Case quality

Last few years I have had good luck. I received a mini copperlock stag that was vault tight, and no flaws, then I got a slimline trapper yellow delrin cv that was also almost perfect except the blade was off favoring the mark side but with that long blade it wasn't a problem and didn't rub. The tips were not a rounded (by media tumble) as in the past either.
I always wanted a cheetah swinguard so I recently purchased a Chestnut CV from collectorknives at a very resonable price, wow, was I surprised at how good it is. Lock up is smooth and solid, all transitions on covers and bolsters are great, centered blade, very minimal gap at rocker but that is understandable as you wouldn't want binding. And the swing guards are vault tight in the open and closed position. I know this model is not popular but I love it.
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black mamba said:
Production line knives have always been "hit or miss," with most of them in the hit category. Unfortunately, people do like to complain, so the misses get most of the ink. Case has always made a good knife for the money, and still do.
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I bought my first Case this year, a sod buster Jr with the black synthetic scales. I received it with the blade acutely off center, but not rubbing, and with a hideous buff line on both sides of the blade. I kept it anyway, as I planned on keeping it in my pocket daily, and maybe as a reminder that no one is perfect, especially me. It definitely has some character. Actually, it reminded me of something a beginner would put out, say if you had to get an inexperienced person to assemble pocket knives during a pandemic/labor shortage. Anyway, I'm feeling blessed to have more knives than I have hands! It was the one I wanted and also the only one I could find in stock anywhere. I understand a company trying to sell everything they produce, as many of their knives will go straight to work, and after all, if you don't like the particular knife you have in hand, you don't have to buy it, or you can just return it. But really, would it be more honest of them to classify some as seconds and sell them that way? I know, in my case, we're only talking about a $30 knife, but if I was buying one that cost more, I would have promptly returned it. Hoping my next Case is a "hit"!
 
Paul142857 said:
I do a lot of watching on the various knife forums but this is my first posting here. There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the quality decline of Case knives, and a couple of years ago I got a Case barlow that was definitely sub-par. But yesterday I got two Case knives (from an online order) that are nearly perfect. A canoe with crimson jigged bone scales, and a half whitler with cream barn-door jigged bone scales. I'm very pleased with these knives and hope that it indicates an overall improvement in quality from Case.
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The 08 half whittler seems to generally be one of their winners, definitely my favorite pattern from Case and one I rarely hear QC complaints about.
 
Not a big fan of the scrip shield , even less if it falls off. Not a risk I’m willing to take
Edit : I’ve had bad luck with non pinned shields / it’s a priority for me :)
 
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Hickory n steel said:
The 08 half whittler seems to generally be one of their winners, definitely my favorite pattern from Case and one I rarely hear QC complaints about.
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I agree. Not complaining, but the shield fell out of my HW CV Smooth bone today. Fell on the carpet, so a bit of Gorilla glue took care of it. Glad I was not outside in the grass. I still love it.
 
Bloodloss said:
I bought my first Case this year, a sod buster Jr with the black synthetic scales. I received it with the blade acutely off center, but not rubbing, and with a hideous buff line on both sides of the blade. I kept it anyway, as I planned on keeping it in my pocket daily, and maybe as a reminder that no one is perfect, especially me. It definitely has some character. Actually, it reminded me of something a beginner would put out, say if you had to get an inexperienced person to assemble pocket knives during a pandemic/labor shortage. Anyway, I'm feeling blessed to have more knives than I have hands! It was the one I wanted and also the only one I could find in stock anywhere. I understand a company trying to sell everything they produce, as many of their knives will go straight to work, and after all, if you don't like the particular knife you have in hand, you don't have to buy it, or you can just return it. But really, would it be more honest of them to classify some as seconds and sell them that way? I know, in my case, we're only talking about a $30 knife, but if I was buying one that cost more, I would have promptly returned it. Hoping my next Case is a "hit"!
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For the most part, Case knives have been very good in my experience. Especially for the price.

