All About Pocket Knives

Total “across the room” fake. The jigging is awful, not at all like Case jigging. The color of the covers is not Tested era bone color. The tang appears to have been shaved (grinded down) to remove the original stamp, then re-stamped with CASE TESTED. Notice how the shoulder grind line is upswept as it nears the blade spine. It should go straight across from choil to spine.

I could go on………….

If you’re interested in learning how to spot counterfeits, spend some time reading through posts in this Counterfeit Watch thread.

Ken

I also sent the same pictures to case. Their concluded it was real. Just want more opinions thanks for yours.

Jemdgoats wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 1:49 am.

get yourself a copy of this book that has a whole section on how to detect counterfeit Case knives. I’d be curious to see what Case sent you with their conclusions, can you image the correspondence and share it with the forum?

FAKE

Thanks for sharing posting the correspondence with Case and “Fae” from Consumer Relations. I think you’ll find the responses here on AAPK to be based on decades of seeing and handlings thousands of Case knives from all eras and their evaluations to be highly accurate.

Tom McCandless and Steve Pfeiffer are both members here and authors on Case knives and considered experts in their field. One or both of them will be by in due time to weigh-in I’m sure.

I wouldn’t take Fae’s reply as any sort of authentication or certificate of authenticity but simply another opinion on tang stamps and shields. If I may ask, how much do you have invested in the knife?

As Ken and others have stated it is definitely not an authentic knife. Tom, I appreciate the reference to my new book, “Old Knives, Tested XX and More”

Tom

olderdogs1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 1:56 pm…,it is definitely not an authentic knife

thank you Tom, your input and opinions are always appreciated.

I think you will find that there are no CASE knife experts now employed at W.R/Case. The old timers are long gone.

Sadly, Case no longer has any employees left who really know what their company made during bygone days. Nor do they apparently have anyone who has studied those products or how counterfeit knives are made and how to detect them. In my experience that is true of all cutleries in business today. Case makes cutlery to sell to current-day customers. They’re not in the business of validating authenticity of 50+ year old products, even though we collectors have expectations that Case should know what they have produced.

In the early 1970s I spent a good deal on money to buy a Tested 5383 whittler. I bought it from a dealer I trusted. At that time I had no idea whatsoever that someone would counterfeit a pocket knife. After all, it said TESTED XX on the tang. It subsequently was verified fake by both Jim Sargent and Tony Foster. At first that soured me on knife collecting - I had that dismayed feeling you get when someone steals from you. Then I got mad and decided I would learn how to detect counterfeit knives, and especially Case counterfeits, lest I be fooled again.

A couple of other dealers helped me learn what to look for. Gerald Witcher published an entire book, Counterfeiting Antique Cutlery, on the subject. It’s out of print now but if you can find a copy, get it! Even though copies are now expensive, if you want to collect old pocket knives the book will still save you money (assuming you read it). Tom McCandless’ book referenced previously contains (with permission) some key excerpts from Witcher’s book. It’s much less expensive, but contains only a small fraction of the detailed info from Witcher.

Happy collecting, and welcome to AAPK.

Ken

As Tom McCandless stated"fake".It's not even a good fafe.

Being an owner of a few old Case knives and being an accumulator rather than a collector, the knife in the opening post caught my attention because of the jigging pattern, nothing like I've ever seen on a Case pocketknife in person or in a book.
As several have posted, "Let's hear what knifeaholic has to say"!
Treefarmer

That one is really bad. Wish all fakes were that easy to spot.

Harold
.

Jemdgoats wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 12:45 pm I also sent the same pictures to case. Their concluded it was real. Just want more opinions thanks for yours.

If what you say Case told you is true, which sounds fishy but for our purpose here I will go with, THEN now you know Case Company has bold face liars working for them and I would never trust them again or buy whatever knives they are selling these days. It's bad enough the seller conned you, but unforgivable if Case Co tells you that POS is authentic. You should demand your money back from the seller because whatever you paid for that is based on lies about it being 80-100 years old and factory authentic. Wrong on both. This is what is ruining the vintage knife world: liars, thieves, and con men who will gladly steal your money and lie to your face like they are your friend. But they couldn't get away with it without tons of sucker's who will buy what they are selling. Thank God for AAPK and the experienced people here with decades of study and insight on these issues to help people who don't know better. I'm thankful for them big time. They have saved me many dollars. But far more important is that they have saved me from feeling like a total fool and an idiot and being mad at myself for falling for the scams. They have given me peace of mind and confidence and an education you cannot get in any school and they do it for free. Thanks to all who commented above and have shone light and knowledge on this disgusting type of thing. It's even more important these days with the insane prices you will see for vintage Case knives. Thanks, thanks, thanks to all the guys here who know what they are talking about and out of pure decency and kind goodwill towards their fellow men and women, tell us about it and help us avoid these kinds of pitfalls. Cannot thank them enough.

Ivoryman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 7:20 pmunforgivable if Case Co tells you that POS is authentic

to be clear, the reply from Case said “ We do not feel this is a fake Case knife. The tang stamp and the shield were used by Case knives”. The phase “do not feel” isn’t authoritative enough for me as it’s based on feelings and not knowledge. The tang stamp and the shield were used by Case knives, just not on the OP’s knife.

