W. R. Case & Sons Pattern Numbering System

Mrs. Dewey P. Ferguson

W. R. Case & Sons did not stamp the pattern number on their knives consistently until 1949. However, the pattern number has always been used at the factory level for purposes of records, cataloging, etc. I feel that, after you become familiar with the system, you will agree that is it very comprehensive.

Case uses abbreviated letters following the pattern number to identify various types of blades. Briefly, let us look at a pattern number and its abbreviated letters. For example, let us take pattern number: 6347 SH SP SSP. To the new collector, this number might seem complicated, but, a little time spent studying this article should make it very easy to understand.

NOTE: When a zero (0) appears before the first number or in the middle of the pattern number, it signifies that the pattern is a modification of another pattern.

The FIRST NUMBER designates the type of handle material used. It is coded as follows:

(1) – Walnut
(2) – Slick Black or Black Composition
(3) – Yellow Composition
(4) – White Composition
(5) – Genuine Stag, Second Cut Stag, Red Stag, or Midnight Stag
(6) – Jigged Bone (Bone Stag), Imitation Jigged Bone (Delrin), or laminated wood
(6.5) – Genuine Bone Stag
(7) – Curley Maple and Other Woods, Tortoise Shell, Black and Pakawood
(8) – Genuine Pearl, Abalone, or Paua
(9) – Imitation Pearl or Cracked Ice
(10) – Micarta
(A6) - Appaloosa Smooth Bone
(B) - Imitation onyx
(CI) - Cracked Ice
(CT) - Christmas Tree
(EX) - Exotic(Red Coral, Blue Lapis, Exotic Turquoise, and others)
(G) - Green Metal Flake, Red metal Flake, or Pick Bone
(G6) - Smooth Green Bone
(GS) - Goldstone, Gold Metal Flake, or Glitter Stripe
(H) - Molten Brown or Cream Composite
(HA) - High Art
(I) - Imitation Ivory, or Mammoth Ivory
(M) - Metal
(P) - Pakkawood
(R) - Candy Cane Stripe celluloid
(RM) - Red Mottled
(S) - Silver
(SG6) - Smooth Green Bone
(SR6) - Smooth rose bone
(V5) - Vintage Stag
(V6) - Vintage Bone

The SECOND NUMBER represents the number of blades.

The THIRD and FOURTH NUMBERS are the factory pattern. When a (1/2) follows the pattern it indicates that the master blade is of the “clip” style.

Next we come to the abbreviated letters following the pattern number. These letters identify the type of blades used. These letters are coded as follows:

SAB – Master Blade is Saber Ground
SP – Spay Blade
P – Punch Blade
RAZ – Razor or “One Arm Man” Blade
F – File Blade
PEN – Pen Blade

L – Blade locked when open
EO – Easy Open
SCIS or SC – Scissors
SHAD or S – Shallow (No Bolsters
SS – Stainless Steel Blades & Springs
SSP – Stainless Steel Blades & Springs (Polished)
DR – Bolsters Drilled for Lanyard
R – Bail in Handle
T – Tip Bolsters

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