odd Case on the Bay

[313 Mike]

Came across this odd Case knife on eBay... no name on the shield, and no name on the tang, but it does have the 8 dots clearly visible. Is it possible that it is some sort of a second, with the name being removed? Nice bone anyway. Just looking to increase my knowledge, if any of you Case connoisseurs would like to comment!

Thanks.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/CASE-RED-BONE19 ... 3f4650e6ef

[jmh58]

Looks to me that the knife at one point was over zealously cleaned.. Then not to taken care of!! JMO!!! John

[knifeaholic]

It looks like a factory "second" - name removed from the shield and the tang. Odd in that I have never seen a Case second from that era.

[jerryd6818]

Steve, was it (is it) common practice for Case to grind off the maker's name on their knives that failed QC?

[313 Mike]

From what I can tell from the pics, it looks like a handsome knife either way... wonder what would have caused it to be marked as a second

[knifeaholic]

Steve, was it (is it) common practice for Case to grind off the maker's name on their knives that failed QC?

Jerry;

Yes and no. The subject of Case factory seconds is complex.

For most of their history, Case scrapped their seconds rather than taking the markings off so that they could sell them.

I have seen factory seconds from the Tested and older years pre WWII with the logos ground off, and I have seen at least one invoice from that era where they sold seconds to someone.

Up to this knife I had never seen a Case second from the XX era until about 1977-78. In the late 70's I saw a bunch of them for sale, all with the tang logos mostly ground off but not from the shields.

Then in the early 80's Case knives were sometimes seen with two x's marked across the tang stamp like with a dremel, to indicate a second. Collectors refer to these as "x outs" but I have never seen very many.

I have never seen a Case second any newer than that, about 1983. I guess Case ran hot and cold over the years as to whether they would sell the seconds or just scrap them.

[zp4ja]

Great post, questions and answers. Never have I seen one myself.

Thanks for bringing it up Mike my friend! Thanks much Steve for the detailed answer to JerryD's question.

Jerry

[cbfd]

I purchased these two 15 years ago or so,both are marked as seconds .!979[one dot]smooth white bone,bolsters unfinished.I bought them to be users,but forgot that I had them until viewing this thread The first picture shows an X stamped onto Case and Stainless. Bill