Case Coke Bottle Knives

[RalphAlsip]

The hope for this topic that it will serve as a reference for those interested in Case Coke Bottle patterns by capturing pictures and knowledge related to the various Coke Bottle patterns that Case has produced. Please share pictures and knowledge. Several Case pattern numbers would fit the definition of Coke Bottle such as 050 (large coke bottle), 37 (medium coke bottle), 25 (small coke bottle), 213 (slim coke bottle), and there are likely others. Knives that match the Coke Bottle designation will demonstrate a lot of variation in frames, bolsters, handle material shields, blades, blade pulls, tang stamps, etc.

These pictures are a Case Tested XX C61050 SAB. The "C" preceding the pattern number indicates the knife has a cap bolster (i.e, has 2 bolsters; a bare head example (1 bolster) would omit the C and would use 61050). The SAB following the pattern number indicates a Sabre ground blade (vs. a flat ground blade). This example shows blade loss and blade pitting. The handles show pocket wear and are a caramel color variation of green bone.

[jlw257]

Jerry, Great Thread, always like the Coke pattens. Is the color name of your handles Tawny Greenbone?

Here are mine Tested XX Greenbone C61050 Flat and SAB Blades

[rea1eye]

Good topic. Maybe I should get one. Is there a pattern that is about 3 1/2 inches long?


Bob

[RalphAlsip]

Is the color name of your handles Tawny Greenbone?

Larry, thanks for posting pictures of your gorgeous knives. I have a thing for the flat ground blades on these larger patterns. As far as Tawny Greenbone, I don't know if that's what it should be called, but I'm willing to go with it.

Is there a pattern that is about 3 1/2 inches long?Bob

Bob, the 050 large coke bottle pattern has a few variations that range from approximately 5" to approximately 5 1/2". The medium coke bottle patterns 37 (spear) and 37 1/2 (clip) are approximately 3 1/2" and are configured as 2 blade jack. Here are some pictures of a Case Bradford 6237. On Bradford era knives it is common for multiple blades to be marked and for the pattern number to be stamped as this knife demonstrates.

[Mumbleypeg]

Good topic for a thread Jerry. You and Larry have some beautiful examples.

I'll throw in this unusual one - a PBB1050F, marked TESTED XX. This pattern is a push-button sliding-blade fish knife built on the large 1050 coke bottle frame. The covers are what Case called imitation onyx.

Ken

[cbfd]

Here is a Tested Green Bone that just recently departed.

[gsmith7158]

Here are my two entries a tested era and an xx.

[Woodly]

The large coke bottle probably is my favorite pattern, I carry one daily, and you guys are showing some beauties.

[wazu013]

Here's a Case Swinguard coke bottle with NKCA etch

Here's a stag coke bottle with ABCA etch

[RalphAlsip]

Thanks all for posting pictures of your Case Coke bottle knives.

I'll throw in this unusual one - a PBB1050F, marked TESTED XX.Ken

Ken your PBB1050F is an extraordinary example. I imagine the aspiring collector would have a challenge to find one of these in any condition.

[RalphAlsip]

These pictures are a Case Tested XX C610050. The extra zero (0) in the pattern number indicates a change in the frame from the 050 pattern. The 0050 is slightly shorter at 5 1/8" instead of 5 3/8". The 0050 is also noticeably thinner than the 050. Comparison pictures are included to show the size differences.

[XxTestedxX]

Bose Ebony coke bottle

[treefarmer]

Here's my Case Coke bottle, a Christmas gift from my wife, 1966, our 1st Christmas.
Treefarmer

Christmas '66, it's a Case XX USA.

[RalphAlsip]

Treefarmer you Christmas Coke bottle is a beauty.

Zach the Bose collaboration Coke bottle examples are super nice.

This side-by-side picture shows a red bone example and a green bone example of the Case XX C61050 SAB. The enlarged picture shows wavy artifacts around the shiny bits resulting from reducing the size of the merged pictures. My suspicion is the front handle of the red bone knife exhibits fading from sunlight exposure from before my stint as guardian.

[RalphAlsip]

This is a stag handled Case Tested XX C51050 with a raised letter bowtie shield.

[RalphAlsip]

This is a Case Tested XX 61050. Because it is a bare head frame (i.e., does not have a cap bolster) the pattern number is 61050 instead of C61050.

[RalphAlsip]

This is a Case Bradford 61050 with Rogers Bone without a shield. The bolster on this example is iron. The blade is flat ground and the blades found on Bradford era and earlier seem to have the nail nick closer to the tip of the blade (low pull) than the Tested and later blades. If a blade has long pull, it will be in the usual place on the blade. Some of the pre-Tested coke bottle blades will have double pulls.

[olderdogs1]

Great knife Jerry. Hard to beat that early Rogers


Tom

[edge213]

Since the contour Coke bottle came out in 1915. What was this pattern called before that?

[Mumbleypeg]

Since the contour Coke bottle came out in 1915. What was this pattern called before that?

Probably simply a "folding hunter" or a "swell-center hunter". Most patterns were given names, like "coke bottle", "whittler", "Railsplitter", etc by collectors, not by the companies that made them. Knife collecting as a hobby came into popularity the late 1960s and 1970s, so I'd guess the "coke bottle" name debuted around that time. Prior to that some company catalogs gave them names - Cattaraugus called theirs "King of the Woods" for example.

Ken

[RalphAlsip]

Tom, thanks for the gracious comment on the Bradford 61050 with early Rogers bone.

Here is another old one marked W.R. Case & Sons Bradford, PA including the pattern number 61050 on the back of the blade. I have heard the handle on this example called Slab or even Slab Stag even though the pattern number starts with a 6. The bone is smooth without jigging or grooves. This one has an iron bolster, liners, and pins.

[espn77]

You have some great knives Jerry. My only one and you might recognize it.

[RalphAlsip]

Keith, thank you for posting your B10050. I was hoping you would add it to thread. It is one the best preserved Case Tested XX knives I have seen.

[RalphAlsip]

This knife is a W.R. Case & Son C61050 with Rogers bone jigging. It may be a "Sons" instead of "Son", but I don't see the "s" when I look closely at the stamp.

[gsmith7158]

Jerry this is a great education for me. It appears that all of the pre tested Knives have the nail pull forward of the tested blades. The pre tested blades also seem to have a fuller appearance. Is that a correct assumption or am I reading incorrectly?