A benchmark for the novice pocket knife collector.

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Toby G

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Jun 14, 2010
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Please forgive me if this has been discussed. To cut to the chase, would you consider Case knives a good benchmark to use when comparing pocket knives, especially classic patterns. I know there are knives that are better and knives that are worse. But in the comparison category today, would most knife collectors get it if you said a knife was better than or worse than a Case knife and understand what you're getting at.

The reason I ask is because I'm coming back to pocket knife collecting after a 20+ year hiatus and things have changed quite a bit. My 18 year old son is also gaining an interest in the hobby. So much for background. 20 years ago, it made sense to use Case as a benchmark. I'm wondering if it that is still a good rule of thumb. If not what knife would you recommend?

Thanks. and I apologize if this has been discussed.
 
Probably as good a reference as any. In the US Case is about middle of the road in production knives with some of their special runs like the Bose knives being top drawer. GEC/Queen/Canel Street/ AG Russell are on the upper side of the Case scale.
 
I think it makes a good benchmark if for no other reason that most folks are familiar (at least to some degree) with the Case line and their offerings. Thus it's easy enough to use it as a standard of reference.
(Bearing in mind, however, that there is individual variation not only between knives, but patterns and the quality of build over any given period.)

But in a word, I still think the answer is "yes".
 
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I think it makes sense to compare knives in a similar price range to a standard Case.
I think it makes sense to compare pricier knives to other knives in that same price range.

If I spent $45 on a knife, I might compare it to a standard model Case for fit and finish.
If I spent $140 on a knife, I would not be looking at a $45 Case as a benchmark.
 
I find Case knives to be too inconsistent to use as any sort of benchmark. Saying "on par with Case" could mean two different and completely opposite things.

Instead, I propose using Old Timer knives as a benchmark. Some were better than others, but overall they were very consistent in the areas of design, materials, and workmanship. Or Victorinox, who is world-known for an extreme level of consistency.
 
OTOH the Case Swayback is incredible and about $60. It has better f&f than more expensive knives I've had but that may not be true for most of the Case line.
 
I use Queen as my benchmark for production knives.
They are priced between $40 and $55

I started with two knives, a Case stockman and a Queen Stockman
They were the same price
I found the F&F on the Queen to be significantly better
Also they are in D2 which I find to be a better steel

The new patterns Case are now up to the F&F of Queen
 
knarfeng said:
I think it makes sense to compare knives in a similar price range to a standard Case.
I think it makes sense to compare pricier knives to other knives in that same price range.

If I spent $45 on a knife, I might compare it to a standard model Case for fit and finish.
If I spent $140 on a knife, I would not be looking at a $45 Case as a benchmark.
Click to expand...

knarfeng has got it right here in simple terms and with good common sense in my opinion..

And Welcome to bladeforums - Traditional Folders & Fixed Blades. :)

In the 1970's, 80's and 90's the older 'Case XX' stamps, 'Case Tested' stamps and prior Case stamps were certainly the standard of what I believe the benchmark was for collectors of that time. They were quite well produced working knives made by cutlers that cannot be matched today in the production industry. Add to that they were also using great traditional natural materials for there scales/handle covers...

.. I would also include many of the 1970's dot series as well with nearly the same benchmark.. At around 1980 Case's production knives started to fall way below the earlier standards compared to the proceeding cutlers at Case. However, their were some exceptions here and there.

Today when you compare other traditional pocket knife american companies current work to Case's current offerings, like Schatt & Morgan, GEC, Queen and perhaps one or two others too, I think you may find that using the price point system like knarfeng has already stated, as well as fit & finish, I think you'll find a happy medium you can rely on for todays benchmark.


Best,
Anthony
 
knarfeng said:
I think it makes sense to compare knives in a similar price range to a standard Case.
I think it makes sense to compare pricier knives to other knives in that same price range.

If I spent $45 on a knife, I might compare it to a standard model Case for fit and finish.
If I spent $140 on a knife, I would not be looking at a $45 Case as a benchmark.
Click to expand...


I look at it differently.
I look at a specific pattern and see what is availiable

Take a Congress as an example
The prices ranges from a Boker @ $35 to a GEC in Abalone @ $180
If I set a Queen @ $60 as my benchmark, I can look at what I will get for how much more.
S&M jumps $20 to $30
GEC jumps $40 for bone, up to an extra $120 for the Abalone

So I am comparing a $60 knife with a $180 knife
 
neeman said:
I found the F&F on the Queen to be significantly better. Also they are in D2 which I find to be a better steel

The new patterns Case are now up to the F&F of Queen
Click to expand...

