Case Brothers quality

ARtsig1

ARtsig1

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I picked up a Case Brothers series large Trapper and I'm very impressed with the quality of it. The fit and finish is above average for some of the regular run Case knives I've seen and handled. Everything fits flush together with nary a gap. The back springs are level with the liners and handles so everything is flat. The only fit and finish boo-boo I could find concerned the blade edge as it was not smooth and looked a little ragged, but fifty strokes on my sharpmaker took care of the edge as it really slices now. Upon closing both of the blades are centered within their respective grooves and the springs are really strong so that the "walk and talk" is clearly heard! For a $35.00 Case knife I am very impressed with what I got. Btw, the handle is Chestnut bone.

I buy from a local wholesale distributor, NKDI, so thats why I got it cheaper than you might find it elsewhere.

I'm posting two pics. One is the Trapper and the other is the large Gunstock pattern from the same series that I have been using for the past several months.
 
I got a Case Br. doctor's knife and my description would match yours word for word. The only "flaw" was the edge was a little rough, but it could be quickly polished up. Gave it to a teenaged knife nut and he's happy. Makes a nice present with the tin box. It was bought sight unseen, thus it was a random selection.
 
I'm thinking Case quality has improved leaps and bounds over the first few years of Zippo ownership. At that time I imagine there were a number of quite senior cutlers training some quite young cutlers. Between the two groups, theyprobably let some things slip through that neither group was proud of.

Everything I've purchased in the last year (half a dozen or so) have been great and I have bought them sight unseen. The Case Bros is a really attractive set of traditional patterns. I wish I could gut up to buy an olive bone Seahorse (ats34).
 
My Case seahorse whittler (Jade) that I bought sight unseen about 2 years ago seems great to me. Everything lines up, snaps open and shut loudly, and the much maligned "Tru-Surgical" steel seems good to me, too. Granted, I don't use it a lot every single day, so it probably doesn't hold an edge as long as a higher carbon content blade, but it works for me...whittling, whatever other daily needs come along. After an initial good sharpening on the Sharpmaker, all it takes now is a light touch up, and it's ready to go.
 
I'm with ya ebb. I find the tru-sharp satisfactory for most of my EDC uses. I do, however, sharpen it about once a month or so (very lightly on hard arkansas is all it takes). I can see the utility of something like D2 in that I can do things like pull staples and cut more cardboard than one should with a pocketknife and not have to touch the edge for several months. Which is a darn good thing, cuz that D2 is a biznitch to get an edge on.
 
Strolling through Outdoor World yesterday; I picked up a pair of yellow-handled trappers with CV steel, and it was due to the fine quality, balance in hand, and the CV steel.

I'd been avoiding Case for some time due to their quality issues from the last time I bought one of their knives (a few years back), so I wouldn't normally have looked at them. I really don't know why I looked at that particular display, but I'm glad I did. I always bought a small Case folder for my dad, while I was growing up; it saddened me when they let things slip. It's nice to see a fine old cutlery house come back.

I agree on the sharpening. I touched up the edge on my Sharpmaker, stopped on a piece of wood, and all is well.
 
berzerker said:
Strolling through Outdoor World yesterday; I picked up a pair of yellow-handled trappers with CV steel, and it was due to the fine quality, balance in hand, and the CV steel.

I'd been avoiding Case for some time due to their quality issues from the last time I bought one of their knives (a few years back), so I wouldn't normally have looked at them. I really don't know why I looked at that particular display, but I'm glad I did. I always bought a small Case folder for my dad, while I was growing up; it saddened me when they let things slip. It's nice to see a fine old cutlery house come back.

I agree on the sharpening. I touched up the edge on my Sharpmaker, stopped on a piece of wood, and all is well.
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What and where is Outdoor World? I live in MA and am not familiar with them.
 
Thanks

Just curious since (other than Lowes) there are virtually no Case dealers in MA or the rest of NE.

BTW, have you ever been to a Northeat Cutlery Collectors knife show? East Windsor CT and MArlboro MA, annual show in Stamford CT.

www.ncca.info
 
Hi Knifeaholic:

The new "On the Edge Cutlery" store in Fanueil Hall marketplace should be carrying Case (their store in Providence has a selection). They open April 2nd.

I have never been to one of the shows. I always hear about the Marlborough show after the fact. Thanks to your link, that won't happen again.

Best regards.
 
ACE hardware has Case knives. They are just about everywhere.
 
I had bought a Case mini Copperlock with amber scales, decided I didn't want it and sold it. Then, I got a mid folding hunter with amber scales, which I still don't know if I'm keeping, and decided that I like the Copperlock better, so I just got that one on Friday. Haven't used it yet, but I was looking at it all day Friday. Great knife. I plan on getting a Ruger stockman from Case.
 
Cases only flaw is the final edge. They don't take the wire edge off before packaging up the knife to ship it out. It really isn't a flaw because from their philosophy after using the knife a few times to cut with it the wire is removed anyways and they are right. Most people look down on the edge though and see reflections and think it is not sharp.

I guess you could say the stainless blade steel they use is not the best too. Frankly if they insist on using stainless I'd like to see them go to a 440C or better in the stainless they use but they are already pricey enough now. If I had my ruthers I'd prefer they just make every knife in their line out CV steel. That would certainly cause me to buy more of them right there.
 
STR said:
Cases only flaw is the final edge. They don't take the wire edge off before packaging up the knife to ship it out. It really isn't a flaw because from their philosophy after using the knife a few times to cut with it the wire is removed anyways and they are right. Most people look down on the edge though and see reflections and think it is not sharp.

I guess you could say the stainless blade steel they use is not the best too. Frankly if they insist on using stainless I'd like to see them go to a 440C or better in the stainless they use but they are already pricey enough now. If I had my ruthers I'd prefer they just make every knife in their line out CV steel. That would certainly cause me to buy more of them right there.
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Every case I have (And they are all recent models) fit and finish is beautiful. The only gripe is the steel. I wish there were more scale choices in CV. The tru-sharp is okay if you don't mind touching it up often, but it also has no character like nice CV.
 
Picked up my 3rd Case Brothers knife. I got the chestnut, like the other two, and the Seahorse Whittler pattern. All three have the stainless steel that Case uses and all three will sharpen up to hair popping sharpness. As I tend to use these knives day in and day out I've found that the edge maintains the sharpness I need for the chores I'm doing.
 
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