Case quality control?

Wurrwulf said:
I haven't had much issue with Case with the exception of their dye process. They can't make scales look like the advertised pieces if their lives depended on it. The closest I've seen has been on the new Walnut Rogers Jigged Bone. The Checkered and Jigged Chestnut, the Old Red Bone, and the Barnboard Crimson are all horrible when compared to the advertised picture on websites. I think their main problem is that they reduced the dying time, probably in order to increase production totals. Reds are pink, chestnuts are orange, etc.
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I heard from a Case employee at a knife show that many of their knife images shown on white backgrounds are not photographed knives, but 3D rendered models of knives from a computer. That may be why the actual product colors aren't as nice looking as what it looks like on the computer screen.
 
I only have two Case knives and they differ in fit and finish. My peanut was ordered via internet, so I couldn't look at it before. It has a few minor gabs along the backsprings and liners, the main blade was almost rubbing the liner and the shield is somewhat sticking out, quite a bit actually. I don't mind though, it's an user and all the imperfections are really small. I rather focus on the positive things - the covers were well coloured, the pen was spot on centered, bone to bolster transitions are perfect. My second Case is a chestnut muskrat, it was gifted to me by jc57 and I asume he hand picked it because the difference is there to see. The shield is nicely fluch, both blades centered and overall very good fit and finish. The scales are not exactly the same shade, but both sides are beautiful, so I see that as a bonus. :D You guys will know it way better than me, but I think that picking them by yourself in a shop can save you a lot of trouble. Some of us don't have the chance though ...
 
For me Case knives are users. There have been many posts regarding their quality control and the fact that they make "collections" of knives and only change out the handle scales. Buy the CV steel knives and use them hard, leave the rest alone.
 
I've acquired several Case knives over the years. All have been of good to excellent quality for a factory-made knife. Like Eric, I use my Case knives (but prefer their stainless over their carbon steel).
 
ISKRA said:
...My second Case is a chestnut muskrat, it was gifted to me by jc57 and I asume he hand picked it because the difference is there to see. The shield is nicely fluch, both blades centered and overall very good fit and finish. The scales are not exactly the same shade, but both sides are beautiful, so I see that as a bonus...
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Actually no, that one was bought sight-unseen over the Internet. However, I would not have sent you a poor quality knife as a gift, so from that perspective it was hand picked. If it had been a piece of crap I just wouldn't have sent it to you. :) I agree that it was a flawless knife except for the slight difference in scale colors, but that's not unusual with Case knives and I didn't think it would decrease your enjoyment of the knife.

Plus sometimes those perfect specimens are hard to make oneself use. I am somewhat relieved when there is some minor flaw with a knife because it negates whatever psychological quirk it is that makes me not want to mess up a new knife. Some of my favorite users are knives that had a little something wrong with them when I first got them, or were ones I had purchased used.

I agree that with new Case bone handle releases, you really need to wait until they are released and then find some actual photos of knives on the Internet (or if you have a dealer close by, go look at them in person). The official catalog images are not necessarily representative of what you get.

At least one time, though, that went the other way. The official pictures were dreadful, but the actual knives were beautiful. I am thinking of the 2008 Second Cut Antique Bone in particular. That allowed me to pick up several in this handle material well after they had been released and would normally have been out of stock.

Example:

Catalog pic. Kind of a dull, green-tinged brown.
CA25803.jpg


My actual knife. A beautiful rich golden-brown.
 
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I own 100 or so Case knives and the only issue that I ever had was a shield that fell off once. A little glue solved that problem.

I love Case knives. I love the variety, the affordability, and the availability. My one and only issue with Case is their dye jobs. I wish they could find a way to ensure that the dye goes all the way to the ends of the slabs rather than have the faded or light colored areas on either end that seems to be so common. In looking at the older Case knives, say from the 60's and 70's and in particular the red bones, this didn't seem to be much of an issue back then. Not sure why it is now... Could it be intentional? I don't know but I do know that the older red bones with the consistent dark dye jobs look awesome to me.
 
I've bought a few over the past few years and had no problems or issues with them. For their price range I find Case to be very nice in my experience.
 
arizonaranchman said:
I've bought a few over the past few years and had no problems or issues with them. For their price range I find Case to be very nice in my experience.
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This is my experience also. I've purchased a half dozen or more Sway backs since they came out and every one has been excellent in my opinion.

