All About Pocket Knives

Welcome to Wharncliffe Wednesday week 18....thought it would never get here. I still have quite a few Wharnies waiting in the wings chomping at the bit eager for their turn in the spotlight. Now that I got all my China made examples out of the way last week, it's a good time to bring it back home and show some good old classic American made Case knives. When you think "Case" and "Wharncliffe" the first and most obvious knife that comes to mind would have to be the famous iconic Seahorse Whittler. However, the Case Wharnie iteration that was my first love and is still my favorite is the 07W Mini Trapper, especially the 107W (single blade) version. Here are two 107Ws that have been dressed up with some fancy handles--one has Black Lip Pearl and Blood Jasper, and the other one, which is a Michael Prater Painted Pony mod, has Paua Abalone.

Those are gorgeous, Q.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 1:09 pm Welcome to Wharncliffe Wednesday week 18....

Those two knives are real beauties, Q. Very gracile!

Here is a 3.12 inch Case. This little knife does not like me. The tip of the blade wants to nip the webbing of my thumb when I close the blade. I carried it in my vest pocket for a bit, but it was too much trouble to apply a band-aid every time I used it. So now it resides in my desk.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 1:09 pm Welcome to Wharncliffe Wednesday week 18....thought it would never get here. I still have quite a few Wharnies waiting in the wings chomping at the bit eager for their turn in the spotlight. Now that I got all my China made examples out of the way last week, it's a good time to bring it back home and show some good old classic American made Case knives. When you think "Case" and "Wharncliffe" the first and most obvious knife that comes to mind would have to be the famous iconic Seahorse Whittler. However, the Case Wharnie iteration that was my first love and is still my favorite is the 07W Mini Trapper, especially the 107W (single blade) version. Here are two 107Ws that have been dressed up with some fancy handles--one has Black Lip Pearl and Blood Jasper, and the other one, which is a Michael Prater Painted Pony mod, has Paua Abalone.

Lord Wharncliffe would approve.

Dinadan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 2:37 pm

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 1:09 pm Welcome to Wharncliffe Wednesday week 18....

Those two knives are real beauties, Q. Very gracile!

Here is a 3.12 inch Case. This little knife does not like me. The tip of the blade wants to nip the webbing of my thumb when I close the blade. I carried it in my vest pocket for a bit, but it was too much trouble to apply a band-aid every time I used it. So now it resides in my desk.
Case12.jpg

Would that one be a Wharncliffe or a Dracula?

Wow! The weeks sure fly by now that I am more permanently retired... Can't believe it's already Wharncliffe Wednesday again.
Q & Mel... You guys posted some beauties. My contribution includes a couple GEC 48s today.

Wow! Look at the handles on those! Gorgeous, Q!
Good looking Case there, Mel, but they do bite!
That a REAL nice pair of Wharnies, Kevin!

here's a couple faux ivory GEC's --->

Another excellent showing of a wide variety of fine Wharnies.

Before week 18 closes for business (it's still Wednesday where I live ), I have one more modified Case 107W that I have to post because it was feeling left out and neglected for not getting shown along with my two other Case 107W mods (apparently, it's a drama queen as well as a safe queen)

This little gem was modified by BIGHEAD with Natural Jade G-10 and fancy file work
The reason it didn't get shown earlier with my other two is because it doesn't stay with its own 107W kind where it belongs...it prefers to hang out with its big brother Case 154W, which, as it so happens, was also modified by BIGHEAD in the same trim options. (Cross-mixing of patterns is not the type of behavior that OCD Monkey condones, but because it is one of Mini-T Monkey's favorites, it gets away with it. And, let's face it, they do look pretty good together )

Those 2 are a stunning pair ... filework is exceptional !!

knifeaddict1965 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 6:02 pm My contribution includes a couple GEC 48s today.

Nice, Kevin! I especially like that peach seed bone.

Lansky1 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 4:02 am here's a couple faux ivory GEC's --->

Whatever GEC uses to replicate ivory, it looks good. Very effectively photographed knives!

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 5:49 am This little gem was modified by BIGHEAD with Natural Jade G-10 and fancy file work

Great way to finish off a Wednesday, Q.

Dinadan wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 2:13 pm

knifeaddict1965 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 6:02 pm My contribution includes a couple GEC 48s today.

Nice, Kevin! I especially like that peach seed bone.

Lansky1 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 4:02 am here's a couple faux ivory GEC's --->

Whatever GEC uses to replicate ivory, it looks good. Very effectively photographed knives!

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 5:49 am This little gem was modified by BIGHEAD with Natural Jade G-10 and fancy file work

Great way to finish off a Wednesday, Q.

X2

Great Wharnnies John & Q! Way to finish out WW with a Bang! I not normally a fan of synthetic handle materials, but the Unicorn Ivory GEC uses and those Jade G-10 BIGHEAD mods are Fantastic!

Time to kick off WW week #19 with some Bulldog Ivory & Pearl Wharncliffe Whittlers.

knifeaddict1965 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 6:25 am Time to kick off WW week #19 with some Bulldog Ivory & Pearl Wharncliffe Whittlers.

