1915-1920 Case XX fixed blade ? Is it possible ?

[67cuda]

Is it possible that Case made a fix blade skinner/hunter fixed blade ? If so, I believe I just bought one. It has the “ CAse XX tested “ inside an oval circle on one side, and the “ Bradford, Pa. “ on the other. Stamp charts are showing they started making fixed blades in 1932. That would make this knife an impossibility ? Can anyone help with this ? I have yet to receive it or I would put up pictures.

[Steve Warden]

Are you using the correct chart?
If I understand correctly, there are two charts - one for folders and one for fixed.
If you are using the correct chart, then I have no idea. sorry

[67cuda]

Yes. I’ve studied several charts, including any additions, and special orders I could find. For some reason, I’ve found resistance in acknowledging the oval case XX stamp ? Quite possibly because most case collectors are folder collectors since it’s more profitable ? I don’t seek profit, only truth. I cannot find that oval stamp on any fixed blade chart, but of course there’s no way of checking all fixed blades themselves. Of the ones in existence, many are not on the internet. The net is flooded with folder pictures and videos though since they are what’s been raised to such a high level of worth. To me, a knife lover, and avid outdoorsman my entire life, it seems ridiculous to raise a gentleman’s, and children’s knife above that which help build, fight for, and feed the country, but what do I know, lol ? Real men have always chosen function over follie.

[Gunsil]

OK, one more time, Case did not make any hunting knives before 1920 and probably not before 1922 or 1923. It is known that they made a few models before the Kinfolks era, but not many. In 1925 Case and Cattaraugus joined to form Kinfolks Inc to make hunting knives for Case and Catt along with Kinfolks branded knives. Does your knife have an aluminum guard? This is important because if it does the knife was made between 1925 and 1932 at the Kinfolks factory. I have been collecting antique hunting knives for near sixty years and am familiar with most of them and the companies that made them. Your knife is not the first one I have seen with those marks, I know a guy who has several and I have owned a few. In 1932 Case began making all their hunting knives in Bradford at the Case factory and these knives will have nickel silver guards. I have a lot of Case hunters with Case Tested XX and Bradford markings that were made by Kinfolks with the aluminum guards. Regarding your last statement, I have sold quite a few Case hunting knives for over $500 each and the same for KA-BAR, Remington, and Marbles made knives. It is not just fine folding knives that command big prices, plenty of hunting knives and fixed blade military knives can also be quite pricey. I think you paid a lot for the knife in question considering it's condition. Among hunting knives, those with wood or leather handles run cheaper, bone and stag handled ones generally run higher.

[kennedy knives]

This is an early Case Sportsman with an early stamp I think it's a 1920 not sure if 1920 to what but maybe Gunsil can add to it

[Gunsil]

I don't think 1920. Brad and myself don't think Case made any fixed blades before 1922-1923. There is a rare bowie hunter marked W R Case & Son (not sons) and another marked Case Bros but it is very unlikely they were made in little Valley by any Case firm. I'll ask Brad about the blade changer knife dates, he has several. Do you happen to have the one marked HOBO?

[kennedy knives]

I don't think 1920. Brad and myself don't think Case made any fixed blades before 1922-1923. There is a rare bowie hunter marked W R Case & Son (not sons) and another marked Case Bros but it is very unlikely they were made in little Valley by any Case firm. I'll ask Brad about the blade changer knife dates, he has several. Do you happen to have the one marked HOBO?

I'm looking at one haven't made a deal yet and it's not complete like the Sportsman . the date I used Brad Gave it to me ? a few years back or I heard him wrong . Do you have a Hobo ??

[67cuda]

I’m honestly just trying to properly identify this knife, but it won’t be in my possession for a few days. However, here is the page I bought it from with pics that I cannot copy. See for yourself my dilemma. From my research, the only knives that possess both stamps are folding knives between 1915-1920. It shows none of the other affiliated companies stamps. The blade is shaped a little different as well. On the subject of prices, so far I’ve seen folders go for 12,000 dollars, and I’m sure higher. Seems like the Pokémon of knives, lol !
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VERY-EARLY-VIN ... 7675.l2557

[67cuda]

This is an early Case Sportsman with an early stamp I think it's a 1920 not sure if 1920 to what but maybe Gunsil can add to it

An interchangeable blade knife. Interesting ? First I’ve seen from that period of case, but maybe all of this is why I’ve been collecting for half a century, but never got into all of the business side of old knives ? Just so much history to sift through and discover. When I see a knife that really clicks with me, I buy it. Reselling, or turning a buck has never been my focus. I’m a collector who has instilled the same love of certain things in my children and others around me, hopefully my grandchildren.

[Gunsil]

Gary, I just heard from Brad. Your set is called 5012 Comb and the dies for this pattern were not among those sent to Kinfolks in May 1926 so it was not a pre-Kinfolks knife. The 5012 Comb did not appear in Case inventory until the 1-1-27 inventory He further states that the next earliest point is that it shows up in the 1-1-30 Case price list but never shows up again so he believes knife was only made at the Kinfolks factory from 1926 or 1927 and 1930. He believes the HOBO is later than the 5012 Combo. No, I never had a HOBO or the 5012 set like yours, spent most of my bigger buys on KA-BARs although I had a fine Case hunter collection too, still have a lot of nice rare ones.

