All About Pocket Knives

Here is one I’ve often wondered how it came to be.
Has strong snap and half stops. Beautiful stag.
Just feels great in hand.
But both blades are marked 6488
Both blades are mint never sharpened
I’d just like your thoughts.
I know it should be be a 5288. I don’t think they were made that year. And I can’t see someone taking apart two mint congresses to make a knife.

The knife looks great. The mystery behind a knife can make it much more fun to own.

Interesting knife, several possible explanations I can think of. “Lunch box” isn’t one of them though.

Ken

Very cool knife, on it’s own. The mystery makes it even better.

It’s a nice knife. The fit and finish is great. I’d like to hear your all thoughts on how it came to be.

Case only made a two blade 88 Congress up to some point in the Tested era, after which it dissapeared. At that time, as far as I know from research, it was never offered in stag, only bone. Case ceased production of stag pocket knives, except for limited edition runs like the Blue Scroll series, in the early 1970s. There was not a two blade 88 “half Congress” version (x288) made during the 1970s in any material.

The 88 pattern has one sheepfoot master and one spear master. By logic a two-blade 88, were there such an animal, would have a spear and a sheepfoot - the Tested 6288 which is a rare knife, had that arrangement. Your knife has two sheepfoot masters. During the 1970 “dotted era” Delrin was randomly used on 6488 patterns, along with bone. There were no two-blade 88 patterns.

My conclusion is your knife is a frankenknife. Whoever made it did a nice job using whatever parts they could scrounge up. (Likely started as a Delrin 6488). Hence the two sheepfoot blade configuration is not correct, and stag is not correct. The 6488 pattern number doesn’t fit the stag covers, nor the number of blades.

It wasn’t produced in the Case factory.

Ken

I mean I know it was not produced by case as a production knife. The 5288 produced in the 80s did in fact have two sheep foot blades.
I just can’t see someone taking apart two ment Delrin 6488s to make this knife.
The fit and finish on this knife are awesome. The shield is pinned. Everything says case to me except the pattern itself to me.
Maybe a case employee slipped birthday present through. It’s untellin.
Thank you for the reply’s.

Regardless of who did it or where the knife was put together it is a very nice job. Over the years I've had some pretty specific requests to customize knives. My guess is that someone wanted a stag handled 88 pattern, congress with two master sheepsfoot blades and that is exactly what they got.

btrwtr wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 3:10 pm My guess is that someone wanted a stag handled 88 pattern, congress with two master sheepsfoot blades and that is exactly what they got.

That is what I was thinking. Plenty of folks (including me) think that the sheepsfoot blade is the most useful blade on a pocket knife. I seem to recall that someone once posted a photo of a knife customized with three sheepsfoot blades.

Nice looking "Congress" knife.
I believe Western made a Dynamite blasters knife (6494) that had four folding sheep foot blades. Try to find one.
I don't recall the pattern but I don't believe it was a Congress.

I ain’t ever seen one

FRJ wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 7:54 pm Nice looking "Congress" knife.
I believe Western made a Dynamite blasters knife (6494) that had four folding sheep foot blades. Try to find one.
I don't recall the pattern but I don't believe it was a Congress.

Yes, it was their jumbo stockman pattern with four sheepfoot blades, for cutting blasting caps, I believe.

FRJ wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 7:54 pm Nice looking "Congress" knife.
I believe Western made a Dynamite blasters knife (6494) that had four folding sheep foot blades. Try to find one.
I don't recall the pattern but I don't believe it was a Congress.

Dynamite knife Picture from TKMWWW .western states knife that I believe was modified to use in as a dynamite knife .The western states (6494 ) is one of my holly grail knifes that I would love to own .If one could be found I would have to hit the lottery to purchase it first .I can see why someone would want a custom congress with two sheep foot blades . They are perfect for cutting and stripping wire in the electrical trade .

FRJ wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 7:54 pm Nice looking "Congress" knife.
I believe Western made a Dynamite blasters knife (6494) that had four folding sheep foot blades. Try to find one.
I don't recall the pattern but I don't believe it was a Congress.

This is a close to seeing a dynamite knife as I have ever come.I do have a western states jumbo stockman I believe was modified to do the same task .when I was working as an industrial electrician i skinned a lot of wire with it .The sheep foot blades sure are handy.