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Best production slip joint company
- Thread starter Will Batayte
- Start date
Per "Case and Boker do a very good job finishing their product to a perfect mirror polish; in doing so they also round all the corners. They have fairly tame snap and will sometimes have minor gaps and rubs."
I disagree when it comes to the Case Bose line and some of their special runs using the same patterns. These are not buffed, not mirror polished and my 4 do not have minor gaps and rubs. AFAIK, the only mirror polish on the Case Bose knives is the shields on the MOP, abalone and ebony models.
One other very good slipjoint maker is Moki. However, most of their slipjoints are not really traditional models.
I disagree when it comes to the Case Bose line and some of their special runs using the same patterns. These are not buffed, not mirror polished and my 4 do not have minor gaps and rubs. AFAIK, the only mirror polish on the Case Bose knives is the shields on the MOP, abalone and ebony models.
One other very good slipjoint maker is Moki. However, most of their slipjoints are not really traditional models.
knifeswapper
Knife Peddler
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- Sep 3, 2004
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Sorry, I was speaking generally. You are correct in that the top tier $300+ knives have their own process and are in a whole different class. I was speaking more generally of the 97% of the other Case knives. They have some $15 composite handle knives that are not mirror finished either. And, even on the general production, the vast majority that I have seen lately have very nice f/f - but there should be expected the mentioned cosmetics from time to time and pattern to pattern.
Generally, yes. In my opinion, Case had a real quality issue from ~2002 - 2008 or so; although not as bad as the early 1980's. Blades had terribly large / cumbersome grinds; gaps got bigger; slab fit was poor, etc. Their quality has come up significantly, but is still that of a "mass" producer. They have used their new patterns and the "vault" to significantly raise their prices. But if that is what they needed to do to stay afloat, then it is overall a good thing. I still just by a small sampling that I think represents the best "value" in the Case line. I can't fill everyone's preference, but I have gotten soft in my old age and will only carry what I would want to buy as a customer. You can still get a bone stockman for less than $40 due to the competitive market; and that surprises even me.
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
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I have been going gangbusters on GEC's now for the past year. It all started with a few trades with Ryan Daniels at knife shows for GEC product, then moved on to buying from other dealers, and finally to contemplating signing my paycheck over to Charlie for his Charlows. I would say without hesitation that Great Eastern is the company to beat, like Mike said in an earlier post. Now, Case is producing the best with their annual Bose collaborations, on par with some customs I've seen. For entire lines, however, GEC is the best. Their infamous bear trap springs seem to be a thing of the past, their beefed up steroids look is gone. They are sleek, good looking and still tools. I would like to see a stainless, but as I get better at taking good care of tool and carbon steel blades, the desire to see higher quality stainless steels used has diminished. I haven't seen much difference of late between Tidioute and Northfield products. I would say that the Great Eastern line handle all work knives, the Tidioute line handle all of the patterns, and Northfield UNXLD be reserved for higher end offerings, for instance higher quality steels etc.
I have no problem with GEC doing so well, I would hope that it would give the other companies something to aspire to.
I have no problem with GEC doing so well, I would hope that it would give the other companies something to aspire to.
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On a pure value for what you get as a tool, I'd have to put Buck's US-made traditionals near the top. I bought a Buck 301 Stockman recently which is truly a superbly finished tool. The triple backspring looks like a single seamless slab of satin-brushed steel, until you open a blade and the individual backspring opens. All three blades when open have perfectly flush backsprings, and the blade spine is lined up exactly with the line of the backspring, none of the "bent" appearance you sometimes see with a knife. I have GECs that don't line up anywhere near that well. They are not beautiful, except in the way that a well made tool is beautiful for it's efficiency and design.
Unfortunately for Buck, they are not especially collectible since you have about 4 patterns, and 2 or 3 handle choices, and that's it. They aren't the expensive works of art we all like to carry and admire, but if you need a knife to do what knives do, it's probably one of the best working knife values out there.
