case xx police collectable

[dulledge]

Back in 1989 I bought my father a collectable case xx. I really can't remember the reason behind having these made and sold. It's a case xx, main blade has enscribed " Winston-Salem Police Department" and "1913-1989".
The second blade is enscribed with "To Protect and Serve", also " 1 of 250". This knife is 204 of the 250. On the handle there has been added a miniature of the police badge. It has came back to me after the passing of my father 2 weeks ago. I was given all the knifes that he had collected over the past years. Just wondering if anyone would know what the value (ball park figure) of this knife could possibly be. It also lives in a wooden case with a plaque listing the fallen officers prior to 1989.

[philco]

My sincere condolences on the recent loss of your father.

Your description sounds to me like what you have is quite likely a trapper pattern knife. Many special orders and aftermarket modifications utilize the Case trapper, perhaps because it is a popular pattern and because the blades are large enough to accomodate a fair amount of etching.
A standard model Case trapper will sell new today in the $45- $50 range. You didn't mention the handle material in your description, but unless it is stag or mother of pearl, most likely the handle material does not factor much into the value of the knife.
The greatest collector interest would most likely come from someone who is or has been affiliated with the police department that appears on the blade etch. My best guess is that the value might run in the range of $50 to $80 more or less. I will say, however, that given the history of that knife, if it were mine now, money could not buy it.
If you could post a picture of that knife here on this thread, perhaps some of the better informed Case folks could be of more help to you than I have been.

By the way, to AAPK.

Phil

[woseyjales]

The North Carolina Highway Patrol has or had yearly commemorative knives produced.
An ebay seller a few years ago had about a dozen listed.
Most were Case but I know at least one was a Schrade.
A search for those(NCHP) on ebay may provide a rough approximation of what a Winston-Salem PD issue would be worth.

You might even contact the NCHP and see if someone there
that is/was involved with their commems could provide some
insights on the value & history for the W-S model.

[dulledge]

Thanks..I will post a pic of the knife just as soon as I can. It will definetely stay with me. Soon as I can get my camera and the knife and computer within arms reach I'll post a pic. Thanks for the time.