Case quality

GronK

GronK

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Apr 1, 2001
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I got back into traditionals about a year ago and have purchased several GEC and CSC pieces and a few Case, primarily in CV with delrin handles. I still have a few older Case knives from about 10 years ago. My most recent, a new Seahorse Whittler just arrived today. The quality is way better than I had expected, with clean grinds and superior fit and finish. I got my older ones and the newer delrins out and it seems the newer ones are miles ahead of the older ones. Even the simple delrin CV's of recent manufacture are really nice compared to the older ones. Now I know really old versions are much sought after collector pieces now but I think the new ones are just fine. Were my old ones just samples of a bad period at Case about ten years ago? I'd be interested to hear others' opinions on this.

Edited to add pics:
The older
IMG_0127.jpg


The newer
IMG_0128.jpg
 
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I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that Case quality took a dip in the 80s and recovered in the 2000s. That's not to say good ones didn't come out, but on average the quality wasn't as good. I still have a few minor quibles on a Case from time to time, but they make a good knife at a good price.
 
There was a transitional period when Case was owned by some snak oil saleman who's name I forget, when the quality was questionable. I don't have the years sorted, but I would say today's Case is just as good, even better, then the Case knives of 30 to 50 years ago.
 
I started buying alot of Case knives again in the mid to late 90's, and the quality over the next several years seemed to be lesser than on my older Case knives.
I didn't buy more until about five years ago, and IMO the quality has improved.
Haven't had a problem with one in a long time.
 
That snake oil sleazebags name was Parker I believe and he just about ran Cases name into the mud until Case was purchased by Zippo lighters and the high quality standards were restored. Parker introduced the Classic series which was NOT made by Case and that is how Parker gave Case the bad name it deserved. Parker ran Case from 1989 to 1993 when it joined the Bradford group and quality was mostly restored.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that Case quality took a dip in the 80s and recovered in the 2000s. That's not to say good ones didn't come out, but on average the quality wasn't as good. I still have a few minor quibles on a Case from time to time, but they make a good knife at a good price.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much my impression as well. I think the '90s period may've been the most inconsistent for Case; those are the ones I tended to avoid the most. Even then, most of my gripes about them were more about aesthetics, like shields, odd color of their bone choices, etc, and not so much about overall build quality (aside from rather bluntish edge grinds, but even that's fixable). Edge grinds got much better in the post-2000 knives; likely better than they've ever been, as I see it.


David
 
I have a few that are all made within the last few years and are excellent quality but after watching the fiasco my dad is going through with their warranty department right now I wouldn't buy another without seeing it in person and with the understanding that their customer service isn't the best. He bought a medium stockman online and when he got it the blade rub is unbearable. The spey blade won't open without pushing the sheepsfoot out of the way because it gets caught in the nail nick of the sheepsfoot blade. The main blade won't close without pushing it down because it is rubbing so bad on the sheepsfoot blade. It's really really bad but stuff happens and they are mass produced so not really a huge deal just kind of a bummer as it was his first Case. He shipped it off to their warranty department with a detailed note of why he was sending it back. After over a month and a half he got a package back from Case with a replacement knife in it but the one they sent looks like maybe it was a used one that they had repaired or something but the most frustrating part is he mailed them a CV steel knife and they sent him back a Stainless knife. He tried to call the number for their warranty department and left a voicemail and is now going on day 3 without a return call.

Moral of the story is at their price point if you get a good one they are a fantastic knife and I really love their CV steel but just don't expect much out of their warranty department. Looking back he would have been better off just returning the knife to the vendor and hoping the second one was of better quality or just paying the extra $10 or whatever it would be downtown at the local hardware store where he could actually pick through them.
 
In my experience, the quality remains hit-or-miss. I still like them for being affordable, functional, and attractive but I only buy in person. They continue, based on my regular visits to the world's largest Case dealer, to have QC issues with edge finishing, blade wobble, and spring action.

2013 visit: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1116186-Case-Carhartt-and-other-Case-musings

2012 visit: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1017299-Case-quality-still-hit-or-miss

2010 purchases: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/725901-Recent-Case-knife-purchases
 
In my opinion, Case has the following levels of quality

Case Bose annuals
Case Bose CV
Case Bose SS/regular CV line
Case SS.

As far as age goes, their knives from the 80s and 90s aren't the best per the general notion, but I do have a damascus peanut which was a gift that is very nice, made in the 80s.
 
I've had the best luck with the Family Brands of Case...they all seem to have a nicer jigging, and more attention paid to the fit and overall finish. Of course, I have yet had an issue with any Case knife in my collection, so I have no complaints.
 
The only thing different between these two classic tradiitonals is that the Case doesn't have its bolsters stamped; otherwise, the fit, finish, and overall aesthetics and quality of their respective builds are equal.;)

 
I have and had a couple of Case from the 70s. Lovely knives.

I got a small stockman like pictured above in 1997. I was disappointed in it because it wasn't as slim and beautiful as my 70s era Cases. But there was nothing fundamentally wrong with it.

I have a half dozen at least Cases manufactured since 2000 and every single one of them was bought sight unseen and while perhaps not perfect, are pretty damn good.
 
This Wharncliffe trapper was built in 1989, and is very high quality. F&F, W&T, grinds, sharpness, nice bone, pretty much everthing.
With production anything you're gonna have a range of quality from lot to lot, whatever.

CopperheadWTopen_zpsad096599.jpg~original
 
Bob W said:
In my experience, the quality remains hit-or-miss. I still like them for being affordable, functional, and attractive but I only buy in person. They continue, based on my regular visits to the world's largest Case dealer, to have QC issues with edge finishing, blade wobble, and spring action.

2013 visit: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1116186-Case-Carhartt-and-other-Case-musings

2012 visit: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1017299-Case-quality-still-hit-or-miss

2010 purchases: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/725901-Recent-Case-knife-purchases
Click to expand...

I tend to agree with most of what you said. I also only buy Case knives in person. That said, I'm fortunate to have a fairly large dealer in town, which makes that easier. I do like Case, just wish their QC was a bit more consistent.
 
In the past 10-12 years I have added about 20 or so Case knives to my collection. I have never had even one with poor QC issues. Not all of them are 100% perfect, but I never had a problem nor the slightest disappointment with any of them. They are a well made knife for their price point and broad availability (unlike some brands you can't touch for less than $100 if you are lucky enough to purchase one of the 3 or 4 they even made in the "run"). Additionally several of mine have been EDC'd and USED for tasks a little more demanding than opening the mail. No issues whatsoever. None.
 
I'm eager to put their latest pattern the Teardop to the QC test!

Anybody have more release info or pix of them? Getting restless:D
 
I don't know about the other patterns, but I just took a peanut from the '80's and one I bought last year and put them side to side. With the exception of the nail nick and the stamp, there isn't much to tell between them. The more recent one is slightly over-polished by the bolsters and has a less pointy tip on the clip blade, so...

I think that it is best based on an individual basis. They are mass produced, but they are hand finished, which does make a difference, so if you have particular expectations you need to handle the exact knife you want before you buy.
 
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