Inherited collection

[Fentonlawnknives]

Sorry if you have read this in another post... responded in a f/u discussion... not the right place

I have inherited a large collection of never used Case knives. My father owned a hardware store from the late 1960’s until he retired in 2003. The knives were collected for a hobby to sell/travel in retirement. Unfortunely, life intervened. I have purchased a Case knives collecting book and plan to sell most of the collection, leaving some knives for family and good friends in memory of my father.
I an just beginning to unwrap some of the knives and have noted discoloration on a few of the blades and green around snaps of some o the sheaths.
Any advise about cleaning or not, as these knives have never been handled?

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK. Some pictures of the knives would help in understanding the problems you described.

That green color around the snaps of sheaths is called verdigris. It forms on copper and brass due to reaction with chemicals used during the leather tanning process. It can usually be removed using a soft cotton rag (an old cotton t-shirt or similar) and some elbow grease. If that doesn't remove it, apply some Brasso very sparingly as per the dissections. Try to avoid getting any on the leather as it will possibly stain it.

Without seeing the knives or at least pictures it's difficult to say what the discoloration is on the blades. Could be just some dried oil from the factory. Try the soft cloth and elbow grease on the blades also. There are a lot of threads here on AAPK regarding cleaning knives. You can find them by clicking on "Quick Links" (above left) the scroll down to "Search", click on that and type "cleaning" and hit submit.

Without pictures that's about the best I can tell you.

Ken

[OLDE CUTLER]

Welcome to AAPK Brasso is good for removing verdigris, I recently took a Buck 110 out of my safe that I had absent mindedly put away months ago by leaving it in the sheath. The brass bolsters were covered in the slimy green corrosion you describe. Brasso took care of that problem, although it did require some elbow grease. Brasso has a strong smell as it does its job by a combination of chemical and fine polishing agents. Other polishing agents that work good are Simichrome and Flitz polish. These might work on the blade tarnishing, but not so much after rust has actually gotten started.

[Fentonlawnknives]

Ken and Olde Cutler,

Thank you for the information. I will get some Brasso and will check out the link for cleaning.
I will send some pictures tomorrow... May need to use my computer instead of the IPad

Kandice

[Fentonlawnknives]

Here are a few of the knives, there are many more.... will post more later.

[jmh58]

WOW!!! NICE!!! John

[doglegg]

Wow!

[RalphAlsip]

Here are a few of the knives, there are many more.... will post more later.

The intact display case with the good condition knives and prices will be of interest to collectors. Do you know what year it is from? The stamping on the blades would indicate the year if you don't have other documentation.

Edit: PS: It is interesting to me that the trapper (6254) and canoe (62131) have the highest prices.

[espn77]

Looks like the 6111 is the highest price.
Some great color in the bone knives

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

The tang stamps in the upper right corner of the store display look like 1965-69 (unless there are some dots hiding where you can't see them). If they are all 65-69 and the display also dates to 65-69, that's the sign of an EXTREMELY dedicated collector, but even if the display is mixed dates, it is still AWESOME.

[wlf]

I believe it's from her father's hardware store. I think dotted ,because I only paid $18 something for my 10 dot "80 pattern off the board. Just going by memory and pricing.

But hey...I'm not a Case guy.

[gsmith7158]

If I recall correctly the 2138 LSS was introduced in 1970 but it looks like it may have been added to the board or moved . There is one empty spot below it. Since it looks somewhat out of place you can just go ahead and send that one to me.

[RalphAlsip]

Looks like the 6111 is the highest price.

Looks like I need new glasses.

[jerryd6818]

Since he owned a hardware store, maybe, just maybe, that's an original fully populated display case. Wouldn't that be a kick in the seat of the pants? There I go day dreaming again.

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

I don't need new glasses, I just need a bigger computer monitor! It looks like that 2138 LSS has newer and differently colored wire hold downs, so it definitely looks like a later add-on.

There are definitely a lot of knives on that board that I wish I owned!

[gsmith7158]

It does look all original except for that one spot. The wiring on the Sodbuster LSS is brass or copper and all the rest are steel.

[Mumbleypeg]

Looks like two knives are missing from the board - wires still there but no knives. The 62048 is Delrin, and maybe a couple of others also. Can't see the stamps or shields very well but based on what I can see of the jigging, and the lack of any stag, I'm guessing late 70s.

Ken

[wlf]

Since he owned a hardware store, maybe, just maybe, that's an original fully populated display case. Wouldn't that be a kick in the seat of the pants? There I go day dreaming again.

I expect that is what it is and not the only one.

[Fentonlawnknives]

Thank you for all the comments. Will try to look more closely... i think it could be difficult to put the knives back on if I took knives off ....
I think most are original, but my father my have changed some out-as it was representing knives to be sold.
I have a larger Case knife display board, that I will also post when I have more time, as well as many other knives.
As I initially stated I plan to sell most of the knives. I appreciate any comments/ suggestions.

[treefarmer]

The 62048 appears to be a Delrin handle that is oxidizing or what ever happens to Delrin. I'd love to buy Case knives for those prices again.
Treefarmer

[cbnutt]

is number 25 a XX 6318 or newer ? there my favorite , so was just curious .

[Fentonlawnknives]

I have added some more pictures of my inherited collection. At a later date I will create a gallery of all of the knives that I plan to sell. In the meantime, I will try to answer any specific questions about the knives that I have posted and will continue to post pictures of the collection.

[Fentonlawnknives]

It is difficult to determine if there are any dots located on the tang without removing the wire(s) holding the knives in place. There are some knifes that have been changed out (I know this from the different wire that was used). When I look at the back of the board you can tell that 80% or more have not been removed. My guess is that the board is from the 1970's.

[Fentonlawnknives]

I have another display board that is larger in size. On that board, in addition to pocket knives, there are scissors, hunting knives, and kitchen knives as well. I will take some pictures (probably next weekend) and post.