Is it a real case tested xx 1920-1940?

[Retiredhippy]

I bought a box of miscellaneous junk that came from a burned-out house. I actually found a case knife in it! I had to soak it in oil for 2 days before I could get it open. The pen blade was so Rusty the edge and a piece of the Tang fell off when I wiped the oil off. Everything seemed to be sweet until I took a closer look at the Tang stamp. I need someone else's opinion.

[gsmith7158]

Looks like a well worn 22055. Stamp looks ok to me.

[Mumbleypeg]

The knife looks good to me.

Many people (too many) try to determine a knife’s authenticity solely by the tang stamps. In fact there have been hundreds of different authentic tang stamp tooling used - tooling wears out and has to be re-made. As tooling wears, the marks made by it change. When tooling is re-made, it’s seldom identically the same as the prior version. There are many variants and therefore many different resulting marks. I shake my head when I see comments like “the A is too close to the C”, or “the C comes down too far”, and so on. Yes it may be different than whatever random version it is being compared with, but that alone doesn’t mean it is not authentic. (However there is validity to some concerns, like the ends of the letters are round instead of square, or the visible “pushing up/out” of metal around the letters of a cold stamp.)

Read the knife first. In your case the shield (closed C, tall S) is correct for the tang stamp. The wear and pitting/tarnish on the blade is consistent with that of the tang. And the circumstances of the acquisition weren’t conducive to it having been counterfeited.

You’re right to be cautious though. Welcome to AAPK.

Ken

[Retiredhippy]

On the upper left corner of the Tang I see a capital e. On the lower right of the tang I see a number four. Does anyone else see them? Or am I seeing things? Thanks for all your help guys!

[gsmith7158]

On the upper left corner of the Tang I see a capital e. On the lower right of the tang I see a number four. Does anyone else see them? Or am I seeing things? Thanks for all your help guys!

That just looks like rust damage to me. It's amazing what rust will do to metal.

[Retiredhippy]

I am not a collector and have no plans for this knife. I must admit that I enjoy holding it and wishing it could talk. I know it survived a house fire but what else has gone on in it's life?

[gsmith7158]

There is no telling. Judging from the closed C shield that knife was most likely made in the early part of the tested era. A lot of history there.

[woodwalker]

I got one just like it that I carry a bunch. Fits nicely in the pocket. Great pattern in my book. Congratts on a great find.

[jmh58]

I got one just like it that I carry a bunch. Fits nicely in the pocket. Great pattern in my book. Congratts on a great find.

John

[woodwalker]

I got one just like it that I carry a bunch. Fits nicely in the pocket. Great pattern in my book. Congratts on a great find.

John

Thanks John!!

[woodwalker]

I just noticed that your knife is a "long pull" which I have read are more scarce!! Clean her up, oil her up and carry that rascal!

[jmh58]

I just noticed that your knife is a "long pull" which I have read are more scarce!! Clean her up, oil her up and carry that rascal!

This!!
John

[Retiredhippy]

I thought it was a rare knife because I haven't seen any like it on the internet. None for sale and not even pictures. I have figured out that it is a Long pull equal end cigar jack knife. Now I know that it is an early model!

[Retiredhippy]

I just realized I never came back to say thank you to all of you for your advice.
Yes that's nice it's real good in my pocket but by 72 year old arthritic fingers can't hang on to it. I carry a larger knife. Actually I carry two one sheath knife and one pocket knife.
Now I need to decide what to do with with this knife. Do I lock it and my safe? Or do I sell it? What a quandary