what is the rarest case knife you have??

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks for the measurement Rex. Reason I asked is, Sargent's 7th edition shows a 6370 on page 74 in the W.R. Case and Son's (with apostrophe) section. Says its 3-9/16 inches, and it's a sleeveboard also but it looks to be a wider knife than yours. I was gonna guess yours was a 62079-1/2 but Wayne and Jerry both say it's a 76-1/2 so I'm not gonna disagree. There's pictures of both in Sargent's and frankly they look like the same pattern to me - probably need to have them in hand to tell the difference. The ones pictured have flat bolsters. Your knife doesn't, but there's a picture of a 62079 with round bolsters on the same page. Apparently they were made both ways.

Ken

[RalphAlsip]

Here is a comparison picture of a Case Tested XX 62079 1/2 and a Case Tested XX 6376 1/2. I wish I had a 6276 1/2... it's on my list.

Until you see them side-by-side they do look very similar. They are both sleeveboards and the relative proportions are probably identical. The fact that the 76 1/2 is 3 blade is skewing the look because it is thicker due to the split 3 backspring width vs a single backspring on the 079 1/2.

[zp4ja]

Rex that is a beautiful piece of history. There are so many beautiful knives shown in this thread that are undoubtedly the rarest pieces of that particular owner but it makes me wonder what is the rarest of all. Does anybody know or is that up for speculation. Probably no answer for my question but it would be interesting to know what people think. What is the rarest Case of all. THE HOLY GRAIL.

Hey Greg,
Hard to determine the rarest of all. Hard to verify based on CASE record keeping on the real old stuff. You almost have to go by how many observed. As far as last ~50 years, would have to say a 10 dot Stag Cheetah with a saber blade or a ivory handled Cheetah same year.
Maybe a 6001 Trip fold for a earlier knife. As far as XX era, have to say a 6394-1/2 Green Bone. Could be biased observation since I own the last two I mentioned and have seen less than a one hand count of tri-folds and one XX 94. Maybe a Zipper. Quite a few real rare ones, hard to narrow.
Jerry

[rexstubbins]

Nice knife REX. It's actually a 6276 1/2.

Thanks Wayne and all - The older I get the lesser I see. No wonder I couldn't find the pattern in the reference books.

[gsmith7158]

Hey Greg, 
Hard to determine the rarest of all. Hard to verify based on CASE record keeping on the real old stuff. You almost have to go by how many observed. As far as last ~50 years, would have to say a 10 dot Stag Cheetah with a saber blade or a ivory handled Cheetah same year.
Maybe a 6001 Trip fold for a earlier knife. As far as XX era, have to say a 6394-1/2 Green Bone. Could be biased observation since I own the last two I mentioned and have seen less than a one hand count of tri-folds and one XX 94. Maybe a Zipper. Quite a few real rare ones, hard to narrow. 
Jerry

Jerry I thought that would be a difficult question and probably somewhat subjective. Interesting that you mention the XX6394 1/2. There is one listed on ebay now for $2195.

[zp4ja]

Great old knife Rex! I was remiss on comment and on on all the other fine rare ones I got backlogged on.
Regards, Jerry

[zp4ja]

Hey Greg, 
Hard to determine the rarest of all. Hard to verify based on CASE record keeping on the real old stuff. You almost have to go by how many observed. As far as last ~50 years, would have to say a 10 dot Stag Cheetah with a saber blade or a ivory handled Cheetah same year.
Maybe a 6001 Trip fold for a earlier knife. As far as XX era, have to say a 6394-1/2 Green Bone. Could be biased observation since I own the last two I mentioned and have seen less than a one hand count of tri-folds and one XX 94. Maybe a Zipper. Quite a few real rare ones, hard to narrow. 
Jerry

Jerry I thought that would be a difficult question and probably somewhat subjective. Interesting that you mention the XX6394 1/2. There is one listed on ebay now for $2195.

Please post a link my friend. Looked but dont see it. Never personally seen another. Would like to take a look.
Thanks, Jerry

[gsmith7158]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Case-XX-R ... ING_ACTIVE

Here ya go Jerry.

[jlw257]

Greg and Nevada Jerry got me wondering "What is the rarest Case knife " of all. I always thought the rarer the knife the more expensive it is, but that not the case in most instances. I bet if you ask a 100 Case knife collectors which is the rarest they will all give different answers. Just my 2cents

Larry

[zp4ja]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Case-XX-R ... ING_ACTIVE

Here ya go Jerry.

Thanks Greg. That is a great knife. Mine is a used example, sick green bone. Beats the green bone of Tested in my opinion. Only made 49' and half of 50' as I recall.

