All About Pocket Knives

TESTED 6246R (SS ???)
Did they make stainless only in this era or both? Tight handles with no cracks around the pins. Indent in backspring for the marlin tip to rest in. Both the main blade and the spike have stiff but smooth action. Both to where not cumbersome but neither would close up on you easily when at task. Main blade has good, solid half stop. Both have awesome snap, both ways.
Thin white liner. Expected shrinkage. No handle cracks around pins.Don't look to be taken apart
Never seen or handled one in this era. Don’t know what the norm is. Looks right to me.
Appreciate the input. Regards, Jerry

Jerry,for what it's worth,IMHO that is a purty knife but I have not seen "that" tang stamp before. Dosn't match up in all the books I've looked at.That looks cold stamped to me and makes me believe not true blue. Rocky
Blow it up and you can see the flaws in the lettering and the unusual lettering shapes.

Jerry,

My reference book says the green bone rigger's knife was in stainless but the yellow comp was not. Someone with more knowledge will probably be along to confirm or deny, hope this helps.

-John

These comments are appreciated and the reason why this is posted in this forum and not the "Case Forum" saying "hey, look what I got". Wanted input as to what other experts (I'm not included in that group), collectors, metal workers, knife mechanics, etc. thought. I don't like to pinpoint a particular aspect I see suspicous or concerning on any knife as to not skew the observations of those taht are kind enough to look at it and research. That being said...

Hey Rocky,

I looked it over with a 10X loupe throughly before posting. I saw exactly what you are reffering to as far as the lettering but does not appear cold stamped to me, knife in hand, No "pushing" of metal around the letters, Furthermore, tang doesn't look shaved to do so. Could be wrong my friend, with the handles, no cracks around pins, all the obervations I have stated in original post, not having seen one before, etc. Don't know. Stamp defective or not align flat with the blade so top left side of stamp hit first? I could be totally wrong on this and value your opinion and observation. thanks much for the input.

I read all aspects of the knife and most look right but having not seen another example to compare to...

John,

Thanks much for checking. I also looked at Sarge's 7th, Fosters price guide and some other refernece and some confusion to the reference material exists in my mind (or differences in the materials themselves, or both).

I look forward to all of your continued input on this knife.

Regards All, Jerry

Sorry. Double tapped the submit button on last post. Just edited with this.

Jerry you are so welcome,but I am far from an being an expert. I will provide my rational and details as to my observation.

1.The "flange" angle on the top of the C appears to have the wrong angle.

2.The letter A has an arch on the cross stoke, should be stright.

3.The letter S and E are not spaced correctly from one another.

4.The top and bottom lines on the letter E do not match up with the back line of the E.

5. Finally, if you try to match the lower Tested XX lettering to the upper case lettering on CASE they do not match up in spacing with the examples I have used to compare with your example.

6. Tested has a fluted shape,( starts large on the left and tapers to the right). and does the opposite on the XX going small to large.
My understanding is that this tang stamp as you my know is from circa 1920-1940's, however "this" knife (with yellow composite scales? pattern 6246R SS) should be from the early circa 1960's to possibly the late 1970's, and should have a Case XX tang stamp. But I am always paranoid about these things and generally over react. Just my humble thoughts.
Where's Steve when ya need him! Rocky

ROCKY1122 wrote:Jerry you are so welcome,but I am far from an being an expert. I will provide my rational and details as to my observation.

1.The "flange" angle on the top of the C appears to have the wrong angle.

2.The letter A has an arch on the cross stoke, should be stright.

3.The letter S and E are not spaced correctly from one another.

4.The top and bottom lines on the letter E do not match up with the back line of the E.

5. Finally, if you try to match the lower Tested XX lettering to the upper case lettering on CASE they do not match up in spacing with the examples I have used to compare with your example.

6. Tested has a fluted shape,( starts large on the left and tapers to the right). and does the opposite on the XX going small to large.
My understanding is that this tang stamp as you my know is from circa 1920-1940's, however this knife(pattern 46) should be from the early circa 1960's to possibly the late 1970's. and should have a Case XX tang stamp. But I am always paranoid about these things and generally over react. Just my humble thoughts.
Where's Steve when ya need him! Rocky

Hey Rocky, thanks for the reply.

