Cattle Knives, 45 pattern!

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 9:55 pm

Greg, Harold, Steve, Jerry, and Larry Thanks for looking at the cattle knives and making the gracious comments.

Here are pictures of a Case Bradford 6345 P green bone. All of the blades are stamped, but it is not stamped with a pattern number like the previous stag examples were. This one has been posted before but thought it would be good to put the Bradford _345's together in one thread. This one is in original condition with some carbon spotting.

Thanks for looking.

1967redrider · Post by **1967redrider** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 10:39 pm

That is a gorgeous old knife!

gsmith7158 · Post by **gsmith7158** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 2:56 am

Jerry the blades are outstanding on that knife. Looks like it was bought and forgotten.

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:59 am

Thanks John and Greg.

Here are pictures of another old one that I have posted previously in the Case 100 year old thread. This is a WR Case & Sons 6345. The front handle sort of looks like Rogers bone jigging to me, but the back handle not so much due the long groove. All blades are stamped. The blades have carbon spotting and some pitting and the main blade has a little ding in the blade edge so I think it has been used. Still in pretty nice shape for being as old as it is.

Thanks for looking.

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 11:53 pm

Here are pictures of a WR Case & Sons 2345 P with Ebony handles. This knife has been cleaned and shows some pitting on the tangs. All of the blades are stamped including the pattern number. This one has been posted before in a different thread. In my experience, Ebony handles are rare on older Case knives. I am aware of an old and very nice 02245 in Ebony that I hope can make an appearance in this thread (Tom?).

Thanks for looking.

steve99f · Post by **steve99f** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 12:25 am

That is a pretty knife Jerry! Even the spey blade has the long pull. Were these ever available with a single spring?

jlw257 · Post by **jlw257** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 12:25 am

Jerry,

peanut740 · Post by **peanut740** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 2:45 am

Jerry your 45 collection is impressive.

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 2:15 pm

Steve, Larry, and Roger thank you for looking and commenting. I've got a few more to post and then I'll give it a rest. Similar to what many other collectors say, the goals for my collection have changed a few times

. I began trying to collect Case knives and soon became overwhelmed with the sheer number of knives that I would need to understand. I decided to make a focus on the 45 pattern because I like the way it looks and there is a pretty large variety of handle materials, bone configurations, etc. So to me the 45 pattern has enough variation to be interesting, but not so much that it is overwhelming. The 45 pattern is common enough to find good examples at reasonable prices, but scarce enough to provide some satisfaction when you do find a nice one.

Steve, the 45 was definitely made in a single spring configuration in multiple handles (wood, composite, bone, and stag). I have posted examples earlier in the thread. If you were asking specifically about a 2 blade Ebony, the answer is still yes. Member Tom (olderdogs) has a really nice very old Ebony 02245 that I hope he will post. The Ebony 45's are pretty scarce - it will be a real score if you are able to find one.

olderdogs1 · Post by **olderdogs1** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 8:15 pm

Here you go Jerry. I have posted this one in other treads but it belongs here I believe. Case Bros Little Valley 2245. You have certainly posted some extraordinary knives.

Tom

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Fri Jul 08, 2016 7:42 pm

Tom, thank you for posting your Case Bros Little Valley 02245. Like all of your knives, it is a humdinger!

Thank you, too, for helping me find some of my knives. My recollection is that you have the same knife that I am showing this post.

Here are pictures of a WR Case & Sons 6345 P with red Winterbottom bone handles. All of the blades are stamped including the pattern number. It has been cleaned, but is in pretty good condition for its age.

Thanks for looking.

gsmith7158 · Post by **gsmith7158** » Fri Jul 08, 2016 8:18 pm

WOW! Jerry that's my favorite one you have shown so far. Just absolutely gorgeous!

FRJ · Post by **FRJ** » Sat Jul 09, 2016 2:31 am

You sure have shown some beautiful knives, Jerry. Real treasures.

jlw257 · Post by **jlw257** » Sat Jul 09, 2016 2:33 am

Jerry and Tom, Thanks for showing

Larry

peanut740 · Post by **peanut740** » Sat Jul 09, 2016 2:41 am

Jerry

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Mon Jul 11, 2016 9:15 pm

Greg, Joe, Larry, and Roger thank you for looking and commenting on the previous post. Greg, I agree the red winterbottom bone is a really pretty handle material!

