Case Tested XX pawn shop find

[Panzer2085]

Hello everyone this is my first post here and I’m glad to be a member. I just picked this up yesterday at a local pawn shop for $5. I know the blades need some love but overall the knife is in good shape, no cracks and has good snap. I dated it by the tang stamp but I can’t find any other information about this knife. Does anyone have any more information? Thanks in advance.

[Railsplitter]

Possibly a Senator Pen knife. Pattern number 01.

Nice find!

[Panzer2085]

What is the style of handle called? Are the handles original or did someone replace them after the knife came out?

[Panzer2085]

Possibly a Senator Pen knife. Pattern number 01.

Nice find!

Thank you. I cleaned it up today, it was in worse shape when I bought it.

[edge213]

What is the style of handle called? Are the handles original or did someone replace them after the knife came out?

Christmas Tree celluloid.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Those blades are in tough shape.

[Panzer2085]

Those blades are in tough shape.

My time was limited today but I should be able to clean those blades up. My buddy will be able to shape the blades up so they don’t look bad.

[herbva]

That's a beautiful old Case Tested pattern pen knife circa 1920-1940. I think this is an 053 pattern (2 3/4") knife. I suggest that you keep an eye on the celluloid handle scales on this knife, as celluloid is known to outgas unexpectedly and can do significant damage. But I'm not sure if the "Christmas Tree" celluloid that your knife has is as prone to that problem. It's a shame that someone decided to clean the blades with a coarse grinder or something similar. I have my own method of dealing with ugly grinder marks like the ones I see on your knife. But, I would get eaten up alive if I dared to mention how I handle that so let's leave well enough alone.

[Panzer2085]

That's a beautiful old Case Tested pattern pen knife circa 1920-1940. I think this is an 053 pattern (2 3/4") knife. I suggest that you keep an eye on the celluloid handle scales on this knife, as celluloid is known to outgas unexpectedly and can do significant damage. But I'm not sure if the "Christmas Tree" celluloid that your knife has is as prone to that problem. It's a shame that someone decided to clean the blades with a coarse grinder or something similar. I have my own method of dealing with ugly grinder marks like the ones I see on your knife. But, I would get eaten up alive if I dared to mention how I handle that so let's leave well enough alone.

This is my first old Case and I’m relatively new to collecting pocket knives. I definitely consider myself an amateur. With that being said what is outgas? Also what’s your method to clean the blades up? You can’t leave a cliff hanger like that.

[Mumbleypeg]

Recommendations about cleaning a knife can be found here viewtopic.php?f=37&t=54157

Prior to plastics, celluloid was an early type of synthetic material that was easily molded, relatively inexpensive, and could be made in just about any color or swirls of colors. It was used to make many items including covers for knife handles. Its primary ingredients are camphor and nitrocellulose. Over the years celluloid turned out to be unstable and combustible. It is notorious for spontaneous self-disintegration, a process known as outgassing, where the material begins decomposition and creating nitric acid fumes. Which will corrode and eventually consume the metal parts of the knife and others stored with it.

What triggers the outgassing process is unknown. Thus the recommendation to keep celluloids stored away from other knives. Reams of posts about celluloid outgassing and pictures of its results can be found here by doing a keyword search for “outgassing”. Here’s just one example of hundreds viewtopic.php?p=1118976&hilit=Outgassing#p1118976

Ken

[Panzer2085]

Thank you everyone for all of the great information you provided. I’m glad I learned about gassing because until I get a display cabinet I was keeping everything in my gun safe. Well not anymore.

[rodgers62074]

It has Christmas Tree handles Its from 1920- 1940 era. Looks like a 6233 pattern to me..

[Mumbleypeg]

It has Christmas Tree handles Its from 1920- 1940 era. Looks like a 6233 pattern to me..

Sorry, it's not a 33. The 33 pattern has square bolsters. My guess is RM2053.

Ken