All About Pocket Knives

I received my Case XX 2021 Indian Princess Corelon Copperhead today. CA20148IP (9249 SS)


The Case XX Box lid states:
"Skeleton Pre Hafted Copperhead"

What is a "Skeleton Pre Hafted" ?? Never heard the term before, however, I did observe this term on the Case XX 06073 Trapper.

Dan

Whaat?? That's just wierd.

I have no idea what that means. Do the liners inside the blade well have sections cut out of them by any chance?

Some modern knives have what they call "Skeletonized Liners" to reduce the weight of the knife. They are usually circles cut out of the liners but the cut outs can be any shape.

I can't imagine how this would apply to knives, but I had some interest in collecting and doing some basic work on watches quite some time ago. As I recall, the terms "skeletonized" or "skeleton" referred to a watch that had either a clear face plate (dial) or portions of other metal plates either removed or made of clear material (usually glass) so that one could see the movement inside doing its thing.

herbva wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:51 am I can't imagine how this would apply to knives, but I had some interest in collecting and doing some basic work on watches quite some time ago. As I recall, the terms "skeletonized" or "skeleton" referred to a watch that had either a clear face plate (dial) or portions of other metal plates either removed or made of clear material (usually glass) so that one could see the movement inside doing its thing.

Here's a skeletonized watch, not sure how this would apply to the knife in question?



Dan, what's the knife look like with the blades open? Thanks!

FWIW here’s my semi-educated guess. A “skeleton” knife is one made by a manufacturer but has no handle covers attached. These are typically sold to jewelers who attach fancy gold or silver (often plated) covers, and re-sell them. Often the end customer’s initials are engraved onto the covers by the jeweler. These knives were very popular at one time for use as watch fobs.

I suspect the OP knife was made by Case as one of the thousands sold to Frost Cutlery to have Corelon handle covers attached. (Corelon is a trade name owned by Frost. When Case puts similar handle material on their knives at the factory, they call it “Kirinite”). The knives made for Frost are finished at the Case factory, including hafting/buffing the bolsters etc, but without handle covers,, and shipped to Michael Prater who attaches the Corelon handle covers for Frost Cutlery who in turn distributes them to their retailer network.

Hence you have a “skeleton pre-hafted” knife. Typically the Corelon knives are either re-boxed or re-labeled before sending them to the retailer.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Until someone tells me I’m wrong anyway. The best way to find out for sure is to ask Case.

Ken

There are several knives with this description for sale on Ebay. I just noticed this one and it does not have the typical Corelon swirled, blended appearance to it? This one has a distinct, repeating pattern. Maybe something new? Is it even Corelon?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284335848916

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 2:03 pm FWIW here’s my semi-educated guess. A “skeleton” knife is one made by a manufacturer but has no handle covers attached. These are typically sold to jewelers who attach fancy gold or silver (often plated) covers, and re-sell them. Often the end customer’s initials are engraved onto the covers by the jeweler. These knives were very popular at one time for use as watch fobs.

I suspect the OP knife was made by Case as one of the thousands sold to Frost Cutlery to have Corelon handle covers attached. (Corelon is a trade name owned by Frost. When Case puts similar handle material on their knives at the factory, they call it “Kirinite”). The knives made for Frost are finished at the Case factory, including hafting/buffing the bolsters etc, and shipped to Michael Prater who attaches the Corelon handle covers for Frost Cutlery who in turn distributes them to their retailer network.

Hence you have a “skeleton pre-hafted” knife. Typically the Corelon knives are either re-boxed or re-labeled before sending them to the retailer.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Until someone tells me I’m wrong anyway. The best way to find out for sure is to ask Case.

Ken

You hit the nail on the head Ken, that's exactly what a skeleton knife is. Everything's pre-done with the exception of the handles, which are added later. Most all of the old fancy metal knives with jeweler applied handles were skeletons as well. The lack of any pins through the handles is a dead giveaway, especially the center pin.

Eric

I agree with Ken...the Corelon knives have the handles added outside of the Case factory (maybe by Frost?).

