Case Cutlery and their stanless

A

Avg_Joe

Joined
Feb 23, 2008
Messages
106
I just cannot figure out why a cutlery company as well known, and I believe, as highly regarded as Case doesn't make knives with a legitimate steel. I am skeptical of steels that are sold under the title of "Surgical Stainless" because that doesn't even tell me what it is. I know you can still get some carbon Case knives but why don't they step it up with their stainless? I don't get it.
 
While I don't think it's as bad as some, if I had to give an opinion, I'd say it's because at some point, Case made a decision to market thier knives more as collectibles and less as users. And most "average joe" (sorry, couldn't resist!) collectors, want shiny, rust proof steel that looks good with minimal maintenance, with more expensive quality heat treating being secondary to fancy handles in multiple styles, for collectors to chase.
 
What exactly is legitimate steel? And whatever it is, what makes you think Case doesn't use it?
 
Avg_Joe said:
I don't get it.
Click to expand...
Me either, not completely anyway, but here are some factors:
1) They sell at a certain price point that would be difficult to maintain with higher-end steels.
2) They do offer some knives with higher grade steels. ATS-34, BG42, and 154CM.
3) They have a limited selection of knives available in chrome vanadium (CV)
4) A large % of Case knives are bought just for lookin' at, collecting, gifts, etc.
5) The Case 'mystery' steel is actually 420HC, the same steel that Buck and many other companies use
6) They're having hard times currently, with reports of employee layoffs. I'm sure they don't want to do anything that would increase product costs or raise prices at this time.

Something I don't get / don't like, companies that charge twice as much as Case but use the same steel...
 
shecky said:
What exactly is legitimate steel? And whatever it is, what makes you think Case doesn't use it?
Click to expand...

Legitimate probably wasn't the best word to use. I have heard they use 420 but if that's true, why don't they call it that. I always associate "Surgical Stainless" to those really cheesy Chinese gas station knifes.
 
Avg_Joe said:
Legitimate probably wasn't the best word to use. I have heard they use 420 but if that's true, why don't they call it that. I always associate "Surgical Stainless" to those really cheesy Chinese gas station knifes.
Click to expand...

I am not steel knowledgeable. However, I tend to believe that Case's steel is in a different class than the chinese gas station knives. Anyone please correct me if I am wrong. Off topic, I just bought a Case Swayback Jack but in CV rather than Stainless. I want to support this company even if I prefer older 70's era Case knives. Buying current ones makes me feel good that I am supporting a beloved USA company.
 
I agree with you cj65 that they are a timeless American company that I love to support. I just wish there were more options for blade steel than surgical stainless.
 
I am sure their marketing peoples peruse this forum to see what us customers like. Your post is very valuable to us and them.
 
Avg_Joe said:
Legitimate probably wasn't the best word to use. I have heard they use 420 but if that's true, why don't they call it that. I always associate "Surgical Stainless" to those really cheesy Chinese gas station knifes.
Click to expand...

The Case practice dates to a time when companies considered what alloy they used to be a trade secret. This was common practice.

- Schrade used 440A for their stainless. But they called it "Schade +"

- I think Camillus used 440A for their stainless as well, but am not sure.

- Gerber advertised "surgical stainless " for its alloy for 20-30 years.

- Boker traditional patterns don't advertise what alloy they use either.

AT this point folks that buy Case knives know the properties that Tru-Sharp has. A lot of non-knife nuts buy Case knives and don't have an issue with the steel. It's a Case knife and it has pretty much the same properties as the ones their fathers and grandfathers carried.

Whatever alloy Case uses, its performance seems similar to 420HC run at the hardness the Case uses 55-56HRC.

BTW, it's 420HC that makes a decent blade, not 420. 420 makes good liners.
 
I like that they don't reveal its properties, it's kind of an "old school" practice. I've used the steel before and continue to use it so I know what to expect from it performance wise. Even if I hadn't used it before I trust Case to deliver a good product, I don't need to know its name. If I was buying a say fixed blade from a company I wasn't sure about, then I would want to know more about the properties of the steel.
 
