By Jon Warren Jon is the founder and CEO of 2nd Markets, a online retailed of collector pocket knives and other antiques and collectibles. Notes about proper description of pocket and fixed blade knives
This section provides notes and quick reference to important data points and identification tips for Case knives.
Case used pattern numbers imprinted on the tang stamp and on the boxes of their knives to identify handle materials and other pertinent information. The first number of the tang stamp is the handle materials code.
1 --- Walnut. Smooth walnut was used to handle Case pocket knives beginning in the 'Case Tested' era. Case used walnut handles on a relatively narrow range of 'working knife' patterns, which included the 1116 Sp, 11031 Sh, 12031 and 13031 'electrician's' knives, the 1199 SH R SS Whaler, and 11011 Hawkbill. On walnut-handled knives made with shields, Case used the 'composition' shields (without the oval around CASE) beginning in 1974.
2 --- Smooth Black. Smooth black, also known as 'black composition' goes back to the early years of Case. It is a black synthetic plastic material. The early smooth black may have been a type of celluloid. Since the 1960s, Case' smooth black has been made of delrin plastic.
3 --- Smooth Yellow. Depending on the vintage of the knife, the 'smooth yellow' can be a lemon-yellow celluloid, a cream-colored celluloid plastic found in the 1950s-1960s vintage knives, a smooth yellow delrin still in use today, and occasionally a so-called 'flat yellow' delrin which may have been used specifically on knives intended for store display boards, as often these knives have wire marks where the knives were displayed on a display board.
4 --- Smooth White. A white celluloid or delrin material, depnding on the vintage of the knife. Delrin is the more modern of the two.
5 --- Stag. Stag of various colors and jigging is the most valuable and sought-after by collectors.
6 --- Bone, Pakkawood, or Synthetic Delrin, referred to by Case as 'Delstag'. If uncertain, do not mention the handle material, as expert collectors will know what the handle material is.
7 --- Smooth Wood
8 --- Genuine Pearl
9 --- Imitation Pearl
CT--- Christmas Tree.
M --- Metal
P --- Pakkawood
1 - Hardwood This number is usually used for a hardwood, such as walnut. Walnut is a very durable and rugged hardwood used for working knives; such as, the 1199SH Pattern and the 12031 electrician's knife. 2 - Smooth Black Synthetic Black poured plastic molded handles usually made from Delrin® or Thermoplastic Rubber. 3 - Yellow Synthetic Smooth yellow poured plastic molded handles, called Delrin®. 4 - Smooth Synthetic Poured plastic or Delrin® molded handles made in most any color except black and yellow. 5 - Stag Naturally shed or dropped deer antlers are used for the Stag handles in Case knives. The most desirable Stag comes from the Sambar or Chital deer in India. Stag covers are burned lightly during the completion process. 5 XX Prime Stag Genuine India Stag with an extra rough texture - the best of the best. M5 - Midnight Stag Genuine Stag except it is treated with a black dye and the covers do not get burned during completion. R5 - Red Stag Genuine Stag except it is treated with a red dye and the covers do not get burned during completion. V5 - Vintage Stag Genuine Stag that is not dyed or burned during the manufacturing process, but is given extra buffing and hand finishing. 6 - Bone, Wood, Delrin Procured from Brazil, the shin bone of the Zebu cattle are the main source of bone suitable for Case bone handle materials. Jigged Synthetic Plastic molded covers with a jigged pattern. Jigged Laminate Laminated wood with a jigged pattern; such as used on the Folding Hunter. V6 - Vintage Bone Natural Bone with a special jigging pattern which has similar characteristic to stag. 6.5 - 6.5 BoneStag® 6.5 BoneStag®, a Case registered trademark, is bone handle which is jigged and treated with flame to achieve the look of stag antler material. 7 - Rosewood A handle material that comes from a number of hardwood trees from rain forests. It has a rose colored effect and is becoming more rare. Case used this in many of their outdoor knives. 7 - Curly Maple A knurly section of wood from a maple tree is used for handle material. The wood has a curled design, giving it a very distinct look. 7 - Curly Oak A knurly section of wood from an oak tree is used for handle material. The wood has a curled design, giving it a very distinct look. 7 - Ebony Comes from Africa. This black wood is also used in woodwind instruments. 7 - Desert Iron Wood Comes from the deserts of SW America or Mexico, a heavy wood which is regarded as some of the most beautiful wood anywhere. 7 - Boi D'arc Wood Comes from the Osage tree of Texas, this dense yellowish, orange wood is used frequently by Native Americans 7 - Zebra Wood Comes from Africa, a hard, dense, beautiful wood, naturally striped like a Zebra. 7 - Tulip Wood Comes from the Tulip trees, found in jungles and North America. 7 - Lace Wood Comes from Burma Rain Forest and is a hardwood. 7 - Snake Wood Comes from South America and is considered the heaviest wood on earth. 7 - Amboyna Comes from SE Asia, only the burls from the Narra tree are used to give the numerous, beautiful swirls that comes out in the Amboyna handles. 8 - Mother-of-Pearl Natural shells harvested by deep sea divers in various parts of the Pacific Ocean. 8 - Abalone/ Paua Gathered in Mexico, Abalone shells are cut into thin "feathers", edges are glued in thin sheets with each sheet color matches and then laminated with a high pressure laminate into sheets for handle material. Paua is a similar shell found in New Zealand. 8 - Pink Mother-of-Pearl Only pearl shells which are found in fresh water; no artifical color or enhancements added. 8 - Black Mother-of-Pearl Rare shell harvested by deep sea divers in various parts of the Pacific Ocean; no artifical color or enhancements added. 9 - Corelon A synthetic resin handle material developed in a wide variety of colors and patterns - similar to an imitation Mother-of-Pearl 9 - Imitation Mother of Pearl Not currently used at Case, Imitation Pearl is a composite material that looks like mother of Pearl. 10 - Micarta High pressure plastic laminate with either a paper or cotton cloth reinforcement substrate is used to make micarta. Micarta is a very durable handle material which is waterproof, impact resistant and polishes well. The lines and swirls that show in the finished knives are these layers of paper or cotton cloth. 10 - G-10 Using the same process as the Micarta, G-10, however, has a glass cloth reinforcement substrate for exceptional strength characteristics with a very high impact and tensile strength. The lines and swirls that show in the finished knives are these layers of glass cloth. B - Celluloid Waterfall is celluloid, cream in color with a ripple design resembling a waterfall. CT - Christmas Tree Celluloid Christmas Tree is a very colorful celluloid with green, reds and some gold. EX - Exotic EX indicates that the handle material used is from a variety of the most unique and desirable materials available; such as, precious gemstones, giraffe and ostrich bones, etc. GS - Celluloid Goldstone is celluloid, colored with gold metal flakes. I - Ivory Since the last ice age, the Mammoth Ivory tusks have been locked in ice some 12,000 years. This is perhaps the most beautiful and exotic of all handle materials which Case uses. I - Imitation Ivory Not currently used at Case, Imitation Ivory is a composite material that looks like natural ivory. P - Pakkawood A laminated wood typically birch or maple, impregnated with clear resin and bonded together. Pakkawood has the natural beauty of finished wood and a high resistance to heat and moisture, especially developed for Case handles in 1948. R - Celluloid Candy Stripe is a celluloid material colored in a striped (vertical or horizontal) design.
This article has been read 3616 times. Last read on 4/17/2024 8:37:39 AM
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