I will add that Case's warranty is unmatched in the industry.

If you aren't happy with the knife and your dealer doesn't have another or won't select a better one for you, send it to Case.
 
Wurrwulf said:
I haven't had much issue with Case with the exception of their dye process. They can't make scales look like the advertised pieces if their lives depended on it. The closest I've seen has been on the new Walnut Rogers Jigged Bone. The Checkered and Jigged Chestnut, the Old Red Bone, and the Barnboard Crimson are all horrible when compared to the advertised picture on websites. I think their main problem is that they reduced the dying time, probably in order to increase production totals. Reds are pink, chestnuts are orange, etc.
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I agree with Shawn to a large degree . I have not received a new Case product with any issue other than COLOR . I have a new Chestnut Checkered Gunstock and the color is a long way from the color shown On Line and or in the Flyer . I have received a total of 6 of the Rogers Jigged Walnut Bone and the color on all of those are pretty much what I wanted and expected . Two of those have been gifted and there is Supposedly 4 more Out For Delivery as I am typing. That should complete the series of 8 . That is how much I am satisfied with the color on them . It helped me a lot to get mine from CK , where I could see an actual photo of at least a sample of what color they would be . The Gunstock was a Gift and I never saw it until I opened it up . The F&F and functions of all of them so far has been very good . Over all , I am a happy customer of them . Will post pictures of the new 4 in other threads after I receive them .

Harry
 
Generally, very acceptable. That said, I've had one arrive with bad play, the dealer replaced it without question. Some of it depends on what you will 'tolerate' I don't mind an off centre blade so long as it's not rubbing the liner, some blade rub in 3 blade knives can be expected so long as it's not impeding W&T, slight gap or two OK. What I WON'T tolerate is raised or sunk spring on open, this impacts on handling, weak snap or generally poor W&T this too impedes the knife's use.
 
The top picture is of all 8 of the Rogers Jigged Walnut Bone that I now have after receiving the last 4 today. Notice that one of them stands out as different in color . They all are fine in F&F and function and not blade rub in any of them.
This is the one that stands out .
Notice that the Tang Date Stamp shows a blade made in 2015 even though the knife was supposedly made in 2016 . All others are date stamped 2016.

I Will Not be sending it back . It has a story to tell . I just wish that I knew all of it.
Over all , I am quite happy with the Series of 8 .
Harry
 
I have no problem with Case at all- for their price point they make a darn fine knife. I have them from the '80s, '90s, '00s and the '10s, and see good quality throughout.
 
knarfeng said:
I've bought about a dozen or so Case knives in the last couple of years.
I have found all to be worth what I paid for them. They mostly don't have a GEC level of fit and finish, but they don't cost near as much, either.

I have not bought any which had blade play. I'd send yours back.
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This..... any production knife maker can have issues. I've even sent a few GECs in.

To be honest, I own more Case knives than any other. I like their patterns a little bit better. I'd like to see them come up with a line of knives between the regular production and the Bose Collaborations..... same patterns, just a better execution with crisp edges and nice swedges.
 
I have more Case knives than I care to count at the moment but far fewer than others here. I do not have issues with them as a rule but I do have one I am not totally satisfied with. That being said I have not taken the time to send it back.

I also happen to be color blind which after reading about Case's dye issue might be to my benefit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm a big Case fan and own a bunch, both newer models and some going back a decade or two or three. Almost all have been quality knives and without question provide great bang-for-the-buck. I find both their Tru-Sharp stainless and CV carbon easy to sharpen to a very fine edge. On the rare occasion when there was a significant issue with a knife, I sent it back to Case and they took care of it.

Case is a Great American company and I hope they're here as long as I'm buying knives. As a matter of fact, I've got a birthday coming up shortly, and I have my eye on a pretty Case knife as a gift to myself (2-blade Teardrop in sawcut red bone).

Oh and Harry, that's a great set of the Rogers jigged walnut models---love the bone and love the bolsters.

Andrew
 
Andrew I have two single blade teardrops. An ebony from Wurrwulf (thanks Shawn) and a bonestag. They are both as nice as can be from a quality standpoint. And, probably have the nicest lines of any SlipJoint. Have an early happy birthday.
 
Alan, thanks for the endorsement on the Teardrops---you just made my trigger finger itch a little more!

Andrew
 
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