All About Pocket Knives

Hey guys Bigden here. I have been a member here for several years. I am a honest man. I have listed a knife on ebay 220755972665 a gentleman has told me my knife has skipped the xx and has a usa era shield. I looked in Steves book and see it surely has the XX shield. Steve or any of you other Case experts pleas let me know your opinion. I clearly see it being a XX era shield as I thought was normal. This knife has not been touched. Please advise Bigden

hi dennis,, chet here. sorry i cant help you there. but i will use this tread to say that the other day i noticed a pre 1920 case jack being auctioned off. i would have bid on it, and it went low. but the tang pattern number was 6283, that is a balloon center whittler, not a jack.. still i wanted it but i resisted..

Picture should enlarge.
Looks like a U.S.A. era shield, but that might of been possible, Steve most likely has the answer to your question. Might have to do with handle material?????

Steve has the correct info below

Here's one that i'm quite sure is correct..
Note the location of the nail nic in relation
to the break in the spine..as compared to
the one Den posted..

Mr Blister,Lets trade

Big Den, does the shield have a tall S or small s ? Jason. click pic to see shield up close

The shield on the cracked ice whittler certainly doesn't appear to be a Tested era shield. The stamp also appears unusual. I don't own any Tested era knives with cracked ice handles but the handles on this knife have an oddly modern look to me.

It will be interesting to see opinions from more informed collectors.

Gary Morre and Tony Foster both have shown Case shields in a K W article. If you want info on this let me know and I will go through my old editions and find it for you.

gary wrote:Picture should enlarge.
Looks like a U.S.A. era shield, but that might of been possible, Steve most likely has the answer to your question. Might have to do with handle material?????

The posted cracked ice 83 pattern is a complete fake. I saw it on ebay prior to this thread and considered posting it on the counterfeit forum. Made out of a 1970's 83 pattern. Stamp is wrong (engraved) and handle material is wrong (looks like the Case Classics cracked ice, not the real thing). The shield is also incorrect - it is a USA to 70's era shield. You will not see the USA era shield on authentic Tested knives.

In my experience there were at least three variations of the standard Case oval shield used on Tested era knives. Then each of these may have minor tooling variations.

The most often seen is the "closed C" shield as I have pictured in my book.

The next one much rarer to see is the XX era "open C, tall S" shield on Tested knives that I assume were made later in the Tested period.

The rarest one is the "block letter" shield. This one is tricky in that it appears at first glance to be an "open C, tall S" shield. However, the C and the S have a more squared off appearance. I have posted a picture of this one at some point and I thank Bladerunner for pointing out the differences and the name for it. It is pretty rare in my experience. I have two minty stag handled Testeds, a 5208 and a 5299 1/2 that each have this shield.

Thanks Steve this is why I posted the question. The reason I sold the knife I was in Cleveland Clinic with a Heart Cath and never saw the listing till now. The shield looks squared off. Did you look at a close up of the shield Steve. Thanks for the help Dennis

Many times I believe a knife showing some age...ie spots on the blade, or overall lack of luster, or worn handles may make it seem more likely to be real, however there was a "hay day" of counterfieting going on in the mid 70's when I was first collecting and these knives now show some age, but age does NOT compute to authenticity.

I also wanted to add that if the average knife enthusiast's collection was brought before the scrutenizing of well experienced collectors, there would be some sad realization that most everyone owns a few which would be questionable. Some people just dont care or have too much pride to ever admit they have been "duped". I believe that is how these eBay sellers who peddle their made up "treasures" get by with it about 98% of the time is no one wants to own up to their "great buy" being a DUD.

bigden wrote:Thanks Steve this is why I posted the question. The reason I sold the knife I was in Cleveland Clinic with a Heart Cath and never saw the listing till now. The shield looks squared off. Did you look at a close up of the shield Steve. Thanks for the help Dennis

Of COURSE I looked at the shield. The knife is a fake.

You did well on it though. I have recently seen at least two authentic examples of that knife go for way less than that on Ebay.

my question know is what does the seller do contact the buyer and tell them i am sure its a fake or just do nothing and keep the cash, just like to know what members think on this one

troyl2 wrote:my question know is what does the seller do contact the buyer and tell them i am sure its a fake or just do nothing and keep the cash, just like to know what members think on this one

bigden says he is an honest seller; I say contact the buyer. Offer to void sale and let the buyer decide; no harm no foul.

Paul

The sale did not take place. The high bidder was a dead beat bidder so it all worked out Bigden

ALSO BOYS LETS NOT FORGET, WHO STATED THIS POST IT WAS ME (BIGDEN). SO I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM IT tHANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP ESP STEVE.I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN STEVE. DENNIS

i have to say bigden i was kinda dissapointed in seeing it relisted yesterday for $375 on a buy it now with no mention of it being being incorrect

bigden wrote:ALSO BOYS LETS NOT FORGET, WHO STATED THIS POST IT WAS ME (BIGDEN). SO I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM IT tHANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP ESP STEVE.I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN STEVE. DENNIS

I can vouch for you as a good seller, I bought a Case Tested 5393 from you awhile back on Ebay.

Steve