All About Pocket Knives

Obviously just about everyone calls the large coke - a large coke.

It’s his slim cousin I’m wondering. Same length, one slimmer and I’ve also never saw it with a copperhead neck.

Me, first time I saw one the fella called it a California Coke- that’s stuck with me. What bout y’all? Tim

Swell-center jack. BTW I wouldn't call the big folding hunter a coke bottle. That hump on the top bolster doesn't look like any coke bottle I ever saw. JMO


Ken

Here's what Price & Zalesky call them.

I just noticed I was calling this western a coke bottle but it has the big knob on the end. The body looks like that to me.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2024 11:45 pm Swell-center jack. BTW I wouldn't call the big folding hunter a coke bottle. That hump on the top bolster doesn't look like any coke bottle I ever saw. JMO


Ken

So you don't think that this is a coke bottle? Just curious.

Cal, it's not what I call a coke bottle. To me it's a folding hunter. IMHO Coke bottles have no hump on the top bolster. The pictures John posted from Price & Zalesky agree with my nomenclature. (Or I guess I agree with them is more appropriate.)

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2024 11:45 pm Swell-center jack. BTW I wouldn't call the big folding hunter a coke bottle. That hump on the top bolster doesn't look like any coke bottle I ever saw. JMO


Ken

From my understanding, there are two kinds of large Coke bottle. Knives. One is a straight bolster, and the other is like a copperhead bolster.

I definitely wouldn’t call it a large Hunter.


Below, you’ll see a variations in the large Coke pattern or what I thought it was

https://www.casexx.com/Library/PatternNumbers.as




It is as I said, the pattern number for a large Coke is 050. There is a variation. That is C050 that is a large Coke with a copperhead Bolster. All that aside, I’m really interested in hearing what folks re calling the slim coke pattern- ABCA made a knife in this pattern.

I own one that has some kind of club markings. If I recall correctly its handle pattern number is 139. It's one of the less common patterns that was included in the 1989 red jigged bone centenial series which I'm guessing is what yours is. Since this is the first time I've discussed the pattern I guess I have not called it anything but I think of it as a slim large coke bottle. The other odd ball large coke bottle in the 1989 red jigged bone centenial series is the 6166. (or possibly 61066?) It's longer than the 050 Coke Bottles. Since in addition to having a copperhead bolster hump 6166s have straight backs I expect Mumblypeg will dislike calling 6166s coke bottles even more than he dislikes calling 050s with copperhead bolster humps coke bottles.

My opinion is that it is best for collectors to use the model name that the manufacturer used at the time the item was made. If Case called 61050s Swell Center Jacks during the the couple decades before WWII but called 61050s Large Coke Bottles during recent decades than I would call tested era 61050s Swell Center Jacks and 61050s made in the last 40 years Large Coke Bottles. So, how did Case describe or name your slim coke bottle when it was made?

By the way, if I really dislike a manufacturer's name I find a way to avoid using it. For example, IMO Buck named his flag ship 110 wrong. Posting in the Buck sub forum I would never try to tell Buck collectors 110s are not folding hunters. I just call them 110s.

A rose by any other name will smell as sweet. They are all nice knives!

I’m old, and have been collecting/accumulating knives since the mid 1960s. Most of those who promoted the hobby and frequented shows during the advent of knife collecting’s popularity - my elders from whom I learned about knives - are sadly no longer with us. Many of the terms used now to describe knives were not what manufacturers called them in their catalogs. They are names created by collectors when they gathered and “talked knives”. Terms like coke bottle, whittler, greenbone, pretty bone, and others came from collectors, not from manufacturers. The manufacturers eventually began using many of those terms in catalog descriptions, calling the knives what their customers call them.

The OP question was “what do ya’ll call”………. I simply gave my answer. Didn’t say it was right, or wrong, just what I call it. Language changes over time. The term “coke bottle” in its broadest sense might be applied to any of numerous patterns - it’s a classical knife shape. In my “old” mind the Case x1050 and x10050 patterns are large coke bottles, the Case 25 is a small coke bottle. If you tell me the pattern has a “coke bottle” shape, I’ll know what you’re speaking of (The OP called it a “coke pattern”). If you tell me it is a coke bottle knife, my mind goes to the x1050. Not to the Cx1050. If you think of those as being a “coke bottle”, so be it.

