Case Bose 2016 annual knife?

[Tdhurl1103]

I'm not sure I understand the significance of this collab and why it's so awesome. I've only seen a pic of the coffin jack, which I'm not jumping up and down about. Can someone please educate me on these? Perhaps, my apathy is because I don't know who Tony Bose is.

 

[Joe58]

Tony is one of the best custom traditional knife makers out there and his wares tend to bring top dollar from collectors and users both.

Is work is emulated by many other makers and he's coached and assisted lots of other makers starting out. If you google his name you get a ton of info and pictures of his, and well is Reese's, work.

The collabs are seen as a way to get about as close to having a real Bose as you can get since Tony works closely with Case in the making of the knife. It also uses a higher end steel compared to the standard Case stainless. Their fit and finish is generally of a much higher level than the much lower priced standard issues.

It's a good way to get your toe in the water to see if you're interested in going custom, and if not, they sell pretty easily on the exchange. So you can get your investment back. Although, the price of these collabs has climbed with their popularity to the point they are at, or near, some other fine custom makers prices.

And I'm not sure how long the waiting list is for a knife from Tony, or if he's even taking orders at this point. I'm sure someone else would know better. And Tony is known to stop into the forums on occasion.

 

[Peregrin]

I'm not sure I understand the significance of this collab and why it's so awesome. I've only seen a pic of the coffin jack, which I'm not jumping up and down about. Can someone please educate me on these? Perhaps, my apathy is because I don't know who Tony Bose is.

Joe answered your question excellently, I'm just adding this link to Tony and Reese Bose's knives thread; http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/468281-Bose-Knives. Many of the images in the older posts don't show but there are many many images of some of the finest slip joint knives ever made. Buckle your seat belt!

 

[Tdhurl1103]

Tony is one of the best custom traditional knife makers out there and his wares tend to bring top dollar from collectors and users both.

Is work is emulated by many other makers and he's coached and assisted lots of other makers starting out. If you google his name you get a ton of info and pictures of his, and well is Reese's, work.

The collabs are seen as a way to get about as close to having a real Bose as you can get since Tony works closely with Case in the making of the knife. It also uses a higher end steel compared to the standard Case stainless. Their fit and finish is generally of a much higher level than the much lower priced standard issues.

It's a good way to get your toe in the water to see if you're interested in going custom, and if not, they sell pretty easily on the exchange. So you can get your investment back. Although, the price of these collabs has climbed with their popularity to the point they are at, or near, some other fine custom makers prices.

And I'm not sure how long the waiting list is for a knife from Tony, or if he's even taking orders at this point. I'm sure someone else would know better. And Tony is known to stop into the forums on occasion.

Joe answered your question excellently, I'm just adding this link to Tony and Reese Bose's knives thread; http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/468281-Bose-Knives. Many of the images in the older posts don't show but there are many many images of some of the finest slip joint knives ever made. Buckle your seat belt!

Thanks fellas. I'll give them a look see.

 

[SA Condor]

Well, I'm watching with interest! I looked up each of the previous year's knives and they are really nice. There were some that spoke to me, but the overall size was the biggest deterrent for me. I really hope to see a 3 ½" or smaller knife. The Coffin Jack fits the size, but the blade selection doesn't do it for me. Too bad it wasn't a Wharncliff and Clip!! One of these days I need to actually handle a Coffin Jack and maybe it would change my mind.

I love the locking Wharncliff from 2014, I wish it was ¼" or so shorter! That one really tempts me! I need to handle that one too.

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

The coffin jack is a smaller knife but it's not too small. Definitely bigger than a peanut, about the size of the GEC 15, maybe a little bigger.

I think a good comparison is a GEC 77. The Case/Bose Coffin Jack is very similar in profile and about 1/4" shorter.

For me, it is just about perfect. I could take something a little larger, but would not want something any smaller.

I'm not sure I understand the significance of this collab and why it's so awesome. I've only seen a pic of the coffin jack, which I'm not jumping up and down about. Can someone please educate me on these? Perhaps, my apathy is because I don't know who Tony Bose is.

As for the significance . . .

