Current Case Knives With Half Stops?

[RJA-Design]

I suppose you have sufficient answers now. My Case knives with half stops are my mini trappers and my peanut. I definitely prefer no half stops.

Why the preference? I hadn't owned a traditional style knife in probably twenty years, so I'm rediscovering them and learning about all the different types. I now have three, two with half stops and one without. The one without seems more likely to close on a finger, but I'd like to hear why you prefer no half stop.

 

[Prester John]

Why the preference? I hadn't owned a traditional style knife in probably twenty years, so I'm rediscovering them and learning about all the different types. I now have three, two with half stops and one without. The one without seems more likely to close on a finger, but I'd like to hear why you prefer no half stop.

I have carried pocketknives most of my life. Never had one with a half-stop till a couple of years ago when I started to "get into" the hobby, if you will. Maybe it's just a preference. I like anchovies on my pizza but my wife does not. She likes mushrooms, but I loathe them.
Maybe they seem too abrupt for me. I like a knife that opens in a smooth action without jerking to a stop halfway through. I like the actions on my Case non- halfstop knives, but probably my favorite action is on my Laguiole knife from France. It opens easily and snaps open firmly, almost like a locking knife. To close I have to exert some pressure but the blade stops when it is almost half closed; then I push it slowly closed. I can let it snap closed because it has a blade stop, but I generally use two hands to close it carefully. I like that when it stops when I am closing it, it does not do so abruptly, like my Case knives and my GEC knives. It just slows down gradually. Maybe you have to experience it.

I also like friction folders like Opinel. No backspring-- you just pull the blade open, and close when you are done. No snapping closed. Also I have a Spanish navaja with no backspring. Just pinch it open and it locks with a wonderful mechanism. Closes real easy too.

Anyway, the bottom line is that I guess it's just a personal preference. I am still learning what I like and don't like.

 

[RJA-Design]

I have carried pocketknives most of my life. Never had one with a half-stop till a couple of years ago when I started to "get into" the hobby, if you will. Maybe it's just a preference. I like anchovies on my pizza but my wife does not. She likes mushrooms, but I loathe them.
Maybe they seem too abrupt for me. I like a knife that opens in a smooth action without jerking to a stop halfway through. I like the actions on my Case non- halfstop knives, but probably my favorite action is on my Laguiole knife from France. It opens easily and snaps open firmly, almost like a locking knife. To close I have to exert some pressure but the blade stops when it is almost half closed; then I push it slowly closed. I can let it snap closed because it has a blade stop, but I generally use two hands to close it carefully. I like that when it stops when I am closing it, it does not do so abruptly, like my Case knives and my GEC knives. It just slows down gradually. Maybe you have to experience it.

I also like friction folders like Opinel. No backspring-- you just pull the blade open, and close when you are done. No snapping closed. Also I have a Spanish navaja with no backspring. Just pinch it open and it locks with a wonderful mechanism. Closes real easy too.

Anyway, the bottom line is that I guess it's just a personal preference. I am still learning what I like and don't like.

Thanks for the explanation. I think that all makes sense. I have a collection of modern locking knives (frame, liner, compression, axis, etc..) and I love those. Getting into the traditional pocket knives, there are a million choices. I'm still learning what the different patterns were traditionally used for and how they got their names. Pretty damn cool history behind all of it. The closing mechanisms is another factor. My Case stockman is a beautiful knife. It feels like good quality and I'm really digging the vintage feel of it. When I was a kid (I'm 45 now), all my pocket knives were either swiss army knives, back locks or folders with half stops. I think because of that experience, I was thrown off a little with the Case not having a half stop, but now I'm warming up to it. I still need to pick up a Laguiole knife at some point. There are some beautiful designs I've seen in reviews and forums. Anyway, thanks man, that helps me understand a bit more. Also, I'm currently l Spanish navaja knives. Those are pretty interesting knives. I may have to pick one up at some point.

 

[Prester John]

Also, I'm currently l Spanish navaja knives. Those are pretty interesting knives. I may have to pick one up at some point.

Here's mine:

By José Herreros in Albacete, Spain. A litttle over four inches closed. Handle is polished deer antler point, steel is 440C. No backspring, simply pinch open and it locks. To release, lift the "palanquilla" to release the blade, and close it. No half stops, no blade snapping closed on fingers. Simple old design. Super sharp.

 

[RJA-Design]

Here's mine:
By José Herreros in Albacete, Spain. A litttle over four inches closed. Handle is polished deer antler point, steel is 440C. No backspring, simply pinch open and it locks. To release, lift the "palanquilla" to release the blade, and close it. No half stops, no blade snapping closed on fingers. Simple old design. Super sharp.

That's a cool looking knife! Nice find! Yeah, I'm going to have to look into finding one of those. There is a neat bit of history in that blade design. Thanks for posting the picture!

 

[guy g]

View attachment 1361809 View attachment 1361808 View attachment 1361807 Pics are of my Trapper. My knowledge of Case knives is not much. I've had the quite a while. As seen in pics it has half stops.