There is the collector/lurid handles aspect to CASE knives but that's only one aspect.They make very well finished Traditional pocket knives that ARE VERY capable of work,both their stainless and carbon ranges.I know,because I use them every day .The recent knives made this century are extremely good and out of 14 knives I had no problems or disappointments with any of them.What they call their steel doesn't bother me,how it cuts does.CASE make a very good knife.
 
case uses what works and has worked for a long time i have both their offerings as far as the steel goes and they both do exactly what they were designed to do. That being said i have a preference just like you have a preference, i just dont understand the need to continually complain when a company doesnt fill your specific needs, move on to another.
Alot of these super steels are wonderful but for the average user and collector can be a bit of a pain to sharpen. For instance i have a Buck alpha dorado, love the knife but its 154Cm and its by far harder to put an edge on than any of my case or bucks 440, now imagine the frustration of a non knife nut fooling with it, actually most people wouldnt fool with it they might move on.
there is nothing wrong with either of case steels i carry one everyday and have for the last year, performs flawlessly
ivan
p.s. i have a dream, how bout case offer all patterns in CV:D
 
I think Case steel is called True-sharp.

I started out with big tacticals with S30V and zdp 189.

That steel is hard to sharpen compared to case stainless and carbon. I find in my day to day activities. As an electrician and at home. Case stainless and carbon to both be fine steels that do what they need to do.

If you do wear out an edge they sharpen up easy. One trip around the sharpmaker and you've got a ScReAmING sharp knife! Alot of case knives have more than one blade. If you are wearing down 2 or more blades before you get a chance to spend 5 minutes on sharpening, you might be using the wrong tool for the job.

I carried a case stainless sowbelly last week, used it plenty and it is still sharp as can be. I guess it's something about nostalgia but I like that they basically just use stainless, or carbon. It lets me focus more on the history, style, beauty of a particular knife. It seems with the slipjoint crowd the pattern of the knife, the handle material, and the steel are all important.

I know I'm weird but I've stressed myself out worrying if I had the "best" blade steel before. With Case slipjoints I look at the pattern, and the handle, and I know the steel works fine no matter what it is called.
 
Avg_Joe said:
I just cannot figure out why a cutlery company as well known, and I believe, as highly regarded as Case doesn't make knives with a legitimate steel. I am skeptical of steels that are sold under the title of "Surgical Stainless" because that doesn't even tell me what it is. I know you can still get some carbon Case knives but why don't they step it up with their stainless? I don't get it.
Click to expand...

What is a legitimate steel?

Why is the case steel illegitimate, aka a bastard?

Have you ever tried trusharp? Because if you have tried it, I think you'd find it a useful steel. It holds an edge through all the things a knife is supposed to cut, like paper, flesh, wood, etc. If you do happen to hit a nail or pry with it, a case stainless blade does not chip or break. If you leave it out in the snow or rain, it won't rust to death. It can suffer abuse and be restored in less than 5 minutes.

It stays shiny...don't carry an ugly knife :)


They do "step it up" and offer ATS34 or CPM154 knives over the years such as the Tony Bose line. They all start well above $200.
 
Haven't really had any troubles with Tru-Sharp stuff. Takes a sharp edge relatively easy, at least from a stainless point of view. While I do prefer carbon steel, I have no qualms about Tru-Sharp.
 
Avg_Joe said:
I agree with you cj65 that they are a timeless American company that I love to support. I just wish there were more options for blade steel than surgical stainless.
Click to expand...

As has been pointed out before, and after, you posted this comment, Case offers other steels. Is there a particular pattern you were looking for in the Case brand with any steel but stainless? Maybe someone can help you find it.
 
I like really good blade steel, and have knives with all types: L6, ATS-34, 52100, ZDP-189, A2, 154CM, O1, BG-42, Case CV, and others - the whole gamut, pretty much.

With that said, I often carry a Case Tru-Sharp knife.
It's sharp, it cuts, it keeps its edge for a reasonably long time, and it's absolutely fine for normal, everyday use.
 
FLymon said:
As has been pointed out before, and after, you posted this comment, Case offers other steels. Is there a particular pattern you were looking for in the Case brand with any steel but stainless? Maybe someone can help you find it.
Click to expand...

I am not trying to put down Case knives. I am in the market to buy my first Case and I am just not used to knives without a definitive blade steel. I have dealt mainly with Spydercos, Benchmades, and Bark Rivers. But then I have also owned a few SAKs and I have found the Vic stainless to be too soft for my liking.

Tru-Sharp just sounds like a pure marketing name. I like to know what I am getting. It seems everyone likes the performance of their stainless so I won't worry about it. Ideally, I would prefer a trapper of some kind in carbon steel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top