Case vs. Sak

Alberta Ed said:
I wouldn't consider either brand as collectors. Good mass produced cutting tools but little intrinsic value.
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Collecting is as intrinsic as it gets, unless you’re collecting for prized items for monetary value, and then it’s extrinsic. For instance, I have a collection of GECs merely because I like the products and like to use different knives. They are used and now no longer command a high monetary value. You’re inappropriately assigning the rationale for the collection.
 
I really can't add to what others have stated. I will say that I get way more personal value out of something like an Alox Farmer by Victorinox than a Case mini Trapper. The Vic is going to be more robust with better walk and talk and most certainly isn't as likely to hit the back spring and dull the edge. The Vic will do everything I need of a knife as well as offer a few very handy daily tools.

That said, I have no emotional connection to any SAK in my collection. All handy tools...all basically soulless. My Case mini Trapper has an aggravating flat spot on the edge and a good gouge in the back spring from said edge having a poorly ground kick. However, I know that I got that knife for father's day about 7 or 8 years ago. My toddler daughter picked it out with my wife on Amazon because she knew that red was my favorite color....well, it's not. It's green. I rather hate red, but my 3 year old thought it suit me. So at a personal emotional level, I find more value in that Case with its rubbing blades, flat edge, and dye job that looks about as red as Technicolor Lucille Ball. Mostly because the thought means more to me than the quality of the knife.

However, I never carry it. My daughter is now 11. She has a Leatherman and 4 SAKs. I love my Case for what it is, but I am much happier knowing that if I ask to borrow my daughter's knife it will be capable and of high FnF.
 
I feel that the Victorinox SAK should be the quality standard most knife manufacturers strive to attain. I have been purchasing them for at least 30 years and have yet to find one with a QC issue. Everything about them is well done and consistent. They are one of the best knife values around IMO.

I have yet to own a Case that didn't have an issue. They still haven't figured out how to put a point on a knife, which is mind boggling.
 
Mitchell Knives said:
They still haven't figured out how to put a point on a knife, which is mind boggling.
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Ain’t that the truth, I bought a yellow sodbuster for work recently and the tip was about as rounded as a butter knife. I fixed that and tapped the pivot with a hammer to clean the terrible side to side play. Definitely not the same knife I remember buying 25 years ago, but I’m not sending a $30 knife back when I can fix it myself.
 
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David Guilbert said:
Which is the better knives to collect case or victorinox?
Looking for quality and value.
I plan on carrying some. Who has the better steel?
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Case is more collectable. More variety.
Victorinox makes something that most folks find to be the handier everyday tool.
Steel is equal. Almost identical alloy and heat treated to a similar hardness.

I have more Case knives than Victorinox, and I like them very much. But my most common everyday carry these days is a Victorinox Electrician. And I carried a Vic Classic on my key ring for years until I switched to a Vic Rambler.
 
As a knife guy, this hurts to say, but you don't buy Case or Victorinox knives for the steel. Their steels are OKish, they're appropriate for the intended purpose of the knives and price point considering the build quality, but neither of them use steels that approach modern standbys in edge retention. Both of them have great geometry though, so as long as you aren't looking for a steel to geek out over you should be fine with what they offer.

Also with collecting Victorinox many of the devils are in the details, they are all variations on only a few frame sizes and a couple of designs with different tool and blade options, but they are also one of the most consistent manufacturers in the knife world. I don't believe I have ever encountered a Vic with an issue or flaw that seemed related to a production mistake or inconsistency, for a given frame they're nearly identical across years and layer counts.
 
NG VI said:
As a knife guy, this hurts to say, but you don't buy Case or Victorinox knives for the steel. Their steels are OKish, they're appropriate for the intended purpose of the knives and price point considering the build quality, but neither of them use steels that approach modern standbys in edge retention
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You're right that the steels aren't anything "special", but I'd say they're more than sufficient for a good knife.
To put it another way, I've never found myself weeping openly over a blunted SAK in the woods crying, "I wish Victorinox offered something in S35VN!".
 
NG VI said:
As a knife guy, this hurts to say, but you don't buy Case or Victorinox knives for the steel. Their steels are OKish, they're appropriate for the intended purpose of the knives and price point considering the build quality, but neither of them use steels that approach modern standbys in edge retention. Both of them have great geometry though, so as long as you aren't looking for a steel to geek out over you should be fine with what they offer.

Also with collecting Victorinox many of the devils are in the details, they are all variations on only a few frame sizes and a couple of designs with different tool and blade options, but they are also one of the most consistent manufacturers in the knife world. I don't believe I have ever encountered a Vic with an issue or flaw that seemed related to a production mistake or inconsistency, for a given frame they're nearly identical across years and layer counts.
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All excellent points. Good post. :thumbsup:
 
I own plenty of both flavors. Case definitely win as to aesthetics. SAKs prevail, by far, in the important metric of utility to size. And they also have plenty of "feel good" for the collector/hoarder/user. What really matters is which one makes your leg tingle. And there is no reason not to hoard both. If I had to go one direction, it would be Victorinox as you get so many more tools in the pocket for about the same size as a Case.

