Case Quality Issues

[Campbellclanman]

Dumb question, but how do you get the WD-40 out? I've never used it on a pocket knife.

No..not dumb....please read carefully everyone elses answer-as my answer to you is not to over-ride theirs....I have read somewhere that Bernard Levine states that WD 40 does develop Patina, and I remove all I can just by a cloth and working the blade/s .....then replentishing with the mineral oil ( which doesnt colour the metal).
The only reason I replace the WD40 is because I am not too sure sure how the WD40 will effect the bone scales.
But at the end of the day..Dwight, and all other members know what they are talking about...and when you finish, your knife will be better off with all your attention
Merry Christmas, enjoy your family, and your knives.

 

[338375]

I have lost count of the number of Case knives I've owned, but most have been pre-owned and older.

I can't give an opinion on the newer ones, but I don't think the QC issue is just with Case. It seems to be in all industries...

We have lost to many knife companies in the last few years, so I certainly hope that if they are having issues, they get them fixed quickly.

Case is part of our history. I want them to be around for the next generations.

It seems that the reviews on the SwayBack Jacks, have been very positive, and the reviews are that the quality is very good. There is no reason that all the knives can't be good, before they are sent out.

Case does have good customer service, but thats not the point. Buck has great service too, but when I read about a problem, its is always the same thing, " Send it in, they will take care of you ". I've read that so much, I just about blow a gasket when I read it.

I'm not picking on Buck, I really like the company, and they do go beyond what anyone could expect, as far as taking care of the customers. I don't think with the volume of knives they sell, that the quality issues are really very high. I hope the same is true for Case.

Make the damn thing right the first time. People don't want to get a new knife, and then have to ship it off to be fixed. I know things happen though, and bad ones will slip through once in awhile.

When I hear of QC issues, I always think of Victorinox. Look at the volume of knifes they send out, and the quality is outstanding and consistent.

There is no reason that other companies can't do the same.

Sorry for the rant. It was a long day and I'm cranky

I hope that you have better luck with your next Case purchases

 

[Will Power]

I agree with you there Mike, it WOULD be so much better to have a stricter check on knives leaving the factory in the first place. I know CASE and Buck have good repair service, I've used them&from outside the USa which is impressive but it's still a great nuisance sending them in, risky too... It must cost them a good deal in money to run a repair/return service as well!

In general, I've been very satisfied with my CASE knives, sometimes highly impressed with them. I have maybe 20 of them, all made in the early part of this century and the quality is more than satisfying on most. One I wrote to them about and they simply replaced the knife without return, fantastic:thumbup: the other one I've not been happy with is the CASE/Bose Norfolk it is disappointingly finished for an expensive(or cheap..)knife. I haven't returned it as I assume they no longer have stocks of them&this would involve dismantling. I have had problems with a couple of Queen knives too and they ought not to have left the factory.To the OP I think you've had bad luck and I hope it all gets fixed to your satisfaction

 

[Pipeman]

Maybe it's too much to ask but the dealer is the last line of defence for the company and IMO should check every knife prior to the sale. I purchased a well loved brand and it came with blade rubs and a dead blade (almost no snap). Being a Canadian it would have cost me up to $40.00 to send it back and forth to the dealer or manufacturer, the dealer should have checked it Before it was sent to me IMO. Never had a dead blade in a RR knife BTW, the US made knife was well over $100.00.

Best regards

Robin

 

[TLARbb]

The last knife I bought from an online Case seller, I specifically asked them to check the knife for blade wobble and gaps. The knife they sent had both. I guess they thought I wanted one like that.

Ed

 

[338375]

The last knife I bought from an online Case seller, I specifically asked them to check the knife for blade wobble and gaps. The knife they sent had both. I guess they thought I wanted one like that.

Ed

I'm not really awake yet, but that made me laugh Ed

Its not really funny though. The dealer is the last line, but even they shouldn't have to check to see if the knife is good or not. Although I guess its not a big deal though, because they should be taking it out of the box, to make sure its the correct knife.

I'm going to finally break down and buy a new Case Chestnut Mini Trapper, so when it arrives, I will post up pics and a short review. Hopefully it will be positive. I know I should support Case more, by buying some new knives, but I really prefer the older ones.

