Case in S35VN?

[brownshoe]

What kind of "people like me" are you?

Case has been making a few modern patterns in premium steels for awhille, e.g., Slimlock. They were never big in belt knives as far as I know...which is about a yard

 

[jstrange]

I like them and like to see Case branch out. No reason why they can’t make all types of knives. Hopefully the QC will be more consistent than the traditionals.

 

[J.Mattson]

I don't mind the design, kinda like a BM Crooked river had a kid with a Pro-tech Malibu.

 

[JD Bear]

They need to focus on giving the people like me what we want before entering a market where they'll likely be swept under the rug.
The modern knife market is just too huge for them to make an impact.
There aren't many American traditional knife manufacturers left , and in that market they have a good standing but things could be better

Consistency could improve, we need the full return of a number of slipjoint models/ patterns, they hardly offer any belt knives anymore, we need more universal use of certain popular cover choices , and a more universal use of the steels and blade finishes they offer.

People like you? How many Case knives do you have, four or five? It seems like Case has about five hundred different variations of the thirty or so patterns they make, so I'm not sure what more you would want. I hate to tell you this, but you ain't getting a traditional slip joint in s35vn for under a hundred bucks. It'd be closer to what they're asking for these...so why not try something new? You want a great traditional in carbon? Find a GEC. You want a halfway decent traditional at a cheaper price? Case already got you covered.

 

[Hickory n steel]

People like you? How many Case knives do you have, four or five? It seems like Case has about five hundred different variations of the thirty or so patterns they make, so I'm not sure what more you would want. I hate to tell you this, but you ain't getting a traditional slip joint in s35vn for under a hundred bucks. It'd be closer to what they're asking for these...so why not try something new? You want a great traditional in carbon? Find a GEC. You want a halfway decent traditional at a cheaper price? Case already got you covered.

I have or have had more than just a few, and would have more if things were different.

Yes they do offer quite a bit, but that's because they offer too many different cover options and don't use many of them enough.
They offer too much new without doing enough with what they already have.

 

[Easyrider]

The Case knives in S35v look rather nice. I hope that the quality is there and they sell a bunch of them.

 

[Hickory n steel]

What kind of "people like me" are you?

Case has been making a few modern patterns in premium steels for awhille, e.g., Slimlock. They were never big in belt knives as far as I know...which is about a yard

They had a lot of nice belt knives in the past and they're all pretty desirable these days, but I understand many of those models can't return.
All I really want is for them to do more with what they already offer before branching out.
By " people like me " I just mean anyone who often sees a model they like but it's not in this or that popular cover or not in CV...ect so they pass or settle.

 

[JD Bear]

I have or have had more than just a few, and would have more if things were different.

Yes they do offer quite a bit, but that's because they offer too many different cover options and don't use many of them enough.
They offer too much new without doing enough with what they already have.

Different how? You basically just said they have too many options...but not enough options. These new knives look halfway decent if they can get a grip on the QC. Don't see how that's a bad thing. I know they're not CV pen knives you can cut your apple under the tree with, but dang, maybe you should wait and actually buy one before you decide that Case is gonna close because they made a modern knife.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Different how? You basically just said they have too many options...but not enough options. These new knives look halfway decent if they can get a grip on the QC. Don't see how that's a bad thing. I know they're not CV pen knives you can cut your apple under the tree with, but dang, maybe you should wait and actually buy one before you decide that Case is gonna close because they made a modern knife.

You're missing the point.
They have some things they could do better in the traditional side, I just feel they should do that before branching out.

 

[JD Bear]

You're missing the point.
They have some things they could do better in the traditional side, I just feel they should do that before branching out.

Like what? They have more variations than almost any knife manufacturer and it sounds like they just haven't made the perfect knife for YOU. You can't possibly expect them to make every pattern in every both steels they use annnnnnnd make it in every handle material they've ever offered. Granted, they could pay more attention to the finished product and strive to make every single knife flawless....but guess what? It wouldn't be fifty bucks anymore.

I'm not the biggest fan of Case, but you still haven't explained what they need to do better before (gasp) they make something that might appeal to a different chunk of the knife market...

