A Case Axe Handle® 51546 folding knife shown open. The 3.05-inch Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless clip blade is deployed with a mirror polish finish; the slip joint construction is visible with no locking mechanism. The Gator Jigged Old Red Bone handle scales display the alligator-skin-inspired jigging pattern — a deep, aggressive scale-like texture across the natural bone surface — with the Case XX USA Shield inlaid on the handle. Natural bone color, grain, and jig depth vary per individual knife. Closed length 4.0 inches, weight 2.9 oz. Inspired by Bill Ruple. Made in Bradford, PA, USA.

Case Axe Handle 51546 gator jigged old red bone — Case XX USA Shield, alligator-skin texture, 4.0 in closed, natural bone varies

Case Axe Handle - 3.05" Tru-Sharp Surgical Stainless Mirror-Polished Clip Blade, Gator Jigged Old Red Bone Handle - 51546

SKU: CA51546

Case

MSRP $100.99 Our Price $84.99

(You save $16.00)

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Overview
Warranty Information
Specifications

Product Description

The Case Cheetah® Cub 10309 returns from the Case XX Vault in 2026 — a pattern long admired for its compact 3.5" profile and signature Swing Guard, back for a limited time and available in Pocket Worn® Old Red Bone for the first time in years. When it goes back into retirement, it's gone.

The blade is Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless Steel — Case's high-carbon stainless formula engineered for longer edge retention than conventional stainless, with extraordinary blade strength and corrosion resistance built in. The clip blade carries a mirror polish that brings out the warmth of the Old Red Bone handle beside it. At 2.73" on a 3.5" closed frame, the Cheetah® Cub sits at a size comparable to the Mini CopperLock® — a genuinely compact slip joint that fits a shirt pocket as well as a jeans pocket.

The Pocket Worn® Old Red Bone scales are Corn Cob Jigged — the distinctive multi-groove pattern that gives the handle a textured grip and the look of a knife that's been carried for decades, fresh out of the box. Case Oval Script Shield inlaid on the handle. Natural bone — color, grain, and jig depth vary per knife.

Key Features

Blade: Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless, mirror polish, clip profile — 2.73 in; Swing Guard deployment; single blade; longer edge retention than conventional stainless
Handle: Pocket Worn® Corn Cob Jigged Old Red Bone — Case Oval Script Shield; natural bone varies per knife; 3.5 in closed, 1.9 oz
Deployment / Lock: Swing Guard, slip joint — Cheetah® Cub pattern; compact 3.5 in frame comparable to Mini CopperLock®
Carry: 1.9 oz; 3.5 in closed; 2026 Case XX Vault limited return — available for a limited time only; made in Bradford, PA, USA

Case XX Vault collectors who want the Cheetah® Cub pattern while it's available — when the 2026 Vault program ends, this pattern returns to retirement. Pocket Worn® Old Red Bone enthusiasts who want a compact slip joint with genuine natural bone character. Buyers who want a shirt-pocket-sized Case with Swing Guard deployment in a mirror-polished Tru-Sharp blade.

Add the Case Cheetah® Cub (10309) to your cart today — a Vault pattern in Pocket Worn® Old Red Bone with the legendary service and fast shipping Knifeworks is known for. Natural bone varies — contact Help@Knifeworks.com for current stock details.

Warranty Information

Case Knives warrants each and every Case knife to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the owner, and will repair or replace with a new Case knife, at Case's option, any Case knife that is defective. Case does not warrant its products or their finish against normal wear or misuse. For warranty service, contact Case directly at caseknives.com.

Specifications

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Product Type	Traditional Knife
Product Brand	Case Knives
Item Number	51546
Model	Axe Handle®
Case Family	Pocket Worn® Old Red Bone
Pattern	Cheetah® Cub
Pattern Stamp	BR61135 SS
Number of Blades	1
Blade Style	Clip Point
Blade Material	Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless Steel
Blade Length	3.05 inches
Blade Finish	Mirror-Polished
Handle Material	Old Red Bone
Handle Color	Red
Handle Finish	Gator Jigged
Closed Length	4.0 inches
Lock Type	Slip Joint
Shield	Case XX USA Shield
Weight	2.9 oz
Origin	Made in Bradford, PA, USA
Blade Range	2.5-2.99
Designer	Bill Ruple

Product Videos

Custom Field

Product Type Traditional Knife

Product Brand Case Knives

Item Number 51546

Model Axe Handle®

Case Family Pocket Worn® Old Red Bone

Pattern Cheetah® Cub

Pattern Stamp BR61135 SS

Number of Blades 1

Blade Style Clip Point

Blade Material Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless Steel

Blade Length 3.05 inches

Blade Finish Mirror-Polished

Handle Material Old Red Bone

Handle Color Red

Handle Finish Gator Jigged

Closed Length 4.0 inches

Lock Type Slip Joint

Shield Case XX USA Shield

Weight 2.9 oz

Origin Made in Bradford, PA, USA

Blade Range 2.5-2.99

Designer Bill Ruple

Product Reviews

Bill Ruple Design — Axe Handle® Gator Jig

Award-winning custom maker Bill Ruple’s influence in a Case production folder. Gator Jigged Old Red Bone — alligator-skin texture on natural bone. Mirror-polished Tru-Sharp™ clip blade. 4.0 in closed, 2.9 oz. Natural bone varies — call 888-225-9775.