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Gratuitous pic.
 
Best one to COLLECT? I don't know.

Best one that I have found to carry with me though is the SAK offerings. Really something else as far as ease of carry and utilitarian purpose.

I carry a SAK Rambler, and I'll likely do so until I perish from this earth.

The ALOX collections are probably worth pursuing, but I'll revert to my "I don't know" as a qualifier for my opinion.
 
Velitrius said:
Best one to COLLECT? I don't know.

Best one that I have found to carry with me though is the SAK offerings. Really something else as far as ease of carry and utilitarian purpose.

I carry a SAK Rambler, and I'll likely do so until I perish from this earth.

The ALOX collections are probably worth pursuing, but I'll revert to my "I don't know" as a qualifier for my opinion.
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I will add on to comments I've made earlier in the thread, specifically concerning the ALOX knives. Sadly, unless you scored the special colors when they came out direct from the various dealers/retailers, you'll be paying what they command on secondary, and unless it's something you got a screaming deal on, there's not going to be too much more you can squeeze out of other collectors. I've done a deep-dive on SAKS recently, and my recommendation for anyone wanting to collect SAKS with the intention of having a collection of value someday, would be to start buying the current offerings, and trawl through the Bay because there ARE deals to be had there, mainly due to the fact that a lot of people are always on there selling SAKs they picked up as part of a collection they bought, or else they just don't know what they have.

As an example, the current LE ALOX color is Tiger Orange for 2021, and they've sold out at a few dealers. However, there are some other retailers and dealers (like SwissBianco, who has a section here on BF, incidentally) who has done multiple runs of ALOX knives in Orange that's VERRRRRY close to Tiger Orange (I have one of both knives I'm speaking of here, and it's darn near indistinguishable), and it was done before Victorinox started making him mark his blades with his name, so you could wait six months, search out "Orange ALOX SAK" on the Bay and you might get a good deal because they look effectively the same. To talk numbers, Bladeforums supporting dealers were selling the Tiger Orange 2021 at around $70. Now, in five years, that will probably be closer to $300 if the 2015 LEs are to be believed. SwissBianco was selling his orange Pioneer/Farmers for like $110. You don't see many of those for sale now, because collectors tend to keep 'em, and when you DO see SB knives on secondary they are...ahem, not inexpensive.

Man, maybe it would be easier to just collect Case. LOL
 
Can't argue about the quality issues with Case, and it really is a shame because it's put alot of enthusiasts off of the brand. I've been pretty lucky on the draw so far myself, but the issues are well documented enough to prove that they are obviously widespread. I think I have had to return one so far IIRC, and also that purplish Swayback I posted on the previous page had a somewhat visible pin on the bolster (something that particular bugs me because I like to put a brushed finish on all of mine and it comes across as shoddy work on my part). Perhaps the average Case knife buyer doesn't care about or notice these issues enough that Case gets by on it's name. It seems that some versions are better that others, so that proves that they can have quality fit and finish when they try, which honestly reflects even more poorly on them IMO. Whereas I echo the already stated opinion on Victorinox when it comes to quality, NEVER an issue EVER in my my experience.

When it comes to utility, the answer is obvious as far as I'm concerned. One of them can open a beer which is reason enough to tip the scales towards the SAK. I carry my Case knives as more of trinket, one that I carry and use to cut things just because it brings me enjoyment to do so. Let's face it, with all of the knives I carry it's not like I "need" another blade.
 
@Quiet that's a decent set of thoughts. I had not researched these pieces at all, I was just tossing out my thoughts on which I would amass for myself.

But it does stand to reason that a quick run through someplace like eBay would give at least some cursory indication as to future value.

OP did mention that carrying some of them would be a priority, and I gotta say the SAK's sure come in handy.

Not to say that a good example of a Sodbuster Jr. isn't just as handy sometimes.
 
Velitrius said:
@Quiet that's a decent set of thoughts. I had not researched these pieces at all, I was just tossing out my thoughts on which I would amass for myself.

But it does stand to reason that a quick run through someplace like eBay would give at least some cursory indication as to future value.

OP did mention that carrying some of them would be a priority, and I gotta say the SAK's sure come in handy.

Not to say that a good example of a Sodbuster Jr. isn't just as handy sometimes.
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Thank you! Honestly, if you're going to carry the knives as well, then SAKs make even more sense, because you could have, say a limited color ALOX Pioneer, and then go pick up a regular silver, red, or black ALOX Pioneer for actual carry. Common, replaceable, and a quality EDC. You lose it, eh, not a problem, grab another because they're available virtually everywhere and the new one will be functionally identical. Contrast that with, say, a Case Jack where if you lose it, the next one you get might have scale gap, blade rap, an off-center blade, maybe you can't find the exact same scale color, etc. There are pros and cons but I'd be lying if I didn't say I was more a fan of Victorinox than Case at this point, and it's not close.
 
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