First Post UPDATE: Case 5 knife set???

[Berl]

Greetings, ( Again, Please forgive any lapses in site etiquette.) I know little about collecting knives as I have discovered from the many knowledgeable comments I have received. A warm thanks to all.

I originally stated that I have 5 Case unused, un-carried, unsharpened, as new knives (3 pocket knives all have the same bone (?) or stag horn (?) handles and 2 straight blades) that came out of an old Case display. All are circa the 1965-1969 period. It turns out that the spey blade of the 5254 Trapper has been sharpened, as has the 5 inch fixed blade, which also has some scratches and scuffs. There are some light surface scratches and blemishes, but the overall condition is still very very good as the photos indicate.

The pocket knives all are CASE XX over STAINLESS over USA (no dots of a 70's era blade), and they are individually marked 5254 over SSP, 5265SAB over SSP, and S1111/2LSSP, respectively. They all have the same Blue Scroll swirling design pattern on the major blade.

The 2 straight blades are just marked CASE, nothing more, but each comes with a CASE XX marked sheath. One is a 4 1/4 inch blade and the other is a 5 inch blade.

It appears that they are not a set, just similar individual pieces. They are not the Blue Scroll set of 1976-77 according to the tang markings. All are from an estate I am handling. I would appreciate any assessment of their value. Thank you.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Greetings.....

Maybe some answers here?
viewforum.php?f=66

[texoma]

Over the years I've seen a canoe and other case folding stag blue scroll knives
I beleive the folding knives are part of a set not a complete set and the fixed blades are not
Search Case Stag blue scroll set and I'm sure you will find others and the complete set

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK.

The information I’ve seen about the “Blue Scroll” sets is somewhat confusing (at least to me). Pocket knives in the Blue Scroll set (eight patterns) were tang stamped with the 1977 date code (three dots). (Which means all knives in the display were not 1965-1969 vintage.) As I understand it, some were serialized and shipped to selected dealers to be sold as an intact “mint set”. Included in the mint set were four fixed blade hunting knife patterns (516-5, 523-5, 5 FINN, and M5 FINN). All of the knives, both folding and fixed, had polished stainless steel blades embellished with the “Blue Scroll” etch.

Other knives produced with the Blue Scroll etch were shipped to dealers individually (not as sets) to be sold as open stock.

Of the OP knives pictured only the folding knives appear to have the Blue Scroll etch. Only three patterns of the eight patterns produced are included. None appear to be serialized, so they must have been open stock, and therefore not part of a “mint set”. (I suppose some could consider the entire Blue Scroll release as a “set”) . The fixed blades pictured do not appear to have the Blue Scroll etch, so would not be considered part of the set regardless how you define it.

That’s my understanding anyway. Maybe knifeaholic or one of the Case experts will have more info, and tell me I’m wrong (like my wife so frequently does).

Ken

[1967redrider]

What he said. to AAPK.

[Dullest_knife]

You lucky dog, those are sweet, I’m jealous. Tim

[Berl]

Thanks for the welcome, Ken. Your information is helpful and appreciated. I am now getting more confused with each post. All of the 3 scroll knives are definitely from the 1965-69 period according to their date stamps, not the 70's. The display was also definitely broken up in the early 70's-- way before 1977. The display was part of the inventory of a sports shop that my father purchased in 1967. In the early 70's we discontinued the knives, and we went all marine, getting rid of the hunting and fishing inventory, including the knife display. My father kept these remaining knives until he recently passed.

Blue Scroll knives had to exist before 1977, at least as individual design pattern for open stock, and not just the 70's set. If not, the date stamp markings for 1965-69 are wrong. There are no dots on the tang, and the stamps are totally different than the 70's pattern.

20240520_202250.jpg

20240520_202250.jpg

It is good to know that they are too early and incomplete for the "Blue Scroll Set." They are just individual knives that have similar handles and the same ''Blue Scroll." Still, I would like to keep the "Blue Scrolls" together as a group if I can.

Again, many thanks.

Best Wishes,

Berl/Jake

Welcome to AAPK.

The information I’ve seen about the “Blue Scroll” sets is somewhat confusing (at least to me). Pocket knives in the Blue Scroll set (eight patterns) were tang stamped with the 1977 date code (three dots). (Which means all knives in the display were not 1965-1969 vintage.) As I understand it, some were serialized and shipped to selected dealers to be sold as an intact “mint set”. Included in the mint set were four fixed blade hunting knife patterns (516-5, 523-5, 5 FINN, and M5 FINN). All of the knives, both folding and fixed, had polished stainless steel blades embellished with the “Blue Scroll” etch.

