Buck vs Case vs GEC vs Canal Street Cutlery

J

jwh

Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Messages
730
I have a few Case and Buck folders and fixed blades and I am pleased with all of them. It's obvious that folks here are fond of their GEC's and I am very tempted to try them. How do the GEC's compare to Canal Street Cutlery? I think my next traditional knife will be a GEC or Canal Street product. Your thoughts and general observations on any of these brands is appreciated. Good, bad or indifferent, let's hear it.

jwh
 
Really? Again? This calls for more:

deereatingpopcorn.gif


My vote goes to Eye Brand.
 
I have six GECs and about twenty CSCs.

The quality of the GECs has been more variable. The better GECs are equal in quality to the CSCs, but the CSCs are higher quality overall.

There are more models to choose from at GEC, but I have been happier with the CSCs.
 
Thanks for your helpful reply TomTerrific.

jwh

P.S. - Ed, don't choke on your popcorn.
 
They both make some very nice knives. Just depends on what you're looking for.
 
jackknife said:
Pass the popcorn.
Oh wait, is there salt on it? I'm not supposed to have salt.:(
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I really do not understand why people who don't care to offer something of value to the thread feel a need to act like this. I read many threads and never leave a comment if I don't feel like it or can't be of help. Just an observation. It's typically those who have been around a forum for a good while and feel a need to be in control of what is said or what information is deemed important. While the search is helpful it also for the most part is older information. I happened upon your Damascus thread. I had nothing to add so I politely moved on to the next thread. It was no need for me to say something smartass because I had nothing better to do.

jwh
 
Thanks 2Dead. At this point any new knives would be more collector pieces than users as I have plenty to use.

jwh
 
I think we've seen a number of these comparison threads lately, and some of them have gotten rather "heated".

The folks are just preparing for some entertainment. I can assure you it's nothing personal.

We're one big happy family here. Although there's a punch thrown once in awhile. :o
 
In that case, I think it depends on what you want to display in your collection. GEC has the best stag (imho) in production knives today and a great many patterns. Most of their knives are 1095, not sure if this will be an issue. CSC has a bunch really nice handle materials and most of their knives are either stainless or d2 which means less maintenance.
 
JWH, when it comes to overall quality, GEC has it hands down IMHO.
And I personally believe the same as far as collector value, when browsing this forum you see more GEC than anything else and again, that goes back to quality. I have had a few CSCs that were less than satisfactory with some major issues. I sent one back and the problem was so bad, they couldn't repair it. So they sent me a different knife, it had an extremely lazy spring. That is something you'll never hear about a GEC. :cool:

Different strokes, but I wont buy Canal Street knives.
CSC has earned the business they get, but they don't get near as much as GEC.

Case will always have a loyal following, but they aren't what they used to be. When they no longer produce knives in the USA, the prices are gonna sky rocket for the old ones, so if your collecting for future resale Case is were it is at.

Buck makes a great user, but again they can't touch Case for collector strength.
If you get some of the older ones they can have a nice value.
 
Peregrin said:
I think we've seen a number of these comparison threads lately, and some of them have gotten rather "heated".
The folks are just preparing for some entertainment. I can assure you it's nothing personal.
We're one big happy family here. Although there's a punch thrown once in awhile. :o
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Understood. I have been involved in many knife, gun, airgun and photography forums over the years and see the ups and downs all of the time. Thanks for your reply.

jwh
 
2Dead said:
In that case, I think it depends on what you want to display in your collection. GEC has the best stag (imho) in production knives today and a great many patterns. Most of their knives are 1095, not sure if this will be an issue. CSC has a bunch really nice handle materials and most of their knives are either stainless or d2 which means less maintenance.
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Points to ponder. Thanks.

jwh
 
johnny twoshoes said:
JWH, when it comes to overall quality, GEC has it hands down IMHO.
Different strokes, but I wont buy Canal Street knives.
CSC has earned the business they get, but they don't get near as much as GEC.

Case will always have a loyal following, but they aren't what they used to be. When they no longer produce knives in the USA, the prices are gonna sky rocket for the old ones, so if your collecting for future resale Case is were it is at.

