All About Pocket Knives

As it pertains to Case Fixed Blade Knives, what do they mean when the description says "2 Finn" or "3 Finn"?
I'm more a Case "folder" type of guy and don't have much knowledge when it comes to the fixed blades.

Any information would be most appreciated.

________
Mike

Here's a link to a page on the Case College website. It shows the 2Finn and 3Finn patterns listed at the top with a description of the size.

http://www.wrcase.com/case_college/patt ... tterns.php

Hope this helps a little.

I don't have my Sargent's 7th edition handy but I'm thinking it has an explanation for the term FINN in the section on Case fixed blades.

Mike,

I believe Finn refers to Finnish. I think the Case Finn models all have a straight spine which is typical of Finnish knives such as the puukko. This is in contrast to the clip point shape of the classic American hunting knife.

However, it occurs to me that a more romantic explanation would be that it is named after the knife used by Huck Finn (see image).

By the way, even though Huckleberry Finn was written well before Case was founded the novel has several references to a "case knife." I believe this was a common 19th century term for pocket knife.

Dennis

deo-pa wrote: I believe this was a common 19th century term for pocket knife.

Dennis

I recently read something that leads me to believe you are correct. Also, a "case knife" in the south referred to a table knife.

I think you're onto something with the Finnish connection. I sent a message to the Case Collectors on the Case web site asking about the origins of "Finn" but haven't received an answer yet.

how Case came up with the “Finn” designation, a reference
in the 1934-35 catalog clears this up by stating the “FINN”
pattern (which later became the 9Finn) “[o]riginated in
Finland for hunting and fishing.”

I now have access to my Sargent's and the above excerpt explains it. Dennis you are correct.

Jerry you are right about the "Case Knives" in the steak knives, carvers and other sharp utensils were kept in a case in the china cabinet therefore they were case knives.

The drawing of Huck Finn with his knife is interesting. Is this art work from the original edition ? Or is it from a later edition of Huck Finn ? The knife looks more modern than 1884 when the book was first published.
kj

Roland (KJ) I love how knife threads can take off on crazy tangents. The illustration above is not first edition as it is in color. A sample b & w first edition drawing is below.

The illustration is from the Great Illustrated Classics The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn published in 2011 ($0.42 plus shipping used from Amazon). The illustrator is Pablo Marcos, a well known American comic book illustrator (see Wikipedia).

As to your main point, I agree. I suspect Mr. Marcos is not a knife guy. I bet someone here will now identify the knife for us! Who makes a hunting knife with a small guard, stacked leather handle, and a symmetrical, flat topped, pommel?

Dennis
PS, I bet the lantern guys are up in arms too because the lantern looks suspiciously like a modern pressed steel Dietz you can find for $10 in most hardware stores.

Thanks Dennis. Good points. The story takes place prior to the Civil War and the knife & lantern are more recent by about a century. The illustrator did not do his homework. Besides that is a very good looking new knife. A poor country boy (orphan even ?) in the first half of the 1800's would have had a discarded blade or some metal he had pounded out himself to be knife like. sorry, off topic again, mind wanders more every day.
kj

kootenay joe wrote: sorry, off topic again, mind wanders more every day.
kj

Roland, you've been indoctrinated. If wandering off topic were a huge sin at AAPK, I would have been banned a loooong time ago.

It's my philosophy that a thread is a conversation and how many conversations have you seen in your lifetime that have stayed strictly on subject 100%?

Thanks Jerry. Being new to AAPK i appreciate the reassurance as i get to know 'how it works' here.
kj

Who knows what lurks in the heart of Huck Finn? I was born in Cape GIRRARDEAU, Mo. I grew up, loving the story. God bless MARK TWAIN. A story for all time.. Sorry I slipped away for a moment. Those were great comments about Case FINN. The few table knives,our family used,were called case knives. I'm 74 yrs. old. Slippppping away again.

Huck Finn wrote:Who knows what lurks in the heart of Huck Finn? I was born in Cape GIRRARDEAU, Mo. I grew up, loving the story. God bless MARK TWAIN. A story for all time.. Sorry I slipped away for a moment. Those were great comments about Case FINN. The few table knives,our family used,were called case knives. I'm 74 yrs. old. Slippppping away again.

Here's some off the topic...Huck did you ever meet Rush Limbaugh ?

Huck Finn wrote:Who knows what lurks in the heart of Huck Finn? I was born in Cape GIRRARDEAU, Mo. I grew up, loving the story. God bless MARK TWAIN. A story for all time.. Sorry I slipped away for a moment. Those were great comments about Case FINN. The few table knives,our family used,were called case knives. I'm 74 yrs. old. Slippppping away again.

About 65 years ago I asked my Uncle Buford what he meant by case knife, and he told me it meant a table knife. I had just moved to near Kynesville, Florida from near Fort Wayne, Indiana. this was quite a culture shock for me. The words and customs were very different. My Grandpa gave me a shoat for learning to Sir and Mam adults.