Case Tested 22028 1/2 Wartime Issue? Any Opinions?

[herbva]

I fished this one off the bay a while back and am just getting around to giving it the full treatment. The slick black composite scales obviously have got to be replaced, and I was thinking about green bone (or some jigged bone from Culpepper that they say is their equivalent of green bone). But, I noticed that the liners, bolsters and pins are all steel, and the liners are quite thick, sturdy, steel to boot. The broken rocker pin may look like brass in the picture, but it is rusted steel. As you can see, I've got it all apart , cleaned up and ready to rock and roll. (The shield in the picture did not come with the knife, and I've already drilled the holes for it in the mark side liner.) Will I be committing a travesty if I dress it up in new bone scales instead of slick black composition like it originally had? Was this one perhaps a wartime-issued, military knife? No, I don't know who the "TW" is who engraved his initials in it. Maybe Tiger Woods? Thanks!

[rea1eye]

I think you could go either way. Black composite if you want to make it all original.
Another color/material if you want to really make it all your own,original outright.
Since you got the knife apart I would go with the latter.

I bought a Schrade off a member here who put scales on the knife that
would have never been used by the company. He also pinched the
bolsters.Although I did not take the knife apart I really like the
idea that it is one of a kind. I am not sure if it has a good
resale value but I bought it for my use/enjoyment.

Don’t forget to show us pics when you are done.

Bob

[olderdogs1]

Herb,
I would go with greenbone. However I wouldn’t put a shield on it. Most, if not all, of the knives made in the Tested era with iron bolsters were made without a shield. That’s obviously why this one didn’t have one. Good luck with it.

Tom

[1967redrider]

I have had 62028 1/2s and 22028 1/2s on my radar, Herb. I think you know about my love of this old pattern that no one will make these days. So, that said, put me down for black comp, for what it's worth. I wouldn't put a shield on it either.

[edge213]

I say, it's yours. Do what you want. I think since it's a complete rebuild and your changing the handle material you might as well add a shield.
It would look much better with one

[btrwtr]

Your knife so your call. If it were mine I'd replace the rocker pin and put it back as is. Pretty nice looking old knife.

[knifeaholic]

Nice one, interesting to find all steel. I have had the same pattern in green bone with all steel bolsters, liners. Most likely WWII era, but not a pattern that was made for the military.

[1967redrider]

Anyone know why Case did/does the dogleg pattern backwards? Pictured in the middle is an -028. The -07 pattern is a smaller version of the -028, which is also upsidedown/backwards compared to Utica, Keen Kutter (multiple makers), Cattaraugus and others.

Wondering if there's a reason and why no one makes this pattern currently, except for the -07 of course.