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Edit: The Case XX auction is now live and ready to be viewed here: http://bit.ly/CaseJune2019Auction
We’ve got ourselves an ALERT!: The auction coming our way June 1st is so extensive and different I couldn’t help but drop a line ahead of time for everyone to give a heads up. The items up for bid come from the estate of a longtime W.R Case & Sons employee, and the uniqueness and rarity of the pieces really show through. So, with that in mind, below is a listing of some of the many Case XX knives that will be available to bid on starting the 1st of June, 2019 and ending on June 12th. Hope this sneak peek whets your appetite at least a little before we pull the curtain back and showcase the rest!
First let me tell you about a Lobster style in a brass handle with Toledo-style scales. Named after the artistic style of Toledo, Spain, this all-brass handle has quite the design to it and is in remarkable condition, considering it’s from the first run that Case did of the Toledo knife rather than the later series.
For those unfamiliar with it; the Lobster style originally hailed from Sheffield, England circa 1828. A similar style to the often-used Pen knife, the Lobster pattern also had a nail file at its base that, with the blades open, tended to resemble a waving lobster claw, hence the name.
Additionally, in this same auction we also have a Mother-of-Pearl version. It’s hard for me to decide which is more impressive!
Our second showcase comes in the form of one of the most unique things I’ve seen from Case XX over the years. Called the Knife-ax, this combination knife and axe is setup and functions very much like an XX-Changer; a thumb stud releases the lock that holds the blade in place, from there, you raise the knife blade to a 90° angle and swap it out for an axe head, changing the blade from a hunting knife to a respectable axe in minutes. The version we have on auction here was from approximately 1940 to 1961, and it’s one heck of an interesting package!
Our third view in the sneak peek is the Congress. The style has been around ever since the later part of a 19th century, and was a pattern that saw strong support in the southern states, it’s also been called a tobacco knife and in years past has had the catchall term ‘pen’ knife associated with it. It’s the same style of knife Lincoln carried during his ill-fated visit to the theater where he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. (for a bit of extra history: John Wilkes Booth that night carried a switchblade dagger).
As for why it gathered the name Congress? Well, there are mostly theories, rather than facts. Some say it was derived from actual Congress members in years past given whittling sticks while they were in session to stop them from carving into the furniture. Others take the second definition of congress: a formal meeting between two or more bodies. Due to the way the blades intersect in the middle, meeting from one bolster to the other, some see it possible the pattern evoked the name organically. Either way, it’s a style with a long pedigree behind it in a pattern that isn’t currently being produced.
Another impressive item to add to this roster is the limited release of a three piece Noble carving set, containing within: a 12 ½ stainless steel knife, a 10 ½ stainless steel fork, and a 13 inch honer. The stag alone on this is worth it even before you factor in the rarity of this limited set, as the difficulty of finding larger stag pieces nowadays stops a lot of fixed blade knives from production.
Coined by Jim Bowie, the brother of James Bowie, the Bowie knife is a blade with almost as much history as the legendary frontiersman himself. On this upcoming auction, we’re offering one of these 13 3/4th beasts to bid on. Modeled after the WW2 V-44 fighting Bowie, this is another fine piece to add to the collection!
A good fixed blade is always a welcome sight, doubly so if it’s like this Case XX Stag Kodiak. First produced in 1962, the Kodiak pattern has been a longtime companion to the outdoorsman. Like the Noble Trio Carving Set, stag pieces this large are few and far between now, so this Kodiak is one heck of a good find!
Pen knives have been around for hundreds of years, with their original term being used for folding knives used to sharpen quills to use as dip pens, and the name stuck. While not as old as some of the blades used to touch up the tools of that long-gone era, the pen knife we currently are preparing to auction off has still a few impressive years under its belt, as evident by the rarely-seen scissors as a secondary blade. With its polished stainless steel handles, it’s eye catching and unique enough to well deserve its spot on this sneak peek.
In the 1950’s, Russ Case bought a scissor making factory in Nashville Arkansas, and from there Case produced scissors for thirty years, up to the 70’s. These scissors included in this auction are from that very plant in Arkansas, and deserve just as much of a highlight as the knives we’re featuring!
Lastly, we have one more item to show you all: a flexible and pleasing leather handled hatchet with an aluminum cap. With a head at 4 1/4th an inch and the overall length at just under 11 inches, this charming hatchet is a wonderful sight both in the field and in the collection.
With that, it’s time to close up shop. This is just a sampling of the auction, we’ll have many more equally interesting pieces in play come the 1st, but until then, we hope that those caught your interest!