As for the Sodbuster Jr., that one has to be one of their best movers. Like the Buck 110, it can be found everywhere. I have only one and I picked it up at Lowes probably ten or twelve years ago on sale for under $20.

I’ve had Buck 110’s that I received as gifts from family, because they know I’m a knife guy, that were from big box stores and had less than stellar F&F.

My Sodbuster Jr. is similar. It’s centered well, has no side-to-side blade play and walks and talks like a knife worth much more than I paid for it.

Centered well enough.

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The flaw?

One side is ground deeper than the other.

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It doesn’t effect the performance and I can’t complain for what I paid so, it gets used and abused without fear of diminishing any preconceived resale value.

I enjoy putting this one to the ugly tasks. 😉
 
dave308ek dave308ek
I've been on the fence recently looking at swing guards and I must say that one is especially nice. It would make a nice Christmas present. Anybody listening?
 
JohnDF said:
And will give GEC a pass for having the exact same issues. 😜
I think Case is just too low-brow for some GEC and Above collectors.
But Case makes a great knife for the rest of us knife collectors, accumulators, and users.
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :) :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
John ;)
 
jmh33 said:
I agree!! :thumbsup: Just seems like there are those that feel its their duty to nit pick Case apart..:rolleyes::rolleyes:
John ;)
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Possibly.
There also may be a lot of new Case users who have seen Case knives everywhere their whole lives, heard so many tout Case as the best pocket knives ever because USA, seen so many oogle over them and trading them at gun shows, but they may have never handled a Case knife. So when these new users get a not so great example in their hands and think, WTFudge, this is the best pocket knife ever??? They may want to discuss it so they can get a better and more realistic overview of the brand.
 
In all seriousness Case makes a great product. When I got back into traditionals, I was only after GEC’s because of the perfect f&f. I quickly realized my Case knives with slight gapping and centering problems perform just as well as my more expensive “flawless” knives. If I were strictly collecting to show them off and admire them I’d go for GEC but it’s hard to beat Case when it comes to a user.
 
Jdottinger said:
I was recently gifted a Case Canoe and it has great f&f aside from the main blade rubbing. Doesn’t bother me at all, I’ve just nicknamed the knife Howard to make me feel better about the blade rub 😉
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Gifted would be fine. Blade rubbing when new? That's a factory second if we're being honest. Why not sell them accordingly?
Also, if someone experienced can explain for a new guy, can a slipjoint blade start leaning or rubbing at some point over the life of the knife, or does a blade stay pretty much near the position it was in new?
 
Bloodloss said:
Gifted would be fine. Blade rubbing when new? That's a factory second if we're being honest. Why not sell them accordingly?
Also, if someone experienced can explain for a new guy, can a slipjoint blade start leaning or rubbing at some point over the life of the knife, or does a blade stay pretty much near the position it was in new?
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I agree with you I was making a joke about how all the new white owls have blade rub and no one really seems to mind because it’s on a GEC. “Adds character”
 
Jdottinger said:
all the new white owls have blade rub and no one really seems to mind because it’s on a GEC
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Right? Doesn't make it a bad knife, just typical for the pattern.
But because GEC knives have become "valuable", so people are willing to look past it.
But when you get the same blade rub on a modest Case knife... it's "Oh My Gosh! That's a warranty issue!" 🤣
And personally, I'd rather have small F&F issues on a $50.00 knife than on my $150.00 knife.
GEC definitely makes the superior knife, but you have to pay for it... and sometimes "good enough is good enough."
 
JohnDF said:
Right? Doesn't make it a bad knife, just typical for the pattern.
But because GEC knives have become "valuable", so people are willing to look past it.
But when you get the same blade rub on a modest Case knife... it's "Oh My Gosh! That's a warranty issue!" 🤣
And personally, I'd rather have small F&F issues on a $50.00 knife than on my $150.00 knife.
GEC definitely makes the superior knife, but you have to pay for it... and sometimes "good enough is good enough."
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Yes! I couldn’t have said it better!
 
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