knife i.d.

[little d.]

hi everyone just joined this morning and still learning. i bought this case knife at ebay last week, i bought it as a 1980 model boss. i got it this morning and i am not sure what i really bought. i think it might be older than a 80 and not really sure what to type it as. it doesn't have any thing other than the tang marks. it looks near mint. tang marked case xx p172 with no dots, and on the other side hand made in u.s.a. thanks for any thoughts little d.

[peterforce]

i am far from a case expert but i dont think this knife is a real case.

lots looks wrong....but please wait for others opinions but this has fake written all over it to me.

im not calling it one...so dont panic....im no where near up to par as some of
the CASE fellaz are here.this is a popular knife to amongst CASE lovers so
you will find out the good or the bad very soon.

now remember this is just from what i have actually scene in the past with this knife.

the rear tang stamp looks off.the nick looks to small.plus and this is one i would like to know.

did case release any of these without the BOSS or BUFFALO blade etch?

if you have ebay link that would be great!

EDIT-learn and then buy....imo.

[big monk]

In Steve Pfeiffer's book,he tells of a lot of "'GOOF -UPs"" with this knife,from the Case company---there was a 10 Dot,1980 version of the P172,made,that used the older 70's tang stamp,without ""lightning S"" in Case----and some without the 10 Dots,also,using the older tang stamp---there is suppose to be some type of "'BOSS"" etch,on the blade maybe,--------sure hope Steve sees this,and can explain it better--Case Collectors Club,put out some info,about all this,in a news letter December 1981--------good luck

[little d.]

here is the auction # 130423419738

[robinetn]

Is this knife a lockback ? It dosen't look like it is marked stainless . The boss is a stainless steel lockback P172 with a BOSS etch . Cock the blade at 45degrees and look on the back of the tang under the IN U.S.A.(that is where P172's have the dots if they have any ). If you don't see any dots it is probably a 1965 -1969 U.S.A. model which has had the Buffalo buffed off .

Bob R. (RIDGEWOOD CUTLERY)
http://cgi.ebay.com/1980-Case-Boss-Clas ... 5931038116

[sextonknifeworks]

If it is a boss it will be ss and have a lock blade. Case never made a 1970 10 dot. The 1980 10 dot did not have a lightning s.

[Ramrod]

I think your right, thinking it may be older than 1980.
There are some differences as have been pointed out, but it looks too nice to be a fake....at least from here. What are your thoughts after handling it? Does it feel like a high quality knife in your hand?
My opinion: Not a 1980 Boss, but not a fake either. ( ps. I have been wrong before)

[little d.]

well it an't no boss lockblade,and it doesn't have any blade ecthing.i have looked at it with a 30x magni under bright light and i can't detect any buffing anywhere on the knife. it has a very slight green on some of the pins, and the wood is a perfect match. if it's a counterfit the case company needs to find the maker and put them to work. it might have the wrong tang stamp or a second that didn't get a ecth and a employ got it. my gut tells me it's a authentic casexx but i think its a blooper that crawled out of the factory. i did email the seller to see if he could give any more background on it and to inform them that i might be asking for a refund. but it does have the feel and the look of a very well made knife. i have some of the new made china schrade clasp, and the craftmanship of the china made is nowhere near this knife. if anyone has one of the case collectors book by steve pfeiffer i wish you would see what it says about this knife. i am going to get a copy of his book but it will be a few days before i can make the vourney to a book store that has one.

[Iron Hoarder]

I just read the article in the book and it would seem you have one from the early 1970's. The nail nick looks a bit different and I can't explain the missing etch on the blade but I would say it's real but not 1980.

[Owd Wullie]

Sit tight, I suspect Steve will weigh in on that one.

[knifeaholic]

I agree with Bob R's assessment.

First of all it has the old style shield, with the oval around CASE. That limits the knife to early 1974 vintage at the very latest. Some P172's exhibit the "hidden dots" syndrome but really only on the later ones 1977-1979 where there are fewer dots. If this one had dots then as Bob said they would be visible on the back of the tang if you move the blade back and forth.

No dots then means a USA model - the P172 was introduced in 1969 and was made with no dots for 1969 and 1970. If the blade really is blank with no buffing off of the Buffalo, then I suppose it could be an oddball factory error but I have never seen nor heard of one like that before. But I suppose it is possible.

Just so everyone is clear, the BOSS was a later knife introduced in 1980, non ever made with the 70's tang stamps, the BOSS is a stainless steel lockback with a glazed finish blade.

[Ramrod]

Little d,
If your looking to get a copy of Collecting Case Knives, you cant beat this deal.
check out this link:
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 31&t=19279
Mark

[little d.]

thanks for all the help on this, if i get the chance i am going to town in the morning and stop by the jewelry store and let the jewler look at it, he has been making stuff for over 50 years and hes a knife nut also. if it has been polished or buffed he will be able to tell with his eyes closed. i have one knife that i know has been buffed and polished in the last ten years and put up and when you look at it at 30x you can see some buffing compound in the cracks. this one has hard brown grease. thanks again for all the input and i know i will have a ton of new ? in the near future. by the way my name is little d. collums and i am a ranger 3 wildland fire fighter from ms.

[peterforce]

i still say with that nail nick being so small that it was buffed clean.

lots forget that when you buff down a blade you will shrink the nick.

thats why the nick looks different then in books.

please let us know

[little d.]

ya'll got some good eyes and have to had seen lots of knives. my guy said it had been buffed and a very good buffing job at that. he has 2 of these one is a mint 69 and the other a 69 that had been used by his dad and his son. The seller got back with me and wants to do right and give a refund or lower the price to the value of the knife. if i was to keep it what would be the fare market value of the knife. it looks new to me but i am by no means a knife expert. i paid $61.00 +5.00 0n shipping and it will cost another 5 to send it home. tell me what you think its worth at a local market. thanks danny

[robinetn]

ya'll got some good eyes and have to had seen lots of knives. my guy said it had been buffed and a very good buffing job at that. he has 2 of these one is a mint 69 and the other a 69 that had been used by his dad and his son. The seller got back with me and wants to do right and give a refund or lower the price to the value of the knife. if i was to keep it what would be the fare market value of the knife. it looks new to me but i am by no means a knife expert. i paid $61.00 +5.00 0n shipping and it will cost another 5 to send it home. tell me what you think its worth at a local market. thanks danny

The knife is still easily worth $40 - $50 . If he gave you $10 - $15 rebate you would have a good deal .

Bob R. (RIDGEWOOD CUTLERY)

[peterforce]

thank you for getting back with the info. it is appreciated very much.

as far as keeping it....

most folks here,im sure would agree, that as the blade was being buffed
so was its value as a collectible knife.if you were to relist it on ebay as what it is
you would not break even.{ebay hawk guess}

BUT ARE YOU GONNA EDC-Every Day Carry or basically gonna use THE KNIFE.

if it is indeed a solid case built knife with only the blade buffed i would keep her for 40$
even.i would EDC that knife into the ground! have fun with a knife that most of the time
would stay tucked away.i have yet to own a boss or buffalo but both feel great in the hand.
also i have to admit if i owned one and it wasn't ever used, i would safe her myself.

also keep in mind that a buffing,honing and sharpening in the end all cost money as well.
so if its been a user their is some savings their as well.who knows how good or bad the blade
looked before the work? or how long the person worked on the blade?
if it is a well done job then even better of course.

hope i helped.