Case Bradford 8223 currently on eBay

[merlechris]

Is anyone familiar with a model 8223?

eBay item number: 321297933029 - VINTAGE CASE BRADFORD (1915-19) 8223 PEARL KNIFE COFFIN BOLSTERS

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CASE-BR ... 4aced962e5

[peanut740]

I don`t know anything about the pattern,but the stamps look original.Bradfords normally had pattern #`s.Someone buffed the crap out of the pearl and bolsters.JMHO.

[msteele6]

I noticed this knife too. I've seen this sellers offerings often and haven't ever noticed any with problems but this knife does sound a few alarm bells. As peanut mentioned, the stamps look authentic. However, if you notice the "8" in the pattern number is missing. Moreover, if you look closely, it almost appears as if it's been scratched out. That raises serious questions. Minty looking pearl handles always raise my suspicions because, unlike bone, there is no way to identify the maker or the age by use of distinctive jigging patterns and color, in addition the pearl handled knives frequently don't have shields, another aid to authentification. Because of that, I often see Case knives that look a little the worse for wear with perfect pearl handles (in fact, I own one myself). That fact alone is enough to arouse my suspicions since pearl is the MOST likely handle material to show cracks. On Tested era knives you don't even have a pattern number to help, but on this knife, there IS a pattern number. How to solve that problem. Simply erase the pattern number. I'm not accusing the seller of doing that, he may very well have bought the knife that way, but I am saying caveat emptor.

P.S. I looked up the 23 pattern in Sargents and it appears to be the same as this knife (as the partial pattern number would indicate) with what Sargent calls "coffin/recessed" bolsters. Length is given as 3 9/16".

[btrwtr]

I went and looked at the auction to see the additional pictures. I addition to what has already been mentioned.

There is excessive wear on everything but the pearl handles. Bolsters and blades are all heavily worn and rounded with no crisp edges or lines. I see none of the typical flaking of the pearl handles at the liners although there are some rather heavy scars in the liners themselves. The back liner appears to a slight inward bow to it. Unusual to see the handles in this condition on a knife that is so heavily worn. The area under the pen blade kick looks to be roughly filed or ground. The handles do appear to have a crack below the front center pin although the sellers claims the handles are "chip and crack free". I would find it hard to trust a seller (that appears to be a knife dealer) that describes such a knife as excellent + condition. NKCA fair condition might be closer. At best an old heavily used and heavily buffed knife with reshaped blades.

[zp4ja]

Hey Guys,

The blades (at least the mainblade) looks way short. Also look at the fact there is no swedge on the mainblade. Not sure that someone would reprofile a blade on the spine/swedge. The nail nick on the pen looks a bit big for the era, in my opinion.

As msteele said, the first digit of the pattern number appears that someone crudely scratched it out with a sharp metal object like a construction nail.

Looks to me that it might be original frame that has been polished and rehandled. Also, I think it may have had some non original blades installed or HEAVILY used and reprofiled blades. Too many variables for me to touch it even at 5 bucks or 1 cent for that matter, just how I roll. Obviously my opinion is that I would not buy nor do I like the knife based on overall knife read.

I do however have a "CASE'S BRADFORD PA." (please note my knife has the apostrohpe "S", CASE'S) GS223 Coffin Bolster to compare the knife to for whatever that is worth. Too lazy to post the pics so here is the link to my AAPK post...

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... lit=+GS223

Second post has more detail from research I have done, just forget the advertisement part (unless someone is willing to pay fair price).

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... lit=+GS223

Regards, Jerry

[msteele6]

It would be interesting to have this knife in hand. It almost looks like the swedge has been buffed (or ground) off, possibly to eliminate deep pitting. It would also be nice to try to examine the inside of the liner, if the knife had originally had a shield you might be able to detect the pin hole in the liner.

zp4ja, what a great old GS223!

[zp4ja]

Thanks msteele! That GS223 is a sweet old girl in great condition for it's age. Hard to find that 23 Coffin pattern, but in full blade/unsharpened, even harder. Still has killer action, snaps and solid half stops.

I agree, the OP knife in hand would be an interesting read, but in my opinion, could be wrong, I see all I need to from the provided pics. Just personally do not like the knife as far as "being all original". Too many variables as I said. Just my opinion and how I roll...

Jerry