Case/Bose or not?

Oops, the sowbelly is listed as a 2001 collaboration knife (in addition to the Yukon) in the link that RandyW posted.

This link, http://www.mchenryknives.com/collection/index.html, doesn't give the sowbelly as a collaboration knife.

Based on what Tony said, the sowbelly is not the same animal as the collaboration knives. Looks like I'm not the first one to get confused on this.
 
dkronholm,

I would be the first to tell you "Not" to buy any knives, sight unseen, but their is always an execption. If you have the chance to buy one of the Tony Bose Collaboratives, do it. You can't go wrong. I have 4, (wish that I had all of them), which are the muskrat, dogleg jack, cotton sampler and lockback whittler. These are among the best that Case has put out, if not the best. They are very well built, with the fit and finish being top notch, and Very Sharp!

Good Luck!

Kent
 
Welcome, Kent! Hope you enjoy the forum. (And thanks for backing us up on our assessment of the Case/Bose knives!)
 
Elliott,

Thanks for the Welcome! I have been on the sidelines lurking and reading for a bit. Am mainly on 2 of the Randall forums. Still am learning about slipjoints. It's like Randalls, it "just gets in your blood". Have a few O/O now with a couple of the "Best" makers around. Can't believe the High quality of photos that Kerry and others have posted. He needs to quit posting the photos, else I really will be poor the rest of my life! :)

Kent
 
Friends,

I don't want to beat a horse to death, since maybe this has all ready been covered, but have you noticed, (for those of you that have a Tony Bose Lockback Whittler), how wide the tang is, and then it thins out right away? I think that the blade thickness starts out at either 3/8th or 1/4". I think that this is really cool, and the knife is screaming out "Look how I'm built, Use Me!) I'm just looking at my stag whittler, and think that it would be a shame to have it be a "Safe Queen", and not be used!

Just my 2 Cents.

Kent
 
Well, Kent, you may have just scored a point or two with the Ol' Dawg his own self by saying that but you'd better cover yourself by making sure to add not to carry that knife in a "purse" (as Tony likes to call 'em).
 
I really look forward to the collaboration knife every year and have one of each type except a muskrat. I just missed it. Without reserve they are the finest factory slipjoint going, maybe the finest ever. The dogleg jack is my favorite carry of all of them.
 
Gus, I love that dogleg jack as well but the one that secretly calls my name (as a carry knife) is that muskrat. That knife has amazing walk/talk, fit and finish and two really useful blades in a compact package. Everything about it (including half stops that stop on a dime) screams quality. That said, I'd not trade any of the four I'm fortunate enough to own.
 
A Purse.. Don't ladies carry a Purse??? Now..How many folks toes did I step On? Sorry if I did! :)

Kent
 
Well, I'll just jump in!!! My two favorites of the 4 that I have, are also the muskrat, (great blades) and the Whittler! Built like a brick outhouse! Boy do I like how sharp the blades are. I allready have had to reach for the "band-aid" box!

Kent
 
Thanks to a tip from Mister Blues, I have a hot lead on a slimline trapper and just may have one in a couple of weeks. I have Gus to thank for the other models I own. What a pair those two characters are.:D
 
Glad to hear that, Rob, and to have been of some help.

Gus also was responsible for getting me my first, the Millennium Trapper.
 
You guys have me all revved up now - I figure I can do one knife purchase above the $200 mark a year (maybe two if I'm good and deserve it, and she who must be obeyed also gets her special somethings too) . This year is a Ken Erickson - but I think a Case/Bose is next (as it stands now).

I've already ordered the Erickson - we probably most feel the joy is in the hunt, so I am primed to start hunting for a Bose.

Now here's another question or two for the real Bose guys out there:

1. Are the Case/Bose collaborations based on patterns that Tony also sells as custom (I assume yes, but I want to make sure).

2. If the answer to 1. is yes, then does anyone have the same pattern in a Bose custom and a Case/Bose so they can give the lowdown on similiarities and differences?

I know that the price is way different (I've seen what Reese's and Tony's both go for), and of course quantity is way different. I don't expect them to be necessarily very similar. But, this is part of the fun to me to learn more about knives. I think it would be a big lesson (maybe to others as well) in knifemaking for someone to point out the subtle or not so subtle similarities and differences.

I have no doubt that a Bose is worth every penny, and I guess I am just asking what those extra pennies go towards, since I don't really know. I'm not looking to critique, just learn what makes a Bose custom different from anything else. Yeah, yeah, you can only learn by handling, but if you can't handle them then that doesn't mean you can't try to learn a little something in the meantime.


If one could argue that a Bose is at the pinnacle (maybe with a few others) of slipjoint making today, then analyzing the two side by side would be a study on what the state of the art is in slipjoint art and function.

Anybody follow my reasoning here and care to share with those less fortunate?
 
Those are excellent questions dkronholm..I am interested to read the replys..I own several Case/Bose collaborations and the quality is out of this world and compared to the customs I have owned (Bill Ruple) they are knocking on the door in quality but still not quite in the same class in my opinion..But very, very close..:)

Sunburst

CaseBoseWharncliffSlimlineTrapper.jpg


CaseBosePruner.jpg


The muskrat still evades me though :rolleyes: ...I need to work harder on that one..
 
Most of the patterns (I don't remember seeing the slimline) are in the Bose catalog as I recall. For sure the lockback whittler (pix of the custom knife are on this forum and are incredible), millennium trapper, dogleg jack and muskrat are in the catalog.

Others will be able to fill in the answers more completely for you.
 
I also have an Erickson on order , my first custom slippie.

This 2000 Case/Bose just amazes me at the fit & finish of it. It screams quality.

Case%20Bose.jpg
 
The catalog below was (I believe) created by JpN who is a member of this and another forum where it was originally posted. I'm sure John would have no issue with me providing it to the members here.

Enjoy!
 

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Listen now, I'm started to get worried by the time we finish this thread Case/Boses will have doubled in price. :)

Good for the haves, not so good for the have-nots!

You know I'm just kidding, thanks for the info, and keep it coming if you please.

Sunburst, magnificent pic! I never appreciated the beauty of those swedges until now...
 
P.S. Based on those swedges, the guys in the Case proto shop obviously have some serious skills.
 
I'm sorry but to make comments about my Case/Bose swedges is going to cost you $20..:eek: :rolleyes: :p Price may be $30 ten minutes from now..

Thank you and I agree a 100% on the skill involved..
 
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