Case jack knife - blade "notch"?

[Old Hunter]

I just bought this knife off of e-bay, it is currently en-route to me (anticipate Monday delivery). I was looking over the sellers photo's one more time and noticed a notched tang under the Case XX USA tang stamp (look under the A.) I have not noticed this on any other pocketknife I own - what is the purpose of the notch or does that mean the main blade has been replaced? Thanks, OH

[Iron Hoarder]

Looks like the notch that is on the lock back blades. Probably a replaced blade then. Those bolsters have been heavily polished.

[knifeaholic]

Knife looks fine to me. That notch is just where the tang back is ground out to fit the end of the backspring. Sometimes that notch got ground out a bit more aggressively as on that knife.

[stockman]

You know what I like about Steve, he is not like every other "EXPERT" he does not find problems
that are not there. Good knife friend to have.

Stockman

[Old Hunter]

Thanks Gents! I should have the knife Monday and will have a chance to handle it and take more pictures. Glad to know it should be right - it will be a nice one to carry. OH

[tjmurphy]

I certainly don't qualify to answer in this thread but I'm going to. Is Steve looking at the same "notch" that I am?? Never ever saw that before. That cannot be there by accident.

[bonehead]

TJ, I'm with you. No expert but have never seen anything like that notch under the "A". Perhaps its fine but none the less nothing I've ver seen before. I do understand what Steve says about the tang meeting the backspring, but the area I see has nothing to do with backspring placement. All said other that, everything looks much the way I would expect it to be, But then again I will never have the expertise that Steve has or many others here on AAPK on Case Knives. BH

[Old Hunter]

The Case jack-knife arrived today; it is a 6216 1/2 bone handled jack with a main clip blade, secondary pen, and nice half stops. The notch I inquired about to start this thread is identical on both blades, but you must use a flashlight to see it on the pen, you must get just the right angle (as in the first picture) to see it on the clip. I think Steve has nailed the "notch issue" - with a flashlight I can find similar but smaller notches on other knives of various brands. Iron Hoarder nailed it on the polishing - it has been polished quite a bit. I also think the main blade has been tipped and re-profiled (nicely but re-profiled none the less) OAL of the knife is 3-3/8", exposed length of the main blade is 2-3/8". The blades transposed in position from what I normally expect to see on a Case brand knife, but I don't know enough to know if they are right or wrong. The knife has very nice opening and closing snap, no wobble in the pen, and very slight wobble in the clip, the bone is very nice in color. I have about $50 in this knife (to include shipping) - think I will keep it as it will give me a nice older Case that I can EDC without worrying about losing value - I've already done that by buying it! Thanks for all your input. OH

[Chief RID]

I love that knife. Great pick-up! Thanks for sharing.

[knife7knut]

It does look like the blade has been tipped.As for the placement of the blades,I looked at a few of my Case knives(I don't have that many;maybe 20)and that blade placement is valid on the Case Barlow I have.As your knife is very similar in size and shape to the Barlow,that may explain the blade placement.

[zp4ja]

Great pickup OH!

As stated that 09 Barlow came with both secondary blade in front and back, it varied from knife to knife, I believe due to tooling used and when made.

Same deal when the 16 and 16-1/2 pattern came back in 1962. Pen in front is expected and normal.

Notch is normal too. Don't have the knife in hand at the moment but here is a pic. a little bit of crud around the notch and not the best pic but you get the idea. Here is a red bone USA 6216-1/2...

Jerry

[Old Hunter]

Thanks guys - I'm becoming more and more comfortable with this knife - sort of stuck my neck out as I knew I didn't know what I was doing! OH

Jerry, by any chance do you know the length of your main blade? I would like to know how much tip my knife is missing. Thanks! Bruce

[zp4ja]

No problem Bruce. It will take a day or two to get the measurement though. Will let you know. One question, when you say "exposed length of the main blade is 2-3/8", I assume you are measuring from the bolster to the tip and not the shoulder to the tip. Will try to get a better pic of the notches but I think we have put that to rest.

Jerry

[Old Hunter]

Jerry, I measured from the bolster to the tip. In scaling your picture and then comparing to my knife I think I am missing the last quarter inch of the blade. Thanks, Bruce

[zp4ja]

Hey Bruce,

Mine measures 3" from bolster to tip. I also have a 6216 with a Spear that also measures 3 inches. Looks like you are missing about 5/8". Scaling my pic may be inaccurrate as the pic is not "birds eye", straight down. Still a sweet knife you have. I would not be bummed about that if the knife is tight.

BTW, both blades, both knives exhibit the now infamous notch.

Congrats again on a sweet knife!

Jerry

[Old Hunter]

Thank you Jerry! I appreciate you taking the time to pull them out and measure the blades for me. I am not worried about it a bit, got the knife at a decent price - nice, original red bone that I can EDC without dropping the value of a "collectors item"; whoever did the reconfiguration of the blade did a very nice job with it. Bruce

[zp4ja]

No problem Bruce. Glad to help. I only have a few 16s but I really like that pattern. At the risk of diverting from the topic at hand, If you don't have any CASE 31 or 35 patterns you will sure like those too if you like the 16 frame.

Regards, Jerry

[knifetime]

I like it,great bone good find.