Buck vs Case vs GEC vs Canal Street Cutlery

I cannot add much to Pinnahs well written Buck words. My turn on your original posting is that both GEC and CSC make some good well finished knives and some limited run really 'fancy' knives. Fancy in the craftsmanship way. Lately Buck is seldom making fancy knives. As a Buck slipjoint collector I would say I collect mainly RARE Buck slipjoints. One reason they are rare is because they were used by the owners as working knives. And even the revered 110 can be 'used' up as were lots of the models I seek. GEC and CSC have RARE knives because not only are they used (many very carefully) by their owners but lots of the models are issued in very low numbers, compared say to the Buck 301 stockman which is issued yearly in the tens of thousands. I am many times envious of the GEC and CSC (and others) shown on this forum but the die is cast and my motor gets running when I see one of the old two rivet Schrade contract Buck stockman....go figure.... 300Bucks
 
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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jwh -- Gary has hit the nail on the head. The popcorn has to do with sitting back and watching the fur fly so to speak. I assure you that nothing personal is meant or implied. Just this AM there has been another comparison thread (Buck vs. Case) so that initiated my "Really" "Again" reply to your question. Sorry if I offended you -- not my intent.

All the knives you asked about are good knives and the knives that come out of the GEC, Case, Buck, Canal Street, Bear & Sons, Boker, and other factories are good working, solid knives. If you want perfect fit and finish knives, you most likely need to go to custom knives but I gotta say I have seen some customs that weren't all that well fitted or finished.

On average, GEC is putting out the best factory knives today (my .02¢) but I'll tell ya I just got a Case Equestrian that'll put any GEC knife to shame. I really can't speak to Canal Street knives as I don't own any.
 
Well I don't have of bunch of each, but I do have a few of each. When it comes to quality I can't tell them apart. Both are very nice knives, wonderfully made and lots of fun to carry. I think I would pick our a pattern I really liked, buy it, stick it in my pocket and carry it. Good Luck and I hope you enjoy your new knife. By the way let us know which one you picked.
 
Couple of bad experiences here with CSC. GEC's are like ranch flavored potato chips.
 
CSC and GEC are both good brands. I also wouldn't leave out Queen/Schatt&Morgan, especially if the knives are collector pieces. In my opinion, they have some of the best looking handle materials and lots of interesting old timey patterns.
 
I don't buy into the comments that Bucks aren't collectible. What makes Case collectible? Just the fact that they make dozens of different scales? That they put certain designs that aren't selling in high numbers in "The Vault?" or maybe that every Case knife spends at least 15 minutes at the buffing wheel?

That's not enough, if basic build quality is absent. I think they should be bought with the understanding that there is a 50% chance of a notable flaw. Keep $5.20 aside for return shipping.

I would collect Bucks, and maybe feel good that I would be collecting different designs, and not just differentscale patterns.

I bought a GEC because of how highly they are regarded here. The build quality is great, not just a matter of polish. The only real critique I have is that if I let the blade snap closed, the edge gets a ding from the liner around the pivot pin. I see this as a design flaw. Just too wide of a blade. It is certainly a higher level of fit than Case, equal to Buck, but with a Case level of finish.

I have no experience with the other brand you mentioned.

Queen is often mentioned here, but they cannot seem to get their grinds done evenly. This is something that Chinese made $5 struggle with, but is totally unacceptable in a knife at these price points. Somehow, Victorinox can get it right EVERY TIME, for as little as $10 per knife. Others should jolly well be able to match that for four times the cost. ;)
 
300Bucks said:
I cannot add much to Pinnahs well written Buck words. My turn on your original posting is that both GEC and CSC make some good well finished knives and some limited run really 'fancy' knives.
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This is when one would like to be somewhat close to a large city where some of these could be handled. Thanks for your input.

jwh
 
Modoc ED said:
jwh
On average, GEC is putting out the best factory knives today (my .02¢) but I'll tell ya I just got a Case Equestrian that'll put any GEC knife to shame. I really can't speak to Canal Street knives as I don't own any.
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No problems here, no offense taken. Thanks for your input on the GEC and Case knives.

jwh
 
abcdef said:
Couple of bad experiences here with CSC. GEC's are like ranch flavored potato chips.
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That's helpful info on the CSC..

