All About Pocket Knives

I bought this from my uncle last night.. I was with him and my dad when he picked it up at a yard sale by our camp in Erie, Pennsylvania 30 years ago... is this from the early Case era or is it a later reproduction? Thanks..

Anyone?

Stanwade wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:28 pm Anyone?

I'm sure it's at least 30 years old, maybe older.
Your Welcome Buddy!

LMAO

Sorry!

Stanwade wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:48 pm

Smart a@$!! Lol

TPK wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:34 pm

Stanwade wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:28 pm Anyone?

I'm sure it's at least 30 years old, maybe older.
Your Welcome Buddy!

I'll have to agree with Tom on the age assessment of the strop

Ken

Even though it was found some 30 years ago, I think what Ryan is asking is, could this strop be a lot older than that. I'm certainly no expert on this kind of thing, but to me, it sure does have that "old time" look to it. The same kind of overall appearance a really old pocket knife has.

I've never seen one from WR Case & Sons so this is really interesting to me. Maybe Steve will chime in here.

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Mike

Thanks for your input..I gave my uncle $20 for it so no matter what, it's worth it..I believe it's old/authentic myself..but I could be wrong?

Stanwade wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:16 pm I believe it's old/authentic myself..but I could be wrong?

I concur. I don't think there's any question as to it's authenticity, just a matter of how old is really is.

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Mike

Thanks Mike...

it says genuine horse shell, does that mean it is made of horse hide instead of cow hide leather? And is this common?

I’ve seen W.R. Case branded razor strops for sale on eBay occasionally, so they are out there. That’s all I know about them. I assume they’re 60+ years old or more just because by then safety razors had pretty much taken over the market. JMO

According to a little research, horse shell leather comes from the rump of the horse, especially large draft horses, and has a different texture than that of cow leather. It is apparently naturally stiffer and oilier. That being the source and because of the rarity today of such animals, that makes me think the OP strop is not of recent vintage.

Ken

Thanks Ken! good info...

The first picture is a pocket knife tang stamp..second picture is a fixed blade tang stamp...the third picture is of the stamping on the strop... Could these date this strop also? Is it reasonable to think that this was made in 1932 or before?

That's a really cool find, Ryan, wish I had some answers for you.

* Edit- just found this in Sargent's 4th Edition, wish the picture he has was better quality (taken with and without flash) but this might be a good starting point for you.

Thanks John!. .. I've been asking my uncle for years to sell it to me and he finally gave in last week . I think he got tired of me bugging him about it!

Stanwade wrote: ↑Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:35 am I bought this.....

Nice strop Ryan.
Here's one on eBay. There may be more, I didn't look.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/W-R-Case-Sons- ... 3728096298

Thanks Skip!,