All About Pocket Knives

From Alabama USA....

Charlie you've sure got some beautiful knives. That Bear and Sons in stag is a show stopper.

Thanks Phil.

I was collecting knives for years before I realized I was a collector. I had drawers full of pocket knives and fixed blades that had belonged to family members and others that got retired when new knives went in the pocket. One day I decided to organize them and PRESTO!....a collector was born.

Here are a few more canoes....

The reason so few others are posting photos of their canoes is because you got all of 'em, S'Quach!! (Try leaving one or two for the rest of us, will ya? )
Just kidding, of course...your collection is amazing and always a joy to see. I have a few more coming in the mail, but I'm almost embarrassed to show them after seeing yours.

~Q~

Don't be embarrassed Q! I know guys who have collections much more extensive than mine. There's no such thing as a "bad" collection. Show your knives proudly!

Here are a few more of the Case Limited Edition Series knives.....

The latest additions to my slowly expanding fleet of canoes. Certainly nothing to drool over, but what they may lack in quality of materials or craftsmanship, at least they make up for in diversity and sheer curiosity--to me anyway--and perhaps even a degree of amusement. ~Q~

I'm not much on Japanese products, you'll never catch me driving a Japanese car or riding a Japanese motorcycle. However, when it comes to edged weapons and tools.........down through history they have been one of the best. The Japanese had developed blade smithing to a fine art long before the Europeans. Their knives and swords are some of the finest ever made.

That Star MOP is a show stopper, Q! Frost and United both produced some solid knives in Japan. Nice show!!!

Here are some more of the Case Limited Edition Series knives.....(the first one is a standard canoe the other four are baby canoes or butter beans)

Thanks, S'Quach...I'm amazed at the variety of patterns I have collected over the years but only just recently discovered an interest the canoe pattern; it's truly a cool design. My personal preference is for single back spring models. And, I really wish they were made with a wharncliffe (or sheepfoot) master blade--that particular profile just seems like such a perfect, natural fit...basically a wharncliffe half-whittler in a canoe frame. Why aren't any manufacturers producing this design? Perhaps it's time to consider an exclusive SFO? I wonder if there would be much interest from other collectors in something like that?

I really love this Case zebra canoe that Ivoryman modified for me. (I realize I've already posted it before, but it's just so cool, I feel it deserves another appearance!) I'm seriously considering having more of my canoes modified like this...maybe we can even come up with a new name (like the "canoose"): Wharnoe? Cancliffe?

~Q~

I's be interested in adding some to my collection.

How about some wooden canoes?

Wood is good.

Those look great. I especially like the ebony.

The man said he likes ebony! I've got one more......and a green curly oak.....and a teak.

Here's the most recent addition to the LE Series....

Just arrived, Series XXXIII

Here are more of the Case XX LE Series knives.
There were no canoe or butterbean patterns in series XIV, XV, XVI, or XVII so I'll pick up at series XVIII...

Phenomenal fleet of canoes, Charlie! Here one I just picked up, a beater H.Boker & Co's.
Dan

Dan I don't recall ever seeing a canoe with both blades on the same end before now. It's a shame that pen blade is broken off. I like the design.

Charlie, you're my new hero with your fantastic canoe collection.

Thanks Phill & Danno.

Phill, Fight'n Rooster (Frank Buster) made some fine canoes with both blades on the same end. That is one type of canoe I don't have.........yet.

Danno, I'm with Phill in that I have never seen a Boker canoe with both blades on the same end. The slanted & pinched bolsters are sweet too!



There were no canoe or butterbean patterns offered in Case XX LE Series XXII, XXIII, or XIV. So I'll pick it back up at series XV.

Here are the last four that bring us to the most recently released series....

Damn, Squach...ROYGBIV ain't got nuthin' to explain some of those colors. I think Case must be trying to re-invent the rainbow. WOW! Toss 'em all in the air on the 4th of July and you've got the "Grand Finale" in one fell swoop!

~Q~

I wasn't too fond of that UV pink "Cotton Candy" on series XXXII.

I'd like to see Case do different handle materials for the next few series. Different woods, abalone, M.O.P., micarta, G-10, Delrin, etc.

Here's a set from the 1980s that I'm fond of. I have all six knives but they have varying serial numbers. I'd like to find all six with matching numbers. That ain't gonna' happen overnight!

QT I wus thinking the same thing about the rainbow thing, them colors really pop.

WOW! and Double WOW! (WOW! WOW!)...rhymes with Pow Wow...which is exactly what you have in that very cool collection, Mr. Squach. Impressive to say the least.

I noticed that there are 2 single blade, 2 double blade and 2 triple blade canoes in the set...great variety, in addition to assigning a different tribe and unique representative symbol to each one. Then, unifying them with the same handle material & color and an arrowhead shield...Brilliant! Sheer Brilliance. The epitome of a true "collection" if ever there was one. If you ever do manage to get all matching serial numbers, that would put it over the top...the sprinkles on the cherry on the whip cream.

Thank you for sharing that little gem, it really got my blood racing this morning when I looked at it.

Cheers & Aloha,
~Q~

PS--Just curious...Were they all released in the same year? (couldn't see the dots on the tang stamps)

The tang stamps on the ones I have are all 1986 & 1987. They may have released them three at a time. I have been unable to find much information on them, Like how many of each were made, are the one of 100 or one of 1000? I've even called the Case factory but it seems that was a bad time frame for record keeping especially where SFOs are concerned. I suspect these knives were SFOs for SMKW or SHC. I'd love to find out more about them but have run out of sources. Maybe someone here will see them and have something to add.

pinnah wrote:Who made the first Canoe pattern?

What time frame?

According to CASE the canoe pattern started in 1895. At least that's what the commemorative canoe below says.