Do you mean nobady can have just one or do you mean a good product that is overdressed?

jwh
 
jwh said:
This is when one would like to be somewhat close to a large city where some of these could be handled.
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Absolutely! There really is no substitute. I can read dimensions and write or create measurements in front of me all day, but there is nothing like having an actual knife, or hopefully, knives, in hand . I am fortunate enough to have a local store that carries the brands in question, and many more-- at a price, literally (full retail). I give them my business as much as possible, due to the above: their selection helps me make solid, head-to-head (and hand-to-hand) decisions about the exact knife/knives I can bring home with me.

That said, they did not have the specific Case knives that interested me, so I ordered them elsewhere on others' recommendations. All have met or exceeded my expectations. I have no experience with Buck knives, but the few GECs I've seen in person have left me surprisingly cold. I had no idea they were so Round-- like little hot dogs. Okay, not that bad, but also not appealing to me. Perhaps I have not yet seen The One for me, but for now I will continue to appreciate them from afar.

~ P.
 
Modoc ED said:
Really? Again? This calls for more:

deereatingpopcorn.gif
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Mind if I join ya?

Chewingtogether.gif
 
Smaug said:
I don't buy into the comments that Bucks aren't collectible.
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Smaug, perhaps it would have been better for me to say that I think there are 2 kinds of Buck collectors.

I would put 300Bucks and myself in the first camp and this group is primarily interested in collecting hardworking utility knives. My interest in old Ulsters, old US-made Schrade Old Timers, Opinels and Buck lock-backs is similar to 300Bucks' interest in Bucks in general and rare Buck slipjoints in particular. The BF Buck forum has a bunch of folks in this category and, at the risk of putting words in the mouths of others, I think collectors of this sort are more interested in the history of the company, the history of the patterns, and most specifically the history of the patterns as a working knife. As a group, they are more accepting of production level materials like Buck's (very fine) 420HC and ebony scales or saw cut derlin and less interested in exotic materials. As a group, they are very forgiving about issues of "fit and finish" and more interested in functionality. Less interested in perfectly flush scales but more interested in tight lock up of the blade, for instance.

The second set of Buck collectors is more akin to the traditional Case or GEC collector. They are more interested in limited edition Bucks or customized Bucks. They are more interested in exotic materials like Damascus steels, super steels and antler scales. They are much more interested "fit and finish" as a group.

One difference I see between Buck and the others discussed in this thread is that production Bucks are rarely "collectible" in the sense of being limited edition or made for collectors in the same way that Case and GEC knives are.

I should really emphasize that in collecting, there is no right or wrong, only that which makes somebody happy. I *love* and totally respect how JohnnyTwoshoes uses the knives in his GEC collection. Not only are they stunning to look at, they obviously take the beating that Johnny puts on them in the field. I think his shots of his working GECs are more interesting than any perfect safe queen, but my bias is showing through here. If people are gratified having beautiful and unused knives, they should do that and be as happy as anybody about that.

In any event, here is my very modest pile of Bucks. Fit, finish and collectibility just don't apply to this pile. The top 3 are nice enough for my blue collar tastes but as soon as discussions of fit and finish come up, I think knives like this are out of the discussion. They do something different than that.


Buck Folders by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
Here's my short take on the situation. I would buy a Canal Street knife if I could handle and inspect it in person first. I wouldn't do so sight unseen over the internet. With GEC I have no hesitation ordering online, I know what I'm gonna get :)

Nathan

ETA: Forgot about Case and Buck. Case overall I've had a good experience with. The make TONS of knives, and there will always be some that slip through QC. Certain patterns like the Swayback Jack I've found to have a consistently higher level of fit and finish than some other patterns, but thay may just be me.

I really don't have any experience with Buck slipjoints so I can't say!
 
pertinux said:
Absolutely!
That said, they did not have the specific Case knives that interested me, so I ordered them elsewhere on others' recommendations. All have met or exceeded my expectations.
, but the few GECs I've seen in person have left me surprisingly cold. I had no idea they were so Round-- like little hot dogs. Okay, not that bad, but also not appealing to me. Perhaps I have not yet seen The One for me, but for now I will continue to appreciate them from afar.P.
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I have never received a Case that needed to be returned. Thanks for the feedback on the GEC.

jwh
 
I like Barlow pattern so I order each from GEC and Case. Both are 2008 knives. Both are stiff opening knives. With help from friends here, I can manage Case to acceptable level and now it is in my pocket. While I cannont open the open the pen blade of my GEC#25 at all. That's make me hesitate to get more GEC even I like their Barlow design very much.

Also have a 2009 CSC Trapper and Case Peanut and they are fine. Nice bone handles and easy to open.

That's my limited experience on traditional knives.
 
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