When did Case really switch to the XX era stamp?

[Bryan]

Here is something I kind of struggle with. Almost every book that I've read that alludes to when Case went from the tested era stamp to the XX era stamp say it was c. 1940. Bernard Levine and many other seriouse knife people say these books are incorrect and that the stamp was actually changed c. 1945 or later... My gut tells me that I'd be wise to side with Mr. Levine and the other very wise collectors who say different.

When I'm selling a tested era or XX era knife, I used to say in my description 1920 - 1940 for tested and 1940 - 1964 for XX era just because that seems to be what most people think is correct. From now on I'm going with 1919 - 1945 for tested era and 1945 - 1964 for XX era (which I think is correct). ...Unless someone sets me straight.

Any thoughts are always appreciated. When do you think this change was actually made?

I've attached an image of the two stamps I'm alluding to...

Thanks!
Bryan

[remington collector]

I'm no Case expert by any strech of the imagination. I checked a few books, Voyles, Sargent, Ferguson and Price all agree with the 1940 date. If someone has some early 40's Case catalogs or advertisments , that shouls shed some light on the subject.

[Mossdancer]

Hey Bryan;
Just looking at the stamps, what they look like as far as impression or indention is concerned, it is totally different. A suggestion might be to look into machining methods of those years or more so the differences in fabrication, might lend a date more accurate.
IMO you would face less resistance by saying for the tested from 1919 to the early 40's, and from early 1940's through 1964 for the XX. Wouldnt
both of those get the point across and be technically plausible.
W.B.

[Bryan]

Thanks for your replies Remington Collector and Mossdancer.

I emailed the dear Mrs. Boser at Case to see what the people at Case might have to say about it. I'll reply with her response if she replies to me... Case might be getting sick of hearing from me by now... Shirley not...

Bryan

[smiling-knife]

Any chance that there are any Case workers/sales people, old hardware store owners etc from the 40s still living in the area? Put an ad in the local papers. That's about all I can contribute. Good luck s-k

[Bryan]

Here is how this went down when I emailed Shirley Boser...

Bryan writes...

Dearest Mrs. Boser,

Just have a quick question regarding Case's history.

Almost every book that I've ever read that alludes to when Case went from the tested era stamp to the XX era stamp say it was c. 1940. Bernard Levine and many other seriouse knife people say these books are incorrect and that the stamp was actually changed c. 1945... My gut tells me that I'd be wise to side with Mr. Levine and the other very wise collectors who say different.

What do you people at Case say?

Thank you very much for your contribution to our hobby. Your job and the efforts you put into it does not go un-noticed by us knife fanatics.

Bryan

Mrs. Boser Replies...

Oh, what a great debate this could be!

Case is on board with Case XX era started in 1940, along with Dewey
Ferguson, author of Romance of Collecting Case Knives, Jim Sargent,
author of American Premium Guide to KNIVES & RAZORS, C. Houston Price,
author of Price Guide to Collector Knives, Jim Parker, author of Pocket
Knife Trader's Price Guide...and the expert collector's list continues.
In the 60's, the tang stamp time line was verified by Mary Petro, Case
retiree who was employed by Case for 70 years. She was working on this
with Bob Farquharson, Case President who was responsible for starting
the Case Collectors Club.

While I have all the respect in the world for Bernard Levine, I sticking
with my experts. Bernard Levine is very knowledgeable and definitely an
expert on knives, but in this case (or should I say CASE) we have a
difference of opinion...and that allowed!

Thanks for the interesting questions and the interest in Case products.

Shirley Boser
Case Historian

Bryan replies with...

Thank you very much Mrs. Boser,

Would you mind if I share your response with the good people on our
small forum
at All About Pocket Knives? I know several of our members have an
interest in
knowing this.

Thanks again.
Bryan

The always helpfull Mrs. Boser comes back with..

Feel free to share this response with my blessings.

Bryan thinks to himself...

"What a wonderful person Mrs. Boser is.... I wonder what evidence exists that support the 1945 conclusion."

Bryan

[Bryan]

I just sent an email to Mr. Levine in hopes to get more info....

I asked Mr. Levine...

I have an interest in finding out what evidence exists that
supports the idea that Case changed from the tested era stamp to the XX era stamp c. 1945. I've read that you support the conclusion that c. 1945 is correct despite the fact that most Case related books state that the change was made c. 1940.

Mr. Bernard Levine replied...

The newly introduced commercial patterns of 1940-41 (the ones not shown in any catalogs)
are all Testeds.

All WWII-made (1942-45) Case *pocketknives* are Testeds. None are XX's.
e.g. TL-29, 3-blade aircrew (cattle pattern), etc.
Most of these patterns are shown on page 100 of "Case, the First 100 Years," although
the tang stamps don't show in the photo. Look in Cole's books and Silvey's military
pocketknives book pp 69,87 for bigger pics.

The transition date might even be later, c1949. I don't know, as I have not researched it.

This is not question of opinion or speculation. It is a question of fact. Get the facts!

DON'T GUESS. GO FIND OUT!
And let me know when you do.

BRL...

As time permits, I'm going to try to gather up some resources and do some digging and maybe put together a "Research Report" of some sort regarding this. If anybody has any resources or information to share, my email address is... [email protected]


Thanks!
Bryan

[knifeaholic]

I agree with BRL.

I had an original Case Tested catalog (still have a copy of it) with a price list dated January 1, 1942. This price list includes all the Case patterns in production at the time....and about 75% of these are patterns that were ONLY made with the "Tested" and older tang stamps, including the original Hobo patterns, switchblades, big green bone clasp knives, and many others.

Note the date...January 1, 1942...now we all know the event that occurred on December 7, 1941, right? That event would have caused a big change to Case's product plans...but the price list is proof in my mind that for the years of 1940 and 1941, Case still used the Tested stamp, and was heading into 1942 with the Tested stamp in use.

During the war of course, production shifted to almost all military with very limited commercial production. It would make sense to me that when Case retooled for civilian production after the war, with the pocket knife line patterns reduced by about 70%, that would have been an ideal time to go to a new stamp. AS BRL indictes, use of the Tested stamp could have continued after the war for a short while until the retooling was complete.

[Bryan]

Hello Knifeaholic,

I was hoping you might find this topic. I recall reading one of your posts at knifeforums.com about the 1940 date being wrong. I don’t remember exactly how it came up, or in what context, but I remember it had me second guessing the books right then and there. You have some very compelling information on the subject. Thank you for sharing.

Now… I hope you don’t mind an extra email in your mailbox, because I’m sending you one.

Bryan