Case knife new or old

R

RichardBay

Joined
Jul 13, 2014
Messages
127
I'm just getting into traditional knives and I want to get my first one. I've nailed it down to the case brand and the model stockman. With lots of viewing on this forum it grew on me. I am in my late 30's and was wondering if I should get a near mint one from a antique shop of my birth year make or if I should get my sons birth year stockman or a new one. I noticed that they use different types of steel. What do you suggest and why? Thanks ahead of time for any help. ☺️👍🇺🇸
 
The CV will discolor and rust, which we like around here, and the Tru-sharp stainless will rust much less easily. I think they perform pretty similarly and it's a question of taste and availability.
If the birth-year thing is important to you, and you know where to find one in your birth year, maybe it's a fate-ordained purchase.
 
I don't have a specific suggestion but if you decide to go with Tru-sharp stainless keep in mind that Case offers a few models with what they call an "As Ground" blade finish. Most of Case's Tru-sharp blades have a high polish which is great if you prefer that. The As Ground finish is very similar to a satin finish. I think it looks good and it's not a fingerprint magnet like the high polish blades tend to be. I also think it makes the knife look more like a working knife.

Nothing wrong with the high polish at all if that's what you like. I just wanted to let you know about the other Tru-sharp option.
 
RichardBay said:
I'm just getting into traditional knives and I want to get my first one. I've nailed it down to the case brand and the model stockman. With lots of viewing on this forum it grew on me. I am in my late 30's and was wondering if I should get a near mint one from a antique shop of my birth year make or if I should get my sons birth year stockman or a new one. I noticed that they use different types of steel. What do you suggest and why? Thanks ahead of time for any help. ☺️👍🇺🇸
Click to expand...

When were you born. I'm not really a fan of the late 70s and 80s Case knives. I would highly recommend an early 70s or even earlier 6332 and/or a 6347. The modern versions of those knives are a bit different. The old 32 had half stops whereas the new ones don't. And the old 47 had 2-springs and the new ones have 3 thin springs and offset blades.

If you buy a new knife, then you might also look at the sowbelly. It's a very old pattern (around 100 years old) but Case revived it in 2001 with a pattern designed by custom knife maker Tony Bose.

Trusharp vs CV is a matter of personal preference. I have some of both.
 
Just get a yellow one in CV. It is not necessarily the most desirable, but it is a classic which will provide a good anchor for your collection. You are eventually going to get one anyway, so why not just start out with it?
 
I love older Case knives. New ones don't appeal to me at all. I feel like Case realized they were popular, and started marketing to collectors, and making knick-knack knives, and 200 different handle materials, and I lost interest in them. But the 70's and before Case knives are really attractive to me. But, to each their own.
 
I will 2nd what Jake says above. If you can set aside the desire to have a knife made in a particular year, I think you would be most pleased with something from the mid-1970s or earlier. In my opinion, they were built better back then--better materials and much more attention to detail. As an alternative, look at the modern Case Bose knives. You can find a deal for them if you look hard and are patient, but expect to pay a bit more for them. Their quality is excellent.
 
CASE offers an attractive Traditional knife with big choice of handles & patterns at reasonable cost.

On the whole, I've come to prefer stainless knives as I like to cut food with them, but carbon certainly has its appeal, it just requires more vigilant care. Which stockman model are you after? There are quite a few, which makes getting more a strong likelihood.. It might be more satisfying if you can buy and choose the knife in person, there are variations in bone colour and F&F which could lead to temporary disappointment.

Thanks, Will
 
Most of my traditional knives are from Case. I do have a GEC stockman that is a great pocket knife but I prefer stainless which I'm sure puts me in the minority here.

Stockman's happen to be one of my favorite patterns and I have a few of the from Case in both stainless (true sharp) and CV.

Being colorblind I can't personally comment on the issue of color but I have read of others not have matching colors for the handles on recent made knives from Case.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
To answer the question dirctly I prefer Cv.

A few opinionated thoughts ;)

Im not a big fan of the number of colors in modern production. If more were offered in CV I may give them a second look, but there are only a few covers that catch my eye.

I like their appaloosa bone of the early 80s and my birth is 80 so I have been tempted to find a appaloosa from that year.

I like the sowbelly in CV, their spear blade whittler, the peanut is another must have for any respectable knife nut, and a mid size rounded bolster stockman that I can not remember the pattern number of. It may be the same stockman pattern you are considering.

The only stainless I would buy is in their Classic line, but I cant seem to pay that amount for one. Though, I am sure I will one day.

In short, I would recommend the peanut, the mid size stockman, and the sowbelly in CV. I enjoy patina and seeing it age. Im also not that great of a sharpener yet and CV seems more forgiving than the stainless, but that's just me.

The thread needs pics. :D

1965-69 Peanut - Bought used right at $50



Modern Sowbelly - Bought New for around $50 I think

 
My only two Case stockman knives. A medium equal end and my favorite a humpback stockman with the spear blade.

 
KBA said:
The only stainless I would buy is in their Classic line, but I cant seem to pay that amount for one. Though, I am sure I will one day.
Click to expand...

The majority of the "Case Classics" were made by Queen, not Case, for Parker and they have 1095 blades, not stainless. There are a couple exceptions like the saddlehorn that were made by Case for Parker. I don't recall the steel on those knives.

They are nice knives but I would not recommend paying more for a "Case Classic" than other knives made by Queen like the Winchesters, Moore Makers, Robeson, or their own Queen branded knives. Parker wrote books that gave very high values for the knives that he was selling. ;)
 
Last edited:
supratentorial said:
The majority of the "Case Classics" were made by Queen, not Case, for Parker and they have 1095 blades, not stainless. There are a couple exceptions like the saddlehorn that were made by Case for Parker. I don't recall the steel on those knives.

They are nice knives but I would not recommend paying more for a "Case Classic" than other knives made by Queen like the Winchesters, Moore Makers, Robeson, or their own Queen branded knives. Parker wrote books that gave very high values for the knives that he was selling. ;)
Click to expand...

I had no idea on any of that. I appreciate the info. I always thought the Classic line was just their high end line and still in current production. Thanks again :thumbup:
 
Case's premium line would be the select series and the Bose collaboration knives.

I think Cades stainless knives perform just fine. My only point of contention is the mirror finish they put on them that softens the edges. They do make some as ground stainless knives, in particular you can find 6318 stockman knives made in the 80s (i think) that come with an as ground finish.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Black Delrin 2 blade jack knife. As ground, stainless but it takes a heckuva edge. You'll want one eventually, and they feel great in pocket.
Neal
 
I'm pleased with my as ground stainless on the Slimline Trappers, both delrin and a very interesting G-10 version.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top