case tang stamp, fake?

[mickeyevans]

I have a case knife with the tang stamp WR CASE and sons Bradford PA
the problem is that there is a period after the P and after the A
the books of tang stamps I have show only a period after the A
what do you think?

[mickeyevans]

I am new and trying to show a photo of the knife

[knifeaholic]

Fake - the whole stamp is just wrong, too new, deeper stamped than the real ones were.

[mickeyevans]

I am new to collecting but I was pretty sure it was fake
wonder if I should keep it any way, but $36 is allot just to have a fake
got it on ebay, said to be old case, not "I don't Know:
I can return it, and also complain, what do you think
I have been collecting only on ebay and know there is going to be a learning curve

[basser5]

Can you post the link to the Ebay ad?


Tim

[mickeyevans]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CASE-PO ... true&rt=nc

[mickeyevans]

got to run now, will be back in 4 or 5 hours

[basser5]

Sellers ad...
VINTAGE W.R. CASE & SONS BRADFORD, PA, USED CONDITION. PLEASE L@@K AT PICTURES AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF BEFORE BIDDING. THANKS FOR LOOKING AND GOOD LUCK!

Sounds to me like they knew what they had

I would return it with neg. feed back, but that just me

Tim

[zp4ja]

Hey Mickey. Welcome to the forum and please stick around. Plenty to learn here!

Matbe just me but for 36 bucks, I personally would keep the knife as a reminder of the learning experience moving forward and to keep it off the market. Returning it will result it being relisted and someone les knowledgeable getting burned. I certainly would leave negative feedback but I only have 5 transactions on ebay and am not planning more, since I only have targeted knives there that I could not find elsewhere.

Fake - the whole stamp is just wrong, too new, deeper stamped than the real ones were.

Totally agree with Steve for sure. The old stamps were more crude and not perfect sometimes with a letter partially cut off on the tang ends, hit with a chipped stamp dye, not clear and perfect, contrary to some other collectors opinions. CASE was very frugile and almost nothing was thrown away that could be used, especially in the old days. Although they made quality knives, an imperfect stamp was more the norm than the exception in the pre 20s', even post 1920'. You need to be wary of CASE knives in those eras that have real good stamps. Here is a link to a post where imperfect tang stamps and related authenticity is discussed.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... +imperfect

Lots of other things about the knife raise red flags for me also.

1. Handle material. none like I have ever seen, no expert here but does not look right. I would expect abit more handle shrinkage on a knife that age with that handle material, if in fact it was used by CASE.
2. Bolster pins are not flush and one looks as if it is maybe brass instead of nickel silver or possibly iron in that era. Knife looks to have been taken apart.
3. The clarity/crispness as stated of the stamps.
4. Blade condition too good for a 100 plus year old knife. Possibly nail nick not appropriate for the era (did not research that much on this knife).

5. Price!!! An authentic knife of that era/condition would be 10 to 30 times or more what you paid for it. Unless the entire planet's internet connection dropped except yours for the length of the auction.

Please stick around as there is alot to learn from all the great folks here. Don't be discouraged either. It happens. I only buy certain knives and only maybe 10 or so in the last year and a half so I have avoided any fakes thus far. That being said, I personally don't buy until I know for sure what the knife is (not an ebay auction from a seller I don't know).

My Dad got burned on a couple, in fact, one was my first post, so don't be discouraged as I said.

A couple of pics. The Christmas Tree Little Valley knife I mentioned is a fake. One big clue among alot of other red flags on this knife, pretty sure in Little Valley era, Christmas Tree was not used

An example of a goldstone handled stamped "CASE'S BRADFORD, PA" that has an authentic, fairly uncommon but imperfect stamp.
See how the stamp is more crude and not centerd with part of the "B" in BRADFORD cut off.

The TESTED and prior era CASE knives seem to be the most counterfeited. Some in XX also. All depends on the knife and book value at times if they choose to hack up a nice original and make an earlier era for more buck or just piece together a knife to look era.

Regards, Jerry

[mickeyevans]

the seller wants the knife back for a full refund or I can keep it for full price
I told them about the neg review I would give if I return it
$40 is allot of money but I do want to keep it for the reasons mentioned above
Mickey

[Miller Bro's]

Get your money back

[mickeyevans]

I may have found my nitch, fake case knives
can this be real for $10?

[IMBand]

can this be real for $10?

Yes.

IM

[mickeyevans]

then there is hope for this $20 'case'?

[mickeyevans]

why are some Case knives priced so low?
I read that certain years were not of high quality.
is the advertising on the handle the reason? this was $25
Mickey

[0078]

Get your money back, as far as buying off of ebay I've seen some of the most interesting knives out there on ebay. I think everyone has been burnt once or twice on a knife. I would say a good rule of thumb if it looks to good to be true don't buy it, especially if there are no other bids on it if your buying from an auction.

KEEP A GOOD MENTAL NOTE, AND PUT 40.00 BACK IN YOUR POCKET.