Wanted: case xx usa 4318hp handles

[Wildshane85]

Hey, I bought this beauty about a year ago. Had minor discoloration on both sides of its white comp Handles. Going through my knives today, looking for a couple to add to my seller items, I noticed this one had gotten worse. Cracks. Shrinkage. And lots of discoloration. It also had a chemical like smell. Idk. But anyway, I took it to the garbage can and proceeded with tearing off the handles before the blades, or other knives fell victim to this possible 'gassing'. Which I didn't know would happen with white comp. Or is this gassing? Does anyone know, or have any info on what could have happened? Its a 65-69 4318hp. Very nice. Mint, all but the handles. So I'd like to repair it, asap. Does anyone have a set of white comp Handles for sell or trade, or as a gift? Or does anyone know someone who is in knife repair, and who is trustworthy? Any and all help is appreciated.
Thanks guys, -Shane

[Wildshane85]

No scratches. Rust. Never sharpened or used. Nothing wrong but these darn handles. Idk what happened... I just hope I can get it fixed.

[attachment=0]20200416_162012.jpg[/attachment]

[herbva]

What you show looks somewhat like celluloid decomposition, but I don't think its that bad. The earlier "white composition" used by Case prior to delrin is known to shrink badly, but I don't think it is as dangerous as celluloid outgassing. It looks like a very nice knife and if you are planning to keep it, you can rehandle it with anything you choose. There are many, many interesting possibilities. if you want to stick with white, and synthetic, white linen micarta might be nice. I have seen a modern, synthetic ivory product for sale , but I haven't used it.

[Mumbleypeg]

Contact Case’s repair center. They can probably replace the handles and might do it free, or at least they would have before you removed the handles. Not sure if they’ll consider it a warranty repair with the handles gone, or not. See www.caseknives.com. Scroll down to find “repair”, then follow the instructions. You can also call them to confirm whether they are still replacing white handles.

Ken

[just bob]

If you send it back to Case they will put modern handles with a glue in shield on your knife. If they do still have white handles anymore? If not you'll have to choose bone or yellow. Up to you but there are people on here that can put a set of white handles on it with a shield with pins like you have now. If you send it to Case there is a charge plus postage both ways. You should consider your options. Kaleb - Muskrat Man has white handle material that is very close to the original.

[herbva]

If you send it back to Case they will put modern handles with a glue in shield on your knife. If they do still have white handles anymore? If not you'll have to choose bone or yellow. Up to you but there are people on here that can put a set of white handles on it with a shield with pins like you have now. If you send it to Case there is a charge plus postage both ways. You should consider your options. Kaleb - Muskrat Man has white handle material that is very close to the original.

Bob, in the past I've had some very good experiences with sending knives back to Case under their warranty program and have gotten deteriorating celluloid handles on several knives replaced, perfectly, with delrin, at no charge. However, that was several years ago, and my recent experiences with them haven't been so good. Last year I sent them a 3299 1/2 with celluloid that was starting to go, but otherwise was mint, and I finally got it back 3 months later and was told that it was out of production and all they would do was give me a new knife in exchange. Of course, I wouldn't even get to pick what knife they were proposing to send me. I don't hold a very high opinion of many of their current knives so I just rehandled it myself. Now that the scales have been removed from the OP knife, I seriously doubt they would touch it.

[just bob]

I'm very much of the opinion that what you get at Case depends on who you talk to and what mood they're in. The workmanship on each and every knife they have repaired for me has been excellent. However what they will or won't repair and if there is a charge is not consistent. A few years back I needed some of those big oval shields that go in the 1980's knives. I contacted them and they said go away - we only have parts for knives that are in current production. I thanked them and let it go. Within the last 18 months I happened upon other knives that needed the same shield and they went out of the way to find them for me. They requested a picture of each knife that needed a shield and within a month they were here. My experience is that it is much the same on the handles. Obviously they don't have handle material, blades and shields for 70's knives, but sometimes they will repair a knife for no charge and other times you will get a bill from them. Hard to be sure. I just sent an 80's lockback back to them that needed a tension bar, they sent it right back saying they didn't have parts from the 1980's and a rather terse reminder that I should never send a knife in for repair without contacting them first. I have posts on here showing 2 1970's knives that I sent back to be rehandled. They put modern handles with glue in shields on the knives. I wish I would have never had it done and would have let someone on here do the repair. I'll see if I can find that post. I'm sorry for the person that posted the OP. All of this isn't helping you much. You might contact Case but I feel certain you can not get handles from the same era as your knife put back on it.

[herbva]

I do agree with Bob's opinion and have experienced the same thing, and in fairness, should have mentioned that. What you get from Case does seem to depend greatly on who you get to handle your request. I did experience someone recently who went out of her way to find the correct shield for me and even called me to make sure it was the correct one before sending it.

[just bob]

Here's some old info on the subject of sending a knife back into Case.

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=29924&p=276540#p276540

[Mumbleypeg]

In my experience Case Repair can put new handle covers on most patterns whether still in production or not. It’s the metal parts on old out-of-production patterns that they likely can’t replace. The newer handle materials (jigging, colors, etc) however may not match what was on the knife originally, but unless you have a “donor” knife no one else is likely to match the original either. That’s why my previous post recommended contacting Case to ask about the availability of white composition.

I’ve had nothing but excellent work using Case Repair. They replaced broken MOP handle covers on a 100+ year old W.R. Case & Sons whittler pattern that has been out of production since the 1930’s. It took about 5 weeks including transit to and from, and they charged me $70 for new Pearl (both sides), labor and shipping. Does it dependent on who you talk with at Case? That has not been my experience. It just depends on whether they can fix it or not.

I always contact them and send pictures before sending the knife. And I have no expectation that they will have blades, springs, or shields to match older knives no longer in production. Handle covers are for the most part just a matter of having the material. As Bob pointed out they no longer pin the shields, and they’ll likely put a newer (current) shield on it.

There are several competent and honest knife mechanics that are members here, and that is certainly an option. As with Case or anyone else, contact them with pictures of your knife and a description of what work you want done. And as with Case they’ll advise you whether they can do the work.

Ken

[Wildshane85]

I'd like to thank everyone for any and all info and help that has been given. I did send a warranty repair request to case, just to see what is offered. I also contacted a lead given in a pm. Hopefully I will be able to get this fixed. It is a nice knife, maybe not too rare, but in amazingly new like shape. Thanks again guys. Stay safe. And God bless

[Wildshane85]

Just curious... seeking opinions... would you go with the original type, white comp Handles? Or something custom? I would like the model # to match the knife, but white comp, with custom details and/or designs could work. What would you all do?

[Steve Warden]

My opinion, I'm not crazy about white, be it composite material or natural bone. I'd go with a chestnut or amber bone, maybe red.

But that's me.