CASE 31549L CVM COPPERLOCKS

[jjohnston]

I have recently found 3 Case CopperLocks, year's 2000 with the tang stamp 31549L CV and the box reading CVM. These are some real bright and shinnies and I'am guessing the M stands for mirror finish but would like to make sure. But what really got me excited was that the handles where not like any i had seen on a CopperLock. They appear to be Corelon. The blue Knife has handwriting on the box that say's Cosmic Blue, The green knife's box just has E.G. on it (I'm guessing Emerald Green) ad the tan and multi colored pearl knife box just say's CVM like all the others. Would like to know for sure the correct color for these. also, would like to know when Corelon was first introduced by Case. Sure would like to know some production numbers on these. I'm enclosing a few photos to show these 3 pretty knives. In one of the photos i placed my hand and old wrinkled fingers to show the mirror finish on both the blade and bolsters. Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.[image][/image]download/file.php?mode=view&id=309505ht ... &id=309509

[Mumbleypeg]

I've been watching to see if someone that knows the answers to your questions would respond, but since no one has, I'll give you some semi-educated guesses.

First, I don't think the handles on your knives came from the Case factory. Around that time (2000) there were a couple of aftermarket suppliers putting Corelon handles on Case knives. One was Michael Prater (Painted Pony) and the other was Jim Frost (Frost Cutlery). Your knives started out having yellow synthetic handles (denoted by the "3" in the pattern number) which were then replaced with Corelon. If you can post pictures of the boxes and their labels that might give some better clues. In more recent years Case has released knives handled with what they call "Kirinite" which appears to be a similar material to Corelon. On the Case web site I don't find any references to Corelon.

Sorry I don't know anything about what those colors on your knives are called. As for the "CVM", the CV is for chrome vanadium steel. Case has used CV steel throughout their history, and all I have seen was polished to a mirror finish when it left the factory. So I doubt the "M" would be for "mirror". My guess is the M might be for "Millenial" (year 2000).

Full disclosure: all of the above are guesses on my part. Hope someone that knows more can confirm or refute.

Ken

[jjohnston]

These are the boxes the knives came with. All case white Chrome Vanadium.download/file.php?mode=view&id=309606

[Mumbleypeg]

I don't see anything helpful on the labels but it was worth a try. I was hoping to see some aftermarket labeling that might indicate whoever put the Corelon handles on them.

Ken

[jjohnston]

Thanks Ken,
I just got an email back from Case in response to asking about what the M in CV was. They said the CVM on the label stands for Chrome Vanadium Metal.

[gsmith7158]

At one time I had a couple of muskrats with corelon handles and blade etched that said Premier Edition 1 of 500. I believe they were 2000 or 2001. I'm pretty sure I bought them from Silverladdie. I was under the impression that Michael Prayer was commissioned by Case to do these but I could be wrong.

[jjohnston]

Greg,
I just got an E-mail From Case...They are Michael Prater Corelon handles. The do not have any etching on the blade. I also have an information request pending from both Michael Prater and Case about the number produced in 2000.
Thanks for the leads.
Regards,
James