 

[knivesngear]

well it could be that case knives has decreased in quality during the recent years. they are not what they used to be. a lot of companies are having to cut corners so they can stay in business these days. :grumpy:

 

[Alann45]

I can't give an opinion on the newer ones, but I don't think the QC issue is just with Case.

Mike, you are absolutely correct. I should have included something along that line in my comment, since Case is certainly not the only one seeming to have a QC problem.
I gave up on one major manufacture that claims to make knives to the highest starndards (and charges accordingly) because I got sick and tired of receiving items with OBVISOUS flaws that should not have made it past even a minimal QC inspection.

We have lost to many knife companies in the last few years, so I certainly hope that if they are having issues, they get them fixed quickly.
Case is part of our history. I want them to be around for the next generations.

Absolutely, and the only reason I even bother to comment. The manufacturer I mentioned has a huge "fan boy" following and you cannot even discuss QC issues with them without being jumped on, so why would the company bother to change?
I really believe Case cares about what they are making and will pay attention to user concerns.

Case does have good customer service, but thats not the point. Buck has great service too, but when I read about a problem, its is always the same thing, " Send it in, they will take care of you ". I've read that so much, I just about blow a gasket when I read it.

Great customer service is certainly a good thing and they are to be praised for it. But I'd rather not ever find out if their CS is good or not, I'd prefer to receive a product that doesn't need the attention of CS.

For many folks there is a joy and pleasure in buying a new item and the anticipation of receiving something special.
When it shows up with defects QC should have caught, all the pleasure of the purchase is pretty much ruined. Even though their CS may make it right the failure to QC the product has taken what should have been a pleasant experience into a hassle...not a way to motivate future sales.

When I hear of QC issues, I always think of Victorinox. Look at the volume of knifes they send out, and the quality is outstanding and consistent.

Hadn't really thought about Vic, but you make a point that would be hard to argue with. Their production volume is huge, and their prices are fairly low, yet I have never gotten a Vic with a any sort of problem.
Spyderco is another good example. I can't recall ever having gotten a spydie with a problem.

 

[Planterz]

Well, my first Case (medium SS stockman) arrived today, and it seems to be just fine. Not the sharpest blades out of the box, but nothing I can't touch up with little effort. No scale/liner/spring gaps. ZERO blade wobble. The pivots are pretty gunky, so I'll be trying out the cleaning tips you guys gave me.

 

[338375]

Well, my first Case (medium SS stockman) arrived today, and it seems to be just fine. Not the sharpest blades out of the box, but nothing I can't touch up with little effort. No scale/liner/spring gaps. ZERO blade wobble. The pivots are pretty gunky, so I'll be trying out the cleaning tips you guys gave me.

I'm glad to hear you got a good one :thumbup: Hopefully the bad ones are in the minority.
I do wonder though, how many that aren't knife nuts get knives that have flaws, but people just don't notice them, or really care ?

 

[jazub]

When I hear of QC issues, I always think of Victorinox. Look at the volume of knifes they send out, and the quality is outstanding and consistent.

first of all, i'm not jumping on Case here. -but i am glad that you made this point. i love to buy Victorinox Swiss Army Knives. i've never had the crap shoot sense of anxiety about fit and finish when waiting for a Victorinox knife that i have had with some other makers and that makes the whole experience of purchasing and receiving and not having to return their knives a pleasure.

it seems that when raising quality control issues, there is oftentimes an argument made by some in the collector contingent that we, the customers, are being "crybabies" or hurting businesses by returning flawed product for repairs. this argument seems to put the burden of a successful business on the clients and not the operators, no? by this logic, we buyers exist as little more than props, obligated to support someone else's business. a crass perspective, in my opinion.

sure, knives produced in some overseas locations have a disproportionate advantage in production costs but Victorinox of Switzerland surely does not. they also seem to adequately illuminate the fact that people are still buying knives.

-and back to Case: i surely hope that Case succeds. i have been dying to get a medium or large yellow Case stockman for months! i think i need to just do it!

 

[Planterz]

Yeah, nobody beats Victorinox when it comes to QC combined with sheer production numbers. I don't know how they do it, or why others can't. Victorinox reminds me of Lego. For every 1,000,000 pieces the mold, only 18 on average are rejected, and they make 20 billion per year. That's crazy.

 

[rayban]

So many posts...no pictures....can't believe a word of it.....

