Case XX - Blade Types
Blade
Type
Jigging
Patterns
Anatomy
of a Knife
Pattern
 Numbers
Secret
Code
Tang
Stamps
W. R. Case Blades and Steel

Do you Know Your Case Knife Blade?

Whether you're a seasoned collector and just need to brush up on your blade shapes, or a new collector looking to expand your knowledge of knives, you will find the descriptions on the Case Knife blades below a necessary tool. It would be difficult to include every blade style and shape Case ever made, but this guide contains a good representation of the majority of the shapes you will encounter. So know your blades and at the next knife show, you won't find yourself saying "A What Blade?"

 
California Clip
California Clip - This version is slightly different from that of the standard clip utility blade in that it is shaped like the state of California.
Can Opener
Can Opener - This is used to open cans. Most popular with campers.
Clip Blade
Clip Blade - This is commonly used as a multi-purpose blade and is preferred for its versatility.
Coping or Cut-off Pen Blade
Coping or Cut-off Pen Blade - This is used commonly in carpenter's knives to scratch lines in wood or other materials. It is also used for carving and whittling.
Drop Point Blade
Drop Point Blade - This is used for gutting larger game animals.
Electrician's Blade
Electrician's Blade - This is used as a screw driver and wire scraper and was designed to be used as an electrician's knife.
Fillet Blade
Fillet Blade - It's Flexibility and design is intended for filleting fish as well as serving as an all-purpose utility tool.
Fish Scaler Blade
Fish Scaler Blade - This special serrated design allows ease in scaling fish. The hook disgorger on the tip of the blade is used to remove the hook from the fish's mouth.
Fork Blade
Fork Blade - This is used as a utensil for eating. The Cap Lifter feature is used for opening bottles by lifting the cap.
Long Spear or Physician's Blade
Long Spear or Physician's Blade - This is used for scooping powder from vials and loosening caked powder. (It also could be have been used as a back up tool during surgery when surgical instruments were unavailable.)
Manicure Blade
Manicure Blade - This is used to file fingernails.
Marlin Spike Blade
Marlin Spike Blade - The long narrowing form of this allowed the user to untie knots. It is aso used to aid in weaving rope.
Pen Blade
Pen Blade - This blade was engineered to cut and sharpen turkey quills that were used for ink pens. It also serves as a great blade for light work.
Pruner Blade or Hawkbill Blade
Pruner Blade or Hawkbill Blade - This is designed for a "pull cut" and is used for pruning.
Punch Blade
Punch Blade - This is used for drilling or poking holes in leather. It is also used on wood for screws.
Razor Blade
Razor Blade - The primary designing idea for this blade was instituted for war veterans and used in one-armed opening patterns. The specially designed blade tip is uniquely tapered to hook onto the belt or other surface to open easily and requires only one hand to do so.
RussLock Clip Blade
RussLock Clip Blade - This is used as a utility blade and features a tapered tang like that of a straight edged razor. This is currently used only in the specially designed RussLock knives named after the founder of Case Cutlery, John "Russell" Case.
Saber Clip or Spear Blade
Saber Clip or Spear Blade - It is beveled for part of its width, making it stronger than regular clip or spear blades. It is sometimes referred to as Stabber Jacks.
Saw Blade
Saw Blade - The saw-like edge is used for sawing bone and gristle in meat. The design allows it to be used for a variety of outdoor uses including cutting through small twigs. It also offers a screwdriver tip.
Screw Driver/Cap Lifter Blade
Screw Driver/Cap Lifter Blade - This is designed specifically for use as a screw driver and cap lifter.
Sheepfoot or Coping Sheepfoot
Sheepfoot or Coping Sheepfoot - This design allows for more strength at the point of the blade making it a good tool for carving chews out of tobacco plugs. It is also used as a carpenter's blade.
Skinner Blade
Skinner Blade - This is used for skinning purposes and is available in a variety of sizes, i.e., small and large folding hunter patterns.
Spatula Blade
Spatula Blade - This was used for mixing powders or salves by doctors or physicians. It was also used for counting pills. It may have also been used by doctor's as a tongue depressor.
Spear Blade
Spear Blade - This is used as a heavy-duty utility tool for farmers and the like.
Spey Blade
Spey Blade - This was used by farmers and designed for the use in cattle castration. The specially curved tip design allows for it to cut easily and not puncture the animal. Today this is a common all-purpose utility blade and is featured in most Trapper pattern designs.
Spoon
Spoon - This is used as a utensil for eating. The Cap Lifter feature is used for opening bottles by lifting the cap.
Wharncliffe
Wharncliffe - This is used by a lot of seamstresses. It also is used as a gutting knife for animals. Wharncliffe blades are more delicate at the point than Copin or Sheepfoot blades. Many consider the Wharncliffe to be the handiest blade you have in a knife.
 


Steel Materials

You can’t hone a good blade from bad steel. That’s why Case uses only premium quality steels, ordered and tested to fit our demanding specifications. These include:

Chrome Vanadium (CV) – a special formula of alloyed cutlery steel known for its ease of re-sharpening. A quick touch-up will bring back a chrome vanadium blade’s original sharp edge. (Extra care is needed with CV. Keep a thin film of oil on the blade to maintain the finish of the steel.)

Case Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless Steel – a special high-carbon steel that helps the blades hold an edge longer than conventional steel. It also offers extraordinary blade strength and corrosion resistance.

ATS-34 - ATS is the brand name for this premium steel. Its reputation for edge retention is second to none among the stainless varieties. It is manufactured with very few impurities, combining three principal elements; carbon, chromium, and molybdenum. Added levels of carbon and chromium enhance the steel's hardness and rust resistance qualities. Re-sharpening can require extra effort.



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