CASE 1976 Cheetah "Lunch Box Knife"

[zp4ja]

So at the risk of getting blasted, here goes...

Being that the CASE 11-1/2 patterns and Cheetahs are my favorite pattern, I know a thing or two about them thru my research. Certainly not claiming to be an expert.

The only "true" CASE Cheetahs were the 1971 limited production models, the 71' 5111 1/2L and the 71' 5111 1/2LSSP. The production 71' Cheetahs were only made one year in 1971' and not continued thereafter. Of course there are some very limited numbers of EXTREMELY RARE 1970' and 1971' in stag and ivory handles with some having hollow ground and some with saber blades. When I say "true Cheetahs", I am referring specifically to the 71' and 70' production and prototype knives for these years only as CASE did discontinue the 11-1/2 in 81' and then started production on them again sometimes in the 90s when they used the Cheetah etch widely. Alot of people refer to the 11-1/2 as the Cheetah and that is fine by me.

So a widely known and respected CASE expert/authority/dealer has a "CASE 1976 Cheetah" listed in his knife list. Of course no such knife was ever listed in any books. I was born at night but not last night so I pick up the phone and inquire about the knife. Again, this is not Joe Blow selling it on ebay but a highly respected expert/dealer on CASE knives.
So I ask him, what's the deal and that I never heard of one or have seen in the books. He states he that the knife is the real deal and that he asked another collector or two that had seen or heard of these. Possibly could have been Ed Sticker who at one point had the largest collection of CASE 11-1/2s. Not sure.

Any way, he did not use the term, "Lunch Box Knife" but he thought on how it came to be sure fits the term. Since they released the 76' Razor Edge set in 1976', same year as the released the "Stag Set #2" with 10 and 9 dot leftover blades due to additional stag that CASE had, the fact this knife was made seem plausible to me.

The 76' Razor Edge" 5111-1/2LSSP of course has the Razor Edge etch. It also has a hollow ground blade (as they held the etch better as I understand it). The 76' Razor Edge also had the same "CASE XX" over "STAINLESS" over "USA" over 10 dot for the 70' and 9 dot for the 71' Cheetah, with of course 4 dots for the "Razor Edge" 76' 11-1/2 knife.

So since the stag was available, year stamp the same besides the number of dots, hollow ground blade, etc. That only leave the etch used. This expert therorized that the Cheetah etch machine was still around in the factory in 76' and since everything except the etch was identical, an employee cound have very well put an Cheetah etch on the knife instead of the Razor Edge etch. Sound very possible to me.

Being a hardcore CASE Cheetah and 11-1/2 collector, I am very curious about this one, although I don't think I would buy it unless it was much cheaper. Too many other XX and TESTED 11-1/2s I want.

Any thoughts on this??? Would love to hear some input. Regards, Jerry

[zp4ja]

No thoughts as to if I am out of my mind or not?

I thought the possibilty was plausible.

Thanks, Jerry

[Elvis]

You've explained the situation quite well Jerry, but I'd like to see a picture and even if I did, my advice would still be to hold the knife before deciding.

[MrBlister]

I think the term "lunchbox" is many times
over used and even more often NOT CORRECT.
Its sounds romantic, but in the old days,,,
men had honor.. not many would steal from their employer


Puma Pants

[zp4ja]

I think the term "lunchbox" is many times
over used and even more often NOT CORRECT.
Its sounds romantic, but in the old days,,,
men had honor.. not many would steal from their employer


Puma Pants

Thanks Bob for the input. Really appreciate it. Not planning to buy it nor do I want it at the price, just find it interesting, just posing a possible theroy that seemed plausible to me.

So MB, men still have honor in present and some don't as we know. So based on what I posted, what is your thoughts besides "I think the term "lunchbox" is many times over used and even more often NOT CORRECT. Its sounds romantic, but in the old days,,,men had honor.. not many would steal from their employer".

Not many??? Interesting comment. How many does it take? Is it just the term "lunch box knife" I used. Any comments? Do you have any other theories based on the extensive observations I posted. How else do you explain it assuming it is the real deal as far as not counterfeit.

We are talking the 1970s' here, not 1920', which is where is in my opinion that as which you have stated went south. That aside, what in all the detail I articulated do you think? Again, this is a highly reputable dealer/ expert on CASE knives and not some knucklehead that has the knife in question on ebay.

MB, I look forward to your response. Regards, Jerry

[Sanders Knives]

I have seen at least 10 of the 1976 cheetahs. I never knew for sure where they came from but always thought that a VERY WELL KNOWN dealer whose has passed away was the originator of these. I know he faked the 62131 canoe etched knives BEFORE Case actually shipped them out. He had an etching machine and liked to use it. I am NOT talking about Jim Parker. The person I suspect became a very well known Randall collector and dealer. I will not name him because I have no definite proof.

[zp4ja]

Thanks much for the reply and the detailed info. I did not realize that that many were floating around.

So I assume he took a 6 dot and removed the existing etch and put on the Cheetah etch. Never actually have seen the knife in question but I would assume given the swing guard, etc and the handwork involved, would be difficult to build a counterfeit from scratch.

Regards, Jerry

[sasquatch]

Not that familiar with the lineage of the Cheetahs or their authenticity. I did at one time see 10 stag handled muskrats on a table. All of them with Damascus blades and 2000 tang stamps. I bought one and later saw that the handle was cracked. I sent it in for a handle replacement. The lady I dealt with told me it was a factory made knife but they did not make any stag Damascus muskrats in 2000. They were all smooth green appaloosa. It does happen. They know it happens.