Case Confusion 3220 SS

[Branden3006]

First of all a quick hello to everyone, i’m new to the forum!
I’ll get right into it, i’ve got a what appears to be a 1989 3220 SS Peanut with yellow scales. I’ve been reading the Steve Pfiefer Case book and from what i understand this knife should have been discontinued several years before this year. I apologize i don’t have the book in front of me so i can’t remember the exact year. It’s a really clean knife but does have cracks right under the center brass pin. Anyway just wondering if anyone knows anything about this knife, everything else i see in this configuration has CV blades. Thanks!!

[treefarmer]

to AAPK, Branden3006. (Once upon a time I could have signed in with 3006 behind my name, now it would have to be 243. )
What you read in Steve's book was the 3220 was discontinued in 1975 but further reading reveals it, the 3220, was reintroduced in 1993. The 3220 is still available in CV and SS.
Treefarmer

[Branden3006]

I do love a nice.243! Isn’t my knife a 1989 though? That’s 4 years prior to the reintroduction.

[treefarmer]

I see what you are saying, one dot. 2 possibilities, maybe: 1-that blade was put in the frame at the factory after the 3220 was reintroduced, a blade that would have been good for any other handle material except for the yellow Delrin or 2-the blade has been replaced either by Case or a knife mechanic. Unless you've owned the knife since it was NIB, you never know what happened to it for sure. A factory repair for a broken clip doesn't guarantee the replacement blade to be from the same year.
Probably there are some other possibilities, maybe someone will help solve the mystery.
Treefarmer

[Branden3006]

Well i have not owned the knife it’s whole life so unfortunately it could remain a mystery.

[knifeaholic]

Your 3220 SS is most likely part of a limited run collector's set made in 1989 when Jim Parker owned Case. I think it was called the "Pure Gold" set, featuring maybe 6 or 7 knives with yellow handles and SS blades, patterns that had been previously discontinued in yellow.

[Branden3006]

Well that’s pretty cool i guess? I was considering sending it in to Case toget new scales since this one has the tiny cracks, what would you think about that?

[Steve Warden]

Welcome!

It's your knife to do with as you please.

[Branden3006]

Yeah i hear you Steve, I just didn’t know if it was worth much in the first place or if getting new scales would effect the value. Right now as it sits it’s worth at least $22, because that’s what i paid for it

[Steve Warden]

I guess it comes down to why one collects knives - indulgence or investment.
For me it's the former. I know I'll never get rich or even come close to a retirement fund if I was to accumulate knives as an investment.

But that's me.

[Doc B]

I don't think that crack is going anywhere. I vote...enjoy the knife!

[treefarmer]

Branden3006,
It is good to find out where your knife fits in the interesting world of knives. Thanks to Mr. Pfeiffer, maybe there is no more confusion. Just for kicks I opened the Shepherd Hills site and there are 68 different handle options offered by them today on the ever popular Case 3220.
Treefarmer