Case vs GEC

I will probably buy another case stockman, probably a 63062, because it was an EDC carry fir years. With that said, GEC has a stockman like my MM cammie which had 2 liners on one side, instead of a good crink in the blades.. I will however put my GEC 56 in ebony in my pocket tomorrow for a good amount of time.
 
I've always been a value buyer, looking for the most usefulness out of my dollar.

I understand the attention to detail argument, and if I was a knife collector I would give that more weight in my equation.

I understand the rugged argument, and if I was a rancher, farmer, or some other professional that demanded daily hard use out of my tools I would give that more weight in my equation.

But I am neither, and my Case knives do exactly what I expect of them, and have never failed.

I have owned four GEC knives. One of the first two had to be returned because the pull on the blade was so hard I could not open it with my hand alone. What value to me has a knife that I cannot open to use? Zero. I still have one, a 65 Ben Hogan, which I very much enjoy. For the money I got from selling the other two I was able to buy these five Case knives which are all excellent daily users for me and my son:

chestnut bone peanut
yeller peanut
1978 6344 small stockman
1978 6232 jack
1978 6207 mini trapper jack

I am much more satisfied with these five Case pocket knives than the three GEC I had. They do what I need a knife to do.
 
FarmKid said:
Ok guys let's Hear it. If case went up against GEC in a grudge match which would come out victorious? I mean puttin two knives through the toughest nastiest tests imaginable. I'd like to hear which case and which GEC you'd put against one another and which u would choose the victor. Use your imagination and anything goes!
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In general discussion, I think it has been previously determined that the best knife for a zombie apocalypse is a smatchet. So I'm going to go with Case. ;)

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One thing I will say about GEC, it's not for everyone. I find when I lend people a GEC to use, sometimes I have to open and close it for them for safety's sake. Or wince as they try to open or close it themselves. Some knives are like setting a Bear Trap. :eek: :D
 
I dearly love Case but GECs are over built so they're going to hold up better on average. That said a well done Case will do all that I need to do with a slippy easily!
 
Farmkid, please keep us posted on your thoughts about your green 73. Like 555 said, some folks don't even have the hand strength to open thos guys :)
 
richstag said:
Farmkid, please keep us posted on your thoughts about your green 73. Like 555 said, some folks don't even have the hand strength to open thos guys :)
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True but its very satisfying when you can... The #48s, in my experience, aren't as bad. Neither are the newer #73s with a lanyard hole.
 
Thanks Trand,

I have the same experience with the newer 73's and the only 48 I have is the scagel.

With that said I can still hand any of them to guys that can't open them. I was surprised to gift a 73 to a friend of mine who works with his hands all day everyday and is very strong, but he had a hard time opening it at first. Turns out he was just unfamiliar with the best way to handle the knife :)
 
Btw, I agree Trand, it is most satisfying when you can easily open these knives. I wouldn't trade the strong springs for a weak spring on a knife like the 73.
 
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. Here is tha trapper I use so hard. Still tight all tha way around. Cleaned it up a bit tho.
 
555 said:
One thing I will say about GEC, it's not for everyone. I find when I lend people a GEC to use, sometimes I have to open and close it for them for safety's sake. Or wince as they try to open or close it themselves. Some knives are like setting a Bear Trap. :eek: :D
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I just really have a hard time relating to a grown man being completely unfamiliar with a traditional pocket knife, but after wincing a few times myself when watching a novice try to manipulate a well sprung slippie I ask if they are familiar with slipjoint knives before I let someone use my knife.

I was probably 8 years old or so (definitely under 10) when my dad first showed me how to play mumbley-peg, and then let me carry my own little pen knife. Thankfully my dad thought enough of me to just show me the basics and let the knife teach me the rest. Which it happily did :D
 
My first GEC was a Tidioute Big Jack with half stops. I had never before experienced springs that stout, but after cleaning, oiling and working them a little they became quite smooth, although still very firm. I am blessed with "old hickory" fingernails, so no problems there. A few of the #73 Scouts have been even harder, and every once in a while a pen secondary is really tough. But, I prefer them to softies.
 
I like strong springs on slip joints, because they don't close as easily when you're doing something you shouldn't, with a slip joint. :D

Like an engine, where there is metal to metal contact, there is a break in period, after break in, they run better and smoother. :thumbup:

Remember to check the oil regularly and change the lint filters as well. :D
 
AG Russel needs not to send more work to China.
I don't understand how a texas work knife can be made in another country???

I'll never spend a quality price for a foreign made knife, not while I have a choice.

But, this is also my gripe with Case and why I have an easier time deciding that GEC is best for me.

I hope that the Daniels family can get Queen back to what they were, then we can have a real competition between American knife companies.
 
It sounds like GEC makes better knives, which makes sense since they put so much personal touch and refinement into their knives. But I will stick with Case because they are more accessible. I don't like using collector's items as user knives. I really like the new #72 GEC in plum jigged bone, but it sold out as soon as it hit the market. The only way I can get one is to buy it from a collector. And then I wouldn't want to use it, knowing how precious and in-demand it is. So I'll have to do without. My Case knife? I can buy a dozen of them if I want, and they are still fantastic. My favorite knife, actually. :D

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