Buck makes a great user, but again they can't touch Case for collector strength.
If you get some of the older ones they can have a nice value.
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Good info. All of my Case knives have good fit and finish. While not for resale it's just something I enjoy and will pass on to my son. The older knives I owned were given to him in the past year or so already.

jwh
 
My only Canal Street was a cannitler. Well actually 2, my first was in rams horn, but the differences in the 2 scales were too great for my liking, so I sent it back in exchange for a Jigged bone model (and a trapper I gave away here). Functionally the knife was fine, appropriate blade grinds, scales uniform with no gaps... My only issue was the blades had a soft appearance. By that I mean rounded tips, softened swedges, overall looked like it was tumbled too long or something. I actually recently traded it on BF for a GEC Whittler. I much prefer the GEC's that I have, but both brands were very acceptable users. I don't collect to gain value, I just buy what I want to use, so take it as you may.

Kris.
 
I wouldn't put Buck into this group from a collectors standpoint.

IMO, Buck is first, foremost and centrally about hunting knives, most particularly their bowie style fixed blades like the 119 and the iconic (we're coming back to that word in a moment) 110 Folding Hunter.

Buck has branched off from that heritage a bit. They're hunting knives like the 110 and 112 have been used by tradesmen as utility knives for many decades. They've made some super tough stockman like the 301 and they've branched out to modern tacticals, some multi-tool thingamabobs. But at the end of the day, Buck is about hunting knives.

Now... this isn't to say that there isn't a Buck collectors vibe. But, imo, that Buck collector's vibe is mostly (not entirely, but mostly) centered about Buck 110 modifications. IMO, people collect Buck 110s like the collect Harleys, which is to say, not many people are interested in stock Buck 110s, at least not in the same way as they're interested in, say, a Yellowhorse custom (to name of many 110 modifiers). IMO, this is a part of the Buck 110's status as an icon.

The others, while they may make some lockers, are primarily traditional slip joint makers. IMO, that's a different gig. It's all good, mind you, all of it. But I would never want to compare a stock Buck 112 against a stock, say, GEC 72. The former is tough utility oriented hunting knife and the latter, while tough and capable, is made to collectible specifications. both good.
 
I agree with johnny. GEC is overall tops today. 2Dead is also right about GEC stag, it's awesome for factory stuff.

I think TomTerrific's sample of so few GECs is the reason he is not as "up" on them. I have close to a hundred GECs and very few have been less than great, and a few have rivaled some customs for quality. The early trapper patterns, #23 and #73 gained an accurate rep as "nail breakers," but knives since 2009 have strong but useable springs. CSC have notably lighter pulls and snap. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a more solid user or collector knife than one from GEC.
 
pinnah said:
I wouldn't put Buck into this group from a collectors standpoint.

IMO, Buck is first, foremost and centrally about hunting knives, most particularly their bowie style fixed blades like the 119 and the iconic (we're coming back to that word in a moment) 110 Folding Hunter.

Buck has branched off from that heritage a bit. They're hunting knives like the 110 and 112 have been used by tradesmen as utility knives for many decades. They've made some super tough stockman like the 301 and they've branched out to modern tacticals, some multi-tool thingamabobs. But at the end of the day, Buck is about hunting knives.

IMO, this is a part of the Buck 110's status as an icon.

The others, while they may make some lockers, are primarily traditional slip joint makers. IMO, that's a different gig. It's all good, mind you, all of it. .
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I have a variety of styles in my small collection. My only 110 is from their shop and very personalized. I have several fixed blade and folders including the new collabs with Top's and Hood. BTW, the Hoodlum and Punk are really nice blades as are the CSAR folders and fixed. I have always bought what ever caught my eye. For instance for my BD coming up I got a Case Bowie, Puma Bowie, Case Tiny Hunter and a Morris mini neck knife made from file. I also have SAK's, BM, Spydercos, BK&T, Kershaws and .........

It seems as of late I am leaning more towards traditional folders and Spydercos.

jwh
 
black mamba said:
I agree with johnny. GEC is overall tops today. 2Dead is also right about GEC stag, it's awesome for factory stuff.

I think TomTerrific's sample of so few GECs is the reason he is not as "up" on them.

Thanks for your thoughts here.

jwh
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