Case Bose or custom

Pogonasong

Pogonasong

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Feb 27, 2018
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Hello everyone.. I have a few questions regarding the collab knives that I've been unable to find information on while searching on here and anywhere else I could find info.

I've grown completely cold with modern tactical knives and have been gravitating towards traditionals. I'm going to sell a couple knives and purchase my first custom or high end production traditional (the bose collabs)...I love gec and am going to continue to collect them but am interested in the next level of quality.

Ive been looking mostly at the coffin jack or wharnie trapper and am wondering if any of these are pinchable for opening? I bought a MOP blackbox winchester coffin that broke both my thumbnails back to where i could hardly open it at all..(wanted to see if I'd enjoy the pattern) ... Assuming the swedge on the bose would require using the nick.

The other route I was considering would be going full custom..looking at ta davison's work. From what I've read buying his knives would be the safest bet for quality where the collabs are hit or miss.. Yet case has your back if you get a lemon..

This is kind of a rambling post I'm just hoping for fresh input on whether you think the bose collabs are worthwhile with GEC being as good as they are ..are either of those patterns pinchable..does one pattern tend to have less qc issues than the other? Or should I just buy one of Todd's knives as many deem the collabs overpriced for what you get in return. Also do any of you guys have thumbnails? Maybe I need a vitamin or something hahaha

Appreciate any input!
 
I've had a half dozen of the Case/Bose collaborations and haven't been unhappy with any. I can't speak for the Coffin Jack but the Wharncliffe Trapper is not pinchable, at least to me. It's a 6-7? on pull. Very well made knife, as are all those I own. Here's 4 that get stored in the same box.
You also would never regret getting one of Todd's knives.
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I don't have any Case/Bose collabs, though I have had my eye on the few. Just haven't pulled the trigger.

Is there a reason why you are looking solely at Davison's work? There are a few other makers out there. One to take a look at is Hiroaki Ohta. His 112 pattern may be just up your alley. I have one, and it's easily pinchable. Of course that may be entirely dependent on your hand and finger strength.

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The Coffin Jack is not easily pinchable. Personally I can do it but if your not good at it or have large dried out fingers then no way. That said and I have stated this many times the multi-blade Case Bose collabs are the single best value in traditionals by far. NOBODY, custom or production makes a multi-blade traditional knife the way a Case Bose collab is made and with those materials and level of fit and finish for under $800. Nobody! I've owned the WT, coffin, dog leg, cattle knife, eureka and the lannys. The Ebony Cattle Knife is by far my favorite and a must own IMO. The Eureka I think is also very underrated. I have one getting a recover from a knife modder just because I got it cheap and I hate bone covers for EDC. I'm still chasing a Norfolk. One popped up in the sale section the other day but my knife funds are dry for the moment. The guy I purchased my eureka from had a Dog Leg for sale in the sale section for an amazing price. It's a beefy knife but not overly so and a great EDC size. The main blade on that one is a little more easily pinchable as well. Oh, one other great thing about Case Bose is the warranty! In your research you'll read that people have been unhappy for various f&f issues. Well I'm here to tell you that if you send your knife to Case Bose and point out an f&f issue they will fix it no question asked. I'm just saying don't let it discourage you. Sometimes you can pick one up secondary for an amazing price. Send it in for a spa treatment and be blown away by what you'll receive back. Just sayin'! ;)

Here is a link to a great thread: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/case-tony-bose-collabs-pic-and-discussion-thread.1557814/

And my pictorial contribution! Love this knife! And yes.....it gets used. :D
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I've never owned one of Todd's knives but based on what I've seen, you should be happy with one of those as long as you only want a single blade knife. I'm sure Todd would make a multi blade for you but it might drive up the cost quite a bit.

I haven't owned either of the Case/Bose knives that you're looking at either but I have owned six Norfolks, two Cattle Knives, and a Lockback Whittler. The Lockback Whittler's main blade was pinchable but none of the others had pinchable blades. The Norfolk's main blade might be pinchable by some folks but I can't do it myself.

I've had excellent luck with all of my examples. They were all exceptional and well worth the cost in my opinion. Aside from being very well made, they are a piece of Tony Bose for a fraction of the cost. I highly recommend them.
 
kamagong said:
I don't have any Case/Bose collabs, though I have had my eye on the few. Just haven't pulled the trigger.

Is there a reason why you are looking solely at Davison's work? There are a few other makers out there. One to take a look at is Hiroaki Ohta. His 112 pattern may be just up your alley. I have one, and it's easily pinchable. Of course that may be entirely dependent on your hand and finger strength.

