All About Pocket Knives

I recently acquired a Case Congress 4 1/8" long. This is a long pull red bone (appears to be red bone). The markings are as follows: on the sheepfoot's blade on the tang is marked "Case, Bradford, PA., on the coping blade is marked 6488, on the pen blade is marked in an oval circle Case XX TESTED, and on the fourth blade is also marked Case, Bradford, PA. I have several questions about this knife. First, there seems to be two sheepfoot blades, is this common and does it change the resale value of this knife? Second, I'm having trouble trying to date this knife. Does it fall in to 1920-1940 range? Please look at the photo to see the shield. The letters are incised not raised. Also when to collectors guides say "green bone" is this actually the color green or is it a type of bone? Thanks
edallai

That oval stamp is pre-1920 but . . .

I don't believe CASE was marking their blades with a model # during that time period . . . am I wrong about that?

Bradfords did have pattern #'s but I don't think this knife is right newer frame newer shield something is amiss.

Sorry Stockman

Hey Ed,

Do you know Tony Foster? Here is a contact number, 843-971-4777.
You may want to send him very detailed pictures or better yet the knife.

gary

While Tony is certainly the man to go to with older Case knives, you don't need to with this one. Someone just stuck some blades in a 70's 88 frame and turned a good knife into nothing I would say that I don't know why people do this but, we all know why

To answer the other questions:

Two sheepsfoot blades is not that uncommon, you see that from time to time. No real difference in value

If the knife was right it would have been made 1905-1920

Greenbone can be anywhere from black to brown to green to almost a honey color

During that time period most knives were stamped with the pattern number

Hello edallai, I noticed this was your second post on this forum. If you are just starting to collect it may help to invest in some good books just trying to help.

Stockman

WTG Perry cleared that up!

I knew the blades were correct, but like Stockman said the frame and the most obvious thing, the shield is wrong.

Ed don't feel bad we've all been bilked before. Unfortunately it's part of the knife collecting hobby, recognizing fakes. Heck, I probably have a few I haven’t ID yet.

Seeya……………….

Is there any chance that someone stuck a newer shield on this knife? The blades seem to match up with the conditon of the body both are in excellent condition.
Thank you everyone for your input. I do have quite a few resource books but I am new at collecting and I am muttling my way through the learning process.
Elaine

I'm with stockman & Perry on this one, the frame is not from the pre-20 era.
Gary