A few years ago, I was at an outdoor swap meet.
A fellow was selling all sorts of stuff at one of the tables — gun stocks, decoys, reloaders, etc.
I saw a bucket of pocket knifes — and asked to look at them.
Spotted what I knew to be a 30 year old discontinued Case XX - 4 1/8" Torpedo Jack in Greenbone with a single blade — which makes it thinner in your pocket. And the torpedo shape helps your grip when using it.
The walk was strong as brand new, good scales, clean SS, nickel bolsters, good brass liners. It was a G6199 1/2. These are one of my favorite knives.
Only flaw, the "Case" badge emblem was missing —
So I asked the guy how much for the knife with the missing badge. He said $10. I offered $5, and he accepted.
So I found it in my knife drawers last Fall. Contacted Case, asked if I could buy an emblem. They sent me two — for free.
Good American company. Now owned by Zippo — but the history, employees, attention to a combination of automation and hand-crafted quality — along with not giving their products away cheaply because they are top quality — is a testament to the way business should be done.
If you like knives, as I do — sign up to get their online catalogs and history.
https://caseknives.com/pages/our-story
You will be impressed at this 130 year old American firm.
Every knife is finished by hand, inspected by a real person, packed individually, and boxed.
Best,
Fred
Amen to that! Fewer and fewer company's are practicing PR.
Nice Fred. ;)
Looks like a dandy.
Frank
Zippo is not a bad parent company either. Still U.S. based and family owned.
-steve
Hi Fred
That green bone makes it all the more collectible as there are not many produced. My knife dealer always told me to buy knives with green scales whenever you see them. Nice score!
I own some green jigged bone Schatt & Morgan knives.
I just reminded myself to go into my collection and handle my mother of pearl knives so they don't lose their luster.
Thanks for the posting Fred.
It got me thinking, I pulled my little Case (227?) out of my pocket. I've carried it daily for about five years (and I don't recall how long I've owned it before that), but its been since I misplaced my slightly larger sized US-made Kershaw.
My badge is missing also! But being that it is not a collector's specimen, I'm not worried about replacing the badge.
Green bone is one of my favorites also, Eddie --
Jim, you are right -- it doesn't matter if it has an emblem or not -- but for me, I think it should.
You can contact Case here:
Lois | Zippo Manufacturing Company, W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company & Ronson Products | Consumer Relations Specialist | 33 Barbour Street, Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701| p: 814-368-2481 | f: 814-363-2536 | e: consumerrelations@zippo.com
And sign up for their email offerings -- they are well done, interesting, and a fine example of how a historic US company navigates the new world of online and hardware store offerings -- extremely well.
My Dad taught me that a man needs to have (5) things on him at all times --
A well cared for and always razor sharp pocketknife, a quality wallet, a comb, and a cleanly folded plain white handkerchief changed out daily, plus a decent pen (I have added a pair of reading glasses to that check list.)
My EDC knives generally change around -- depending if I am wearing Levis or a suit and tie.
My current favorite is this Case Tribal Lock for Levis --
If wearing a suit -- it is a mini canoe or small stockman.
I probably use my pocketknife a half dozen times every day -- from cutting open a box, slicing an apple, cutting mono off a reel, and more.
Just like reels -- a handful of quality brand knives out there today -- a whole lot of mediocre knives -- and a slew of cheap crap. However, I am surprised at some of the high quality knives coming out of China in certain instances today. Buyer beware -- but this Buck 2-Blade Canoe is a good example. Solid functions and excellent materials -- walk, spring, scales, bolsters, liners, fit, finish, no slop or wobble, well balanced. A good value.
But Case is my nostalgic and comfortable EDC.
Best,
Fred
You can't beat a Case. ;)
I don't use a pocket knife that does not have a lock back. I hurt myself once because the knife (or I) slipped and the knife folded on my finger. It looks like only one of those is a lock back. Dominick
Case knives are high quality, but personally, I prefer Buck.
Quote from: Dominick on March 06, 2020, 08:30:38 PM
I don't use a pocket knife that does not have a lock back. I hurt myself once because the knife (or I) slipped and the knife folded on my finger. It looks like only one of those is a lock back. Dominick
I did something similar once while fishing about 30 years ago. I folded the knife closed one handed using my leg to close the blade. It happened quick, the blade sprung shut and I wasn't paying attention. Sliced the tip off my right ring finger. I wrapped a handkerchief over it and kept right on fishing. Bandaged it up with first aid cream & Band-Aids when I got back to the camper. Fortunately it grew back over & you can't tell it even happened, but it was really tender for a couple of years. I don't worry about locking blades but I always close pocket knives with two hands nowadays.
Very nice collection,,,,, ;) my first pocket knife was a case,,,,,,,,, ;D
Quote from: Midway Tommy on March 06, 2020, 09:17:59 PM
Case knives are high quality, but personally, I prefer Buck.
Quote from: Dominick on March 06, 2020, 08:30:38 PM
I don't use a pocket knife that does not have a lock back. I hurt myself once because the knife (or I) slipped and the knife folded on my finger. It looks like only one of those is a lock back. Dominick
I did something similar once while fishing about 30 years ago. I folded the knife closed one handed using my leg to close the blade. It happened quick, the blade sprung shut and I wasn't paying attention. Sliced the tip off my right ring finger. I wrapped a handkerchief over it and kept right on fishing. Bandaged it up with first aid cream & Band-Aids when I got back to the camper. Fortunately it grew back over & you can't tell it even happened, but it was really tender for a couple of years. I don't worry about locking blades but I always close pocket knives with two hands nowadays.
Yep, a lock back forces one to use two hands to close the knife. Dominick
I like having a lock because then you can abuse the blade; prying, punching holes, digging, etc. I still want to be able to press the lock and close the blade with one hand though.
I carried a Sodbuster Junior for decades. Not the same knife because I lost it several times. Not Case's best effort either, but good enough. Now, I go with a small multi-tool.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on March 08, 2020, 06:34:44 AM
I like having a lock because then you can abuse the blade; prying, punching holes, digging, etc. I still want to be able to press the lock and close the blade with one hand though.
I carried a Sodbuster Junior for decades. Not the same knife because I lost it several times. Not Case's best effort either, but good enough. Now, I go with a small multi-tool.
-steve
I to carried a Sodbuster for years before it was lost... it was the larger one with a liner lock. I loved that knife and have periodically looked for one to replace it with no luck. I found full size Sodbusters but none with the liner lock.
Cool