Case Compared To GEC..Quality Close?

I think over the last 10 years, I've been impressed by one recent Case knife. Now that being said, I'm sure there are many more but if you just randomly look at them, they're not very consistent with their quality. I think some of their recent Sowbellies and the Russlock have been real winners for them.
 
GEC has much better fit and finish in my opinion. Case is rather inconsistent with their quality control.
James.
 
In my opinion, the Tony Bose annuals are better than the average GEC. But once they start mass production they lose the edge. Of course the limited knives cost 3-4 times the average GEC price too, and at that point customs enter the market.

To me Case makes more knives with more variety at a lower price point than GEC. GEC makes more interesting knives with an eye for exclusivity.
 
GEC has been very consistent in their F&F, and QC...Case has the potential to be on equal footing, but for whatever reasons, has chosen to spend more time and money dealing with warranty issues rather than getting it right the first time.
 
I would agree, eisman! And I will add that, at least for my taste, I would still rather have a GEC than even a Case Tony Bose, the designs are just too stock and plain for my tastes.
 
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Hey honestly, Case has changed hands so many times over the last several decades that I'm not sure they even know who they used to be. GEC is still hungry and frankly, with a guy like Bill Howard at the helm, I personally think, even though we have seen some amazing knives in the last several years, GEC's best are still coming! Why, because they aren't satisfied with just ok.
 
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As with any product, there will always be great ones and not so great ones. Laws of averages dictate that some will buy maybe one knife and possibly have a bad experience with it. That person might then have a less than pleasant opinion on that brand (of cars, motorcycles, restaurant, knives... whatever).

The only way you will truly know, is to buy one. I am pretty certain that you will like it. I bought one... and then several more. GEC knives are better (in my opinion) than Case. Does that mean that I do not like Case? Heck no, I love 'em! I have a couple Case knives on order right now. I also have a couple GEC on order, and other different brands as well.

I buy Case for what they are. I buy GEC for what they are.
 
I do like Case as well and have several from the last few years, including a sowbelly and a couple trappers. They are good knives but the consistency is just spotty at best.
 
Since Zippo got involved I think Case quality has improved steadily. Are they on par with GEC quality and price point? Not unless you're buying a Bose knife. I think Eisman hit the nail on the head with his comments above. To me both companies are great and tend to market to somewhat different audiences. Honestly, I collect and carry both!
 
I will say this, my favorite Case knife ever made is still the BIG Torpedo or 99 pattern Jumbo Jacks.
 
MercyfulfateXX said:
I totally agree with jackknife

when you find the right Case knife its Heavenly!
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Exactly. A good Case knife is excellent. But GEC's fit n finish is quite often a cut or two above Case's average knife. The Northfield line of GEC's are outstanding in their fit and finish.
 
GEC is a little more consistent, but they aren't perfect. Case is a little less expensive. GEC is really just kind of fun with variety of patterns and configurations in a single year. I like both for different reasons.

Never had one, but thinking about it? Get one, they make a great knife.
 
No they aren't, you're right there. I have had a few issues with GEC since 2006 but only a few and they fixed them both. Obviously if I want perfect I buy customs.
 
meako said:
Interesting ,SirJames.
You have now made me wonder how do Case do it ? When I look at the price of a Case knife I often wonder how they can pump them out so cheaply. I bought 2 case chestnut CV knives for Xmas presents just recently. Sowbelly and a Jr soddie. These combined cost me less than most GECs I own inc postage which almost equals the price of another knife.
Both are excellent knives though.
My question is How do they do it?
and are they doing what so many German cutlery firms are now doing-and , blatantly, not telling the whole story about how and where their knives are made? Let's hope not.
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I agree with Meako.

It's price point and what can be delivered at the price. GEC has extremely high fit and finish, just shy of a custom... and you pay for that. IIRC GEC makes something like 50 knives a week.