Greg and Nevada Jerry got me wondering "What is the rarest Case knife " of all. I always thought the rarer the knife the more expensive it is, but that not the case in most instances. I bet if you ask a 100 Case knife collectors which is the rarest they will all give different answers. Just my 2cents

Larry

I agree Larry. Likely different answers depending on what they are looking for, seen, own, paid on a particular knife, observed, researched, etc. Honestly, I have had and still do have some TESTED that are mint unused and uncleaned. I consider that pretty rare. Price is a factor for sure. I lean towards that and how many observed, examples not listed in catalogs but present, survived and not beat up ( like the pristine examples you own). Even availability is a factor maybe in line with observed examples.
Jerry

[Mumbleypeg]

Hey Greg,
Hard to determine the rarest of all. Hard to verify based on CASE record keeping on the real old stuff. You almost have to go by how many observed. As far as last ~50 years, would have to say a 10 dot Stag Cheetah with a saber blade or a ivory handled Cheetah same year.
Maybe a 6001 Trip fold for a earlier knife. As far as XX era, have to say a 6394-1/2 Green Bone. Could be biased observation since I own the last two I mentioned and have seen less than a one hand count of tri-folds and one XX 94. Maybe a Zipper. Quite a few real rare ones, hard to narrow.
Jerry

I agree with your selections Jerry. There are some recent "one-of-a-kind" creations made for the sole purpose of being exactly that, but I rule those out because frankly they don't interest me. Then there's the more common patterns having rare handle materials, like the Tested 6488 in Winterbottom bone for example. Most certainly a rare knife, but not a rare pattern.

Limiting the discussion to patterns that were made for general distribution and use, the Zipper switchblades have to be in the conversation. And we have discussed the rarity of the 6001 tri-fold previously in this same thread so they need to be included. I'll add the Tested 6365 and 6465 folding hunters and the Tested 5394x gunboat.

I'm sure there are others that deserve consideration. Makes for some interesting speculation but we'll never know for sure.

Ken

[gsmith7158]

Ken I am not familiar with the 6365 and 6465. What massive knives those must be! Where can I find a picture are they in Sargent's?

[Mumbleypeg]

Ken I am not familiar with the 6365 and 6465. What massive knives those must be! Where can I find a picture are they in Sargent's?

Sargent's 7th has pics of both (you made me go look ). Also there's a couple for sale on eBay currently - maybe they're not as rare as I thought! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Case-Te ... Swal5YF~PT. The 6365 is the same as the 6465 but without the can opener.

Ken

[gsmith7158]

Ken I am not familiar with the 6365 and 6465. What massive knives those must be! Where can I find a picture are they in Sargent's?

Sargent's 7th has pics of both (you made me go look ). Also there's a couple for sale on eBay currently - maybe they're not as rare as I thought! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Case-Te ... Swal5YF~PT. The 6365 is tgevsame as thec6465 but without the can opener.

Ken

$1900 is pretty rare in my book. I have never seen that one before. You learn something new everyday here at AAPK.

[Mumbleypeg]

I did a quick search of AAPK for 6365 and found nothing. A search for 6465 turned up a couple of threads. This one http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 65#p367114 and another with this nice picture of one that Kaleb (muskrat man) did some repairs on.

Ken

[RalphAlsip]

Here is a 65 and 94 contribution since they are being discussed. I wish I had an old 72 Zipper to contribute.

This is a link to an AAPK post with a Case Tested XX 6165 SAB in green Winterbottom bone. The Tested XX 6165 is a common pattern; the Winterbottom makes it rare. http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 15#p539313

The 94 pattern is one that I try to collect and here are some of the pattern variations that have proven difficult for me to find: Anything made before 1920, Stag handled examples, 2 blade 94X Gunboat (5294X and 6294X), 5394 1/2. 5294J, 6294 1/2 (Jack blade configuration with clip instead of spear main blade). Others specific patterns not listed such as 6394, 6394 1/2, and 5394X are not easy to find, but I have at least seen some pop up over the past few years.

Here is a Case Tested XX 5394X Gunboat. It's a shame about the pin crack. Thanks for looking.

[stockman]

Jerry that is a nice knife!!!

Harold

[stockman]

A little 3 1/4" 06267, I think they are somewhat hard to find. This one is very average condition. Patch at center pin
on mark side and the knife has been cleaned.

Harold

[jlw257]

Harold, great knife

Jerry, pin cracks used to bother me, but not anymore. Condition of the whole knife is more important to me now. You have a great example of a large Gunboat

Larry

[olderdogs1]

Rare knife Harold, you don't see many of them.

Jerry, That Gunboat is fantastic, very Rare.

Thanks for posting guys.

Tom

[jlholdings]

Here is my 5394. It is a 10 dot prototype from 1980. Even though it is a newer Case, it is a very uncommon knife to encounter. I like the regular production knives that are more uncommon. I do not mean Case Select or Case Classics though. Any idea as to production numbers on this one?

[peanut740]

You might PM Steve - knifeaholic.He may be able to answer your question.

[RalphAlsip]

jlh, your gunboat is nice! There is one for sale on eBay now. For what it might be worth, the seller claims that approximately 220 were produced. This might be good information and it might be bad information.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/112124346292?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

[jlholdings]

Thanks Ralph! I will check it out. I thought it must be pretty low production as they are pretty hard to find.

[CheckSix]

This one here is a new pickup for me and prolly in the Little League range of things for this thread but I'm told it is a fairly scarce pattern in 1970...

5347 10 Dot