A Buck, a Case, and a GEC !

Slice-and-dice

Slice-and-dice

Basic Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2023
Messages
561
Many on the traditional forum are fans of these three fine 'made-in-the USA' cutlery companies. Do you have a favorite model of each? Care to tell us why or share a picture?

Here's my...
... favorite Buck knife: the 112 with nickel silver bolsters and drop pt (any steel) [sturdy, sentimental, when I was young, you wanted a Buck]
... favorite Case knife: the 6347 in crimson jigged bone [perfect pocket carry size; love case bone scales and multi-blades]
... favorite GEC knife: the 36 elephant toe in cocobolo [love the gator snap and large size]
 

Attachments

  • three Favs.JPG
    three Favs.JPG
    481.5 KB · Views: 9
Slice-and-dice said:
Many on the traditional forum are fans of these three fine 'made-in-the USA' cutlery companies. Do you have a favorite model of each? Care to tell us why or share a picture?

Here's my...
... favorite Buck knife: the 112 with nickel silver bolsters and drop pt (any steel) [sturdy, sentimental, when I was young, you wanted a Buck]
... favorite Case knife: the 6347 in crimson jigged bone [perfect pocket carry size; love case bone scales and multi-blades]
... favorite GEC knife: the 36 elephant toe in cocobolo [love the gator snap and large size]
Click to expand...
Nice trio!
 
This was harder than it seemed.

Here is what I came up with. I went with ones that I actually want to use and not just coolness factor, fancy materials, perceived collectability etc.

IMG_20251005_203621581_AE~2.jpg

The Case is a black laminate sowbelly. It is the perfect size and has great action. Stainless and micarta are indestructible. Cases stainless is excellent for daily use knives. I love this knife.

IMG_20251005_203709028_AE~2.jpg

The Buck is a cocobolo/magnacut 501. The 501 is a great pocket friendly knife that is large enough for anything and small enough not to be a pain to carry. Solid lock up. This version just takes it to a whole 'nother level with the nice wood, bare head and brushed brass bolster and fancy steel/clip point blade.
IMG_20251005_203820743_AE~2.jpg


I sold off every GEC except this one. This clerk is just so nice, so well done, that I couldn't even spite sell it. It reminds me of the excellent quality old (old) Schrade congress I have. The action is incredible. Half stops. Fit and finish is great. Nice cocobolo. The grinds... Its absolutely a nod to the old school and as a congress fan, I haven't found another new one from any other company that comes remotely close.


IMG_20251005_203743550_AE~2.jpg



This was fun, thanks for the thread.
 
I've had a Buck 110 since the late 1970s. One of the 440c models. It rode on my belt at work for about a decade. Still have it, still a great knife.

However, these days my Buck of choice is this beautiful 301 with yellow Delrin scales. It has been helping me with breaking down boxes for the recycle bin lately. Buck sure knew how to do 420 HC steel, and this is a great example. Sturdy as hell, takes an edge like a razor blade:

Ms9nocG.jpg


It's hard for me to pick a favorite Case knife. I have a LOT of them and love every one of them about as much as the rest. This 6347 Stockman sees plenty of use, one of my top 3 users:

Wj6NQk3.jpg


For GEC - well, they are all like precious jewels - some too pretty to use. Bought this one from the Exchange forum here a decade ago or so, and since it had already been a user, I didn't have that "don't want to mess it up" feeling so it became one of my favorites. Northfield Powderhorn Jack:

7NecdE7.jpg


It has not seen as much use recently as the others, but definitely one of my favorite GECs.

*Great thread idea, thanks for posting it!
 
Slice-and-dice said:

A Buck, a Case, and a GEC !​

Click to expand...
Three knives walk into a bar... Whoops! Wait. Wrong forum.

Favorite Buck knife
A 112 in S30V and ebony
OlpvpcC.jpg


Favorite Case
This Carhartt punch stockman, Tru-Sharp and G10
xaCGorb.jpg


Favorite GEC
I'm partial to this #68 White Owl with 440C blade steel and elk covers.
E9EnuYd.jpg
 
I only have one GEC, a gift from Jakeywax31 Jakeywax31 . It is a great tool for whittlin'.
D0F849DF-621F-4403-860C-479BB0132735.jpg


Case Folding Hunter is probably my favorite knife all around. I carry it on my belt daily and use it for most things I need a knife for.
IMG_4335.jpg


My case 6.5375 Jumbo Stockman. I have carried this knife in my pocket for something like 4 or 5 years now. Very rarely trying another in it's place.
IMG_3555.jpg


My Buck 192 Vanguard. My wife's momma sent me $45 for my birthday on year, and I got the knife for $50 used off ebay. It's my favorite knife I think. If I had to pair down to 1 knife, it'd be this one. I don't carry it as much as I look at it, but sometimes it supplants the 65 pattern Folding Hunter on my belt. I'm going to make an IWB sheath for it, so that I can carry it more with discretion.
0147F8C2-1011-4567-A0F1-693665239C83.jpg
 
RickHuf said:
This was harder than it seemed.

Here is what I came up with. I went with ones that I actually want to use and not just coolness factor, fancy materials, perceived collectability etc.

View attachment 2992853

The Case is a black laminate sowbelly. It is the perfect size and has great action. Stainless and micarta are indestructible. Cases stainless is excellent for daily use knives. I love this knife.