Case likely pumps out that many in half an hour and sells them at half the price of a GEC. There is a lesser degree of fit and finish than the GEC, but Case fit and finish is better than that of the knives I grew up using.

Whether GEC is worth the extra cost is a matter of personal preference.

Personally, at the moment I have a 2014 Case knife in my pocket, which cost my about half what a similar GEC knife would cost. And I don't consider myself under-knifed.
 
And you're certainly not, Frank. My Case sowbelly is very well made as I'm sure yours is. I know if we ever see GEC starting to crank out more knives per week, their quality would also decrease. It's a numbers/volume game in the end.
Perry
 
GEC makes great $80 to $120 knives. Case makes great $20 to $45 knives. Buck makes exceptional and functional (if not pretty) $25 - $30 knives (30x series). Queen and Canal street also provide good value for their price points.

You get what you pay for. All of them are worth their cost in my opinion. But just don't expect your $35 Case to be as nice as your $95 GEC.
 
jackknife said:
My definitive answer is, maybe.

I think GEC has consistently better fit and finish. Read that consistently.

But, when Case gets it right, they really do get it right. I think Case is a little more hit and miss than GEC. But from what I've seen of some of the chestnut models and swaybacks, the knives are flat out gorgeous, with no issues at all. I think if you go to a brick and mortar store and hand pick your Case, you can get a knife as nice as a GEC for way less cost. But you're gonna have to pick it out of the herd.
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Well put
 
I bought 2 Case's last year, a 63032 and a pocket worn 6318. The walk and talk and finish on the 6318 is smooth as glass. What I don't like about it is the pocket worn series are heavily buffed. The middle liner is concave and below the springs from the buffing wheel taking the softer brass down more. I also touched up the swedges and put a satin finish on the stainless because they tumble their blades. The 63032 went back to them because the sheepsfoot was warped and the pen blade was catching in the sheepsfoot nail nick. When I got it back, all blades were perfect, but the pin, or nail in the pen side sits proud of the bolsters on each side like they forgot to peen it or finish it. With that said, the overall appearance and design of Case is as classic as traditionals get. I have carried a 63032 for many years and I've always thought it to be the perfect size for carry. I own 2 GEC's now. A 56 in ebony which is perfect fit & finish. I did send it back because the walk and talk wasn't smooth as I like and I thought it might affect the pivot at some point in time. They fixed it up right. The other is an 81 Abilene stockman. The f/f on this one was near perfect. I just recently stoned a slight chamfer on the liners at the pivots because they were very sharp. This actually made the walk and talk smoother. I don't mind touching up a knife to improve it. I prefer this over an overly buffed knife. It's like buying an antique knife to find out whoever "cleaned it up" took a buffing wheel to it.
The Abilene is at 4 inches, and I as worried about pocket carry, but it's very comfortable to carry. There is no significant difference in the way they carry. I also like the larger blade on the Abilene. I had to use it to cut up veggies, and the larger blade is better for tasks like that. There is more maintainence as far as keeping the blades clean on the GEC because of the 1095. I like the CV on Case knives as well as their deep hollow grind. Price points said, you can't beat the price of a Case for general use and abuse. As far as the # 81 Abilene goes, I think I have found my grail knife.
 
This is like comparing Apples and Oranges. The two Makers use totally different productions techniques. Case are mass produced on mostly automated machinery in an "Assembly Line" format. GEC are assembled and finished by hand by professional Cutlers. The two Companies also use totally different materials. Case uses mostly 420C Stainless Steel and some CV, which I think is basically 1095 with added Chromium. I'm sure I'll hear about it if I'm wrong on this. GEC uses, almost exclusively, 1095 Carbon Steel sourced in the USA. Case uses Cattle Bone that is sourced Internationally. GEC uses North American Cattle Bone and all other materials are sourced in the USA except of course some of the Exotic Handle materials. So I guess I don't "get" the comparison of two knife brands with totally different business models, different business philosophies, using totally different production techniques and totally different materials?
 
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