Case has evolved and left the old company that we all love behind. Thankfully we have enough knowledge remaining during our lifetimes to help answer questions like the ones posed by the OP.

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 8:16 pm

Ivoryman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 7:20 pmunforgivable if Case Co tells you that POS is authentic

to be clear, the reply from Case said “ We do not feel this is a fake Case knife. The tang stamp and the shield were used by Case knives”. The phase “do not feel” isn’t authoritative enough for me as it’s based on feelings and not knowledge. The tang stamp and the shield were used by Case knives, just not on the OP’s knife.

Case has evolved and left the old company that we all love behind. Thankfully we have enough knowledge remaining during our lifetimes to help answer questions like the ones posed by the OP.

I agree the reply seemed to be based strictly on the tang stamp and shield. I highly doubt that Fae studied the knife beyond those two points. I think Ken has the right answer. It looks like some other fakes that come up from time to time. That jigging is a dead give away. Plus the issues with the tang stamp.

The Case we all love is more than knives today as documented by “Fae” in her signature line. Case products also include Zippo, Ronson, and Northern Lights Candles and in their flagship store you can buy items like outdoor accessories, kitchen cutlery, apparel, eyewear, collectible souvenirs, and more. I’m thankful for the old school experts at AAPK.

Starting likely the 1980s, when Case would receive a "is my purported really old Case knife authentic?" question the employee at Case who received the inquiry would reach out to one of: Tony Foster (deceased); Jim Sargent (deceased); Steve Pfeiffer (going strong). One of these fine gentlemen would be the person who provided the answer - not the Case employee who received the original email.

My guess is there has been a change in personnel at Case with regard to who receives the authenticity question and they no longer seek an opinion from an outside authority. Not trying to argue that what happened is acceptable - simply trying to explain the degradation in customer service.

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 8:56 pm The Case we all love is more than knives today as documented by “Fae” in her signature line. Case products also include Zippo, Ronson, and Northern Lights Candles and in their flagship store you can buy items like outdoor accessories, kitchen cutlery, apparel, eyewear, collectible souvenirs, and more. I’m thankful for the old school experts at AAPK.

It would be more proper to say Case is a Zippo product since Zippo owns those companies including Case, not the other way around. It is also a fact that the Tested XX mark did not end in 1940 and there is absolutely no proof that it started in 1920. OP knife is a bad fake for sure.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 10:13 pmIt would be more proper to say Case is a Zippo product since Zippo owns those companies including Case, not the other way around

Thank you Gene, I stand corrected, the acquisition occurred in 1993 and George Duke, the Zippo founders grandson, is the sole owner and Chairman of the Board.

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 8:16 pm

Ivoryman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 7:20 pmunforgivable if Case Co tells you that POS is authentic

to be clear, the reply from Case said “ We do not feel this is a fake Case knife. The tang stamp and the shield were used by Case knives”. The phase “do not feel” isn’t authoritative enough for me as it’s based on feelings and not knowledge. The tang stamp and the shield were used by Case knives, just not on the OP’s knife.

Case has evolved and left the old company that we all love behind. Thankfully we have enough knowledge remaining during our lifetimes to help answer questions like the ones posed by the OP.

I respect your opinion and am not saying you're wrong. I also don't tell anyone what to believe, choose yourself. I am saying I agree with posts above that it looks like it was shaved down, cold stamped and not done in 1920-40. Easily spotted fake. I used to study knives from this era when I was into Case, many years ago, and this stamp does not look right to me at all. Neither does the grind, or the bone, or the shield lettering. That's my opinion, I still have it, and I'm just stating an opinion. I also place zero credence in a company employees feelings. That's like a Phillip Morris employee standing before the public saying they do not feel cigarettes are bad for your health, harmful, or cause cancer. They can feel or believe whatever nonsense they choose. But to me they are lying and have an agenda. They are getting paid to say that whether it's true or otherwise. Not a neutral, objective source at all. These people on here have no skin in the game or conflict of interest like paid Case employees do. My opinion is based on my experience and learning from AAPK members who know more about it than I, but who I have learned to trust based on their decades of knowledge. I would go with them over anything modern Case employees say. MHO YRMV.

To set the record straight I ask for opinions on whether the knife was real or fake. Thanks everyone for opinions and book recommendations. As for someone questioning whether I lied about what Case said go back and read the emails. I didn’t get conned by a person or knife dealer. I purchased the knife at an estate sale for < $100. I knew when I bought it that was probably fake. Thanks again for your help.

Welcome to AAPK.
You've gotten a lot of truth about your knife here , and untruths from Case representatives.
We've all been taken advantage of in our early collecting days , it's what we do with these lessons that matters.

Jemdgoats wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2024 1:29 am I didn’t get conned by a person or knife dealer. I purchased the knife at an estate sale for < $100. I knew when I bought it that was probably fake. Thanks again for your help.

You’re right, brother, a purchase at an estate sale is not a con. These people are not knife experts - just trying to value things the best they know how. I’m not good at spotting fakes and would probably have bought this one, too - which shows I need to do a better job of educating myself. However, I do read this counterfeiting thread often and really do appreciate the knowledge these folks have. Don’t feel bad. Like Ken said with his experience, we’ve all spent more for a knife than we should have at some point or another in this hobby - it’s all a part of the learning process.