Case Quality Issues

I have about 60 recent production Case knives now, and I have never had a single problem with any of them worth complaining about. Every once in a while I hear someone claim that Case's "quality has deteriorated lately". To which I reply: Hogwash! Malarkey! Horse hockey! :D If anything, I believe Case's quality has improved over the past several years. The knives currently coming out of Bradford PA can be favorably compared to any other knives on the market, bar none. Knives from the Tony Bose collaboration series are hands down THE BEST traditional production knives being made anywhere in the world right now. Some of the higher-end GECs are getting up there, but they've still got a ways to go yet.

The only Case knife I own with any problems is an old daddy barlow, from their venerated 1970's era. The pins on that thing are atrocious- it looks as though it were assembled by a drunken monkey, using a rock for a hammer. Although the bone on that old knife is beautiful, I would take a recent production Case over that one every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

If Case were to start pinning their shields again, and make more knives with higher-end stainless, they would be at the top of the market in terms of quality. But they know what they're doing, they've been in business a long, long time.
 
Yeah that grit and dirt thing is the norm. The good thing is a lot of that is machine oil dirt and grit and some of them when there filthy to my nose have a great smell! My GEC and S&M F&W have a wonderful machine smell, and still do! I'm glad TN is a huge Case state so they're some what easy to come by, although I'm missing Shepherd Hills right now(still closed from the May floods)!
 
moonwilson said:
I have about 60 recent production Case knives now, and I have never had a single problem with any of them worth complaining about. Every once in a while I hear someone claim that Case's "quality has deteriorated lately". To which I reply: Hogwash! Malarkey! Horse hockey! :D If anything, I believe Case's quality has improved over the past several years. The knives currently coming out of Bradford PA can be favorably compared to any other knives on the market, bar none. Knives from the Tony Bose collaboration series are hands down THE BEST traditional production knives being made anywhere in the world right now. Some of the higher-end GECs are getting up there, but they've still got a ways to go yet.

The only Case knife I own with any problems is an old daddy barlow, from their venerated 1970's era. The pins on that thing are atrocious- it looks as though it were assembled by a drunken monkey, using a rock for a hammer. Although the bone on that old knife is beautiful, I would take a recent production Case over that one every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

If Case were to start pinning their shields again, and make more knives with higher-end stainless, they would be at the top of the market in terms of quality. But they know what they're doing, they've been in business a long, long time.
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I tend to agree! I just got a 63090 med Stockman and it is as good as anything I have from Titusville, PA! I'll try to post some images soon.
 
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moonwilson said:
I have about 60 recent production Case knives now, and I have never had a single problem with any of them worth complaining about. Every once in a while I hear someone claim that Case's "quality has deteriorated lately". To which I reply: Hogwash! Malarkey! Horse hockey! :D If anything, I believe Case's quality has improved over the past several years. The knives currently coming out of Bradford PA can be favorably compared to any other knives on the market, bar none. Knives from the Tony Bose collaboration series are hands down THE BEST traditional production knives being made anywhere in the world right now. Some of the higher-end GECs are getting up there, but they've still got a ways to go yet.

The only Case knife I own with any problems is an old daddy barlow, from their venerated 1970's era. The pins on that thing are atrocious- it looks as though it were assembled by a drunken monkey, using a rock for a hammer. Although the bone on that old knife is beautiful, I would take a recent production Case over that one every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

If Case were to start pinning their shields again, and make more knives with higher-end stainless, they would be at the top of the market in terms of quality. But they know what they're doing, they've been in business a long, long time.
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Thats good to hear Andy. It sounds like you have a good enough sampling of newer ones, to make a good observation. Its hard to base criticism with just one or two samples, considering the amount of knives they turn out yearly.

The Chestnut series, and Sway Back Jacks always seem to get great reviews, so I couldn't figure out why the other models would be much different.

It would be nice to see more Premium steel offerings, without having to spend 250-300 dollars to get them. If the steel was that much more expensive, I don't think Buck would be able to offer S30V steel, in knives that can be bought for around 40 dollars.
But if they don't, I'm still happy with CV
 
Peter Parker said:
I tend to agree! I just got a 63090 med Stockman and it is as good as anything I have from Titus, PA! I'll try to post some images soon.
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I have one of those too. Mine is Gray Bone with as ground blades. It's a really sweet little Stockman and no flaws on my example. I want one in Harvest Orange too. Please do post some pics when you get a chance.

