All About Pocket Knives

This one looks suspicious to me and I'd like to hear from the resident experts. The seller doesn't mention a pattern number or the dimensions of the knife, but I assume it is meant to be a 6445R. A number of things look wrong to me, but it could just be the pictures - the shape of the spear blade doesn't look right and it looks too narrow, I haven't seen this type of can opener on one of these, the frame looks too narrow and, since my suspicions are aroused, the Case Tested stamping doesn't look right. Maybe its a 640045R with a Case Tested blade transplant, or it's another pattern I don't know about? Or, is this knife totally fine and I'm all wet?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Case-T ... 2721661409

Always difficult when the seller leaves no length or better description but I would say the knife is authentic. Not the type knife someone would be likely to fake. Could be an 090 pattern.

Tom

I don't follow this pattern so I'm not aware of the variations that were used. However the can opener (?) blade looks odd to me. Especially the cut out in the blade and no corresponding similarity in the handle and liner. I superimposed a can opener that was commonly used.

Not sure if the master is right or not,but I believe the rest of the knife is a Utica made Case contract.

Here’s what I see.

Pros: the shield and jigging look appropriate for the era.
Cons: I haven’t seen that pattern with that style of can opener or that master blade shape before.

Over the years Case has used contract manufacturers including Camillus and Utica to make this pattern for them. They also made some in house. I’ve seen numerous different blade combinations including different styles of can openers and cap lifter/screwdriver blades, so it’s possible the knife is legit. All of the Case knives in this pattern I can recall seeing have a “fatter” spear blade.

So in this situation I would apply my adage “when in doubt, sit it out”. Not saying the knife is bad - I'm saying I'm not sure and thus I wouldn’t be a bidder on this one.

Ken

I looked at the other items this seller has listed, most are Scout related. There are at least a dozen "Scout Knives" and it is interesting to see the different styles of can openers and which one is very similar to the one on the Case being discussed.
Treefarmer

Mumbleypeg wrote:Here’s what I see.

Pros: the shield and jigging look appropriate for the era.
Cons: I haven’t seen that pattern with that style of can opener or that master blade shape before.

Over the years Case has used contract manufacturers including Camillus and Utica to make this pattern for them. They also made some in house. I’ve seen numerous different blade combinations including different styles of can openers and cap lifter/screwdriver blades, so it’s possible the knife is legit. All of the Case knives in this pattern I can recall seeing have a “fatter” spear blade.

So in this situation I would apply my adage “when in doubt, sit it out”. Not saying the knife is bad - I'm saying I'm not sure and thus I wouldn’t be a bidder on this one.

Ken

The can opener is a new one on me as well but it has been my experience that the 090 pattern has a slimmer master blade than the 45. No way of telling if it is in fact an O90 by using the description provided but that would be my opinion.

Tom

The posted knife is a Tested 640045R...the can opener is normal for the Tested era 640045R pattern.

The posted knife is a Tested 640045R...the can opener is normal for the Tested era 640045R pattern.

Image is from a Case Tested catalog.

Thanks for that clarification Steve. To my eye the master blade on the OP knife still looks too “skinny”. Any thoughts on that?

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote:Thanks for that clarification Steve. To my eye the master blade on the OP knife still looks too “skinny”. Any thoughts on that?

Ken

In the Tested era, the 640045R was a smaller, slimmer knife as compared to the 6445R. Even on a mint example (which I have) the blade is narrow.

It is possible that the OP knife has used, sharpened, and cleaned, with blade loss.

Also possible that the angle of the photos makes the blade look skinny.

knifeaholic wrote:The posted knife is a Tested 640045R...the can opener is normal for the Tested era 640045R pattern.

Image is from a Case Tested catalog.

Sir does it matter that the bail is in a different place and is peened on while the one in the catalog picture is not.

Landersknives wrote:

knifeaholic wrote:The posted knife is a Tested 640045R...the can opener is normal for the Tested era 640045R pattern.

Image is from a Case Tested catalog.

Sir does it matter that the bail is in a different place and is peened on while the one in the catalog picture is not.

Good observation...but Case tended to do it both ways on the Tested scout patterns.

I have several Tested 640045's. I'll have to check them as to how the bails are done, but either way is correct for the scout patterns.

Thanks Steve. I am wondering now if it might be a pattern 090, known as the JR scout ( as suggested earlier by Tom). The seller just got back to me about the dimensions and told me it is 85mm long (or about 3 3/8") which I think might fit the specs of a JR scout. That might also explain the skinny master blade.

My Case Tested XX Scout Jr. Has the Jr. on the shield.