 

[hoopster]

So many posts...no pictures....can't believe a word of it.....

Pen blade was so lose it hit the liner upon closing. Case repaired it and left two huge dings in the bolster for free, minus my shipping.
My sodbuster jr. had a loose blade also but I fixed it myself. The handle scales are also so lopsided on the sodbuster, the "craftsman" should have drank a V8.

 

[kingsqueak]

First thing I do with a new knife is wash it in hot water with dish soap, gets all the tooling gunk and grease off it and I've been using Dupont spray teflon/silicone with good results too, I just spray it in and fiddle with a paper towel for a while until I have all the excess dried off.

The actions are almost always well improved. The knives look better too, it's amazing how much gunk is on a lot of them from manufacturing.

I have _no_clue_ how this would affect bone handles though. All my stuff is more industrial plastic or resin and it's fine with that.

 

[Peter Parker]

I greatly like Case knives but I try to get them from a local dealer so I can make sure it's right!

 

[TLARbb]

....Of course, Case will fix any product your not happy with but who wants the hassle. I realize QC is a pretty high cost item, but Case's aren't exactly bargain basement knives.

Here's the problem - it is never cheaper or less expensive to deal with returns and repairs than it is to build it right in the first place. Customers do not want to deal with the issues of returning a knife for warranty work or replacement and if they have to do it more than once, they probably will cease to be customers. Poor quality winds up costing everyone in the chain - the manufacturer, the dealer, and the customer. A smiling, friendly customer service representative is never going to take the place of a smiling, happy customer. The moral of this story is "Get it right the first time". Everybody will be better off. Case, listen up!!!

Ed

 

[338375]

Yeah, nobody beats Victorinox when it comes to QC combined with sheer production numbers. I don't know how they do it, or why others can't. Victorinox reminds me of Lego. For every 1,000,000 pieces the mold, only 18 on average are rejected, and they make 20 billion per year. That's crazy.

It is amazing. I just went and pulled out my old Camper. Its still N.I.B because I have had it in the safe for probably 14-15 years, and kinda forgot about it...
The polishing on the blades is very good, no rounded edges, the blades are very smooth when opening and closing, and it is just a very nicely made tool.

Pen blade was so lose it hit the liner upon closing. Case repaired it and left two huge dings in the bolster for free, minus my shipping.
My sodbuster jr. had a loose blade also but I fixed it myself. The handle scales are also so lopsided on the sodbuster, the "craftsman" should have drank a V8.

It really makes me cringe when I hear stories like that

I greatly like Case knives but I try to get them from a local dealer so I can make sure it's right!

Thats a good way to do it if you can. One of our local big Sporting goods use to carry a very nice selection of Case knives, and they sold well. When the store changed hands, they changed a lot of things. I was in there 4 days ago, and they have gotten rid of all the Case knives. It really made me sad.

 

[Fishstalker]

Here's the problem - it is never cheaper or less expensive to deal with returns and repairs than it is to build it right in the first place. Customers do not want to deal with the issues of returning a knife for warranty work or replacement and if they have to do it more than once, they probably will cease to be customers. Poor quality winds up costing everyone in the chain - the manufacturer, the dealer, and the customer. A smiling, friendly customer service representative is never going to take the place of a smiling, happy customer. The moral of this story is "Get it right the first time". Everybody will be better off. Case, listen up!!!

Ed

Amen! That was perfectly stated.

My Case Humpback Whittler arrived before Christmas with QC problems. While Case's CSR has been responsive to my issues and concerns, I'm still very disappointed. Even if the knife is perfect upon it's return, it will not remove the memory of the problem.

 

[joe-bob]

I think that all the manufacturers have knives go out that shouldn't have. I've seen it with Case and GEC, and I've read about Queen having the same sorts of issues. I ask my dealer to inspect the knives first.

As far as the grit and dirt on new knives...to be fair, I've never gotten a new slipjoint that wasn't like that out of the box. Everything from buck 110s, to GEC whittlers. I consider it normal; well, it's usual if not normal.

I always give knives a good clean n' oil before I do anything with 'em. This also gives me a good chance to inspect them, and decide if they go back or not. Some do. It's just a fact. I don't get too upset about it anymore, I just have another knife sent out. BTW -- I won't send them in for repair. I've had bad experiences; now they get exchanged for one that's right, and the rest is the dealer's problem.