All About Pocket Knives

Hey all, Im fairly new to knife collecting and was hoping to get some help from the seasoned veterans here about my knife. This is the information that I could find from a few different sites. I just need to know if I'm on the right track. Thanks for the help.

Key Identification Features:
​Tang Stamp: "CASE TESTED XX" (indicates the 1920–1940 era).
​Shield: Rare "Raised Letter" Bomb Shield. This high-relief nickel silver shield is a hallmark of Case’s early 20th-century craftsmanship (1915-1925).
​Handle Material: Genuine Sambar Stag (Deer Antler). High-density "First Run" stag with deep "molasses" character.
​Mechanical Features: Factory-installed lanyard bail; "Long Pull" blade groove; Smooth arc action (no half-stop).
​Tang Back: Blank (characteristic of early 1920s hand-assembled hunters).

So would I be correct in saying its a 5165 from 1920-1925 by it having long tail C, raised letter bomb shield, with no back tang stamp? Is this rare or fairly easy to find at knife shows? Either way, I love it. Thanks again!

Great Knife!!! Extra scace because it has a factory installed bail, No one really knows how to narrow any Tested knife down to the 1921 to 25 era, but definitely pre-1948 and most likely (due to the "bomb" shield) an early Tested era knife.

I don't have anything more to add than that is a very nice knife.

Bob

Nice knife!! Really like the shield. Harold

Nice find, and fairly rare to find a 5165 with a bail.

It’s great that you’ve tried to research the knife. A couple couple of observations regarding what you have called “features” in your post. Not sure what “first run stag” means. (it’s not “second cut stag” however, if that’s what it means. I don’t think second cut stag was used when the knife was made, but it was introduced later). The knife doesn’t have a “long pull blade groove”. It has a normal nail nick. Most TESTED era knives do not have pattern numbers, so the lack of a number on the back of the tang is normal.

Lastly there is no definite way to determine when your knife was made. As said, the bomb shield is generally believed to have been used during the early years of the TESTED XX era. It was common during the prior era when the CASE BRADFORD stamp was used so possibly was a carry-over from that time, and eventually phased out and replaced by the Case oval shields.

Welcome to the hobby, and welcome to AAPK. Nice knife!

Ken

Very cool knife

Thank you for the info knifeaholic and Ken! Any and all is appreciated. Ill keep doing more research...thats the fun part!

MisterEL wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 8:48 pm

You have a great looking old knife.

Just adding on to the great information you have already received. The technically correct pattern number is "Case Tested XX 5165R SAB". The letter "R" is added on to Case's pattern number scheme when the knife has a bail (aka shackle). As mentioned the 65 pattern was typically made without a bail so most collectors would not include the "R" when describing the knife even when it has the bail. The letters "SAB" indicate the knife has a saber ground blade. The 65 pattern was also commonly made with a flat ground blade and the pattern number would not have "SAB" when the knife has a flat ground blade.

With regard to the nail pull... I have never seen a 65 made before 1964 with a long pull. The 65s can have the crescent shaped nail nick located in multiple locations on the blade: (1) near the blade tip (aka low pull) and (2)closer to the top bolster (aka high pull). Your knife has the high pull.

This level of arcane knife properties (knife nerdiness ) is interesting to some folks and annoying to others. The biggest reason it matters is because price lists exist that delineate knife values by some of these characteristics. For example, a "Case XX 5165 red stag with flat ground high pull" will have a higher suggested value than a "Case XX 5165 SAB with low pull".

I collect the single blade 65 pattern (see attached). I prefer the look of the flat ground high pull blade.

MisterEL wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 8:48 pm I’ll keep doing more research...thats the fun part!

I think you’ve indeed hit on the “fun part”. Many members here enjoy that also, so you’ll fit right in. Feel free to share your discoveries. There are a lot of great research tools available here on this site, like the Research section (click on it in the header up there at the top of this page). Also the keyword search that can be found under Quicklinks (the little three-line “hamburger” icon on the upper left of this thread) will find other posts which mention the keyword you enter. For example a search for “5165”, or “folding hunter” will find other posts (and pictures!) about the 5165.

And last but not least, members here are always happy to answer questions. Enjoy!

Ken

MisterEL wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 8:48 pm Thank you for the info knifeaholic and Ken! Any and all is appreciated. Ill keep doing more research...thats the fun part!

That is exactly correct. Most of the knives I have recently purchased don't have easy to resolve what year the knife
was made, by whom, and what was the handle material. Research is always fun. Sharing your knife by pictures
posted is equally rewarding.

Bob

Very nice old 65 pattern. I've actively collected and owned some very scarce Case 65 pattern knives but never had one with the factory bail like your knife. 65's are a great pattern to collect with a myriad of variations considering frame, number and types of blades, handle materials, and location of blade pull. You definitely found a good one!

A beautiful knife to be sure. I have one also but l noticed a major difference. The bail on mine is affixed through the normal drilled hole rather than where the rearmost rivet normally resides. As far as l know,mine is totally orginal:having found it in standing water for many years. Took several weeks of soaking in MARVEL MYSTERY OIL before it would even open. The tang stamp is eaten away and the blade has been heavily sharpened. The stag is beautifully darkened.

knife7knut wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 12:43 am A beautiful knife to be sure. I have one also but l noticed a major difference. The bail on mine is affixed through the normal drilled hole rather than where the rearmost rivet normally resides. As far as l know,mine is totally orginal:having found it in standing water for many years. Took several weeks of soaking in MARVEL MYSTERY OIL before it would even open. The tang stamp is eaten away and the blade has been heavily sharpened. The stag is beautifully darkened.

Wow. That sure cleaned up nice. Great looking knife! Love the bomb shield.