All About Pocket Knives

Can anyone out there offer some rules of thumb for telling the difference between red bone and green bone? Especially on earlier knives, like Tested and XX.

Instead of trying to explain the differences, I would suggest that you purchase a book on Case knives, e.g. the Collecting Case Knives book by Mr. Pfeiffer.

In that book, there are multiple pages trying to show the differences between the various Case bone colors.

I'm going to go through the pictures of my Case knives and try to pick out some examples and add them to this post as times allows.

Here are the first ones. These are all examples of green bone from the Tested era. And, yes, I know they aren't really green but rather brown trending towards light brown. That's why the terminology "green bone" is so confusing.

I searched on eBay for "Case red bone" and couldn't find a single example that I considered to be a true red bone if that gives you any idea of how abused the "red bone" term is. The true red bone only existed in the Tested and XX eras, however, there are some knives from the USA and early dotted era that would be considered red bone if they were from the XX era or before, and I have added an example. Remember, everybody that sells knives calls their knife red bone if it has even the slightest tinge of red in the handle (and they almost ALL do) because they think that the "red bone" is more valuable. The 6447 is not my knife, it's one that is for sale on eBay (and a nice knife at that).

Here is some 1940-55 Case Greenbone. I do not have a Case Red Bone knife that I consider
an 'example' of what Red Bone really is, but this knife is a fine example of thier Greenbone.

IM

Yes, it is.

i have never seen a red bone from the tested era

Miked32, I can't really say that I have either but Sargent does list some (e.g. 6185, 6231) in his book and I'm sure that he knows more than I do. They certainly must be rare.

Here's a few reds from 1940-1964 era. Most reds are from this era, but there is a few listed in Sergeants from Tested era.

Also threw in a pic of a Green bone from Tested era.


Most hardcore Case knife collectors will say "true" redbone is from the 40-64 era. While Case still makes knives today that are red in color, they are not that strawberry color that is from yesteryear. Are they not still "red bone" though? Interesting to say the least.

This is FAR from the best picture of this knife.

This little dude has LUSCIOUS Red bone!

I know a gent with a BUNCH of Tested Redbone knives in his collection, but all of those knives were purchased from the collection of a former President and CEO of Case who could have just about anything he wanted made (and did). I personally have not seen a Redbone tested or a Greenbone XX, but won't debate the authorities on the subjects. I consider the first three knives pictured to be red while the last one is a bit newer and is clearly brown.

i have heard different reasons..

but why did case stop making the old greenbone and the old red redbone..

Bob.. Those are some fine knives!!! WOW!! John

Bamafan mentioned the strawberry color of the Case XX era. That's an exact description of what I consider the most beautiful handles ever put on any knife. They are stunning!

Paul

Elvis wrote:I know a gent with a BUNCH of Tested Redbone knives in his collection, but all of those knives were purchased from the collection of a former President and CEO of Case who could have just about anything he wanted made (and did). I personally have not seen a Redbone tested or a Greenbone XX, but won't debate the authorities on the subjects. I consider the first three knives pictured to be red while the last one is a bit newer and is clearly brown.

Bob;

You say you have never seen a greenbone XX? They are quite common.

The only Tested red bone I have ever seen is a 6185. It may have been a knife with a swapped blade though I think that I have seen more than one.

73Ag on the CCC Forum bought a big chunk of Bob Farquhar's collection and it was loaded with beautiful Redbone knives with Tested blades. He also has a 6111 1/2 with the extra 1 in the stamping which is also some sweet Redbone. But like I mentioned in the first post, I can't argue because I can only go by what I've seen and I've just never ran across a Greenbone XX for myself (yet). I'll be on the lookout for an XX 83 in Greenbone now. As long as I'm here.....here's a cou;le more Red ones from the Bob Collection (that's me).

Seeing this knife on eBay made me think of this thread (the back is the same color):

msteele6 wrote:Seeing this knife on eBay made me think of this thread (the back is the same color):

That is what real Case Red Bone looks like. Nothing else. IMO.

Stockman

Here's a couple of old soldiers that I would consider Case Redbone:

This is a CaseXX 6165 green bone I picked up recently

Not the best pic but a few green bones.

Here is another example of a red bone knife. note the slight yellowish color at the very corner. I think that this would still be acceptable to most Case collectors and that this would still be red bone, I would certainly claim it as red bone.