Need some help Case Tested era.....

[Landersknives]

eBay item number: 201699144588
Just checking (cause I am a novice right now) Case Tested era hunter. Does the Tang Stamp look right and is the shield from a later Case knife? I am not anywhere close to an expert so I thought I would ask the collective years of experience here at AAPK. or ?

[RalphAlsip]

My read is that this knife is a 6165 with 2nd cut bone handles. The tang stamp and shield look good to me. You probably saw the back handle - it is badly damaged. The front handle also has a significant crack. The blade looks to be in good condition given its age. It's a mild concern for me that the pin in the top bolster is as visible as it is, which could mean the knife has been apart and that might explain why the blade condition is better than the handles.

Here is a link to a recently sold Case Tested XX 5165 if you are interested to compare stamping and shield.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232116260520

[knifeaholic]

Knife is fine no red flags on authenticity.

[Landersknives]

Thanks guys. Steve I have both your books on Case knives and I read and reference them often. Do you think you might put out a book on just the xx era and before? Gentlemen your help is greatly appreciated. I could not tell if the shield was pinned or not. Again I thank you both very much. My inexperience in dealing with the older knives is my downfall but I am working on it!

[RalphAlsip]

Landers, here is another comparison example for you. This example has the earlier Tested shield with the "C" that is more closed than on the knife you asked about. Tang stamping is similar. The handle jigging style is similar although color is not quite the same. Both blades have the nail nick in the high pull location. And finally my knife has a flat ground blade while the knife you asked about has a Saber ground blade. The blade on the Case XX 6165 is a little larger than on the Tested XX. The difference is noticeable in the curvature between the nail nick and the tip of the blade. This blade size / shape difference is more readily observable when you have a side-by-side comparison with blade closed.

[Landersknives]

Wow what a beautiful knife! Thanks for showing it for comparison Ralph. You have been a great help my friend.

[Tsar Bomba]

Wow, Ralph, INCREDIBLE hunter!

Seeing stuff like that keeps me humble because I know I can't play with the big boys in their sandbox just yet.