12680698513_f55971c965_c.jpg
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Really mostly because I can purchase one tomorrow /I have the patience of a 10 year old ...I am familiar with Ohta's work but never see stag pop up- mostly his shadow lscf patterns and a the friction folders which I'm sure are great in their own right. I could see myself purchasing the real deal someday for Bose but right now I make 16 an hour and have to carefully budget for knives over 200 bucks.


All of you have posted great photos and shed further light onto my first world problem which I really appreciate haha. The cattle knife catches my eye too.
 
I am not knocking any makers mentioned, but I have found for me that TimBritton and Bobby Toole make fantastic knives at the price point you mentioned. Happy hunting, looking forward to seeing what you wind up with
 
Why this zeal for pinching the blade may I ask? Maybe you haven't really left Moderns behind?;):D

Actually, I prefer the GEC version of the Eureka, bigger blades and handle. Most Collabs are unlikely to be pinchable but if you are set on one of the two patterns you mention, then pursue it. Think also about some of the single blade Collabs, they might be of interest to you.

The word Custom can be misleading, there's customs and customs;) Not all are stellar and there's also an interesting variance in styles. The big advantage with Custom makers is that you can consult with the maker and get more of what you want-within reason. This hold true notably for blade style, steel scales etc so that you can see your knife take shape, a fine experience. If you can get a Todd D knife that YOU like then that looks a very good avenue to take.

Do you bite your nails...?;) Or have to keep your hands wet for long periods? This can impact on nail strength, but you soon build them up in the Traditional Gym (just try an early GEC 23 :eek::D)

Thanks, Will
 
Will Power said:
Why this zeal for pinching the blade may I ask? Maybe you haven't really left Moderns behind?;):D

Actually, I prefer the GEC version of the Eureka, bigger blades and handle. Most Collabs are unlikely to be pinchable but if you are set on one of the two patterns you mention, then pursue it. Think also about some of the single blade Collabs, they might be of interest to you.

The word Custom can be misleading, there's customs and customs;) Not all are stellar and there's also an interesting variance in styles. The big advantage with Custom makers is that you can consult with the maker and get more of what you want-within reason. This hold true notably for blade style, steel scales etc so that you can see your knife take shape, a fine experience. If you can get a Todd D knife that YOU like then that looks a very good avenue to take.

Do you bite your nails...?;) Or have to keep your hands wet for long periods? This can impact on nail strength, but you soon build them up in the Traditional Gym (just try an early GEC 23 :eek::D)

Thanks, Will
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Hahaha I am bored with titanium framelocks but no to both accounts I'm ashamed how brittle they are... My 56 has broken them a couple times and so has that winchester.. I just find it nice to have the option to pinch because I keep snapping em and have to use an index finger to open...honestly I thought those pop top tools gec has were ridiculous the first time I saw them now I guess I kinda get it.
 
Pogonasong said:
Hahaha I am bored with titanium framelocks but no to both accounts I'm ashamed how brittle they are... My 56 has broken them a couple times and so has that winchester.. I just find it nice to have the option to pinch because I keep snapping em and have to use an index finger to open...honestly I thought those pop top tools gec has were ridiculous the first time I saw them now I guess I kinda get it.
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No shame in preferring a pinchable blade a vast majority of us do. No one likes a nail breaker.
 
If you want multi blade I say you get a Case Bose if you want a single blade I’d get a custom. The warnie trapper is amazing I love mine it’s every bit of a custom in quality. Blades are perfectly centered, backsprings are perfect, pivots are tight, blades have a wonderful thin grind, the pulls are excellent and smooth. Only 3.5” closed I think but it feels substantial

Also love that it looks exactly like Tony’s custom.
 
Pogonasong Pogonasong

If you want something that can be pinched open you will need to look at single blades, like the Case Tribal. I prefer a blade that can be pinched open as well. It has to sit a bit above the frame, like a wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, or spear. Here's another by Reese that is pretty easy to open. He makes them to suit the customer.

 
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For a pinch open you’ve got to consider a single blade. My Case/Bose Tribal Spear is pinchable and has become my favorite tradition, everything about it just feels right!
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At the Arkansas Knife show I did see a few customs that had three small pins through the blade near the spine that worked SO well with a pinch open. It was the first time seeing this and was quite blown away by the ingenuity. I’ll try to dig up a picture.


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Not sure how proprietary the pins are but as noted the maker is Scott Gallagher and a stunning pic as always by Coop
 
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