Case 3254

[stockman]

Today a friend brought a 3254 XX to show me. It is gassing and in need of help. My question
is this knife is a XX first model, but the blades look to be Tested blades. The master is tang stamped like most XX and has the pattern number. Is this unusual? I have never seen this before. Most early knives would not be stamped with the pattern number.

[BIGHEAD]

some were stamped and some not.

[Knifekid]

some were stamped and some not.

Agreed...do you have a picture? The first models had a very short rear bolster.

[stockman]

Perry I did not take a scan of this knife, I realized that I should have 5 minutes after my friend was gone. I know that it is a first model and I know that it has tested style blades. That made me wonder about the pattern number. I don't know what years the first models were produced.
The XX on the tested frame should be the oldest and should be like a tested except the stamp.
I was just wanting to learn more about these knives 54's and had not seen one exactly like this one. Any more thoughts?

[survivor711]

Does it look like this?

[BIGHEAD]

That is some bad shrinkage I think I would rip 'em off---- the scales that is

[stockman]

That does not look like a first model.

[survivor711]

Bighead - I did just that, took the scales off and sent it in to Case Repair. Got a note from them today and they are repairing it for 28.50 and I can't wait to get it back. I told them to do what they could with it and send me a bill. This is the same type knife my dad carried and when he passed away in 64 one of my brother's got the knife. But now I will have one just like he carried, same time model and everything so I am excited about getting this one back. As soon as I get it back I will post the after pictures for you all. The patina on the blades/springs is dark dark and there is NO rust at all on them. I don't know what the shield will look like as the knife had the shield ground off and I don't know if Case will pin another on. I know some folks will say, "Heck you coulda bought another New knife for a few bucks more...." but its more a memory thing for me! I'll put it in a frame and if the shield isn't right, I will show it from the back side. Dad skinned a lot of deer with his old trapper!

[survivor711]

Stockman - No I know this one isn't a "First" Model - I was just showing the scales, how they had shrunk and fragmented. But it is an old 3254, a few years older than me.

[BIGHEAD]

S711 you will be surprized when you get it back but they will glue a shield and you will not have any patina .at least I never have. I sent my grandads back to them for a broken backspring(it wasn't broken when I got it) I opened the main one day and snap.But they fixed it and I still have it and as the picture shows it is true Pocket worn and well loved and used. Not all the patina is gone but much of it.

[stockman]

S711, I sent a 3254 to Case to be re-handled they did a nice job. I asked them to not clean the blades. Knife was nice when I got it back.

[Aimus Moses]

Bighead your Gramps sure packed that Case a many a day in his pocket to give it that look didn't he? I had a Case mini-trapper that had the part of the long spey blade that touches the back spring worn badly. It was rounded off badly and the blade had no snap in any position, opening, closing, and no half stop. I sent it to Case with a request to replace the long spey blade with a smaller pen blade that Case used to put on the 6207 mini trappers. I liked the pen blade better than the long spey blade. I offered to pay for the work and the replacement blade. I received the mini trapper knife back from Case in about 4 weeks with the long spey blade replaced with another long spey blade. Case also sent a note with the knife. It said Case will not alter any pattern Case knife with any parts that were not offered in that pattern for that year. Case did not offer a mini trapper with a pen blade for the year that mini trapper was made. Case said by doing so, it would effect the collecting price of the knife. In short, they would not make a one of a kind regular production knife for a small price or to just please a customer. I guess they weren't like Schrade where anything was possible. I wanted the mini trapper knife with a pen blade to be a EDC user. I understand their way of looking at it so, I went on a hunt for a mini trapper with a pen blade and not a long spey. It would have been nice to have gotten the pen blade on that Case mini trapper because it has really beautiful bone handles on it. I'm still satisfied with Case's work on the mini trapper knife and the repair didn't cost anything. Who could complain about that?

Aimus

[BIGHEAD]

Yeah that one was a toter for sure I think Gramps had it in his pocket the day he passed away.

[survivor711]

I better call em.

[survivor711]

Called today and talked with Mary. Very nice conversation. They are gonna try to not buff the springs but to get the scales they will rub some of the patina off getting them matched to the bolsters (No way around it). She said she will tell 'em not to clean the blade so I hope it looks OK. The Shield will be glued. OH well! Still looking forward to getting it back.

[Elvis]

Unfortunately the oldies I've sent in have gotten a modern day shield. I think it takes away from an old knife a bit (especially since they had the old shield I sent with the knife). That's the only "problem" I've ever had with them. They do some beautiful work!