Case Cotton Sampler - Question

[Fallon63]

If I have learned one thing, it’s that all vintage Case knives are counterfeit unless proven otherwise.

Unfortunately, when I see a pristine old (pre-1940) Case knife I automatically think the same thing

[JLS]

Okay, I have a story about the knife. First, I'm not implying that any of this is true. I'm just looking for any verification, good or bad.

The story is that the knife was made for/by James (Jim) Parker and was in his personal collection. Supposedly it was one of two. The person that I purchased it from had some personal connection to Mr. Parker, or his family, and was able to acquire the Knife after his death. I cannot verify any of this. I'm not looking to sell the knife I'm seeking to learn more about it if possible.

[wlf]

Parker is in the same category as shiny old Case knives.

[Mumbleypeg]

Okay, I have a story about the knife. First, I'm not implying that any of this is true. I'm just looking for any verification, good or bad.

The story is that the knife was made for/by James (Jim) Parker and was in his personal collection. Supposedly it was one of two. The person that I purchased it from had some personal connection to Mr. Parker, or his family, and was able to acquire the Knife after his death. I cannot verify any of this. I'm not looking to sell the knife I'm seeking to learn more about it if possible.

The only way Parker had that in his collection is as an example of a counterfeit.

Ken

[Larryburford]

Good information on here

[gsmith7158]

Parker had a penchant for reproducing old style patterns in many of his various enterprises. If he had that in his collection it may have been a prototype that he floated in a previous venture. He had many old style knives made in Germany at one time. There is no telling where it came from but definitely not the Case factory.

[stockman]

I did. I wasn't going to be denied. Just like the knife, probably paid too much.

As long as you are happy with it, all is good. Harold

[1967redrider]

Give Jim Parker credit where credit is due- he did keep the company going in the 70's and 80's. But he flirted with Japanese makers, questionable reproductions and sub-par quality control.

More about him posted many moons ago on AAPK- viewtopic.php?t=4184

[Mumbleypeg]

Give Jim Parker credit where credit is due- he did keep the company going in the 70's and 80's. But he flirted with Japanese makers, questionable reproductions and sub-par quality control.

More about him posted many moons ago on AAPK- viewtopic.php?t=4184

Not sure which “the company” is you’re referring to, but his ownership of W.R. Case was about two years around 1989-1990. He did own several other cutlery (Parker-Frost, etc) and cutlery-related (Cutlery World) companies and ventures from the mid-1970s until his death. He was actively involved in buying, selling and trading knives during that entire time, and authored several books and price guides. In the early-to-mid 1970s I had several dealings with him, and still have some of his mail order sales lists from that time. viewtopic.php?p=574441#p574441

If you’re referring to Case, he bought it when it was in financial and operational trouble (sub-par quality problems, labor unrest/morale, etc). He was not able to bring Case out of those problems, and wound up selling it in bankruptcy. Personally I don’t think the bankruptcy was Parker’s fault - he inherited a mess, did a lot of “marketing schemes” trying to keep Case afloat. Many of those schemes were not what Case purists approve of either at the time nor in hindsight today. In the end his biggest problem was cash flow and not having deep enough pockets to stay the course until the problems were overcome. JMO

Ken

[Fallon63]

The story is that the knife was made for/by James (Jim) Parker and was in his personal collection. Supposedly it was one of two.

I have a hard time understanding that story. The knife has a tang stamp supposedly from 1905-1914. Parker owned Case 1989-90(ish). Why would Case make a knife for him and then put a tang stamp that was used from 1905-1914 and a TESTED trademark which doesn’t match the tang stamp timeframe?

[1967redrider]

. . . If you’re referring to Case, he bought it when it was in financial and operational trouble (sub-par quality problems, labor unrest/morale, etc). He was not able to bring Case out of those problems, and wound up selling it in bankruptcy. Personally I don’t think the bankruptcy was Parker’s fault - he inherited a mess, did a lot of “marketing schemes” trying to keep Case afloat. Many of those schemes were not what Case purists approve of either at the time nor in hindsight today. In the end his biggest problem was cash flow and not having deep enough pockets to stay the course until the problems were overcome. JMO

Ken

Thanks for clarification, Ken.

[1967redrider]

The story is that the knife was made for/by James (Jim) Parker and was in his personal collection. Supposedly it was one of two.

I have a hard time understanding that story. The knife has a tang stamp supposedly from 1905-1914. Parker owned Case 1989-90(ish). Why would Case make a knife for him and then put a tang stamp that was used from 1905-1914 and a TESTED trademark which doesn’t match the tang stamp timeframe?

Check out the Case Classics that were made.

[peanut740]

The knife is a counterfeit. It wouldn't be surprising that it could have crossed Parker's fingers at some point.

[Mumbleypeg]

The knife is a counterfeit. It wouldn't be surprising that it could have crossed Parker's fingers at some point.

True that!

Ken

[Mumbleypeg]

Just a quick little lesson in counterfeiting. The lack of any shoulder grind line on the tang of the OP knife is about as flagrant an indication of re-stamping as you will ever see. The original tang stamp has been grinded off, buffed, and re-stamped. Here are some examples, using the pictures from this thread, to illustrate what to look for.

Shoulder grind line present

IMG_7076.jpeg (139.52 KiB) Viewed 656 times

Shoulder grind line removed

IMG_7077.jpeg (72.31 KiB) Viewed 656 times

I don’t know whether the blade originated as a Rough Ryder or not. Whatever it was originally, both sides have been grinded and buffed to the point of total removal of the grind line before the fake stamps were applied. (In most examples the original grind line is at least partially remaining, but has an upward curve as it nears the blade spine - see posts in the Counterfeit Watch forum for examples). In the OP case the shoulder grind line has been completely obliterated.

Ken