How does the rest of the knife read???

I understand your concerns for the tang stamp and I appreciate the detailed observations. You lost me on item #6 though. At this point where you stated "My understanding is that this tang stamp as you my know is from circa 1920-1940's, however this knife(pattern 46) should be from the early circa 1960's to possibly the late 1970's. and should have a Case XX tang stamp.".

They made a 3246R in TESTED era from what I see in 2 of my reference books, unless the stamp conversation would be moot if one in yellow comp was not made in TESTED era regardless if knife in question is authentic or not. In XX era, Steve's book shows (I am paraphrasing) the the "bone" 6246R SS fits the timeframe you have suggested. It was brought back a couple of times after that but only for a couple years at a time on contract.
FYI, additionally, Steve's book mentions the 46 pattern back to the TESTED era and Pocket Trader's 9th Volume shows the 46 Riggers knife made in TESTED era in 4246R Imit Ivory, 6246R Green Bone and 9246R (both in Cracked Ice and Imit Onyx). Cannot substantiate this as I have never seen one and don't have to knowledge to confirm. Only book that I see the 4246R and both flavors of 9246R though, in my limited reference material. For instance, I don't see the aforementioned patterns in Sarge's 7th.

Thanks, Jerry

Jerry, have my doubts, but not sure 100% related to Tested era and yellow composition scales for this pattern 6246R SS. I believe as you stated this pattern was contracted out I think to Camillus in the late 70's early 80's. It is a beautiful knife, I just can't settle on the look of that tang stamp and the yellow composite scales for the pattern 6246R SS. I hope the best for you and yours. Rocky

I have an early reference " Dewey Ferguson" that specifies both the 3246 and with the R in composition Yellow handles one in stainless and one not. The picture clearly shows the marlin spike resting in the groove in the backspring as well. The date for the R model '42~'52 and also had a note on it that indocated discontinued. I believe the knife is true IMO The picture does not show the tang stamping but I believe its quite possible. For me I also do not see anything about the tang stamping that definatively says its wrong. BH

The tang stamp is fine. The knife looks fine to me.

Yes they made both the 3246 and the 6246 in Tested. The 6246 is very rare. I do not know that either of them was actually made in stainless steel.

The Tested era catalog lists the 3246 and the 6246, but it does not list either knife as being made in stainless steel, with the exception of the note that the

Marlin spike is made of stainless steel

. That would imply that the blades/springs were not stainless.

Thanks much for the help on this one Gents! I appreciate all of you taking the time to look, research, etc.

The forum members here are great. Hope I can reciprocate with some assitance in return.

Didn't have much doubt on this one as I read the knife but just felt I should solicit some valued input.

Regards, Jerry

Jerry, not surprised that I was wrong, I'm alway way to suspect on a really pretty old CASE Tested knife.I knew that Steve would give you the true "heads up" he's the man! Still learning at the master's feet for sure. Anyway congrats on a really rare gem, your Papa did well adding that one to his collection. Enjoy my friend,Rocky

I questioned the tang stamp too, but the rest of the knife is dead-on for what it is. The celluloid handles are in great shape like the rest of the knife and the knife reads perfect to me. As for the tang stamp, I'll defer to Steve since he's seen a lot more of that era than I probably ever will and we've all seen stamps that were less than perfect.

Elvis wrote:I questioned the tang stamp too, but the rest of the knife is dead-on for what it is. The celluloid handles are in great shape like the rest of the knife and the knife reads perfect to me. As for the tang stamp, I'll defer to Steve since he's seen a lot more of that era than I probably ever will and we've all seen stamps that were less than perfect.

Hey Bob,

Thanks. The first sentence of your reply is the exact reason I posted the knife in the first place. Just giving the reason for my post in this particular forum. Of course, I totally agree with the rest of your reply also. It is dead on accurate.

Thanks, Jerry

It seems like the more of these old Tested Era knives we see, the more we notice the tang stamp can look like the die for the stamp was tilted to one side or the other giving it the appearance of being deeper on one side than the other. I think that's all we're dealing with here too. Sweet knife!