All About Pocket Knives

Jeepergeo wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 8:27 pm How much time and skill would need to go into producing a fake like shown by the OP? It seems like a lot of work for the return. Or is the reason someone just being onery?

If you produce them in Pakistan or China you can get enough skill to make the OP for practically nothing. They probably made $100 on that $130 sale. If you put the name Rough Ryder on it, it would sell for a fraction of that amount.

cuttindux wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 8:06 pm I too am pretty new and slim on Case knife knowledge and experience. I enjoy reading threads like these to help educate myself. I noticed on the eBay page of the whittler that sold for $700+ he had several pictures. One was a screenshot of Case jigging patterns from Shepherd Hills Cutlery’s website that showed a similar jigging pattern as the knife for sale called “imapala.” Is there a difference in that and the alligator pattern mentioned above?

This is where studying and knowledge of Case knives is needed to avoid being “scammed”. As was said “impala” jigging never was used on knives in the era this one is purported to be from. It’s a relatively recent introduction. The seller posting the reference to the Shepherd Hills site was done out of ignorance, or with intent to deceive. Lesson is don’t believe everything you see or read on eBay. Someone who is naive paid a heavy price on this one.

“Alligator” is just another name for the same jigging. If you want to swim in the deep end of the pool, some lessons first are a good idea (get some good reference books), or seek advice from someone knowledgeable that you trust.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 2:39 am

cuttindux wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 8:06 pm I too am pretty new and slim on Case knife knowledge and experience. I enjoy reading threads like these to help educate myself. I noticed on the eBay page of the whittler that sold for $700+ he had several pictures. One was a screenshot of Case jigging patterns from Shepherd Hills Cutlery’s website that showed a similar jigging pattern as the knife for sale called “imapala.” Is there a difference in that and the alligator pattern mentioned above?

This is where studying and knowledge of Case knives is needed to avoid being “scammed”. As was said “impala” jigging never was used on knives in the era this one is purported to be from. It’s a relatively recent introduction. The seller posting the reference to the Shepherd Hills site was done out of ignorance, or with intent to deceive. Lesson is don’t believe everything you see or read on eBay. Someone who is naive paid a heavy price on this one.

“Alligator” is just another name for the same jigging. If you want to swim in the deep end of the pool, some lessons first Areca good idea (get some good reference books), or seek advice from someone knowledgeable that you trust.

Ken

Well, I sure trust the info laid out here by the majority of this knowledgeable crowd. Thankful for all the info. And luckily, I don’t have deep enough pockets to swim in the deep end of this hobby so hopefully I’ll never be burned as bad as the fellow that picked up this knife. That’s quite a hickey. Sad deal.

I learn something new each time I read a new post from this category. As I get older my retention is just getting a bit sketchy though…

msteele6 wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 11:30 pm

Jeepergeo wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 8:27 pm How much time and skill would need to go into producing a fake like shown by the OP? It seems like a lot of work for the return. Or is the reason someone just being onery?

If you produce them in Pakistan or China you can get enough skill to make the OP for practically nothing. They probably made $100 on that $130 sale. If you put the name Rough Rider on it, it would sell for a fraction of that amount.

That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

The knife that sold for $700+ is a completely new made knife. In other words, another knife was not used having the tang shaved. There are several patterns made brand new that have the same bone with the same style jigging. I have seen a 5488, 6265, 6254, and a 6383. There are probably other patterns also.

98src wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:41 pm The knife that sold for $700+ is a completely new made knife. In other words, another knife was not used having the tang shaved. There are several patterns made brand new that have the same bone with the same style jigging. I have seen a 5488, 6265, 6254, and a 6383. There are probably other patterns also.

The Whittler that sold for $725 does not have stamps on the pile side of its tangs. It is not stamped with a pattern number. It is not clear to me how it came to exist. Did you intend to write that the only misrepresentation in its ebay description was its age?

Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 4:00 pm

98src wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:41 pm The knife that sold for $700+ is a completely new made knife. In other words, another knife was not used having the tang shaved. There are several patterns made brand new that have the same bone with the same style jigging. I have seen a 5488, 6265, 6254, and a 6383. There are probably other patterns also.

The Whittler that sold for $725 does not have stamps on the pile side of its tangs. It is not stamped with a pattern number. It is not clear to me how it came to exist. Did you intend to write that the only misrepresentation in its ebay description was its age?

Most TESTED XX knives do not have pattern numbers stamped on them. A few do, especially those made early in the TESTED era.

BTW, I’ve never held or seen in person an authentic Case “Impala jig” knife. However I have seen pictures, and those I have seen have smooth vertical grooves somewhat simulating the horn of an Impala (the animal, not the car!). There are no striations/gouges in the grooves, like those seen on the subject eBay-sold knife. I know “Impala jig” was a Shepherd Hills SFO, but not sure it was ever a standard catalog offering. In any case it did not exist prior to around 2000-ish, and NEVER prior to that.

Here below, courtesy of knifedb.com, is a picture of an “Impala jig” Case trapper. Note the smooth vertical grooves, simulating genuine Impala horn.

Ken

Dang you Mumbleypeg! Now I need a hunting knife with a genuine impala horn handle. As recently as this afternoon I was fine with one with an ordinary stag handle.

I wanted 98src to make it clear what his opnion is. The description of the Whittler that was bid to $725 includes:

"This knife has been professionally cleaned by certified WR Case & Sons service department, but still holds all original parts."

Was 98src opining it is an original tested era Whittler that got new bone along with its professional cleaning or that it ts a recently made knife that Case forgot to stamp a pattern number and date code on?

The description of the Whittler that was bid to $725 also includes:

"The model is a Whittler from the 1920 - 1940 era. RARE “Impala Jig” handle made in this era only."

It's hard to smell rotting fish through a computer screen but we know something is fishy.

98src wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 1:41 pm The knife that sold for $700+ is a completely new made knife. In other words, another knife was not used having the tang shaved. There are several patterns made brand new that have the same bone with the same style jigging. I have seen a 5488, 6265, 6254, and a 6383. There are probably other patterns also.

Just to be clear:

No part of either of the two posted knives was ever anywhre near the Case factory. Case had absolutely ZERO to do with the manufacture of either knife.

bestgear wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 8:13 pm

98src wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 7:38 pm https://www.ebay.com/itm/167491399705

19 bids from 5 different bidders.

Can you kindly point out the characteristics that led to your fake determination so that others may benefit? Thanks in advance

Itwould be easier to name what issue wrong with it.