Other knives produced with the Blue Scroll etch were shipped to dealers individually (not as sets) to be sold as open stock.

Of the OP knives pictured only the folding knives appear to have the Blue Scroll etch. Only three patterns of the eight patterns produced are included. None appear to be serialized, so they must have been open stock, and therefore not part of a “mint set”. (I suppose some could consider the entire Blue Scroll release as a “set”) . The fixed blades pictured do not appear to have the Blue Scroll etch, so would not be considered part of the set regardless how you define it.

That’s my understanding anyway. Maybe knifeaholic or one of the Case experts will have more info, and tell me I’m wrong (like my wife so frequently does).

Ken

[Modern Slip Joints]

You have 5 stag handled Case knives of which 3 are probably from the same blue scroll series. That does not make a group of five that left Case as a set. While I can't see the smaller sheath knife or fixed blade's tang stamp the larger fixed blade's tang stamp does not identify it as being stainless steel. I'm pretty sure it is chrome plated carbon steel. In contrast SSP in the folding knives' tang stamps means stainless springs and stainless blades with polished edges (not polished blades). I agree the pocket knives are from the late 1960s, not the 1970s. The larger fixed blade's tang stamp dates it approximately 1940 - 1965 which matches close enough for them to have been bought wholesale for the same display.

I'm curious about the Cheetah's tang stamp. I'd expect to see 5111L or 5111 1/2L for its pattern number, not S111WLL. Please take a second look with a magnifying glass. It's read 5=stag, 1=number of blades, 11=the handle shape and size, 1/2, which was not always stamped = clip point blade, and L=locking blade.

You have 5 very desireable knives but your description "unused, un-carried, unsharpened, as new" needs a little adjusting. The larger fixed blade is scratched and scuffed and the 5254 Trapper's spey blade has been sharpened.

[knifeaddict1965]

I don't know much about the fixed blades, but the only older Blue Scroll knives & sets I'm aware of were made in 1977. I believe there were 1,000 sets made with scrolled bolsters and not sure how many were made with the plain bolsters. If there are no dots on the tang stamp, then that would be the first I've seen from that era with the blue scroll work on the blade.

These are the 2 sets I have.

[Berl]

I don't know much about the fixed blades, but the only older Blue Scroll knives & sets I'm aware of were made in 1977. I believe there were 1,000 sets made with scrolled bolsters and not sure how many were made with the plain bolsters. If there are no dots on the tang stamp, then that would be the first I've seen from that era with the blue scroll work on the blade.

These are the 2 sets I have.


Screenshot 2024-05-21 190059.png

Screenshot 2024-05-21 190026.png

knifeaddict1965, Thanks for your contribution. The 3 Blue Scroll knives I have are from the 1965-69 period according to the tang stamps. No dots. See attached photo if it comes through.

You have some nice knives.

Thanks again.

Regards, ...Berl/Jake

[Mumbleypeg]

All of the 3 scroll knives are definitely from the 1965-69 period according to their date stamps, not the 70's. The display was also definitely broken up in the early 70's-- way before 1977. The display was part of the inventory of a sports shop that my father purchased in 1967. In the early 70's we discontinued the knives, and we went all marine, getting rid of the hunting and fishing inventory, including the knife display. My father kept these remaining knives until he recently passed.

Blue Scroll knives had to exist before 1977, at least as individual design pattern for open stock, and not just the 70's set. If not, the date stamp markings for 1965-69 are wrong. There are no dots on the tang, and the stamps are totally different than the 70's pattern.

That’s a new one on me. The stamps used from 1970-1979 are the same as those used between 1965-1969 except that dots were added below the U.S.A.

I’ve never seen or heard of a fancy scroll etch on any Case factory issued knives during the 1965 -69 era. They did etch blades with things like the Bulldog, “Tested XX Razor Edge”, “For Flesh Only”, etc but those were simple text etches, not fancy scrollwork filled with blue coloring. But they write volumes filled with stuff I don’t know!

I did search knifedb.com for 1965-1969 knives having an etch, and found no scrolled etched knives.

Hopefully someone who knows more will see this thread, and enlighten us.

Ken

[Berl]

All of the 3 scroll knives are definitely from the 1965-69 period according to their date stamps, not the 70's. The display was also definitely broken up in the early 70's-- way before 1977. The display was part of the inventory of a sports shop that my father purchased in 1967. In the early 70's we discontinued the knives, and we went all marine, getting rid of the hunting and fishing inventory, including the knife display. My father kept these remaining knives until he recently passed.

