All About Pocket Knives

What does "A" stand for?

Appaloosa bone. It’s a color - not the source of the bone.

Ken

Thanks so much! I am kinda new to collecting.

Ask away, there are no dumb questions. Someone else is probably wanting to know the same thing! In fact there’s an old post here somewhere with someone asking if Appaloosa bone comes from horses - that’s why I threw in the part about Appaloosa (Palouse) horses not being the source of the bone.

Ken

To add to what Ken said, Case calls some of their smooth dyed bone handles "Appaloosa" bone due to the smooth handles having random white or undyed spots (unavoidable since it is difficult if not impossible to control how the bone takes the dye). "Appaloosa" because the Appaloosa horses have white spots on tan or brown hides.

Case first used the "Appaloosa" bone in 1978 on a special release of the 6220 "Peanut". They made 15,000 of these with a special blade etch and box.

The run of 15,000 was so large that it spanned a two-year period, so they will be found with both '78 and '79 stamped blades.

I've asked this question before and didn't get an answer but Steve apparently you have studied this subject some. In order to be considered a true Case appaloosa bone knife does an A have to precede the pattern number as in the A6220 that you picture? Case made many colors of splotchy colored dyed bone handles that are often referred to as Appaloosa bone, but an A does not precede the pattern number.

Is this knife considered Appaloosa because of the handles or the horse on the blade? Not really shown, but apparently there is no A in front of the pattern number.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114849752230?s ... 1438.l2649