Stockman question??

[Slomo]

Thanks Tom I thought he had his information wrong.

[Old Hunter]

This is a Case 6347 - Large Stockman, Serpentine Frame, 3-7/8" OAL. I see e-bay sellers (who don't know knives) get the boxes mixed up and use the box label to identify a knife - could just not know. A 6207 is a nice knife too - but if you don't want it you should be able to return it to the seller. OH

[Mumbleypeg]

While studying tang numbers (trying to learn them as much as possible) I came across another thing that I don't understand.

Looking at Case website under knife patterns by number the 087 shows up two knives;

1) medium jack knife with 2 blades
or
2) medium stockman 3 blades

My way of thinking this has to be two different knives lol I'm beginning to think a Stockman should be a simple knife to know and understand but somehow I keep finding numbers that confuse me.

Slomo, don't infer from the Case pattern number that it has any relationship to the number or style of blades the knife has. In this example you have given, 087 is the pattern. The knife frame, which dictates the size and shape of the knife, is the same on all 087 pattern knives. The handle material, number of blades, style of blades, may all vary on 087 pattern knives. Those attributes of the knife are designated via other numbers and/or letters stamped on the tang. As you have correctly observed Case makes several versions of the 087 pattern: a two blade jack with clip and pen blades, a 3-blade pen with clip, spay, and pen blades, and yet another 3-blade version with clip, sheepsfoot, and pen blades. I've never seen one with both spay and sheepsfoot blades. To confuse folks, literature sometimes refers to the 3-blade version of the 087 as a stockman, and sometimes as a pen knife (I assume this is owing to the fact it has a pen as one of the secondary blades.)

As mentioned earlier in this thread probably the best source of explanation for the numbering system, history, and variations of modern (1940 to present day) Case knives is Steve Pfeiffer's book. Another good source can be found right here on AAPK by going to the home page and selecting "Research" at the top of the page. Then under the W.R. Case section click on "Case numbering system" and various other topics you will find posted there.

Ken

[Slomo]

Thanks everyone I realized (or thought I was right) that it wasn't a Stockman but was looking for the color of the handles more than the shape of the knife. I sent him a message before I bought it asking him if he was sure of the numbers explaining that I couldn't see the tang stamp but was pretty sure it wasn't a Stockman but he didn't reply back before I bought it. It was one of those auctions that was a last minute deal so I couldn't really let it go considering the very low price. lol

I am amazed at the knowledge and sharing that you guys offer and the help you are willing to provide. As most of you know I am new to collecting. Like almost everybody else I have been around gun and knives most of my life however just recently decided I would like to start collecting after my wife bought me a mini trapper for one of the holidays (now I'm hooked) and can't seem to suck in enough knowledge. Thankfully there are many resources this group and you guys being the biggest ones. I will be buying Steve's book soon however I know that I have found a home here.

Again thanks everyone for helping me get started and putting up with me while I'm learning. ( I assure you I am reading, studying and observing to learn as much as possible