Why would this happen?

[tvic]

Why would the dark coloring be missing from this tang stamp?

[Steve Warden]

Forgery?

[Mumbleypeg]

That's a strange one. It has the appearance of having been engraved, like a Pantagraph, but I've never seen a forgery of a stamp that recent. Nor is there any monetary value in forging a knife of that recent vintage.

The only thing I can think of is that it was a very light stamp that for some reason someone tried to make deeper. Which indicates it has been tampered with.

Ken

Edit: the knife appears to gave a pattern stamp starting with a "9", which would be some synthetic handle covers, like imitation pearl. Picture looks like it has bone or wood covers.

[tvic]

It's a Corelon handle - one of those that Frost does on a Case knife. Wouldn't think a forgery on something like that. And why would someone tamper with that? It's advertised as "Mint in box," but I realize that doesn't mean a thing. This apparently comes from someone who just sells stuff, not a collector.

[philco]

The engraving in the shield is light too.

[1967redrider]

You don't think Frosty is swapping out Case blades for offshore blades do you?

[Madmarco]

You don't think Frosty is swapping out Case blades for offshore blades do you?

Not until now!

[ea42]

I think it's legit. Possibly they missed annealing the tang on this one. Could be any number of reasons, but why would someone bother monkeying around with blades on a $60 knife that's available from a pile of retailers?

Eric

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I agree with Eric. I checked several Case knives I have listed and some are just like this and others have the darker appearance.

[Beavertail]

Maybe Frost bought these cheap from Case as factory seconds.

[tvic]

Thanks to all of you who offered up your thoughts. With situations like this, I suppose we’ll never know the answer. As for tampering, there’s just no reason for anyone to mess with a $50-$60 knife, like Eric said. I can’t see Case passing on seconds to Frost - in the end, it’s still a Case knife bearing the Case name. SSK made a good point - there are some Case knives that don’t have the coloring in the stamp - after seeing what he said, I checked some of mine, and, sure enough, there are knives that just have the imprint, no color. Bottom line, this knife does - IMHO - seem to have had some coloring in the stamp at one time - I could be wrong. I suppose one of those puzzles that we’ll never know the answer. Again, thanks to everyone for your input. I appreciate everyone on this Forum!

[ea42]

Tim that's just something that happens with annealing. Sometimes you get scale and sometimes you don't. Sometimes when you do it's so thin and loose that it flakes off easily. I see the same on hundred year old blades as well. Some have dark stamps and some are barely colored, if at all.

Eric

[Beavertail]

Tim that's just something that happens with annealing. Sometimes you get scale and sometimes you don't. Sometimes when you do it's so thin and loose that it flakes off easily. I see the same on hundred year old blades as well. Some have dark stamps and some are barely colored, if at all.

Eric

Thanks for the explanation.

[rea1eye]

Learned something today. I thought it was cold stamped.

Bob

[BIGHEAD]

Forgery?

Really? No money to be made faking a new knife.

[Thomasg]

Why would the dark coloring be missing from this tang stamp?

I have 5 in the golden ruby color .the tang stamps on my knifes also like your knife .Some thing in the manufacturing process not faked or tampered with .the knifes come out in sets of 6 .tiny toothpick ,peanut ,miii trapper, trapper ,,muskrat , stockman .Each pattern was produced in limited numbers of 1200 each.I picked mine up for 60-70 $ each .the knife sold out of stock online at major retailers before I could acquire # 6 .

[Thomasg]

Maybe Frost bought these cheap from Case as factory seconds.

I think the knife were made when Covid pandemic was in full swing .

[tvic]

Thanks, Thomas. To be honest, the closeup photo caused concern, but after receiving the knife, it looks just fine to me.