Case vs GEC and why?

TattooBlade

TattooBlade

Joined
Apr 4, 2009
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Just curious your thoughts. I carry mostly customs, but I have my share of both CASE and GEC. Just curious what you like and dislike about them and why. My only gripe with GEC is the price. For the price of a couple you can have a custom. Though I do like their selection. CASE to me just seems like the all American classic and a piece of history so I'll always have a place for them.
 
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I like GEC knives better.
I like the variety of styles that are offered.
Almost every GEC I've bought had excellent fit and finish.
I don't like that they are not as replaceable as Case knives.
 
I think there is definitely a place for both, and I have both. There is really no comparing them on quality, but then this is reflected in the pricing of both. I have a dozen or so Cases that I use, but only a couple that I safe queen. They don't seem to hold their value like the GECs do. I don't buy knives primarily as investments, but it is nice to know that with GEC, they never lose value, so most of my collection is GEC. With GEC there is more pride of ownership, and knowing I won't lose money on them is a nice cushion as well.
 
I'll go with Case. Had 1 gec that I couldn't open unless I used pliers. I know it is not fair to judge a whole brand based on 1 knife that I didn't like, but there isn't any place that I can go to try another GEC out first before I buy(that I'm aware of). I caved into the GEC based on reading about them on here. Outside the forums, I don't think most people have ever heard of GEC. Not that that is a bad thing, but I think 9-10 average guys on the forums will probably pick GEC, but 9-10 average guys that buy a knife in the "real world" or knife shop would pick the Case because they have heard of Case and not GEC.
 
Case offers a very nice product with bone covers at the lower end of the price range, in the 25-50 dollar range. The Case Chrome Vanadium line up is good looking and sharp our of the box.

But.......for me there is no comparison between GEC and Case products, and in my experience GEC quality and finish is so much better than Case that the 80-120 GEC price is well justified.

Also, even when Case tries to do stag or another high end cover material they just never seem to get it right to my eye and everything gets overpolished and washed out including the exotic covers.

Case is a good first slip joint if you are not sure you want a non-locking knife, and also a good knife for a young kid that might misplace it.

Jec88, i recommend you pick up a new GEC 15 with ebony, bone or micarta covers - you will fall in love. They are selling for 65-70 dollars, which is a bargain.
 
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This can and likely will turn into a bit of a spirited discussion. There are some strong feelings regarding both GEC and Case and they will likely manifest themselves over the course of the dialogue.

I own far more GEC knives than I do Case so that in of itself should tell you my stance on the matter. Most modern Case knives that I have handled lack the substance that GEC produces in their knives. GEC provides better consistency in quality, better cover choices, and better action.

That all being said, I do have some '60s and '70s vintage Case knives that are on par, if not better than some of my GEC knives. Case produces at such a volume that they can afford to have QC issues, lackluster covers, and anemic actions these days, but that wasn't always the case (no pun intended).

I think that despite the concerns related to the cost of GEC knives, they present a tremendous value and not only will they maintain that value but in many cases, they appreciate considerably.

It is important to note though that GEC is not infallible and do have some issues but they appear few and far between and I have heard pretty good things about their warranty and customer service.
 
I don't own any GEC knives, but that's because of price and availability.
I can walk to the local hardware store and buy something by Case if I wanted to, and in fact that's exactly how i got the Sodbuster jr that's in my pocket right now.
A few years ago I had a yardsale to get rid of some junk, when all said and done I figured I'd treat myself to a new knife after all that digging junk out and having to put away what didn't sell.

I've only got two case knives ATM but I know I'll get another some day because I feel they're priced really well for what I'm getting and my experiences so far have been great.
 
I think GEC's are well made across the board and Case can be hit or miss. I have some Case knives that are very well made and are on par with the GEC's I have. That said, when I order a GEC I know the fit and finish is going to be great where Case is a mystery....especially if you have to order online.

I also use my Case knives a little harder than my GEC's. They're cheaper and easily replaceable and that takes a lot of worry out of putting it through a work day. One of the biggest differences is that I don't work in an office and I get dirty and sweaty everyday. So the GEC 78 I just got and fell in love immediately with won't be in my pocket until the end of summer. Which kinda sucks when you're excited about a knife.

