Is this tip busted?

BPRoberts · **on:** June 29, 2025, 07:16:16 AM

This is a 1989 Case Trapper that I was thinking about carrying next month. Looked at the clip point today and it doesn't look very clippy. There's definitely some wear there, but it doesn't look like it's broken. Was Case running a different clip point back then? Bonus question, if it is damaged, what do I do with it? Usually when I get a knife with a busted tip, I file it into a spey/reverse tanto, but the Trapper already has a spey. Thanks, awl.

IMR4198 · **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2025, 01:41:12 PM

Someone may have just rounded the tip off a tiny bit. I thought about doing that with an Opinel. Seems like I kept getting poked with the needle sharp tip on a No. 8 as I was closing it. The CASE looks fine. I would leave it as is. Best wishes. G

nate j · **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2025, 03:25:57 PM

Quote from: BPRoberts on June 29, 2025, 07:16:16 AM

There's definitely some wear there, but it doesn't look like it's broken.

From what I can see in the pics, I would tend to agree with this assessment.

Moreover, if such a small piece of the tip broke off that we are left debating whether it is in fact a broken tip or just wear, then it becomes a distinction without a difference.

I agree with Gary; I would leave it alone and not attempt any radical blade re-profile.

As an aside, I have noticed that some of my Case knives have very sharp points, while others are a bit more rounded. I attribute these differences to several factors, including pattern, varying production/QA/QC standards over the years, and the skill level of the employee(s) who made that particular knife.

BPRoberts · **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2025, 02:49:14 AM

Upon further examination, the spey has a similar ding. I think this is just a heavily used (and possibly slightly abused) knife. It is over 30, so no surprise. I may or may not be carrying it next month, but I'll definitely put some time into cleaning it up.

JonesE · **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2025, 02:59:44 AM

I would just cycle that one into your knife maintenance routine with your other knives. Just give that one a few extra passes over the stones while sharpening if that tip truly bothers you. In no time at all that tip will be back to being sharp any pointy. I just wouldn’t go crazy and remove a ton of metal at once.

JonesE