All About Pocket Knives

HI There folks.

I learned a lot from my previous post. So many of you are more knowledgeable than I. I'm hoping I can learn from you once again. I cam across this knife and the stamp looked different than other Tested stamps I had seen. In particular I'm talking about the text on the Tested an xx. It looks like it swoops up a bit to me. I noticed this on a couple other knives on line but then saw many that were just strait lettering more narrow. So I would love to hear from some of you more knowledgeable on the subject. When I found a list of case tang stamps one like this was not represented, but like I said I had seen similar on knives from reputable sellers. What say you. Thank you for looking.

Yes, all original and 100% correct.

Thank you for your help. So out of curiosity because I don't see that text, specifically the Tested text, listed on Case Tang stamp timelines, does that mean there was more than one text used for the word Tested xx?

Cabphoto wrote: ↑Sat Apr 12, 2025 12:14 am Thank you for your help. So out of curiosity because I don't see that text, specifically the Tested text, listed on Case Tang stamp timelines, does that mean there was more than one text used for the word Tested xx?

Yes, there are 8 or more variations and several more that are considered to be Tested era stamps that do not actually contain the "Tested" word in the stamp.

Cabphoto wrote: ↑Sat Apr 12, 2025 12:14 am Thank you for your help. So out of curiosity because I don't see that text, specifically the Tested text, listed on Case Tang stamp timelines, does that mean there was more than one text used for the word Tested xx?

Maybe this will help answer your question. https://www.casecollectorsclub.com/college/tang-stamps/

This shows but a representative few of the hundreds of slightly different variants of the stamps used during the “CASE TESTED XX” era, which lasted at least 25 years. During which Case made millions of knives. Some have a “long tail” C. Some are shorter, some are curved at the end. Some have no “tail”. Some have more spacing between “TESTED” and “XX”.

Different stamps were used on different knives (some have very small tang area, some very large area, etc) at different times. Stamp tooling wears as it is used, sometimes has to be replaced. Stamps were made by hand in a machine shop, thus no two are exactly identical. The web site knifedb.com has documented (and has pictures of) hundreds of different authentic stamps that were used during the “Tested” era.

There is a lot to learn! Rather than try to learn all the stamp variants, try to learn the basic stamps, and remember those examples shown in most tang stamp charts are artist renderings. The actual stamps found on knives will be slightly different than the artists renderings, and slightly different from one knife to another. References like knifedb.com and Witcher’s Counterfeiting Antique Cutlery have actual photos of stamps instead of artists renderings.

Ken

Thank you guys for replying. Very helpful and interesting.