Ah yes, I'd have to agree with this as well. I have a Vic Alox Electrician and it's hard to argue about the quality of that brand.
Unfortunately for Buck, they are not especially collectible since you have about 4 patterns, and 2 or 3 handle choices, and that's it. They aren't the expensive works of art we all like to carry and admire, but if you need a knife to do what knives do, it's probably one of the best working knife values out there.
Ah yes, I'd have to agree with this as well. I have a Vic Alox Electrician and it's hard to argue about the quality of that brand.
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For a $300-$400 + knife I would expect F&F better than their normal offering. I had a chance to go over a Case/Bose Coffin jack in that "Big shop in TN" and it was no better F&F than the majority of GEC that I own at less than half the cost.
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Ok so I saw some of those tony bose case knives most ran about $350 or more. But the tony bose back pocket is $78. Is there a reason for that? Maybe it's in current production while the others aren't?
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Oh for sure on buck. Great users. But at this stage in my knife collecting career I do use all my knives except my burn custom swing guard. Having nice handle materials and great F&F just ads to my joy in carrying and using these blades. In fact I can't wait for the patina to set in on my new one to give it an even older look. I do wish buck would add sone nicer handle material options.
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There is an annual Case/Bose collaboration knife with higher quality materials, F&F, etc. that T. Bose actually supplies the working model for to Case. These are very limited production runs. There are other knives, such as the one you mention, that carry Tony's name as a designer. These are not limited, as a rule, production runs.
This is an over simplification but should give you the idea. There are any number of threads in this forum concerning these knives.
knifeswapper
Knife Peddler
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Don't confuse the Bose "Collaboration" knives with the Bose "Inspired" knives. There are several that were taken from Bose pattern specs and made on the general production lines out of general production materials. The "Collaboration" knives are generally exotic steels and take a slower trip thru a different part of the factory.
Case has gotten better over the past few years and Buck makes a nice work knife, but they can't compare to the vintage/pre 1980 Case and Buck slip joints.
In my opinion, it's worth the extra time and money to hunt down a beauty from the past.
Or just go with GEC and get your taste of perfection ASAP.
In my opinion, it's worth the extra time and money to hunt down a beauty from the past.
Or just go with GEC and get your taste of perfection ASAP.
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- Jan 5, 2011
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I concur! I have a Case/Bose Coffin Jack, and while the fit & finish is amazing and I love the knife, my comparable model GEC #15 is every bit as good... at less than 1/3 of the price.
-Brett
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This maybe true, in regards to fit and finish. The Case/Bose collabs use higher end materials. The fact that the patterns are specifically made for the run by Mr. Bose himself adds to their collectibility, and obviously their price. In this case (no pun intended) you do get what you pay for.
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In general while looking very nice I haven't been impressed with case. They just don't feel like users to me. I'm sure they can be and maybe the older ones are different but in general they feel like letter openers to me. I can't really put my finger on what exactly it is about them but they just rub me the wrong way. One thing is for sure every case knife I've ever handled was butter knife dull out of the box. Not sure what thats about. I never got knife companies that suck at sharpening. I mean that's knifemaking at its most primal.
That being said those Tony bose models do look nice and I'm sure they must be much different then their normal ones. But it's hard for me to take the risk and drop $350 or more without seeing it first hand. It's a shame there's no decent knife store located in the oppressive state of CT.
That being said those Tony bose models do look nice and I'm sure they must be much different then their normal ones. But it's hard for me to take the risk and drop $350 or more without seeing it first hand. It's a shame there's no decent knife store located in the oppressive state of CT.
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
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Check out the different knife magazines for knife show listings in CT/NY etc.
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Yeah I try and make it to nycks when I can. I'd love to see a big knife store somewhere in CT though. Probably never happen lol. We did have a victorinox store in west farms mall which did carry some higher end stuff. But their mark up was like $75-$100 above intetnet prices. Absolute robbery. Although I did use them as a place to do a hands on before I ordered from the net. Not nice but neithet is greedy price gouging.