Help with Utility 765-5

[JoeBud]

New to Case knife collecting and have acquired a fistful of folders over the past few months. Those I get. Happened upon this fixed blade 765-5 today that I traded for, but this one I don’t get. I found very little reference to it online other than it being discontinued. Tang stamp charts seem to be of little use. Anyone familiar with this that can tell me it’s rough age. The blocky handle is so unattractive it is somehow attractive. It’s like a love/hate relationship. Thanks for any info.

[steve99f]

I have a couple of Case FB knives that appear similar to the one you posted. They are from the late 90,s according to my notes. You are right they are blocky in the hand. I've attached a couple of pictures.

[knifeaholic]

What stunps me about the OP knife more than anyhting is the Case marking - why no date code?

[JoeBud]

What stunps me about the OP knife more than anyhting is the Case marking - why no date code?

Thank you. Same here on the lack of traditional date code. I didn’t know if the CASE XX mark was date related or not. I found one like it online and it lack the date code as well.

https://heartlandartifacts.com/auction ... 0-case-xx/

[Mumbleypeg]

FWIW the tang stamp chart on the Case Collector’s Club site says 1965-1980 for that stamp (CASE XX and USA). https://www.casecollectorsclub.com/college/tang-stamps/ Scroll down to find the section on fixed blades.

Since few if any cutleries (including Case) kept such records prior to mid-1960s or early 1970s, dates prior to that are likely “guestimates”. To my knowledge Case did not start applying annual date codes to anything, folding (pocket) or fixed blades, until they introduced the “dots” system in 1970. I have seen statements that prior to 1965 stamps for pocket knives were different than those for fixed blades but 1965 and after, the stamps for both are the same. The linked chart from Case would indicate otherwise.

Welcome to AAPK.

Ken

[knifeaholic]

FWIW the tang stamp chart on the Case Collector’s Club site says 1965-1980 for that stamp (CASE XX and USA). https://www.casecollectorsclub.com/college/tang-stamps/ Scroll down to find the section on fixed blades.

Since few if any cutleries (including Case) kept such records prior to mid-1960s or early 1970s, dates prior to that are likely “guestimates”. To my knowledge Case did not start applying annual date codes to anything, folding (pocket) or fixed blades, until they introduced the “dots” system in 1970. I have seen statements that prior to 1965 stamps for pocket knives were different than those for fixed blades but 1965 and after, the stamps for both are the same. The linked chart from Case would indicate otherwise.

Welcome to AAPK.

Ken

The thing is, this is clearly a very modern knife. Googling reveals that a number of handle variations were made, all with that same mark. And none are actually in stock and avaialble, so it is a discontinued model.

I'll post it on the Case Collector's Club forum to see if I can get an answer.

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks Steve. It will be interesting, and educational to know what they say.

Ken

[JoeBud]

Same here. Appreciate the help.

[knifeaholic]

I found nothing from the CCC that we did not already know. Modern knife, made in several varaints, now discontinued. What puzzles me is that Case would use that CASE XX stamp instead of the then current date code stamp. Also the rounsed S even though the knife is stainless.

[Modern Slip Joints]

Since it appears that in gathering solid information this thread has come to a dead end it is not wildly inappropriate for me to speculate a little.

Has Case ever made a clip point with a false edge or swedge shaped like 765-5 has? I do not recall one. So that you can not feel the edges of the 765-5's bolsters they have nitches aligned with the ends of grooves in the bone jigging. I do not recall Case doing that. Queen did that, especially with stag. Did Case ever make fixed blade knives with a full tang that included the hand guard shape then pin on hand guard/bolster slabs like the Buck 124 has? I don't recall Case using that assembly. I also do not recall another Case made fixed blade with the bottom of its tang curving down from the choil to the handguard like the 765-5. Speaking of choils, like many Case fixed blades, steve99f's 678-3 1/2 knives do not have choils. In contrast, the 765-5 has a choil. Buck 300 series knives made by Camillus after Buck started stamping date codes do not have date codes. Case Classics made by Queen do not have date codes or Case's standard tang stamps.

While Case may have contracted it out I speculate Case did not make the 765-5.

I have been wrong before and am always happy to be corrected. That's how I learn.

BTW, I remember 678-3 1/2 knives with their unusual for their tme period fullers. If I could have afforded every thing I lusted after I'd own one.

[JoeBud]

I emailed Case to get their opinion. They did reply wanting pictures. Ideally, they would know.

MSJ, I’m new to Case knives, but you make some good points.

[JoeBud]

From Case:
This knife was only available from 2010-2013, therefore that would be the age of your knife. We are sorry, we cannot provide any further information.