Need Help with Interesting Early Case Knife (1920?) - Pictures

[Handlewithcare]

I have attached photographs of a Case Knife in my collection that is pretty unique. I know almost nothing about it other than that it seems to be genuine pearl. It does not have a pattern number (see pictures).

Most notably it has three blades, each stamped with a different time period stamp - Case Bradford, Case XX Tested Circle, and Case Tested XX.

Can this group please help me with the pattern, age (if we can figure it out), why it would have three tang stamps, and what a "normal" Case of this pattern and time period would look like? Is it "rare" or desirable? Is it a "transition" knife? What range of value would it have?

Any help much appreciated!

[Mumbleypeg]

I have a knife with similar stamps. It would have been made at the time Case transitioned their stamp from Case Bradford to Case Tested XX. The “Case Tested in an oval” stamp originated during the Case Bradford era and carried over into the early Tested era. Which dates your knife to around 1920.

Regarding the pattern it would help a lot if you can tell us the closed length. Laying it out by a ruler can vary by around 1/4 inch depending on camera angle etc. I’m guessing it’s an 83042 which is 3 inches but from your pictures the knife appears to be less than 3 inches long. Case didn’t make many that small. If yours is 3 inches it’s an 83042.

Ken

[Handlewithcare]

Using calipers, the knife is 2.935 inches long. Thanks.

[Mumbleypeg]

That would be an 83042 then, and a very nice one too. All of the x3042 patterns I’ve seen have had a spear master with a long pull. The pattern was made with several different secondary blades, one of which is always a pen but the other may be a file, a coping blade, or another pen. I think it was discontinued during the Tested era.

Ken

[RalphAlsip]

Handlewithcare, super nice 83042 knife.

[jmh58]

John

[knifeaholic]

Great knife, and a rare one!