Case Knives, Porque?

[Viper84]

In the past I've tried buying Case knives and they all had major QC issues. For giggles I bought another Case knife to feel them out again because I thought their recent sawcut bone looked cool.

I am here to report that they still have QC issues, but this one was slightly better than the last Case knife I purchased.

1. They made zero effort to match the covers.

2. Holy bolster transition gaps batman!

I will say that the blade was centered and back spring gaps were very minor, so good job on that I guess, but this one is going back.

Should I try again in a year?

 

[dman62]

They are kinda expensive user grade knives IMO. Great Eastern's spoil you. That said, I have some Case's that I carry from time to time.

 

[euroken]

In comparison, it's crazy how well recent Rough Ryders are made in terms of quality AND pricing.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

Those are significantly above average matched covers for Case.

 

[Modoc ED]

Another nit-picky, bash Case knives thread. Case makes no effort for the most part to match their covers side-to-side. Bolster to cover gap is so small/minor it's not worth the postage to send it in.

 

[sitflyer]

2. Holy bolster transition gaps batman!



I will say that the blade was centered and back spring gaps were very minor, so good job on that I guess, but this one is going back.

Should I try again in a year?

If it were me I'd probably send it in for warranty repair with a letter telling them about your concerns with their QC and how it has kept you from comfortably buying their products. I've had pretty good luck with the few Case knives I have bought in the past, but a lot of those were purchased second hand from the exchange. Those bolster transition gaps are certainly a deal beaker.

 

[Viper84]

Another nit-picky, bash Case knives thread. Case makes no effort for the most part to match their covers side-to-side. Bolster to cover gap is so small/minor it's not worth the postage to send it in.

I can be pretty nit-picky, but these are pretty egregious QC issues. So Case just doesn't give a damn then. Makes sense.

 

[Will Power]

I don't see those scales as very mismatched at all, you can't look at both sides at once but both look good and that's important. Or else go for delrin, that's pretty uniform.

However, I agree on the bolster gaps, not good at all. Return it to CASE ask for a replacement or a fix, they have forms on the internet and take care of things quickly and politely. My recent International experience of their warranty has been faultless, if they willingly fix things outside the USA they'll certainly take care of the domestic customer. Worth giving them a chance and the Swayback's a decent pattern too.

Thanks, Will

 

[Pàdruig]

Comparing Case and GEC is very akin to comparing apples and oranges - there is a massive disparity in plain production numbers and obviously the level of QC differs greatly as well.

I've accumulated a fair number of Case knives over the few years that I've taken to slipjoints and though I have had a couple that didn't quite pass muster, the majority have been perfectly acceptable pocket knives - some even rivaling GEC in their execution. I understand that GEC, as well as other makers/manufacturers of modern knives, have really spoiled us with regards to our expectations - in that, these days, we expect perfection, even though many of the QC issues that are to be found on knives have no bearing on the actual function of it.

Everyone has varying standards and that is ok. Personally, my general gripes with Case knives have to do with their methods of construction rather than anything that would be viewed as defective. They round off everything too much so the lines of the knife overall are not as crisp, the execution on a number of their blade styles leaves a bit to be desired, they use a lot of cover materials that are garishly colored or are uninteresting, and they rarely, if at all, use traditional shields.

That said, when they aren't trying to get too fancy, their jigged bone is superb (they could teach GEC a thing or two in that regard) and when they get a color right, they REALLY get it right.

This Sowbelly is one of the Case knives that I have that I would put up against most any GEC in my collection. Might be plain jane yellow Delrin, but it is superbly built and one that is always a joy to carry and use.

 

[Viper84]

I don't see those scales as very mismatched at all, you can't look at both sides at once but both look good and that's important. Or else go for delrin, that's pretty uniform.

However, I agree on the bolster gaps, not good at all. Return it to CASE ask for a replacement or a fix, they have forms on the internet and take care of things quickly and politely. My recent International experience of their warranty has been faultless, if they willingly fix things outside the USA they'll certainly take care of the domestic customer. Worth giving them a chance and the Swayback's a decent pattern too.

Thanks, Will

I might give their warranty service a try, but we have very different definitions of mismatched covers.

 

[Viper84]

Comparing Case and GEC is very akin to comparing apples and oranges - there is a massive disparity in plain production numbers and obviously the level of QC differs greatly as well.

I've accumulated a fair number of Case knives over the few years that I've taken to slipjoints and though I have had a couple that didn't quite pass muster, the majority have been perfectly acceptable pocket knives - some even rivaling GEC in their execution. I understand that GEC, as well as other makers/manufacturers of modern knives, have really spoiled us with regards to our expectations - in that, these days, we expect perfection, even though many of the QC issues that are to be found on knives have no bearing on the actual function of it.

Everyone has varying standards and that is ok. Personally, my general gripes with Case knives have to do with their methods of construction rather than anything that would be viewed as defective. They round off everything too much so the lines of the knife overall are not as crisp, the execution on a number of their blade styles leaves a bit to be desired, they use a lot of cover materials that are garishly colored or are uninteresting, and they rarely, if at all, use traditional shields.

