a little funky. It's a shame that the previous owner did mark up the chrome, it will greatly reduce the value.

So, I picked it up for 300 at auction with original sheath. $350 when all said and done. Just got it today and the Bone is perfect and other than some scratches the blade chrome looks pretty darn good. How'd I do?

You did quite well I think.

Gunsil wrote:You did quite well I think.

Thank you