Tru-Sharp™ Mirror Polish — Gator Jigged Bone

Case’s high-carbon stainless — longer edge retention than conventional stainless, extraordinary blade strength and corrosion resistance. Mirror polish clip blade at 3.05 in. Gator Jig deeper and more aggressive than standard Case jigging patterns.

Authorized Dealer — Case Lifetime Warranty

Knifeworks is an authorized Case Knives dealer. Every 51546 purchased here carries Case’s limited lifetime warranty — free of defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the owner; repair or replacement at Case’s option.

Same or Next Business Day Shipping

In-stock orders ship from Columbia, Louisiana. Old Red Bone varies — call 888-225-9775 or email Help@Knifeworks.com for current stock details.

Case Axe Handle® 51546: Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Case Axe Handle® in Gator Jigged Old Red Bone, answered by the Knifeworks team.

Who is Bill Ruple, and what is his connection to the Case Axe Handle®?

Bill Ruple is an award-winning custom knifemaker known for his craftsmanship and dedication to traditional folding knives. His design sensibility and influence on traditional folding knife aesthetics inspired the Case Axe Handle® pattern — a collaboration between Ruple’s custom maker vision and Case’s production capability. The result is a knife that carries the character of a custom piece in a production format: the Axe Handle® silhouette, the Gator Jigged bone handle texture, and the mirror-polished Tru-Sharp™ clip blade all reflect the traditional folding knife values that Ruple is known for. Knives inspired by or produced in collaboration with recognized custom makers carry a design provenance that standard production patterns don’t.

What is Gator Jigging, and how is it different from Corn Cob Jigging?

Jigging is the process of cutting a textured pattern into a bone handle using a rotating cutting wheel. Different jigging patterns produce different surface textures, each with its own grip character and visual identity. Corn Cob Jigging produces a rounded, regular groove pattern that resembles the surface of a corn cob — relatively uniform and symmetrical. Gator Jigging is designed to evoke the texture of alligator skin — deeper, more irregular, and more aggressive in its scale-like pattern. The result is a handle that looks and feels more tactile than Corn Cob Jigged bone, with a rougher, more natural character appropriate to the Old Red Bone’s warm color. Gator Jigging is one of Case’s more distinctive handle textures and sets the Axe Handle® apart visually from standard jigged bone patterns.

What is Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless Steel, and how does it perform in a slip joint?

Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless is Case’s proprietary high-carbon stainless steel formula engineered to hold an edge longer than conventional stainless steel, with extraordinary blade strength and corrosion resistance. In a slip joint like the Axe Handle®, steel performance matters beyond just edge retention — the spring tension of the slip joint mechanism is calibrated to work with the blade geometry, and Tru-Sharp™’s blade strength ensures consistent spring engagement over a lifetime of opening and closing. The mirror polish on the Axe Handle® blade showcases the steel’s surface quality and sharpens readily on standard equipment.

What is a slip joint, and is the Case Axe Handle® safe to use?

A slip joint is a folding knife mechanism where the blade is held open by spring tension rather than a mechanical lock. The back spring applies pressure against the blade tang to keep the blade in the open position during normal use — the spring can be overcome by deliberate closing pressure, but resists accidental closure during cutting tasks. Slip joints are the traditional folding knife mechanism and have been used for centuries in pocket knives. The Case Axe Handle® uses a standard slip joint appropriate to its role as a traditional pocket knife. For tasks requiring a locked blade, a locking folder is the appropriate tool; for everyday pocket knife use, the slip joint is entirely dependable.

Will my Old Red Bone handle match the product photography?

Not exactly — Old Red Bone is a natural material and every piece of bone expresses different grain, color depth, and jig character. The product photography represents the configuration and approximate character of the handle; your specific knife will be unique in its bone expression. Case notes this explicitly: “Because we use hand-crafting and natural materials your knife may not look exactly as depicted.” If the specific Old Red Bone character matters before purchase, contact the Knifeworks team at Help@Knifeworks.com or call 888-225-9775 — our team can describe current stock and provide additional detail on available pieces.

What are the full specifications of the Case Axe Handle® 51546?

Blade length: 3.05 in. Closed length: 4.0 in. Weight: 2.9 oz. Tru-Sharp™ Surgical Stainless Steel, mirror-polished clip blade, slip joint. Gator Jigged Old Red Bone handle. Case XX USA Shield. One blade. Natural bone — color and grain vary per knife. Case limited lifetime warranty. Inspired by Bill Ruple. Made in Bradford, PA, USA. $84.99. Knifeworks ships same or next business day from Columbia, Louisiana — call 888-225-9775. Contact Help@Knifeworks.com for current Old Red Bone stock details.

Tru-Sharp™ Mirror Polish · Clip Blade · Slip Joint · Gator Jigged Old Red Bone · Case XX USA Shield · 2.9 oz · 4.0 in Closed · Bill Ruple Design · Bradford PA USA · Authorized Dealer

Tru-Sharp™ mirror polish clip blade. Gator Jigged Old Red Bone. Case XX USA Shield. 2.9 oz at 4.0” closed. Bill Ruple’s craft tradition — the Case Axe Handle® 51546.

Knifeworks is an authorized Case Knives dealer. The Axe Handle® 51546 ships same or next business day from Columbia, Louisiana. Old Red Bone varies — call 888-225-9775 or email Help@Knifeworks.com for current stock. Case limited lifetime warranty on every knife.

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