View attachment 2992854

The Buck is a cocobolo/magnacut 501. The 501 is a great pocket friendly knife that is large enough for anything and small enough not to be a pain to carry. Solid lock up. This version just takes it to a whole 'nother level with the nice wood, bare head and brushed brass bolster and fancy steel/clip point blade.
View attachment 2992856


I sold off every GEC except this one. This clerk is just so nice, so well done, that I couldn't even spite sell it. It reminds me of the excellent quality old (old) Schrade congress I have. The action is incredible. Half stops. Fit and finish is great. Nice cocobolo. The grinds... Its absolutely a nod to the old school and as a congress fan, I haven't found another new one from any other company that comes remotely close.


View attachment 2992855



This was fun, thanks for the thread.
Click to expand...

Wow love the choices, thanks for sharing Rick
 
jc57 said:
I've had a Buck 110 since the late 1970s. One of the 440c models. It rode on my belt at work for about a decade. Still have it, still a great knife.

However, these days my Buck of choice is this beautiful 301 with yellow Delrin scales. It has been helping me with breaking down boxes for the recycle bin lately. Buck sure knew how to do 420 HC steel, and this is a great example. Sturdy as hell, takes an edge like a razor blade:

Ms9nocG.jpg


It's hard for me to pick a favorite Case knife. I have a LOT of them and love every one of them about as much as the rest. This 6347 Stockman sees plenty of use, one of my top 3 users:

Wj6NQk3.jpg


For GEC - well, they are all like precious jewels - some too pretty to use. Bought this one from the Exchange forum here a decade ago or so, and since it had already been a user, I didn't have that "don't want to mess it up" feeling so it became one of my favorites. Northfield Powderhorn Jack:

7NecdE7.jpg


It has not seen as much use recently as the others, but definitely one of my favorite GECs.

*Great thread idea, thanks for posting it!
Click to expand...

Amazing, JC, love that yelow 301!
black mamba said:
Favorite Buck is a yella 301 from 1989
7VyS6PW.jpeg


Favorite Case is a TB WT in ebony from 2013
qzNppO6.jpeg


Favorite GEC is a Cuban stockman in bark ram's horn from 2007
MNZg6iP.jpeg
Click to expand...

So many amazing combo’s, I admit I love them all LOL… the Case ebony is underrated!
 
This is difficult as I like several models of the brands. But if I had to choose.

Buck 110. It was just the knife as a kid I always wanted. When I was 15 I finally got one for Christmas. A few years later it was stolen and I didn’t replace it until my wife bought me one about 22-23 years ago.

IMG_1530.jpegIMG_1447.jpeg

GEC- Moose as it’s the only GEC I own and it’s a neat pattern.


Case.While I like a lot of their patterns especially the stockmans I’m just drawn to the mini trapper. I can’t explain it I just like them.IMG_1585.jpegIMG_1471.jpeg


But back to Buck. If we add fixed blades into the mix I’m torn been the 119 and 192. I always liked the looks of the 119 but just started really playing around with them the last few years. And the 192 I just think is classy.IMG_0261.jpegIMG_0389.jpeg
 
The 305 lancer is my favorite model from Buck.
20250109_102629.jpg
I love small knives, especially with 2 blades, and the 305 is a great small 2 bladed knife. It's also Bucks smallest slipjoint.
I only like the in house 305's though, the Camillus made examples with the cut swedge I don't like.

My favorite Case model is the 6208 half whittler, I just really love it but sure do wish for more carbon steel offerings.
20250318_104053.jpg
I have 2 others but this one is my favorite.

My favorite GEC model would be the H20, I just like them and most importantly they're the one GEC model that's actually attainable when they release them.
20230608_172003.jpg
 
Hah! A difficult one indeed, but rewarding...these choices are strictly pro-tem, could change on the morrow ;)

BUCK goes to this Yellow Delrin beauty which also operates as my 'Car Knife' 3rd car now. Such a shame Buck discontinued the Yellow Delrin, very practical if dropped and being all stainless, very easy for rough use. Small knife but hardy, would dearly love its bigger stablemate in Yellow D too but so hard to find now. The Forum Knife 2018 in American Elk runs it a very close second as it sees more pocket time rather than vehicle and a Gen5 Skinner fixed blade was up there too .

1759869730344.jpeg


CASE probably even more challenging, strong contenders the 18 and 75 Stockman , Swayback Gent, Case/Bose Pruner , Sodbuster of any type, Penknife but here it is Redbone often imitated never bested and nickel liners

1759870593503.jpeg

Finally, GEC. You could well ask where do you start? ;) Many strong contenders both factory & SFO: Eureka, White Owl, 15, Dixie Stockman in Stag, 25, 93 Ram Foot and Lamb Foot, the iconic 73, Bullbuster in Micarta as a finework-knife. In the end use & aesthetics won out. I don't carry and use GECs much these days, certainly admire them and enjoy handling them but actual use? Not very much, except the wonderful 38 Farmer that our great friend wlfryjr wlfryjr put in the frame. I really like 2 blade single-spring knives, best of all worlds but the almost eccentric yet practical aspect of this pattern has taken the laurels, these 38s are all-steel construction and that's the one to go for in any GEC pattern. Great efforts Lyle :thumbsup::cool:

1759871484544.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top