V42 reproductions

[MVP]

A number of years ago I purchased a repro V42 and sold it about a year later (not a chen knife). The blade seems a bit light and I suspect it was not of the same thickness of an original. I have never held an original so I cannot verify that it was in fact not authentically made. Is/was there a reprodcution made that is true to the originals?

MVP

[Surgicalcric]

Funny that this should come up.

I am looking at purchasing two repros for use on a couple plaques to give as gifts from the ODA...

Trying to find good ones (non-Chen) has proven difficult.

Crip

[Warchief]

A few years back, early 90's Case did a limited production run of V-42's based on the orignal specs for 5th SFG. I seem to recall they did about a 100 of them. I've got one in my gun safe.

[Snaquebite]

Originally Posted by Warchief

A few years back, early 90's Case did a limited production run of V-42's based on the orignal specs for 5th SFG. I seem to recall they did about a 100 of them. I've got one in my gun safe.

I have one also...there were only 100...I've seen them selling for up to $500.00 in the last year or so.

[cat in the hat]

i ordered one here to mount on a gift to an old team buddy.
not great for actual use but suitable for hanging on a plaque

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce...to/UC2784.html

[orko]

I own an origional as well as a couple reproductions. every reproduction varies from an origional in different ways.

The Case Company made 2 reproduction runs one in 1992 and 1998, both in limited numbers. The 1998 version retains more of the original look of the knife, with a non-buffed leather handle and a non-reflective blade. although the sheath lacks the staples across the top and utilizes a different sort of rivit.

the biggest noticeable difference is the thumbprint and hollow grinding of the blade. There isn't a reproduction out there that can come close. It is obvious they were all hand ground. No matter what repro you go with aside from the 1992 version. the handle is pretty close, its only slightly off as far as actual specs go.

A couple years back, I contacted the Case company with hopes of maybe getting another small production run going and was told due to the tooling process they couldn't do another run unless the order was for like 5 or 10,000 pieces. So we had to say forget it. In the end we ended up going with the chen copy, since it is one of the better repros out there.

However crip if your still searching for one shoot me a PM. I may be convinced to part with a couple of my repros.

From left to right Origional, case 1998 repro, chen repro

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by cat in the hat

i ordered one here to mount on a gift to an old team buddy.
not great for actual use but suitable for hanging on a plaque

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce...to/UC2784.html

Thanks CITH,just ordered one,serialized and for that money I think it's well worth it...........

Big Teddy

[CW3SF]

Originally Posted by Warchief

A few years back, early 90's Case did a limited production run of V-42's based on the orignal specs for 5th SFG. I seem to recall they did about a 100 of them. I've got one in my gun safe.

Originally Posted by Snaquebite

I have one also...there were only 100...I've seen them selling for up to $500.00 in the last year or so.

Originally Posted by orko

I own an origional as well as a couple reproductions. every reproduction varies from an origional in different ways.

The Case Company made 2 reproduction runs one in 1992 and 1998, both in limited numbers. The 1998 version retains more of the original look of the knife, with a non-buffed leather handle and a non-reflective blade. although the sheath lacks the staples across the top and utilizes a different sort of rivit.

the biggest noticeable difference is the thumbprint and hollow grinding of the blade. There isn't a reproduction out there that can come close. It is obvious they were all hand ground. No matter what repro you go with aside from the 1992 version. the handle is pretty close, its only slightly off as far as actual specs go.

A couple years back, I contacted the Case company with hopes of maybe getting another small production run going and was told due to the tooling process they couldn't do another run unless the order was for like 5 or 10,000 pieces. So we had to say forget it. In the end we ended up going with the chen copy, since it is one of the better repros out there.

However crip if your still searching for one shoot me a PM. I may be convinced to part with a couple of my repros.

From left to right Origional, case 1998 repro, chen repro

The '92 run was 1000 units. I have #043 of 1000.


http://gallery.viperclub.org/data/50...um/v42_014.JPG

[hakuda]

http://snyderstreasures.com/pages/edged_weapons.htm

Came across this site. Quite an impressive collection. If you have more money than you really need, this is the site for you. Maybe after a few months per diem, if the wife wasn't looking, just maybe I could snag something.

[rdret1]

After searching on here and elsewhere on the net, I still come up with varying answers. For the more knowledgeable bladesmiths, what is the primary complaint with the Paul Chen knives? While many of his blades describes the steel they are made with, I could find no such description for his V-42 repro.

[MVP]

Those I have seen are very light weight, not at all commensurate with a military issue knife. I have never held an original but find the PC knife odd. I have held original and reproduction FS knives. The FS reproductions are invariably lighter than the originals. FWIW; the originals were prone to breakage so the repro's would only be more so. Even though I would never use it as designed I would like a copy of the V42 to be correctly made.

MVP

[Surgicalcric]

Originally Posted by orko

...However crip if your still searching for one shoot me a PM. I may be convinced to part with a couple of my repros...

Missed this earlier Brother.

I picked up a couple from Cold Steel for use in post deployment gifts for our Team Sergeant and Team Leader.

DEKE_STEVE_PLAQUE.jpg

[norwegianviking]

Originally Posted by hakuda

http://snyderstreasures.com/pages/edged_weapons.htm

Came across this site. Quite an impressive collection. If you have more money than you really need, this is the site for you. Maybe after a few months per diem, if the wife wasn't looking, just maybe I could snag something.

You might want to do a web search on Major Snyder before buying something from him. Caveat emptor.

[Dusty]

Are the "original" Long/Sheffield models any good? I know where there's one up for bid at $200 right now.

[MVP]

Dusty,

I think they are in between the originals and the modern reproduction. IIRC they were marketed by a company that was in Raleigh in the 1980's that also offered a copy of the OSS sleeve and collar daggers.

MVP