Wow, Kevin. You sure got my attention with those four knives!

Here is an A G Russell lockback.

knifeaddict1965 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 6:25 am Time to kick off WW week #19 with some Bulldog Ivory & Pearl Wharncliffe Whittlers.

Who let the dogs out? Kevin's really 'putting on the dog' to open WW W19 in high style. Spectacular set of Bulldog Wharncliffe Whittlers! Nice showing but a decidedly hard act to follow

Mel, that AG Russell Agent's Office Knife is also top shelf. I really like the engraved bolsters The shaved stag was not a big hit with a lot of stag lovers as I recall, but I didn't mind it....certainly adds a unique look and character. I used to have one of those but like so many others I foolishly sold it. Seeing yours brings back some good memories, though

While digging through the catacombs searching for a knife to use in the 'Knife Photography' thread I discovered yet another Chinese infiltrator hiding in my pile How did I ever manage to accumulate so many? They must be breeding in captivity, there can be no other explanation

Some years ago, jerryd opened my eyes to the beauty of orange handled knives and I've always been a fan of TiNi coated blades and black hardware.

Q great pictures. The last picture reminds me of a bird.

edgy46 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 2:52 pm Q great pictures. The last picture reminds me of a bird.

...maybe a bird from the Avatar movie - colors on those plants are other-worldly

Nice additions to the thread gentlemen.

I picked up this old rusty/pitted Schrade muskrat with a broken blade on eBay for basically nothing and knew there was a Shraderatcliffe waiting to come out. In a way I like the old USA Schrade blades better than the Case muskrats - the Schrade blades are noticeably thinner - I was stripping some heavy boat wire last weekend with it and it worked fantastic...

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 2:27 pm Mel, that AG Russell Agent's Office Knife is also top shelf. I really like the engraved bolsters The shaved stag was not a big hit with a lot of stag lovers as I recall, but I didn't mind it....certainly adds a unique look and character. I used to have one of those but like so many others I foolishly sold it. Seeing yours brings back some good memories, though

I am not too fond of the shaved stag myself, but as you say, it has character. I think that A G Russell was my very first knife with a Wharncliffe blade: it was a gift from my wife about twenty years ago. It certainly kindled a desire for more Wharncliffes! It is from China, like that very nice nice Kizer of yours. Great shots of that knife.

Lansky1 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 4:45 pm I picked up this old rusty/pitted Schrade muskrat with a broken blade on eBay for basically nothing and knew there was a Shraderatcliffe waiting to come out. In a way I like the old USA Schrade blades better than the Case muskrats - the Schrade blades are noticeably thinner - I was stripping some heavy boat wire last weekend with it and it worked fantastic...

Nice job on that old blade, John. Regardless of shape or thickness I think that the old Schrades had the best carbon steel of any knives. I cannot define exactly what I prefer about the steel, but I do prefer it.

Great show everyone!
Nice AG Russell, Mel! I got several pictures yesterday in preparation for the next few WWs, and one of them had some AG Russell Wharnies. I got my first of these from Ol' Q, and have been really impressed with the consistent quality of their knives ever since.
Q, that last picture with all the great colors is phenomenal and the orange/black combination on your Kizer is really cool!
Nice save on that Schrade, John!
Speaking of Muskrat Wharncliffe mods, here are a couple Lansky "Ratcliffes" from the big island you may recognize. You did a fantastic job on these!

knifeaddict1965 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 5:44 pm a couple Lansky "Ratcliffes" from the big island....You did a fantastic job on these!

Yes he did...and if you were to shine an ultraviolet light on those Ratcliffes, I expect you'd find lingering traces of my blood on the blades, Kevin. John has sharpening down to an art form; sharpest knives I've ever owned passed through his shop. Guess that's why he's known as "Lansky1"

knifeaddict1965 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 5:44 pm Great show everyone!
Nice AG Russell, Mel! I got several pictures yesterday in preparation for the next few WWs, and one of them had some AG Russell Wharnies. I got my first of these from Ol' Q, and have been really impressed with the consistent quality of their knives ever since.
Q, that last picture with all the great colors is phenomenal and the orange/black combination on your Kizer is really cool!
Nice save on that Schrade, John!
Speaking of Muskrat Wharncliffe mods, here are a couple Lansky "Ratcliffes" from the big island you may recognize. You did a fantastic job on these!

1 Lansky Muskrats.jpg

Kevin, thanks ... I remember those - they were from my "pointy" phase - LOL. The ratcliffe's I've done more recently were a bit shorter and curvier by comparison --->

Looking back at those, I think I actually prefer those longer, pointer wharnies

Dinadan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 5:29 pm
Nice job on that old blade, John. Regardless of shape or thickness I think that the old Schrades had the best carbon steel of any knives. I cannot define exactly what I prefer about the steel, but I do prefer it.

Mel - this is my first foray into the older USA Schrades ... from what I've seen so far, this one really does seem to get "sticky" sharp & cut better than I expected. Like you say, it may be the carbon steel they used back then ...

You’re all lighting up this thread today, guys! All very, very nice knives!