IMO, Tony Bose is the most important custom maker of traditional knives in the world. Period. And I would bet that the vast majority of custom makers of traditional knives would say the same. His full custom knives regularly sell for two or three thousand dollars for even two blade knives . . . more complex knives with more blades can sell for thousands more (when you can find them). That is the significance.

As for why these knives are so awesome . . .

The fit and finish on these knives are several levels above what you will generally find on factory knives by Case, GEC, Schatt & Morgan . . . In the half stop and fully open positions the springs are PERFECTLY flush. When open, the spine of the blade mates up PERFECTLY with the spring. Just the tiniest little line showing where one ends and the other begins. And the walk and talk . . . the feeling in your hand . . . there is a heck of a lot about a knife that one cannot tell from "a pic."

I own a fair number of full custom knives and these knives are better quality than quite a few of them. Yes, they are spendy if you are used to paying $75 for a knife. But you will see where that money went. Is it worth it? Only you can decide that. But not really from a picture.

 

[Tdhurl1103]

I think a good comparison is a GEC 77. The Case/Bose Coffin Jack is very similar in profile and about 1/4" shorter.

For me, it is just about perfect. I could take something a little larger, but would not want something any smaller.



As for the significance . . .

IMO, Tony Bose is the most important custom maker of traditional knives in the world. Period. And I would bet that the vast majority of custom makers of traditional knives would say the same. His full custom knives regularly sell for two or three thousand dollars for even two blade knives . . . more complex knives with more blades can sell for thousands more (when you can find them). That is the significance.

As for why these knives are so awesome . . .

The fit and finish on these knives are several levels above what you will generally find on factory knives by Case, GEC, Schatt & Morgan . . . In the half stop and fully open positions the springs are PERFECTLY flush. When open, the spine of the blade mates up PERFECTLY with the spring. Just the tiniest little line showing where one ends and the other begins. And the walk and talk . . . the feeling in your hand . . . there is a heck of a lot about a knife that one cannot tell from "a pic."

I own a fair number of full custom knives and these knives are better quality than quite a few of them. Yes, they are spendy if you are used to paying $75 for a knife. But you will see where that money went. Is it worth it? Only you can decide that. But not really from a picture.

Thanks for the info.

 

[brownshoe]

I agree with Virginian, the Case Bose collaboration knives are better quality than many customs selling at the same price or even higher. One of the things not discussed much on this forum is the low quality of some custom hand made traditional knives, but go to any knife show and you will see that many makers knives are different once in hand. Even makers who participate on this forum.

Of the Case Bose knives I have are two larger knives, Yukon Jack and AK Hunter, both in ebony and both have stood up to serious use in the kitchen, not just the bottom of a pocket or drawer Plus, if you have any problem with them, you are backed by a company warranty that has lasted for generations.

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

I agree with Virginian, the Case Bose collaboration knives are better quality than many customs selling at the same price or even higher. One of the things not discussed much on this forum is the low quality of some custom hand made traditional knives, but go to any knife show and you will see that many makers knives are different once in hand. Even makers who participate on this forum.

Of the Case Bose knives I have are two larger knives, Yukon Jack and AK Hunter, both in ebony and both have stood up to serious use in the kitchen, not just the bottom of a pocket or drawer Plus, if you have any problem with them, you are backed by a company warranty that has lasted for generations.

Here are some photos that I think help illustrate this.

First we have an end view of a fairly high end factory knife from a well known and respected manufacturer.

In the half stop position, the spine is not flush. I see this to a greater or lesser degree on pretty much all of the factory knives I see which have half stops. Even in the best cases where it might be difficult to see in a picture, your fingers can feel it when you slide them along the springs.

Next we have an end view of a Case Bose collaboration.

Perfectly flush in the half stop position. My fingers do not feel any protrusion.

Next we have a full custom knife by a very well known and respected maker who posts here at BF but shall rename nameless.

Once again, the spring is perfectly flush in the half-stop position.

But notice how the top area circled in red shows that the springs have different heights/widths than each other, AND for some reason the center spacer is abbreviated and does not extend to the end of the knife.

The problem can be more easily seen in this spine view of the same knife.