:thumbup: +1 on Queen. With their beautiful handle materials (their amber carved stag bone and their zebrawood are TOPS in my opinion) and their D2 steel, they give the most value for the money of any manufacturer, and they're made in America.

Case DOES make a nice knife, but for just a little more money the Queen offers a lot more.
 
Toby G said:
Please forgive me if this has been discussed. To cut to the chase, would you consider Case knives a good benchmark to use when comparing pocket knives, especially classic patterns.
Click to expand...

The question asked by the OP was primarily for pattern comparability.

As far a patterns go, Case classic patterns are good benchmarks to use when comparing one brand to another brand -- certainly a heck of a lot better than GEC for instance who uses willy-nilly patter names to describe their knives such as their latest pattern #89 River Boat Gambler.

As long as some are discussing quality between various brands, Queen is certainly not a step above Case. Case and Queen are on par with each other for sure but one is not a step above the other. Case in point -- Queen's D2 is not superior to Case's CV as someone posted above.
 
SteelSnob said:
OTOH the Case Swayback is incredible and about $60. It has better f&f than more expensive knives I've had but that may not be true for most of the Case line.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. For some reason over three decades of knife collecting I have never gotten into Case. Just never fancied them that much. But I finally got a Case Swayback thanks to the high praise it gets here and I must say, for a $60 knife, I can find nothing to nickpick about. Scalpel sharp out of the box and F&F spot on. :thumbup:
I may have to start walking down the Case road. :)
 
Modoc ED said:
Toby G said:

The question asked by the OP was primarily for pattern comparability.

As far a patterns go, Case classic patterns are good benchmarks to use when comparing one brand to another brand -- certainly a heck of a lot better than GEC for instance who uses willy-nilly patter names to describe their knives such as their latest pattern #89 River Boat Gambler.

As long as some are discussing quality between various brands, Queen is certainly not a step above Case. Case and Queen are on par with each other for sure but one is not a step above the other. Case in point -- Queen's D2 is not superior to Case's CV as someone posted above.
Click to expand...

I actually do not see the OP asking about namining conventions, but comparing like patterns with like patterns, especially "classic" patterns.

And if I may quote myself

"I found the F&F on the Queen to be significantly better
Also they are in D2 which I find to be a better steel
"

I found.......
Personal opinion
I can take marco photos comparing F&F of these two similar priced stockmans to show you why and how I formed my opinion
 
I have a handful of Case stockman, peanuts, and trappers in various sizes, blades, and various ages. I also have one tadpole. Even mix of SS and CV. None have a weak snap, no blade wobble, and great cutters. Some have a little blade rub. I'm not much for providing benchmark statistics, but I find the ones I own to be excellent quality and I did not hand pick a single one. I also like the fact most Case knives come with genuine bone handles.

Compared to most Schrades, Ulsters, and Camillus knives, which are also a good comparison for user knives, I would rank them a bit behind Case in quality for knives made from 1970 forward. Going backwards from 1970, the Schrades and Ulsters seem equal or maybe a bit better in craftsmanship, but sometimes not real consistent. I have not handled Case XX pre 1970 much at all, so can't compare anything to that era. I like the appearance of Schrade 1095 more than the shiny CV too, but both of them are excellent cutters.
 
neeman said:
I actually do not see the OP asking about namining conventions, but comparing like patterns with like patterns, especially "classic" patterns.

And if I may quote myself

"I found the F&F on the Queen to be significantly better
Also they are in D2 which I find to be a better steel
"

I found.......
Personal opinion
I can take marco photos comparing F&F of these two similar priced stockmans to show you why and how I formed my opinion
Click to expand...

Sorry. I thought you had claimed D2 superior but I see you stated it as your opinion and we all are certainly entitled to our opinions.

No need for marco photos. All lines produce a pill now and then. My statement was to say that overall, Queen and Case are on par with each other -- neither being better than the other.
 
Going back to the OP's original question and intent, I think most of us here would know what he (or someone else) meant if they described a knife as either a little bit above or a little bit below Case build quality (in general). It at least gives some notion of a point of reference. (And the fact remains that there are more folks acquainted with Case than other brands (regardless of price or quality.)

I don't think this needs to be more complicated than that but that's just my simple opinion.

There's really no way to be more exact without everyone having the exact same knife as a standard of reference for further discussion or comparison.
 
Hi,

I have to agree with Blues. The majority of us are familiar with the Case brand. We've seen them, handled them, and owned them. And we are familiar with the variations in fit and finish. Plus we know the price point. So here, for us it makes a good bench mark. Some where else among other people, Rough Riders or Schatt's may serve as well.

The brand name doesn't matter as much as the general familiarity with the brand.

dalee
 
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