My experience with Case has been mixed but most of my Case knives are top notch. I have only had to send one back for repair. There was a big crack in the bone. I currently own 27 Case knives.

I really hope Case gets the quality issues resolved. I think they will but it will take time. I just hope they don't lose too many customers in the meantime.

I read on another forum that Case is starting to use bushings on the pivots of some their knives. My new Humpback Stockman confirms this. I can see something copper or bronze colored on the pivot between the Spear and Sheepsfoot blades. Not really a big deal to me but at least it's a sign that Case is trying to make improvements.
 
Yeah I have been eye balling that Harvest Orange bone too! I really like that saber ground clip blade on mine!
 
I just got this Case TB Back Pocket knife and IMO , it is one of the best regular production knives Case ever put out. This is just a quick picture I took , but I've looked the knife over from every angle and it is perfect.

I've only gotten one bad Case knife ( blade wobble) out of more than a dozen that I own. It's too bad others have had problems.

DSC00973.jpg
 
Exceptional bone on that Back Pocket.

The Olive Bone Texas Jack i bought a few months ago is also exemplar in finish, can't find fault with it. Much better put together than my cv version, no gaps anywhere,the blades don't 'droop' down but are right angled to the springs/frame. Likewise with a Small Saddlehorn(a rather rare pattern?) I suspect CASE may have invested in new machinery, dies for some patterns like these and the Swayback. This is what Victorinox does with SAKs and that's why they are so utterly consistent.

It might be interesting to pause for a while and try and identify the most fault ridden CASE patterns, there could be a connexion here with older worn machinery/processes. equipment.
 
JPD1998 said:
I just got this Case TB Back Pocket knife and IMO , it is one of the best regular production knives Case ever put out. This is just a quick picture I took , but I've looked the knife over from every angle and it is perfect.

I've only gotten one bad Case knife ( blade wobble) out of more than a dozen that I own. It's too bad others have had problems.

DSC00973.jpg
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That's a great looking knife.

Bill
 
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I have had a couple of minor problems with blade-play, Case fixed 'em up fast and better than I had hoped. Few other brands can boast the same consistent quality coupled with that kind of superior customer service.
 
Those Backpockets are really nice. I've been enjoying the heck out of mine. They are exquisitely made knives.
 
I might have to buy a Backpocket in ebony just to check for the consistency in quality... strictly for research purposes. :)
 
i just ordered that Case Humpback in Gum Fuddy Black. that thing just looks so great for the pocket. any owners out there care to stoke the anticipation with some pics?
 
I just got a Gum Fuddy for Christmas from my wife.

I absolutley love it!:thumbup:

Mine has a thin gap between the liner and backspring but I don't care. It's a user and the gap won't bother me.

I already posted these pics in another thread a few days ago but here you go:

IMG_0903.jpg


IMG_0904.jpg


IMG_0905.jpg
 
you know, those exact pictures from Christmas are the ones that got me fired up about this knife again. it looks great and i can't wait to put it in my pocket. thanks, Railsplitter!
 
Happy Holidays everybody. I guess I may have just gotten lucky and the knife gods were smiling down on me but I got a Case/Bose ebony Back Pocket and a Tribal Spear for Christmas and I have to say that I couldn't be happier with both. I'm really impressed with the ebony. The scales are smooth and black with just the slighted shades of brown. I've heard alot of talk about Case QC, maybe things are looking up for them now.
 
I received my first Case knife today, and boy am I ever disappointed. I ordered the Chestnut Mini Trapper and the grind on the blades is horrible, they are extremely rough.

- David
 
Pipeman said:
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
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I buy mine in person or on eBay. I thought the new Case were not as good a value as some others.

Robin, Why do they make you pay the postage? The knife is their mistake. Is this true for all "returns"? Repair returns that is?
 
The comments about sending knives back to be fixed are ridiculous. It should not be up to the consumer to spend more time and money to correct issues of poor quality control or lax manufacturing standards. I purchased my Case from a well-known internet dealer and while they were very responsive to my emails I still would have to ship the knife back at my expense and either wait for a replacement or receive a refund less shipping. None of those are a worthwhile option for me for an inexpensive knife. As a consumer I believe I have better options for future knife purchases and it is unlikely Case will figure in those decisions.

- David
 
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