Blue Scroll knives had to exist before 1977, at least as individual design pattern for open stock, and not just the 70's set. If not, the date stamp markings for 1965-69 are wrong. There are no dots on the tang, and the stamps are totally different than the 70's pattern.

That’s a new one on me. The stamps used from 1970-1979 are the same as those used between 1965-1969 except that dots were added below the U.S.A.

I’ve never seen or heard of a fancy scroll etch on any Case factory issued knives during the 1965 -69 era. They did etch blades with things like the Bulldog, “Tested XX Razor Edge”, “For Flesh Only”, etc but those were simple text etches, not fancy scrollwork filled with blue coloring. But they write volumes filled with stuff I don’t know!

I did search knifedb.com for 1965-1969 knives having an etch, and found no scrolled etched knives.

Hopefully someone who knows more will see this thread, and enlighten us.

Ken

That's just it. There are no dots on any of the three. I don't know, but the only way everything makes sense to me is that these are early Blue Scroll. Like you, I hope there is someone out there who knows what is right.

Berl/Jake

[btrwtr]

The dots on the trapper and big folding hunter patterns can be hard to see as they are far down the tang, close to the knife frame and quit well hidden. Usually the blades have to be pivoted while looking in order to get a glimpse of the dots. The dots on folding guard cheetah should be higher and easier to see. Your pictures of the tangs isn't all that clear as far as seeing the little dots is concerned and a better picture of the 5111 1/2 folding guard might show the dots. I would be extremely surprised if your knives didn't have the dots and more surprised if they were actually made 1965-1969 period. Not saying this at all to diminish the knives as they are all very nice collectables.

[Berl]

The dots on the trapper and big folding hunter patterns can be hard to see as they are far down the tang, close to the knife frame and quit well hidden. Usually the blades have to be pivoted while looking in order to get a glimpse of the dots. The dots on folding guard cheetah should be higher and easier to see. Your pictures of the tangs isn't all that clear as far as seeing the little dots is concerned and a better picture of the 5111 1/2 folding guard might show the dots. I would be extremely surprised if your knives didn't have the dots and more surprised if they were actually made 1965-1969 period. Not saying this at all to diminish the knives as they are all very nice collectables.

Thanks, I'll look harder and clean some of the lubrication residue off. I appreciate it. Regards, ...Berl/Jake

[Berl]

The dots on the trapper and big folding hunter patterns can be hard to see as they are far down the tang, close to the knife frame and quit well hidden. Usually the blades have to be pivoted while looking in order to get a glimpse of the dots. The dots on folding guard cheetah should be higher and easier to see. Your pictures of the tangs isn't all that clear as far as seeing the little dots is concerned and a better picture of the 5111 1/2 folding guard might show the dots. I would be extremely surprised if your knives didn't have the dots and more surprised if they were actually made 1965-1969 period. Not saying this at all to diminish the knives as they are all very nice collectables.

Thanks, I'll look harder and clean some of the lubrication residue off. I appreciate it. Regards, ...Berl/Jake

You are absolutely correct. Without a magnifying glass I would not have seen the dots. They are very faint and very low on the tang. A big "mea culpa" on my part. I was totally wrong and did not know how or what to look for.

[doglegg]

The dots on the trapper and big folding hunter patterns can be hard to see as they are far down the tang, close to the knife frame and quit well hidden. Usually the blades have to be pivoted while looking in order to get a glimpse of the dots. The dots on folding guard cheetah should be higher and easier to see. Your pictures of the tangs isn't all that clear as far as seeing the little dots is concerned and a better picture of the 5111 1/2 folding guard might show the dots. I would be extremely surprised if your knives didn't have the dots and more surprised if they were actually made 1965-1969 period. Not saying this at all to diminish the knives as they are all very nice collectables.

Thanks, I'll look harder and clean some of the lubrication residue off. I appreciate it. Regards, ...Berl/Jake

You are absolutely correct. Without a magnifying glass I would not have seen the dots. They are very faint and very low on the tang. A big "mea culpa" on my part. I was totally wrong and did not know how or what to look for.

Thanks for the update. I once thought I was wrong but I was mistaken. Did I say once? Glad you got your mystery solved.

[Mumbleypeg]

Glad to know. (Started to say I'm glad to know I'm not crazy. But I am sure many here would argue that!)

Thanks,
Ken