As Cal says, they’re nice knives, by any name.

Ken

Makes me think of the absurd moniker "Half Whittler." Good theatre, though.

Since we’re on the subject, here’s a few coke bottles, old and new, from my pile.

Ken

What beautiful knives you all are showing.

I have one myself; a grand 25 1/2 at three inches long.

It's a swell center. The same term I would use to describe the other knives that are actually swell center knives.

Beautiful "swell center" jack FRJ. I don't recall other Cases with pattern number stamps lacking the first two digits but that just reveals my ignorance of old knives.

Collectors much less ignorant than I am are unaware Mumbleypeg's Tested XX PBB1050F was made. It looks like an out the front automatic or gravity knife. Either way it is not legal in Washington but it's interesting any way.

Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:26 pm Beautiful "swell center" jack FRJ. I don't recall other Cases with pattern number stamps lacking the first two digits but thar just reveals my ignorance of old knives.

Collectors much less ignorant than I am are unaware Mumbleypeg's Tested XX PBB1050F was made. It looks like an out the front automatic or gravity knife. Either way it is not legal in Washington but it's interesting any way.

Many of Case’s smaller patterns are marked with only the last digits of the pattern number, especially so when the “1/2” has to be included. Just not enough real estate there to put the entire number on it. Case 25-1/2 “small coke bottle” is a relatively small knife, at just 3 inches closed. They still make it BTW - it was a recent vault release.

The PBB1050 pattern was discontinued during the TESTED XX era. There were two different blades available, the plain and the F (fish scaler serrations on the spine). Nothing “automatic” about it. It is opened via a push button (hence the PB in the pattern name) slider. It is operated by pushing slightly down on the button with one’s thumb to release the lock, then sliding the blade out the front. It has notches or “stops” such that the blade can be locked at various extension lengths depending on at which “stop” the user desires. Very few of these exist today - the covers are celluloid, I suspect many of them died, rusting and rotting away in the bottom of a fishing tackle box. It’s a big ol’ handful of knife.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 9:26 pm

Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:26 pm Beautiful "swell center" jack FRJ. I don't recall other Cases with pattern number stamps lacking the first two digits but thar just reveals my ignorance of old knives.

Collectors much less ignorant than I am are unaware Mumbleypeg's Tested XX PBB1050F was made. It looks like an out the front automatic or gravity knife. Either way it is not legal in Washington but it's interesting any way.

Many ofvCase’s smaller patterns are marked with only the last digits of the pattern number, esoecially so when the “1/2” has to be included. Just not enough real estate tgere to put the entire number on it. Case 25-1/2 “small coke bottle” is a relatively small knife, at just 3 inches closed. They still make it BTW - it was a recent vault release.

The PBB1060 pattern was discontinued during the TESTED XX era. There were two different blades available, the plain and the F (fish scaler serrations on the spine). Nothing “automatic” about it. It is opened via a push button (hence the PB in the pattern name) slider. It is operated by pushing slightly down on the button with one’s thumb to release the lock, then sliding the blade out the front. It has notches or “stops” such that the blade can be locked at various extension lengths depending on at which “stop” the user desires. Very few of these exist today - the covers are celluloid, I suspect many of them died, rusting and rotting away in the bottom of a fishing tackle box. It’s a big ol’ handful of knife.

Ken

Wow Ken, what a fantastic knife!!!

Dullest_knife wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2024 10:31 pm Obviously just about everyone calls the large coke - a large coke.

It’s his slim cousin I’m wondering. Same length, one slimmer and I’ve also never saw it with a copperhead neck.

Me, first time I saw one the fella called it a California Coke- that’s stuck with me. What bout y’all? Tim

How about "Diet Coke"?

Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:26 pm Beautiful "swell center" jack FRJ. I don't recall other Cases with pattern number stamps lacking the first two digits but thar just reveals my ignorance of old knives.

