All About Pocket Knives

Greetings to the forum and its established members!

This is my first post, and the reason for it is to try and gain some knowledge about a Case knife that has recently come into my possession.

Model number seems to be CT30109 or 730109. Papers say it’s a Case Classic XX from 1990 in “Cranberry Swirl”, and also indicates that it might be one of 43 total produced.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have ZERO knowledge when it comes to these sorts of things!

Have a blessed day.

Vance

Welcome to AAPK. As you’ve determined, the knife is a “Case Classic”. They are a series of knives which James Parker Sr. commissioned to be made while he owned W.R. Case & Sons, to commemorate old out-of-production Case patterns. However only four of the patterns in the series were actually made in house by Case. The rest, including your knife, were made by Queen. Your knife has celluloid handle covers, which are known to spontaneously degrade and disintegrate. So best to keep an eye on it and not store it in proximity to other knives. Hopefully yours won’t go bad.

Parker conceived the idea to make the Case Classics knives, had them made, and marketed them himself. They were not sold by or through Case distribution channels. (Shortly afterward Parker declared bankruptcy and was forced to sell the Case company.) Parker guaranteed buyers the knives would appreciate in value and reportedly said if they didn’t increase in value he would personally refund their money. They didn’t, and he didn’t. At the time he was a publisher of “price guides” to collectable knives. He published inflated prices on Case Classics knives. Eventually the value bubble burst. There are some who collect the knives. Opinions of them vary widely. Assuming the paperwork shown in your pictures is from the seller from whom you bought it, “silverladdie” is James Parker’s son.

There is a subforum here dedicated to Case Classics. You can find more info there viewforum.php?f=24.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:03 pm Welcome to AAPK. As you’ve determined, the knife is a “Case Classic”. They are a series of knives which James Parker Sr. commissioned to be made while he owned W.R. Case & Sons, to commemorate old out-of-production Case patterns. However only four of the patterns in the series were actually made in house by Case. The rest, including your knife, were made by Queen. Your knife has celluloid handle covers, which are known to spontaneously degrade and disintegrate. So best to keep an eye on it and not store it in proximity to other knives. Hopefully yours won’t go bad.

Parker conceived the idea to make the Case Classics knives, had them made, and marketed them himself. They were not sold by or through Case distribution channels. (Shortly afterward Parker declared bankruptcy and was forced to sell the Case company.) Parker guaranteed buyers the knives would appreciate in value and reportedly said if they didn’t increase in value he would personally refund the money. They didn’t, and he didn’t. At the time he was a publisher of “price guides” to collectable knives. He published inflated prices on Case Classics knives. Eventually the value bubble burst. There are some who collect the knives. Opinions of them vary widely. Assuming the paperwork shown in your pictures is from the seller from whom you bought it, “silverladdie” is James Parker’s son.

There is a subforum here dedicated to Case Classics. You can find more info there viewforum.php?f=24.

Ken

—————

Thanks a ton for the info, Ken!! I had no idea!

I, myself, did not actually purchase this knife; it was purchased in 2001 by my grandmother as a gift for my late grandfather; when he passed on I was given an old cedar box full of his keepsakes, and this was in it.

Overall was just curious about its authenticity, value (nfs), and it’s story.

Again, thank you for taking the time to explain.

Vance

Holy Moley Ken.
If I ever have a "Case" knife question, I'll come directly to you. (Unless of course, it is one of my beautiful Communist Chinese knives.)

Dan

Old Folder wrote: ↑Thu Jan 21, 2021 1:44 am Holy Moley Ken.
If I ever have a "Case" knife question, I'll come directly to you. (Unless of course, it is one of my beautiful Communist Chinese knives.)

Dan

(“Beautiful communist” doesn’t compute).

Ken

I walked into that one.

Old Folder wrote: ↑Thu Jan 21, 2021 1:44 am Holy Moley Ken.
If I ever have a "Case" knife question, I'll come directly to you. (Unless of course, it is one of my beautiful Communist Chinese knives.)

Dan

Steve Pfeiffer has probably forgotten more about Case knives than I’ll ever learn, but thanks for the compliment anyway.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Jan 21, 2021 1:54 am

Old Folder wrote: ↑Thu Jan 21, 2021 1:44 am Holy Moley Ken.
If I ever have a "Case" knife question, I'll come directly to you. (Unless of course, it is one of my beautiful Communist Chinese knives.)

Dan

(“Beautiful communist” doesn’t compute).

Ken

Ken