How old is this knife?

[Pile Driver]

It's an interesting looking knife

Thank you

[Steve Warden]

Sorry, no idea.
I'm not a toothpick guy, but that one sure is pretty.

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

According to the tang stamp and this page: http://www.wrcase.com/case_college/tang_stamps/ it is 1905-1920

[Pile Driver]

According to the tang stamp and this page: http://www.wrcase.com/case_college/tang_stamps/ it is 1905-1920

I did see this info as well, it seems older to me. At least on the front end of that period I guess.

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

It can't really get much older than that. According to the company history on the Case website, the company was formed at the turn of the century and the four brothers started making knives in 1889. What makes you think it is older than 1905-1920?

[Pile Driver]

It can't really get much older than that. According to the company history on the Case website, the company was formed at the turn of the century and the four brothers started making knives in 1889. What makes you think it is older than 1905-1920?

The grind, the shield, the long pull, the square bolster. Looks like an old locking clasp hunter. It's not thin like a texas toothpick.

[RalphAlsip]

I hope I'm wrong and I don't mean any disrespect... However I see things on the knife that don't resemble how Case made knives in the Case Bradford era the blade markings indicate.

The shield is unfamiliar
The big square bolster on the blade end is unfamiliar
The blade shape and grind is unfamiliar
The pattern is unfamiliar

I hope other folks can share opinions that prove me wrong.

[Pile Driver]

I hope I'm wrong and I don't mean any disrespect... However I see things on the knife that don't resemble how Case made knives in the Case Bradford era the blade markings indicate.

The shield is unfamiliar
The big square bolster on the blade end is unfamiliar
The blade shape and grind is unfamiliar
The pattern is unfamiliar

I hope other folks can share opinions that prove me wrong.

None taken, that's why I ask because it seems older. I am curious to know more about it.

[kootenay joe]

I am not a Case collector but still have seen quite a few over the last few decades. My initial thought as soon as i saw the picture was: "i ain't never seen no Case knife that looks like that". Frame shape or blade profile & grind. However maybe Case tried a few odd patterns early on ? Steve will tell us !
What is marked on back side tang ?
Whatever this knife is, it is attractive. I like it.
kj

[Pile Driver]

I am not a Case collector but still have seen quite a few over the last few decades. My initial thought as soon as i saw the picture was: "i ain't never seen no Case knife that looks like that". Frame shape or blade profile & grind. However maybe Case tried a few odd patterns early on ? Steve will tell us !
What is marked on back side tang ?
Whatever this knife is, it is attractive. I like it.
kj

TESTED XX

[knifeaholic]

It is anywhere from one to ten years old.

Not a Case, not even remotely a Case...complete fake.

It is, however, a very nice looking knife, unusual pattern.

Just nothing like anything Case ever made.

[kootenay joe]

Pile, is this your knife ? or one you have been thinking of buying ?
kj

[RalphAlsip]

Not a Case, not even remotely a Case...complete fake.

This is what I was trying to communicate as well - I need to work on being more direct

[Pile Driver]

Pile, is this your knife ? or one you have been thinking of buying ?
kj

It is a knife in a lot that I bought with a couple other old Case knives in similar shape I guess I got burned. Waiting to get them all in hand to see if I can recoup some of the dough from this embarrassment. This was one of three that I was interested in the lot for. No offense meant to Knifeaholic, how is there zero outside chance? It's just a fact it's not genuine?

[kootenay joe]

Knifealohic is Steve Pfeiffer, author of "Collecting Case Knives Identification and Price Guide". Besides being a nice guy always willing to help, he is also one of the very top 'experts' on Case knives.
kj

[Pile Driver]

Knifealohic is Steve Pfeiffer, author of "Collecting Case Knives Identification and Price Guide". Besides being a nice guy always willing to help, he is also one of the very top 'experts' on Case knives.
kj

I don't doubt that and I am not being accusatory. I guess I'll get it in hand and maybe it will be more glaring to me. It seems like the quality isn't lacking, doesn't seem like someone's shoddy attempt at a fake so I'm baffled I guess.

[kootenay joe]

Fakes are not necessarily 'shoddy'. They can be well made and hard to spot.
Knife companies did not make knives 'willy-nilly'. They were set up with dies for specific patterns. This is why it can be said "Case never made a knife like that". There are old catalogs that show every pattern made from the start.
There is zero doubt: your knife has nothing to do with Case. I say "zero doubt" because Steve said it is not a Case, which i had already suspected.
We have all been fooled and bought fakes. It is part of learning to read the knives, not just the markings. So don't be too hard on yourself.
kj

[Pile Driver]

Fakes are not necessarily 'shoddy'. They can be well made and hard to spot.
Knife companies did not make knives 'willy-nilly'. They were set up with dies for specific patterns. This is why it can be said "Case never made a knife like that". There are old catalogs that show every pattern made from the start.
There is zero doubt: your knife has nothing to do with Case. I say "zero doubt" because Steve said it is not a Case, which i had already suspected.
We have all been fooled and bought fakes. It is part of learning to read the knives, not just the markings. So don't be too hard on yourself.
kj

I knew it wasn't the prototypical Case I just figured somewhere down the line they made a knife that might have evolved into the clasp hunter. I'm curious to see if the shield is pinned or if its put in the bone with epoxy.

[peanut740]

Absolute zero.

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

Yet another reminder to me that I should never even attempt to buy a "rare knife". I would get burned every time. The evil intent of my fellow humans never fails to amaze me. I really have no problem with a knife "restoration", where the proper parts from the correct era are put together to make a knife. That's no different than restoring a classic car. I would also have no problem with someone that simply sold a high-priced custom knife "in the spirit" of a classic - but without the fake tang stamp.

[alabama]

better listen to steve-fantasy knife...

[kootenay joe]

Hey Luggage, "Yet another reminder to me that I should never even attempt to buy a "rare knife"
Com'on be adventurous. Use what you have learned, don't talk yourself into it, and if it looks like a cool find, take a chance man. It's like sking the trees, ups the adventure.
I have taken a lot of 'chances'. Haven't scored yet but i have learned a bunch every time and enjoyed myself. Knifin' is a fun hobby.
kj

[RalphAlsip]

I hope I'm wrong and I don't mean any disrespect... However I see things on the knife that don't resemble how Case made knives in the Case Bradford era the blade markings indicate.

The shield is unfamiliar
The big square bolster on the blade end is unfamiliar
The blade shape and grind is unfamiliar
The pattern is unfamiliar

I hope other folks can share opinions that prove me wrong.

This annotated picture, comparison picture, and link to a post with examples of Case shields provides additional basis for my opinion.
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=12268&start=60#p582923

I would venture a guess that anyone who has pursued knife collecting has acquired at least one questionable knife. I know I have - it's regrettable and it's a learning experience.

[FRJ]

I have "collected" a few questionable knives. ... it makes me wince, ... alot ...............

[gsmith7158]

I have "collected" a few questionable knives. ... it makes me wince, ... alot ...............

Well I think we all have one, two or several that we all would like to have do overs on. But I will say this The more expensive they are the quicker your education pace moves along.