That said, when they aren't trying to get too fancy, their jigged bone is superb (they could teach GEC a thing or two in that regard) and when they get a color right, they REALLY get it right.

This Sowbelly is one of the Case knives that I have that I would put up against most any GEC in my collection. Might be plain jane yellow Delrin, but it is superbly built and one that is always a joy to carry and use.

Great pics and write up! I can tell that the ones pictured do not suffer from the huge bolster gap issue. They look very well built from what I can see.

 

[Pàdruig]

Great pics and write up! I can tell that the ones pictured do not suffer from the huge bolster gap issue. They look very well built from what I can see.

Frankly, bolster gaps bother me more than an uncentered blade does. I have several vintage knives where the blade favors one side or the other - it's a modern standard that I generally can look past. Bolster gaps, not so much.

 

[Will Power]

Obviously we do, from my perspective Stag, Bone, Wood are natural materials that will naturally vary unlike the materials on Modern knives. Most Traditional knives have a Mark and Pile side so having a shield on one and blank on another is another reason matching scales are a compromised ideal. Colour of dye is important though.

Still think you should test the warranty then re-appraise.

 

[akaMatt]

I’ll admit the bolster gap would bother me a bit, but the bone not so much. With a little pocket time it will even out quite a bit, and probably look great. I’ve found the dark color wears off reasonably quickly, for me at least. If the blade is reasonably centered and ground correctly that looks like a nice user to me.

I’ll also admit my expectations of a knife have risen after acquiring a number of GECs in the last four years or so, but they are subject to many of the same issues. I’ve had small bolster gaps, shrinking scales, bad grinds, and plenty of light shining through springs. I’m always amazed at the number of posts here proclaiming no gaps, perfectly flush springs at all positions, etc, because I have yet to experience that with any of the 23+ GECs that have passed by me. To date my most flawless knife is probably my amber bone Case peanut.

 

[Modoc ED]

As for the sawcut pattern varying from side to side, I have a few that are like that. Here is a 6375 Large Stockman so covered. No worries for me but other's opinions may vary.




As to the gap between the bolster and cover, perhaps I was a bit harsh in my answer but still not that big a deal to me for your particular knife.

 

[Greasepiggy]

I like Case knives. The TB designs seem to have better fit and finish than others in my experience. I guess you got a Friday/Monday model. Send it back and get a nicer one. Both of my CV swayback Gents are made as well and in fact better than some of the much-worshipped GEC stuff I’ve owned. I’ve got trappers and copperheads and stockmen that I like a whole bunch. They cut stuff real good! They’re not that expensive, they’re generally available, and they’re not sellin’ on the bay and the BF Exchange for 2-3 times their original cost!
Yeah, I like it better when I can examine them before I buy, but some online retailers will check the actual knife they’re sending me for fit and finish and blade centering and zero wobble. Usually works out pretty good for me.
I do wish they’d make more stainless blades that are finished like the DLT barehead single blade trapper. I can’t remember if it’s satin or bead blasted or what but I like it a lot more than the shiny blade finishes. That, and bring back the CV Sowbelly in chestnut bone and prime stag!!!

 

[GaiusJulius]

In my experience GECs are better. I have a couple of Case that are at the same level, but they’re vintage 1960s-1970s. There’s a swayback jack that’s close but it just doesn’t feel as precise. That said, my problem with Case is that they ask a high enough price to require a bit of premeditation, but their quality as a whole is less than a Rough Rider that costs 1/4-1/5 as much. And I know they can do better because the vintage ones *are* better.

But I’m picky. I gave a coworker today a chance to pick any knives he fancied out of a big bag of old knives. There were some really decent USA Schrades, Uticas, Robeson, and other knives in there, as well as a Queen and a few Case, but what did he choose? A pair of smooth white bone slipjoints prominently marked “Made in Pakistan” and redolent of the quality one associates with these knives.

So, maybe for Case’s typical customers, their level of QC is entirely adequate?

 

[JohnDF]

Case knives generally aren't as nice as GEC knives, but they are cheaper and much much much easier to get.
Case are a happy middle ground between the cheap Rough Ryder knives and the expensive, hard to get GEC knives.
And before the Rough Ryder fans pile on me, I've bought (and threw away) enough of them to know they are NOT Case quality.
You want cheap, buy Rough Ryder. You want nice, buy a GEC. Case is the middle ground and sometimes good enough is good enough.

 

[Lesknife]

I have total of eight Case knives and four are decent made and the other four were unbelievably cockeyed and wonky. I did fix them to use but the steel is soft and won’t hold an edge.

Only one of them keeps a decent edge and it’s a large trapper with 154cm blades. But the main blade had two grind dings on the edge. I sharpened them in those spots and it does alright.

I started out wanting to get several patterns in the amber jigged bone in both stainless and CV but I finally gave up pursuing any more after the last two were sad examples. If I stood a ways back and squinted a bit they looked like nice knives.

 

[Planterz]

As for the sawcut pattern varying from side to side, I have a few that are like that. Here is a 6375 Large Stockman so covered. No worries for me but other's opinions may vary.

Wow, whoops!