I purchase a lot of the empty Case boxes from several vendors on Ebay, I use them to box some of my Case knives for sale on Ebay. Many of the empty boxes have that label, since they are sold to people who add custom handles, like Joshua Kidd.

The trademark registry site says the Corelon name is owned by Frost. That same basic synthetic material can be purchased from suppliers of knife handling materials, under names other than Corelon. The lack of a box or label specifying the Corelon trade name leads me to think someone other than Frost did those. Instead of applying a new label whoever is doing the handle covers is just retaining the original Case boxes. JMO

Ken

I have several of the Corelon handled Case's given to me as gifts.
This is the 1st one I picked up from the pile. It does acknowledges the Frost connection on the box.
Wonder what type of adhesive holds the handle to the frame since there are no handle pins? Treefarmer

I 100% agree with Ken on this one. And, I believe the knife shown by Just Bob is also Corelon.

BTW, Michael Prater/Painted Pony refers to a similar material as 'Mica Pearl.'

Railsplitter wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:37 am I have no idea what that means. Do the liners inside the blade well have sections cut out of them by any chance?

Some modern knives have what they call "Skeletonized Liners" to reduce the weight of the knife. They are usually circles cut out of the liners but the cut outs can be any shape.

Sorry for the late response Rick.
No, there are no liner alterations. The knife is identical with all my other Case Copperheads with the exception of having glued on Corelon handles and no pins.

Dan

1967redrider wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 12:31 pm

herbva wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:51 am I can't imagine how this would apply to knives, but I had some interest in collecting and doing some basic work on watches quite some time ago. As I recall, the terms "skeletonized" or "skeleton" referred to a watch that had either a clear face plate (dial) or portions of other metal plates either removed or made of clear material (usually glass) so that one could see the movement inside doing its thing.

Here's a skeletonized watch, not sure how this would apply to the knife in question?



Dan, what's the knife look like with the blades open? Thanks!

Sorry for the late follow up redrider.
Below are the pictures with open blades. The liners have no alterations and the knife in general is identical to all other Case Copperheads with the exception of glued on Corelon pinless handles.

Dan

knifeaholic wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 3:38 pm I agree with Ken...the Corelon knives have the handles added outside of the Case factory (maybe by Frost?).

I purchase a lot of the empty Case boxes from several vendors on Ebay, I use them to box some of my Case knives for sale on Ebay. Many of the empty boxes have that label, since they are sold to people who add custom handles, like Joshua Kidd.

Below is a good example in regards to your reference of Case knife boxes being relabeled. I noticed that the box labeled for my Case Copperhead "Indian Princess" was added on top of another sticker. I was able to pull the label back a little to observe the original label. The original box was labeled to contain the Case #06073 Trapper, which was also a "Skeleton Pre Hafted" Corelon handled knife. Very interesting.

Dan

hardman wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 1:51 am I 100% agree with Ken on this one. And, I believe the knife shown by Just Bob is also Corelon.

BTW, Michael Prater/Painted Pony refers to a similar material as 'Mica Pearl.'

The "Artic Night" 2021 Copperhead has beautiful Corelon Handles and is also referred to as "Mica Pearl" Handles.

Old Folder wrote: ↑Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:41 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 12:31 pm

herbva wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 11:51 am I can't imagine how this would apply to knives, but I had some interest in collecting and doing some basic work on watches quite some time ago. As I recall, the terms "skeletonized" or "skeleton" referred to a watch that had either a clear face plate (dial) or portions of other metal plates either removed or made of clear material (usually glass) so that one could see the movement inside doing its thing.

Here's a skeletonized watch, not sure how this would apply to the knife in question?



Dan, what's the knife look like with the blades open? Thanks!

Sorry for the late follow up redrider.
Below are the pictures with open blades. The liners have no alterations and the knife in general is identical to all other Case Copperheads with the exception of glued on Corelon pinless handles.


Skeleton 1.jpgSkeleton 2.jpg

Dan

You jogged my memory, Dan. I meant to post this question last week- I wonder at what point they quit using these boxes with just a pattern number? The pictured knife is a 9254CL, boxed is a Sapphire Glow Muskrat. A few of the Corelons I have. Early in knife collecting these caught my eye.