Cuda, where are you located? If you are near me you could come over and talk old hunters as I have hundreds of them and many catalogs and price lists to ID and date them. I collected my whole life but now being retired without a nice pension I am slowly selling off my collection so I can eat well and travel to knife shows. I still collect harder to find old KA-BARs, I am addicted to collecting them. Hard for me to find any I don't have, but once in a while I still find a nice one I haven't seen in fifty years. I am still trying to get a better date on your knife although for sure it is after 1922 or 1923. Just looking at the auction photos I see it has a large aluminum nut in the pommel and this is also found on some Cattaraugus hunters. This is leading me to think that it is an early Kinfolks era knife, maybe 1925-1927.

[67cuda]

Gunslinger, I thank you very much for your help in identifying this new acquisition. I’m located in mid-Missouri. I must say, I love a good historical hunt, but hate an unsolvable mystery. This particular blade design looks unlike any I’ve seen before in my search ? It’s similar, but at the end, it’s flatter ? Do you have any examples of a knife like this ? Why would it have the 1920 and earlier case xx in an oval circle Tang stamp though ?
Thanks, Don.

[Gunsil]

There were only two models of hunting knife in Case inventory in 1923. In 1926 Case shipped dies for those two models 61 and 23, and three sizes of the bowie hunter to Kinfolks. These are the only knives made by Case pre-1926 and can't be any older than 1922 with the Bowies later, maybe 1925. Cuda, as others have said and I have said, Case hunting knife marks do not align date wise with pocket knife markings. Also all those available pocket knife marking date charts have bad mistakes that too many folks take for gospel. There is nobody at the present Case company who really knows anything about older Case knives. Luckily there are folks like my friend Brad who has amassed a large amount of old Case, KA-BAR, Kinfolks, and Catt catalogs, brochures, price lists and inventory sheets with the help of myself and others and he has most of it sorted for easy reference. One day this info will probably get to a book, but not yet. Regarding the style of your knife, I either have or have had the same blade configuration with different handle options on knives made by Case, Kinfolks, and Catt, they are not really uncommon models. The ones with stag handles are the most sought after. Brad and I have been discussing the Case and Catt knives with the large aluminum pommel nut and they are still a little bit of an enigma. We both own a bunch of them but there are no early brochures or catalogs that show the butt end of the knives making it hard to tell if they were made by Catt for Case, Case for Catt, or Kinfolks. They are most assuredly not made before 1920 and probably no earlier than 1923 and likely a few years later. It isn't on the 1923 inventory or one of the patterns shipped to Kinfolks in 1926. Maybe before you spend so much on a knife whose pitted finish has been totally ground on you should ask about it. I think many bidders may have been fooled into thinking it was a pre 1920 Case by those marks but it just isn't. Not maligning your knife, I just think the price was high for the condition.

[67cuda]

Gunsil. Like I stated, I tend to start off learning the hard way, no matter how much research I think I’ve done on a subject, only to learn I’ve been lead off track by mainstream thinking. That’s usually what it takes to be woken by others who know differently. This was my first purchase, or attempt at buying one of these early knives. I was outbid by $2 bucks, then that guy backed out, and I accepted it. This by no means discourages me, nor makes me like the actual knife any less. I bought it because I liked it, not because I thought I’d turn a profit. So, no matter what I buy in the future, it will remain special to me, even though I have hundreds of swords to small folders I’ve bought through the decades. So, I will continue to live and learn, and seek knowledge on this subject. Do you have a site, or some of these similar you mentioned you are selling now ? I might be interested.

[Gunsil]

Cuda, I sent you a PM.

[67cuda]

Cuda, I sent you a PM.

Gunsil, I’ve searched my pm and I might be new here, but all I found was the eBay listing I showed for the spine in comparison to the main knife I was referring to in my notifications, and I have no private messages. What am I missing, or how do I get there, and what was it in reference to ? Possibly knives you have for sale ?

[rodgers62074]

Hey everyone. I recently bought a couple fixed blade knives. I searched for the fixed blade stampings. Here they are. That is , if it lets me. Lol

Case fixed blade stampings

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[Modern Slip Joints]

rodgers62074,

Thank-you for posting the table for dating fixed blade Case knives. Even though this site is allaboutpocketknives it would be great if the management added it to the reference section. Most members are also interested in fixed blades.

[Mumbleypeg]

That looks like the same fixed blades stamp chart found on the Case College site. https://www.casecollectorsclub.com/college/tang-stamps/.

A similar version is posted here on AAPK, in the Tang Stamps thread. https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... 47#p386847 https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=39799

Like most tang stamp charts it is not infallible nor is it all-inclusive, especially pre-1965.

Ken