1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

The W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company has a very rich history that began in 1889 when William Russell (“W.R.”), Jean, John, and Andrew Case began fashioning their knives and selling them along a wagon trail in upstate New York. The company has produced countless treasures and it continues to do so as one of the most collected brands in the world.
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Dan In MI
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1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by Dan In MI »

I debated about where to put this subject, but the Case forum seems the best place. Here goes...

I recently ran across a Canoe while scouting the Bay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124782901261?s ... 1438.l2649

Canoes seem to command high asking prices, so I'm unsure if the low price on this one is merely because it's rather rough or if there is some other reason. The age is also not clear. And there is a spot on the pile side, at bottom near the master blade bolster, that looks a little off. Is that a chunk of missing bone, discoloration, or nature's mark?

Pictures, for posterity:
s-l1600 (2).jpg
s-l1600 (1).jpg
s-l1600.jpg
What do y'all think?
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bestgear
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by bestgear »

Darn……I thought we were talking aluminum Grumman’s - forgot were in a knife forum for a second …. Carry On!
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by cody6268 »

Watch it and see if the seller gives you a discount. The price seems fair to me, but I'd wait. It doesn't look banged up in my opinion. The Canoe is a little weird, but surprisingly sturdy pattern. I have a 1990s Camillus I use quite a bit.

I've usually gotten no more than 10-15% discounts from these "special offers"; and thus I usually ignore them. Discounts between 20-30% I get occasionally. Anything more than that; but I've got deep discounts twice. I did once get 50% off some vintage diecast models when eBay first started this "special offer" stuff. At first, I was limiting myself to one lot; and then I got every single one the seller had that I wanted.
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Dan In MI
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by Dan In MI »

bestgear wrote: Mon Jun 28, 2021 6:28 pm Darn……I thought we were talking aluminum Grumman’s - forgot were in a knife forum for a second …. Carry On!
I know Grumman made aircraft and step vans out of aluminum...but not that they made watercraft! Maybe I need to search for one of those?
cody6268 wrote: Mon Jun 28, 2021 7:01 pm Watch it and see if the seller gives you a discount.
I'm doing just that. Have also asked the seller about the condition of the covers, how the snap is, and if it's 1960s or 1970s.
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by XX Case XX »

The knife looks legit, but it's hard to tell if that spot on the back is a patch or just a different shade of color. I would need to see clearer, sharper images to be sure. My concern would be blade wobble and snap.

I can live with other stuff wrong with it but snap and wobble are dealbreakers for me.

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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by herbva »

Dan, it's hard to tell if that is a patch or natural discoloration in the "jigged cherry wood". I'm leaning toward natural variation in the bone dye, because I see a couple of smaller patches of similar color on the mark side. I would ask the seller about blade snap and wobble, but you may not get a straight answer given the "jigged cherry wood" description. Assuming it's OK, that is very good price and I think that one should clean up nicely. Good luck!
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by bestgear »

Dan In MI wrote: Mon Jun 28, 2021 8:19 pmI know Grumman made aircraft and step vans out of aluminum...but not that they made watercraft! Maybe I need to search for one of those
This is at least 60 years old, maybe older.
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Dan In MI
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by Dan In MI »

The Grumman canoe is pretty dang cool! As for the Case canoe in question, no word from the seller yet. I have my fingers crossed that it'll have good snap and no wobble. Slight wobble isn't a big deal to me, nor is weak snap (provided it can be restored with an oiling). Nonexistent snap and blades that do a good impression of a pendulum are.
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by rea1eye »

Looks like a good knife from the pictures. Hope it has no wobble.
Good luck

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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by 1967redrider »

From the top picture, the way the spring is extended down on both blades, I would guess the snap is fine. Wobble would be hard to tell except from a spline/blade well shot (if you see gaps or daylight there's probably wobble). Looks like a nice user and even has most of the Canoe etch. ::tu::
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by philco »

The blade etch (such as it is) indicates the knife was made in 1974 or later. A little TLC and that knife should make a good user. The canoe is a great EDC pattern.
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by Papa Bones »

As others have said, if you can get it at a decent price, and the blades are tight with good snap, go for it. Send the seller a message and ask about blade snap. They are a sturdy knife. It should clean up nicely. Just my .02 cents worth that ain't worth a nickle.
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Dan In MI
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Re: 1960s or 1970s Canoe...worth buying?

Post by Dan In MI »

Still waiting on the seller's reply.
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