The end of this knife is, IMO, a mess. Nothing lines up. Nothing is even. And there is a small gap between the main blade and the bolster. And, again, this is a full custom knife from a well known maker who posts at BF and I would venture that most folks here know, and which sold for more than $1500!

For comparison, consider this same view of the Case Bose collaboration knife whose end view was shown above. Look at how clean and even it is. Far superior to the expensive custom knife.

Again, I do not believe that pictures can tell everything about a knife. But here, IMO they do tell something.

 

[RobertJ1]

Very good write up and examples The Virginian. Thank you for showing that for reference.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Oh The Virginian... You're making the wait for my cattle knife's arrival that much harder. Hehe

Can't wait to open that chestnut goodness.

 

[Railsplitter]

Oh The Virginian... You're making the wait for my cattle knife's arrival that much harder. Hehe

Can't wait to open that chestnut goodness.

And I can't wait to see your pics, Mike! :thumbup: I haven't seen the Chestnut version posted on the forum yet. It will be nice to see some homegrown pics.

 

[Jsega51]

If you've checked out the 2015 Case/Bose thread Mike, you'll really be antsy waiting for that cattle knife. We posted some pretty good pics in there! Looking forward to yours!

 

[The Burgh]

From Shot Show 2010:

 

[supratentorial]

I'm not sure I understand the significance of this collab and why it's so awesome. I've only seen a pic of the coffin jack, which I'm not jumping up and down about. Can someone please educate me on these? Perhaps, my apathy is because I don't know who Tony Bose is.

Some things that didn't get mentioned are....

The parts are edm wire cut, not punched out. Tony privides the templates from his own custom work and the precision of edm wire cutting allows for very precise replication of parts from his templates. Also each blade pivots on bushings which is something that I've never seen on any other production traditional knife. And the scales are even mill relieved.

You should be able to see some of this in the photos. It's not just any coffin jack.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

And I can't wait to see your pics, Mike! :thumbup: I haven't seen the Chestnut version posted on the forum yet. It will be nice to see some homegrown pics.

Will do

If you've checked out the 2015 Case/Bose thread Mike, you'll really be antsy waiting for that cattle knife. We posted some pretty good pics in there! Looking forward to yours!

I think that thread has most of the blame for me hitting the confirm order button

 

[Chief]

Perhaps, my apathy is because I don't know who Tony Bose is.

Tony Bose is the consensus preeminent slipjoint maker in the world. A Google search for "Tony Bose" returned 790K hits, a Google search for "Bob Loveless" returned 530K hits. Counting Case knives with TB (Tony Bose) in the serial number, safe to say Tony's name or initials are on more slipjoints than anyone else on earth. Hundreds of Blade Show enthusiasts enter their name for an opportunity to purchase one of his custom slip joints every year, lucky winners can immediately flip their good fortune for a sweet profit.

Because of the rarity / price of Tony's customs, the annual Case / Bose collaboration knife provides an excellent opportunity to purchase a Tony Bose design with a higher than normal fit, finish, and materials than normally available in a Case.

Standard Case production knives designed by Tony are also popular. I would like to see the swayback jack upgraded to an annual collaboration knife.

 

[Jsega51]

Oh no John! You can't compare Bose and Loveless. Especially with Google hits. After page 1 of search results for Bose, all you get basically is every site that sells Case products licensed with the Bose name. I agree that establishes high credential but it's Case...the largest Traditional knife manufacturer who puts out an extreme amount of products each year.

Tony Bose even says himself that he doesn't design knives. He recreates them. Loveless on the other hand literally created the all time most recongnized knife...the drop point! That single knife design has spurred millions of knives that are carried daily. That's a huge feat.

They are both icons and the top of the heap when it comes to knives but they can't be compared. They're two different men. Bose can make a perfect knife, Loveless created the perfect knife.

I will agree that you have an amazing collection!!

 

[Dadpool]

Here are some photos that I think help illustrate this.

This was awesome. Nicely laid-out, The Virginian!

 

[Ryouchijtx]

I'd love to see a Texas Jack or a Single blade Barlow from the Case/Bose collaboration.

I agree with Jake, comparing Bob Loveless and Tony Bose, both exceptional benchmarks of quality and makers is apples and oranges.