Case Tested Xx Razor Edge ?

338375

338375

Joined
Nov 4, 2006
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Hi all, I think this question is really gonna show my ignorance, However..
I went through a phase where I had to buy just about every Case knife that was etched Tested XX Razor Edge, that I could find... I have a couple that are my favorites, 2 green bone 6318's . Anyway, my question is, what exactly is the difference in the knives that are etched with this on the blade?
I assumed that they had a different edge angle, and the etching, and that is the only difference.... Would be greatful for any info and also, would really like to see some pics of your Case razor edge knives.. I would post pics of mine, but I am a computer idiot and still working on that part..
 
What year did you buy them?. The first Tested XX Razor Edge was a Stag set of Case pocket knives made in 1979 if memory serves. Is that the ones you are talking about? Or the ones that came later?
 
The ones I have are from the 80's. I don't have any of the stag versions, mine are bone and green bone. IIRC there was two different periods that these were made, and I think one of the periods had smaller lettering than the others. I started doing some research on this a couple years ago then got wrapped up in other things for a while, and like most things,I forgot most of it ...
 
The etching TESTED XX RAZOR EDGE was first used in 1965 on a series of stainless steel folders and fixed blades. Some of the early ones were actually etched TESTED XX STAINLESS but these are quite rare.

Pocket Knives - 6254SSP, 6347 SSP, 6318SSP, 06263 SSP, 61048SSP, and 62048SSP.

Huntin knives - M3 Finn SSP, 3 Finn SSP, 316-5 SSP

The knives when introduced represented a big change for CASE, until then only a fes patterns were made in stainless steel, mostly the fish knives and small gent's patterns, plus the 5347 and 6347. These earlier stainless knives all had mirror finished blades with no etching and with honed blade edges, so they were pretty much identical to the main line of CASE knives which had CV (carbon steel) blades.

The new "SSP" line on the other hand, all had satin finished blades with etching and with "polished" edges"...that is, each blade edge was held against a pumice-coated buffing wheel as the final sharpening step to thin the edge down. The "SS" of course stands for "stainless steeel" and the "P" stands for "polished edge".

THe "SSP" line appeared to have its origins in the CASE "Astronaut's Knife", which was the first knife produced with this type of finish and edge. The CASE catalog of 1967 stated that the SSP line of knives had the same blade steel and polished edge treatment as was used on the Astronaut's knife.

I suspect but have never seen documented, the the "SSP" knives were made with 440C stainless and the satin finish and polished edge were developed for use with this new steel. But I do not know that for certain.

In later years, in the 70's, more patterns were brought out with the "SSP" designation but the only other one to have the "TESTED XX RAZOR EDGE" etching was the 06263 F SSP, this pattern had a long file blade and was only in production for a few years. Of course, various other etchings were used on limited run knives like the 1976 stag sets with the CASE RAZOR EDGE etching.
 
Thanks knifeaholic for setting me straight. Great information as usual.:thumbup:
 
Thanks knifeaholic.... excellent information, thats what I was wanting to know.. Now I gotta find me one of them astronaut knives LOL :)
 
338375, does any of yours look anything like this..?
000_0533.jpg

I used to have a bunch of these as well with this etch in small stocks, medium stocks, mini-trappers and large trappers all in various brown bone colors and shades and of brown and coffee colors as well.
 
Hi sunnyd, yes they do look similar to the one in your picture. The only real difference is two of them are green bone, and one of the other ones is bone but with the raised shield.. I can't really tell ya why I developed a fascination with these versions other than they had the etching on the blade. In all honesty two of the ones I have have lousy snap and they are mint in the box.
Really don't seem to be made as good as the older ones, but I guess thats true with most things these days.. Sounds like you got rid of most of yours?
 
Well now 338375,
Yes, I did get rid of most of them.. In fact, after I read your post I went back to my old auctions and pic's history and found that I had two bare-head trappers as well in that bunch with the 'etch'. Its a funny story how I got these actually.. I used to work the local shows here in West Palm Beach, Florida about once every 5-6 weeks at The Palm Beach County Fairgrounds 2-3 years ago, and one of the shows that I worked, one of the other vendors sitting several tables from me had 18-20 of these 'etched' knives in much older 1970's Case XX salesman boxes of five-six. I asked him what he wanted for them all and he said that he would take 20. each for the whole shoot 'n match(including the vintage boxes) I countered at 15. each and he eventually agreed, so the deal was struck at around 300. bucks for the whole kit'n kaboodle.. I picked out 6 or 7 initially that I felt I just could not part(ha,ha,ha!) with and sold the rest at shows or on eBay one at a time.. After a while I did part with all of them except two or three that I still have I believe.. I will have to check all through my stashes to see what is still left..:)

Cheers,
Anthony
 
sunnyd said:
Well now 338375,
Yes, I did get rid of most of them.. In fact, after I read your post I went back to my old auctions and pic's history and found that I had two bare-head trappers as well in that bunch with the 'etch'. Its a funny story how I got these actually.. I used to work the local shows here in West Palm Beach, Florida about once every 5-6 weeks at The Palm Beach County Fairgrounds 2-3 years ago, and one of the shows that I worked, one of the other vendors sitting several tables from me had 18-20 of these 'etched' knives in much older 1970's Case XX salesman boxes of five-six. I asked him what he wanted for them all and he said that he would take 20. each for the whole shoot 'n match(including the vintage boxes) I countered at 15. each and he eventually agreed, so the deal was struck at around 300. bucks for the whole kit'n kaboodle.. I picked out 6 or 7 initially that I felt I just could not part(ha,ha,ha!) with and sold the rest at shows or on eBay one at a time.. After a while I did part with all of them except two or three that I still have I believe.. I will have to check all through my stashes to see what is still left..:)

Cheers,
Anthony
Click to expand...

That was a great find, especially for 20 bucks a piece. Instant collection
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who had knives that I just couldn't part with, however at a later date, I did.. I'd be curious to see what you find that you forgot about, after you do your searching....... Always fun to find things that you forgot ya had...
 
I have 5 or so of the Razor edge series from the 2000's. They have a beautiful stag handle. I also have one of those 1992 or 93 brown jigged bone razor edges my grandfather owned. We found it in his stuff after he died.
 
I have several but I just posted this the other day in "what traditional knife are you carrying" My Stag handled 1976? (again hard to see all the dots with the swing guard int he way) Cheetah.

scaled.php


Paul
 
Very interesting information...So this knife would be circa 1965--???????......thanks for any info.....................FES

casexx004.jpg


casexx006.jpg


casexx007.jpg


casexxx001.jpg
 
Fester,

That tang stamp ('CASE XX' over 'USA') does look like 1965 or later. On fixed blades, Case used a mark like that from 1965 - 1980. Wouldn't surprise me if yours was from the earlier end of that range. Folding knives had similar marks on the 1965 - 1979 models, but also included the 'dot' dating system in the 1970 - 1979 models. Here's a link to Case's site, for examples of their stamps through the years:

http://www.wrcase.com/case_college/tang_stamps/
 
.Some of the early ones were actually etched TESTED XX STAINLESS but these are quite rare.
[/QUOTE]
I have a fixed blade knife with the "tested xx stainless" on the blade, but I can't find any information on it. Can you tell me anything about this knife?
 
Knifeparty11 said:
.Some of the early ones were actually etched TESTED XX STAINLESS but these are quite rare.
Click to expand...
I have a fixed blade knife with the "tested xx stainless" on the blade, but I can't find any information on it. Can you tell me anything about this knife?[/QUOTE]

Please post photos - that sounds like a rare one but I would have to see the knife to be able to tell.
 
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