Thank you, Modern Slip Joints.

Just to say, I'm from Spokane originally.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:16 pm Since we’re on the subject, here’s a few coke bottles, old and new, from my pile.

Ken

Nice looking collection you got there.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 10:54 pm

Dullest_knife wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2024 10:31 pm Obviously just about everyone calls the large coke - a large coke.

It’s his slim cousin I’m wondering. Same length, one slimmer and I’ve also never saw it with a copperhead neck.

Me, first time I saw one the fella called it a California Coke- that’s stuck with me. What bout y’all? Tim

How about "Diet Coke"?

I like it

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 9:26 pm

Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:26 pm Beautiful "swell center" jack FRJ. I don't recall other Cases with pattern number stamps lacking the first two digits but thar just reveals my ignorance of old knives.

Collectors much less ignorant than I am are unaware Mumbleypeg's Tested XX PBB1050F was made. It looks like an out the front automatic or gravity knife. Either way it is not legal in Washington but it's interesting any way.

Many of
Case’s smaller patterns are marked with only the last digits of the pattern number, especially so when the “1/2” has to be included. Just not enough real estate there to put the entire number on it. Case 25-1/2 “small coke bottle” is a relatively small knife, at just 3 inches closed. They still make it BTW - it was a recent vault release.

The PBB1050 pattern was discontinued during the TESTED XX era. There were two different blades available, the plain and the F (fish scaler serrations on the spine). Nothing “automatic” about it. It is opened via a push button (hence the PB in the pattern name) slider. It is operated by pushing slightly down on the button with one’s thumb to release the lock, then sliding the blade out the front. It has notches or “stops” such that the blade can be locked at various extension lengths depending on at which “stop” the user desires. Very few of these exist today - the covers are celluloid, I suspect many of them died, rusting and rotting away in the bottom of a fishing tackle box. It’s a big ol’ handful of knife.

Ken

Most of y’all have knives I’ve never even seen before, admittedly I’ve only collected for 5 years or so.

Mumbleypeg,
Thank you for educating me on PBB1050s.

While I'm providing my extremely valuable opinions free of charge I'll add that for safety I prefer swing guards on large Coke bottles that lack a copperhead bolster hump. However, if a plain large Coke has gorgeous stag I forget safety.

I've never seen a diet Coke with a swing guard or a copperhead bolster hump. Diet Cokes are uncommon. Diet Cokes are not in the reference section here. The diet Cokes I've seen were all special additions or club knives. Were diet Cokes a standard pattern in the past? Hmmmm ... diet Coke works.

woodwalker wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 10:33 pm

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 9:26 pm
The PBB1060 pattern was discontinued during the TESTED XX era. There were two different blades available, the plain and the F (fish scaler serrations on the spine). Nothing “automatic” about it. It is opened via a push button (hence the PB in the pattern name) slider. It is operated by pushing slightly down on the button with one’s thumb to release the lock, then sliding the blade out the front. It has notches or “stops” such that the blade can be locked at various extension lengths depending on at which “stop” the user desires. Very few of these exist today - the covers are celluloid, I suspect many of them died, rusting and rotting away in the bottom of a fishing tackle box. It’s a big ol’ handful of knife.

Ken

Wow Ken, what a fantastic knife!!!

Thank you! Coincidentally I just saw one with the “regular”, non-fish scaler blade for sale on eBay. (Not my knife). There are a few other survivors! https://www.ebay.com/itm/116285274832?_ ... R_6To5G2ZA

Ken

Dullest_knife wrote: ↑Fri Aug 30, 2024 10:31 pm Obviously just about everyone calls the large coke - a large coke.

It’s his slim cousin I’m wondering. Same length, one slimmer and I’ve also never saw it with a copperhead neck.

Me, first time I saw one the fella called it a California Coke- that’s stuck with me. What bout y’all? Tim

They are coke bottles, the one with the copper head bump is still a coke bottle, but with a pocket protector.
And bump or not, they are a both a type of folding hunter.