Here are pictures of a Case Tested XX 6345 green bone with a master spear blade and secondary spey and pen blades. I believe it is from early in the Tested era because all of the blades are stamped. It has very little, if any, indication of pocket wear or being used.

Thanks for looking.

gsmith7158 · Post by **gsmith7158** » Mon Jul 11, 2016 11:37 pm

Another stunning knife Jerry. Long pull, bomb shield, immaculate blades and beautiful bone handles.WOW!

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:06 am

Thanks Greg. These pictures are of a Case Tested XX 6345 1/2 green bone with a master clip blade and secondary spey and pen blades. So it is the 1/2 (clip blade) version of the previous knife (same secondary blades; same bomb shield). All of the blades are stamped on this example. I believe this is an early Tested knife and maybe a transition knife from the Bradford era because the pen blade has the stamping "Case XX Tested" inside of the oval line as seen on some Bradford era knives.

The early Tested XX versions of the 45 pattern are very well made knives with nickel silver components, smooth operation, and strong blade snap.

Thanks for looking.

have aknife day · Post by **have aknife day** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 4:39 am

wow they keep getting better and better...45 is becoming my NEW favorite pattern...GREEN BONE preferably

jerryd6818 · Post by **jerryd6818** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 11:43 am

Jerry, it looks like Charlie hit your sweet spot with this thread. What a bunch of lookers.

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Fri Jul 15, 2016 2:40 pm

HAKD and JerryD, thanks for looking and commenting.

HAKD, as I recall you picked up a nice Tested 45 in your fabulous display case full of old, discontinued Case patterns so you are off to a great start if you decide to add a few. You should be able to find 45's to collect if you watch eBay and hit a big knife show occasionally. There are 2 other Case patterns that are very similar in appearance to the 45. The 30 which is smaller than 45 and the 94 which is larger than 45. The 45 is far more prevalent than the 30 and 94. All three patterns are discontinued by Case. The variety in the 45 cattle pattern diminished in the Case XX era with one 6345 1/2 variation and a few smooth black variations. Supposedly there is a Case XX USA 6345 1/2, but I have never seen a knife or even picture of one.

JerryD, I've been collecting this pattern for a few years. Charlie and I exchanged a few emails quite some time ago when I found AAPK and this thread. I suspect Charlie has a number of fine examples in this pattern that he has not posted. The examples that Charlie has posted are extremely nice.

I feel mildly embarrassed that I have monopolized the thread. I hope others that have pictures can post them. After I posted the first few pictures I got the idea that it would be useful to create a reference resource for collectors interested in the 45 cattle pattern as well as a reference for old Case handle materials, blade configurations, shields, and tang stamps. I've got a few more posts to make that will finish the pictures and Case catalog information that I want to document for the 45 cattle pattern.

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Sun Jul 17, 2016 12:48 am

These pictures are meant to show the Case Tested XX 6345 1/2 green bone variation with a SHeepfoot secondary blade instead of a SPey secondary blade. It has been a challenge for me to locate an unaltered Tested SH variation. The comparison picture shows 2 examples that have some blade loss issues. I included a war-time example with a spey blade to help highlight the blade issues. The 2 SH knives also show pocket wear on the shield and handles. There is a close-up picture of the pen blades that makes it easier to see the affects on the blade. The stamps are different sizes on the knives (not an issue) and there is a close-up picture to show the difference.

Except for some minor scratches on the clip blade, the war-time knife is in original condition. It may seem counter intuitive, but in my opinion the condition of the stained knife is superior to the other 2 knives.

Thanks for looking.

RalphAlsip · Post by **RalphAlsip** » Tue Jul 19, 2016 2:32 am

These pictures show a Case Tested XX 6345 1/2 Sp Pu in green bone with a Clip main blade and secondary Spey, and Punch blades. I believe it was made early in the Tested era because all blades are stamped and it has a bomb shield. The blades are full, however the shield and handles show evidence of pocket wear.

Thanks for looking.