- Joined
- Sep 12, 2002
- Messages
- 365
Recently, I got one of the Case/Bose Tribal Spears. I had the camera out today and got a few photos. It's really a nice one, probably the nicest production knife I've seen. And, it rivals some of the customs I've seen.
Nice antique bone, great steel, decent swedge, fluted bolsters - what's not to like?
Now, the big question - is it worth the cost? Or, how does it compare to the real deal T Bose Zulu Spear?
Well, they all have fluted bolsters and a bullock shield. The shield on the customs are fully inlet, while the production version seems to sit on top of the bone.
Same steel, but the swedge in the custom is more pronounced. (Ok, there may be a subtle difference between the CPM154 and the 154-CM, but it's pretty close to the same) The swedge on the one with the long pull is just incredible! I would go for the long pull any day! The customs are sharper, but that's easily fixed.
All have a half stop. The custom ones are dead flush in all three positions. With the Case, the spring is just a tiny bit proud in the half stop position. Probably not enough to measure, but it can be felt with a fingernail. No blade play in any of them.
The blade profile is just a bit different - the Case seems a bit more blunt at the tip. And the handles are finished better on the customs - edges are radiused more and very smooth, the Case has more squared edges and doesn't feel as nice in the hand.
So, I would say the collaboration piece is certainly worth the cost. It's probably 80 - 90% the knife a custom is at 1/3 to 1/10 the cost! That's a bargain in anyone's book! Get one while you can - there are only 1000 to go around!
Nice antique bone, great steel, decent swedge, fluted bolsters - what's not to like?
Now, the big question - is it worth the cost? Or, how does it compare to the real deal T Bose Zulu Spear?
Well, they all have fluted bolsters and a bullock shield. The shield on the customs are fully inlet, while the production version seems to sit on top of the bone.
Same steel, but the swedge in the custom is more pronounced. (Ok, there may be a subtle difference between the CPM154 and the 154-CM, but it's pretty close to the same) The swedge on the one with the long pull is just incredible! I would go for the long pull any day! The customs are sharper, but that's easily fixed.
All have a half stop. The custom ones are dead flush in all three positions. With the Case, the spring is just a tiny bit proud in the half stop position. Probably not enough to measure, but it can be felt with a fingernail. No blade play in any of them.
The blade profile is just a bit different - the Case seems a bit more blunt at the tip. And the handles are finished better on the customs - edges are radiused more and very smooth, the Case has more squared edges and doesn't feel as nice in the hand.
So, I would say the collaboration piece is certainly worth the cost. It's probably 80 - 90% the knife a custom is at 1/3 to 1/10 the cost! That's a bargain in anyone's book! Get one while you can - there are only 1000 to go around!