 

[Hickory n steel]

Like what? They have more variations than almost any knife manufacturer and it sounds like they just haven't made the perfect knife for YOU. You can't possibly expect them to make every pattern in every both steels they use annnnnnnd make it in every handle material they've ever offered. Granted, they could pay more attention to the finished product and strive to make every single knife flawless....but guess what? It wouldn't be fifty bucks anymore.

I'm not the biggest fan of Case, but you still haven't explained what they need to do better before (gasp) they make something that might appeal to a different chunk of the knife market...

it may sound like it , but I'm not just shooting Case down for branching into modern knives just because they're not my thing.
I truly question how many people in the huge modern knife market are thinking of Case when it's time for their next purchase, but I have no reason to think the knives will not be good or anything.

" Too many options but not enough options " ?
You missed my point.
It's not about just having a lot of options, many of the options are short lived and uneventful.

Look through their catalog and I guarantee you'll find a cover you like and a pattern you really like that aren't offered together.
You'll probably find this situation more than a few times.


You're probably right, I am just sore that I've been waiting for a handful of things for years now.
In the end they have been doing some good things lately and I'm grateful for that, I just would have liked to see a few other things finally happen before they made a move like this.

 

[Skywalker31]

I'm not the biggest fan of Case, but you still haven't explained what they need to do better before (gasp) they make something that might appeal to a different chunk of the knife market...

First I should say I don't mind Case making a modern folder... I like the look of the Marilla, as long as the blade stock's not overly thick and they don't run it too soft.

However, here's one thing Case could do better with their traditional patterns, imho - make some of them in a modern, particle metallurgy blade steel. Why don't they make a Medium Stockman or a Trapper with S35VN blades? Seems like $100-120 would be a reasonable price point for that. I would love to own some Amber Bone like I had when I was a kid in a better steel.

I was shopping for a new slipjoint recently and ended up with two Italian knives - a Maserin Plow in D2 and a Lionsteel Slim Shuffler in M390. The Plow was $51, Slim Shuffler $117; Buck makes the 110 and 501 in S30V or S35VN for $100 or less... where's Case? The Plow's D2 is already noticeably better than the GEC #48 I was previously using when I wanted to carry a slipjoint. I really don't want to go back to Tru-Sharp or CV at this point.

 

[jnaught]

I got to handle both new models at BladeShow over the weekend. They seem well executed, except for the cutting edges. Two of the four examples I handled had some uneven and/or overground portions (slight, undesigned recurve on one of the straight edges), and the edges themselves felt jagged (macro-toothy?). The construction was good; ergos were very good on the drop point model, and slightly cramped on the tanto-ish one (for me); deployment was acceptable, but not remarkable. Seemed like decent tools. I like how light aluminum handles are. The rep asked for honest feedback and took it openly. He mentioned having to re-tool/acquire new machines to build them (S35VN not being blankable like their other steels and much harder to grind/finish), so I do believe they are building these in-house. I liked them.

 

[JD Bear]

First I should say I don't mind Case making a modern folder... I like the look of the Marilla, as long as the blade stock's not overly thick and they don't run it too soft.

However, here's one thing Case could do better with their traditional patterns, imho - make some of them in a modern, particle metallurgy blade steel. Why don't they make a Medium Stockman or a Trapper with S35VN blades? Seems like $100-120 would be a reasonable price point for that. I would love to own some Amber Bone like I had when I was a kid in a better steel.

I was shopping for a new slipjoint recently and ended up with two Italian knives - a Maserin Plow in D2 and a Lionsteel Slim Shuffler in M390. The Plow was $51, Slim Shuffler $117; Buck makes the 110 and 501 in S30V or S35VN for $100 or less... where's Case? The Plow's D2 is already noticeably better than the GEC #48 I was previously using when I wanted to carry a slipjoint. I really don't want to go back to Tru-Sharp or CV at this point.

I completely agree they should. They made two patterns with 154CM and I don't even think they hit that price point, so I wouldn't imagine a s35vn model would be offered at that price. Case knows the product they put out, and it would seem they're perfectly ok with fit and finish issues along with a junk stainless steel. I just don't think a modern knife will be the downfall of the company like the OP.