A bit disappointed in my new Sowbelly...

SSonnentag

SSonnentag

Stay Sharp!
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Feb 25, 2009
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I just picked up a Case Sowbelly in Burnt Stag. The fit and finish is fine, but to me, the action is a bit mushy. I guess I'm spoiled by the nice and snappy action on the customs I have.

The other thing I don't care for are the blunt tips on all the blades. I don't approve of this at all. Take a look at the sheepsfoot for instance...

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Overall a very nice looking knife. The Burnt Stag covers are very nice and pretty much even side to side. As to the mushiness, oil the joints and work them a dozen or so times. From looking at the pictures, I agree about the blade points but a few minutes to an hour on a stone should solve that problem.
 
I can see what you are saying about being disappointed.

On one hand the fit and finish really look nice! No apparent gaps, the scales match pretty well, and it is pretty to look at.

On the other hand, the blades look like they left them in the tumbler/polisher for a couple of days too long. No crisp lines anywhere. The swedges are so rounded over they look like rounded blades, not swedged. I really don't like that. I don't like the rounded points, either. And I don't like the very rounded spines of the blades at all. They look really over ground and polished to me.

I like all the lines to be more crisp, the swedges to be just rounded enough not to be annoying to hold and carry. I don't know what a good term for all of that would be, but the finishing part of the blades seems to be really overdone. I would have to think it was all done on purpose though, as all surfaces that would show clean grind lines have been well rounded.

Not my style, but I am sure the knife itself is fine.

Robert
 
It's vintage bone, not stag, but a good looking knife. I'd also be unhappy with the blunt tips but I suppose it is easily fixed.
 
I could quickly see what you were disappointed in the tips. It sure is a pretty knife however. Definitely worth keeping. Ever thought about sending it to someone like Seals and having it cleaned up?
 
Is that perhaps their Bonestag? Not stag.

Those rounded tips do not look good at all, I can understand your annoyance.
 
It's bone (I think 'vintage bone'), as indicated by the 'VTB6339 SS' pattern stamp. Bonestag from Case usually has the '6.5' prefix. Still looks nice. :thumbup:

I used my Lansky about 3 years ago, to re-bevel the edges on mine (T.B.5339 SS; burnt stag). It's definitely one of my favorites, now (as seen in my Avatar pic).
 
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texasflyfisher said:
No wonder the sheepsfoot blade is blunt, Apple made it! :D
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I was wondering if anyone was going to notice and comment on that. :) I wish I knew how to reprofile the blades and get some points on them. I don't think I'm patient enough to do that much reshaping with my ceramic rods.
 
Vege-Taco said:
I was wondering if anyone was going to notice and comment on that. :) I wish I knew how to reprofile the blades and get some points on them. I don't think I'm patient enough to do that much reshaping with my ceramic rods.
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If all you have are ceramic rods, you would indeed be making quite a time investment to get the points back on.

For any one that has it, this is where the Lansky system shines. I reset the profile on a sheepsfoot blade on one of my stockmans by touching the blade at 90 degrees to my 1X30 sander until I had the point back. I made the transition as smooth as I could from about mid blade to the point; I didn't start at the kick.

After I had the blade ground (this took just seconds of careful work) I put it in the Lansky and went after it with the coarse stone. I had the blade where I wanted it in about 20 minutes, with a new point and a polished edge.

I round the points a bit over time as I sharpen them (mostly freehand) and I like the pointed tips. With practice, the Lansky is a reprofiling machine for folders and fixes problems like these easily.

Robert
 
^^Yep. Lansky does handle these well. Sheepsfoot blades are easier too, for the most part. And without a guided setup, a circular/elliptical motion on a flat diamond hone will put a new bevel on it pretty fast. Keep a fingertip near the blade tip, to keep it in flush contact with the hone. Keep the angle conservatively low. I've used DMT Fine & EF 'credit card' style diamond hones this way, and they're almost ideal for small/medium traditional folders.
 
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Maybe its just me but a knife should come out of the box pointy and sharp. Is this not the definition of a knife?

Acceptance of this sloppiness guarantees that we'll see more of it. The last Case knife I bought was returned for this very reason.
 
Hi Shawn,

I think the other posters have addressed the point issue pretty well.

In my limited experience (3 samples), I have found that the Case production sowbellies all have a softer/ mushier feeling.
I think it is a characteristic that results from the unique shape of the knife/ backspring.
I really like the visuals of the sowbellies, but could not get past the sluggish feel. My favorite had been the Cabernet bone.

If you come across a production sowbelly that has a good feel, please let me know.

Ed T
 
Ed T said:
Hi Shawn,

I think the other posters have addressed the point issue pretty well.

In my limited experience (3 samples), I have found that the Case production sowbellies all have a softer/ mushier feeling.
I think it is a characteristic that results from the unique shape of the knife/ backspring.
I really like the visuals of the sowbellies, but could not get past the sluggish feel. My favorite had been the Cabernet bone.

If you come across a production sowbelly that has a good feel, please let me know.

Ed T
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Shawn, The examples of Case sowbellies that I've seen also have softer walk and talk but I don't think it is inherent to the pattern. Some of the "Winchester" and "Primble" Sowbellies (manufactured by Queen) have a pull that's a 7 out of 10 and snap like a bear trap and others have a pull that's a 4 out of 10. My Schatt & Morgan (Queen) Series 18 Sowbelly has a pull that's about a 4 out of 10. I think the old 1989 Winchesters might be worth a shot if you want a Sowbelly with a stronger pull.
 
Well, I think a slightly rounded sheepsfoot is acceptable, but CERTAINLY not on a clip point!

It is a case of too much polishing. I can just picture the guy just going to TOWN on that knife at the buffing wheel.
 
bill2000 said:
Maybe its just me but a knife should come out of the box pointy and sharp. Is this not the definition of a knife?

Acceptance of this sloppiness guarantees that we'll see more of it. The last Case knife I bought was returned for this very reason.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
I'd go with what Ed said! The snape on mine isn't the best, but I've felt several Cases that were worse. The f&f looks good to me.
 
I was just looking at my sowbelly...both the sheets foot and clip have pronounced tips, no rounding like this one. Someone must have fallen asleep while grinding.

I'm very surprised at the mushiness comments, mine snaps with the near force of a GEC.
 
for my 2001 Vintage bone Case Sowbelly... i love the pattern never thought i would. Mine is a little soft on the W&T and the points arent anything that really bothered me but i guess they are a little rounder... mine came sharp as hell though (read below):D
gene
ps this one is vampiric too, got me good while slicing an onion, wicked cut on my left pointer finger, got a scar to remind me to pay attention next time:D
test-1.jpg
 
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