There's a time and a place for both :thumbsup:
 
I think it also important to note that if Case was not available in stores, produced with their current quality, and only did online transactions, I do not believe that they would be received nearly as well. The ability to examine a knife prior to purchase is something that is lauded by folks here but is also necessary due to their QC issues.

You can usually order a GEC and be assured that the knife you are receiving is going to be in pretty good shape. There are always exceptions, of course.
 
Case tend to be very puny knives to me for some reason. Ive purchased several of their single blade trappers/slim trappers and ive never liked their blade lengths, thickness etc. They are also another company that has poor blade to handle ratio to me. GEC makes what I like and at a price I'm comfortable with.
 
That is why I have been afraid to try another GEC. Bought the first one online, site unseen, and won't do that again because I couldn't open it. Don't know of any place that sells them where I can try them out first. Usually If someone on here posts a pattern from GEC I like, I just go to a shop that carries Case and I buy the Case version.
 
jec88 said:
That is why I have been afraid to try another GEC. Bought the first one online, site unseen, and won't do that again because I couldn't open it. Don't know of any place that sells them where I can try them out first. Usually If someone on here posts a pattern from GEC I like, I just go to a shop that carries Case and I buy the Case version.
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I know that GEC knives get discussed at length here after every release which includes discussing their pulls. If you are used to a Case pull, then you are likely looking for a fairly light pull. A lot of GEC's recent releases over the last year or so have produced pulls on the lighter side. It might be worth you checking out a few of their patterns that have been produced in the last couple of years. Just stay away from the 71s and 46s...
 
I'm not bashing GEC. The one I had was nice other than the pull. Case is just what I'm more familiar with, so more comfortable buying.. I'm really a Buck guy, with Case being my second favorite.
 
jec88 said:
I'm not bashing GEC. The one I had was nice other than the pull. Case is just what I'm more familiar with, so more comfortable buying.. I'm really a Buck guy, with Case being my second favorite.
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Oh, I don't think anyone here is interpreting you as bashing GEC, I think you have a legitimate criticism. I came into the game pretty late but I have heard that older GECs had notoriously difficult pulls.
 
TattooBlade said:
My only gripe with GEC is the price. For the price of a couple you can have a custom.
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Where can you get a custom slipjoint for ~ $200? I have one, but it was bought ten years ago and even then it was on the low end of the price scale.
 
I started essentially as Case as my "good" slip joints as a kid and I loved them. Every one I looked at then was well made. Roll the years forward and I find Case quality hit or miss (a QA/QC thing mostly) and I am unwilling to buy one outside a knife store where I can handle it before spending the money. I absolutely hate to return stuff (mail order) and yes, I pay a price for that with pairs of boots that don't fit, shoes I won't wear, knives I don't care about, and a whole host of other products that eventually head to the trash can or goodwill in the case of clothing, boots, and shoes.

It took some convincing to buy my first GEC slip joint. My first was purchased at a knife store and I'm sorry to say that it nearly took a pair of pliers to open it. I pretty much didn't really look at it beyond a glance. Had I stopped there as a poster above has, I would have missed out on a lot of well made high quality (approaching custom) slip joint knives. So, I'm pretty sold on GEC products and own more of their knives than any other brand.

The investment or recouping purchase price if I decide to sell is a useful bit of information, but I have yet to sell any and the pile slowly grows yearly. I don't buy them with this in mind and in fact is one of the least preferred reasons for choosing a GEC in general. I have no hesitation to buying one from an online seller. Just won't do that with Case.

I will buy a Queen/Schatt & Morgan on line when they were still making them. I hope to see them back in the saddle. All have been pretty good overall but some have needed substantial sharpening to be usable.
 
Not sure if it's on every model but all my GEC's came with a half stop which I really appreciate. I also prefer the pinned shields as opposed to the glued on one's case uses.

I have a few case's that are very well done but I've owned and handled a lot more that had terrible centering and blade rub.

Case does seem to do a better job with their back locks though; zero play in every one I've ever handled.
 
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