Case clasp knives

[winst]

It is my understanding that Case made large clasp knife ,and referred to it as the buffalo,in the tested era but discontinued it in the 30's. Revived it in the mid 60's. Would there be any of you collectors that would possibly have a picture of the original tested era buffalo or one in a collection that you could post for observation?
Thanks

[Gunsil]

Well, you obviously have a computer, just google Case buffalo knife, go to "images" and you will see plenty. Also google Case bulldog knife, you will see many more Case large clasp knives. You can also google Case tested xx clasp knife to see images of those.

[espn77]

I have this one. I've not heard it refered to as a Buffalo. I have this other one that is from the 70's

[Mumbleypeg]

Case has made large clasp knives of several patterns since their early days, one of the most sought after being the 72 pattern “Case’s Zipper” clasp switchblade from the Tested era. I don’t recall seeing or hearing the term “Buffalo” for a Case pattern until the late 1960’s or thereabouts. The Buffalo (also a 72 pattern) was introduced around that time having polished wood handle covers and sold in a wooden box like the one Keith showed in his post.

Ken

[winst]

I got the information about the clasp knife buffalo from the AAPK research link.

[winst]

Case has made large clasp knives of several patterns since their early days, one of the most sought after being the 72 pattern “Case’s Zipper” clasp switchblade from the Tested era. I don’t recall seeing or hearing the term “Buffalo” for a Case pattern until the late 1960’s or thereabouts. The Buffalo (also a 72 pattern) was introduced around that time having polished wood handle covers and sold in a wooden box like the one Keith showed in his post.

Ken

According to AAPK's research link the 72 or buffalo was reintroduced in the mid 60,s . It had previously been produced in the tested era but was discontinued in the 30's or just prior to 1940. If this research is correct there shouldn't be any XX era knives in this pattern---1940---64. Reintroduction was in 1965 "quote" AAPK research...Fred

[Mumbleypeg]

I stand by my statement. The 72 pattern dates back to the Tested era. It was however NOT called Buffalo at that time. Sargent's lists a "5172 XX, 1940-64".

Ken

Edit: digging a bit further I find this in Pfeiffer’s Collecting Case Knives. He says (paraphrasing) the 72 pattern was made during the Tested era in Bone, stag, and several celluloids. It was discontinued prior to WWII and then reintroduced as follows: 5172 “Bulldog” with stag handles in the early 1960s (would have been the XX version), P172 “Buffalo” with smooth brown Pakkawood handles introduced in late 1960s. Until 1980 both were available with carbon steel blades only.

Bottom line is there has been a 72 pattern large clasp knife made since the Tested era. Case never marketed it as a “Buffalo” until they introduced the Pakkawood version in late 1960s. Pfeiffer later goes on to say the P172 Buffalo first appeared in Case price list dated January 1, 1971, meaning it likely was introduced in 1970. The Case XX stamped version of the 5172 was only made from sometime around 1962-63 until end of 1964 when stamps were changed to Case XX U.S.A. Therefore the CASE XX stamped version, having been made only two years at most, is rarer than the later versions.

Hope this helps resolve your question.

Ken

[RalphAlsip]

The 5172L and 6172L (note the letter "L" at the end of the pattern number) are the "L"ocking switchblade variation of the 72 Clasp pattern. The 72 switchblades are also known as "Zippers". There are 72 Zippers with the Case Bradford trademark on the tang. This would imply earlier than the Case Tested XX trademark. The 72L and plain 72 were made with Case Tested XX marks. Starting in 1962, Case introduced the stag Bulldog pattern (5172). The so-called first model 5172 is marked Case XX. The 2nd and 3rd model 5172 are marked Case XX USA. The P172 Buffalo (wood handles buffalo etch on blade) pattern was introduced in 1969 and there very few Buffalo examples marked Case XX with no dots. Even though P172 example attached is marked Case XX P172, it is Case XX USA knife.

[winst]

Thanks Ralph for the drilling down in researching this issue. There seems to be some rather sketchy history concerning the buffalo, bull dog, p172 and the original 72 pattern.

[RalphAlsip]

There seems to be some rather sketchy history concerning the buffalo, bull dog, p172 and the original 72 pattern.

What do you think is "sketchy"? There is a well-known history to these knives including when they were made and what they were called. Can you please post pictures of any knives your are concerned about.

There was no "Buffalo" knife until the late 1960's.

There was no "Bulldog" knife until 1962.

Both the Bulldog and the Buffalo are considered "Clasp" knives which is the nickname for the 72 pattern.

The 72 switchblade (Zipper) pattern was made in the Case Bradford era and the Case Tested XX era. The Zipper was discontinued in the Case Tested XX era.

The green bone 6172 non-switchblade was made in the Case Tested XX era and discontinued in the Case Tested XX era.

I lose interest after 1970 so my knowledge of post 1970 Case knives is limited.

[Mumbleypeg]

Well stated Jerry, and a clearer way of saying what I was trying to say. After seeing the reference made to the info about the Case Buffalo in the research section on AAPK I can see how someone not well acquainted with the history of the Buffalo, and other versions of the 72 pattern could misinterpret it.

Buffalo: Also known as Bulldog or Clasp Knife. The buffalo is a 5 1/2″ clasp style jack knife that has 72 as the factory pattern number.

The reader is then given a URL to “More about pattern 72”. Which I think may be the source of the confusion. The URL takes the reader to the 72 pattern, where it mentions the Buffalo. If you read that in the context of the Buffalo it could be easily misconstrued to mean the info there about the 72 pattern in general applies to the Buffalo.

Pattern 72: The 72 pattern is a 5 1/2″ clasp style jack knife that goes by the name buffalo or bulldog. They have a single clip blade. These knives were introduced and had already been discontinued prior to 1940. It was reintroduced between 1965 and 1969.

Definitely could be misleading IMHO and needs to be worded differently. As we know, and as you so clearly stated, although the 72 is an old pattern the terms “Buffalo” and “ Bulldog” and the knives bearing those names did not appear until the 1960s.

Ken

[1967redrider]

Thanks for posting this picture. It gives me definitive proof that my Bulldog is 3rd Issue.