Finally made a decision!

Starfish

Starfish

Joined
Jun 14, 2001
Messages
1,256
After being bit by the traditional knife bug a few months ago, you may recall that I started asking quite a few questions about the different patterns and steels and all manner of trivia with respect to traditional folding knives. Even after I received input from the readers of this sub-forum, I still didn't know which knives, if any, to buy. A good friend of mine put it best: "Ah, the mental anguish of weighing all the relevant factors which must be considered in coming to these world shaping decisions."

As the subject line indicates, I have finally alit from the proverbial fence, and engaged the oft-pulled trigger for two knives, which should arrive here in time for Christmas. First of these is the Case small Texas jack in amber bone with CV steel (product description and images from Knifeworks):

Case small Texas jack

The second of these is the Case yellow-handled mini-trapper (CV steel):

Case yellow-handled mini-trapper

The two biggest factors in my decision were the closed length and the two blade pattern. I find that my Victorinox Soldier works well for me for EDC, and so I looked for knives with that approximate size (3.5" closed). The two-blade pattern preference is tenative, and is mostly rooted in personal tastes rather than experience with the functional aspects of all pattern types. I suspect that as I become more familiar with slipjoints that I will eventually pick up other patterns like the stockman and Congress.

Thanks everyone, for the advice and information given to me during my quest. I learned a lot about slipjoints in a short amount of time, and I believe the probability of a successful find has risen dramatically thanks to your assistance! :)

Matthew
 
Hey Starfish. Do yourself a favor and get one of Bernie Levines books on knives. That is where the info is. After reading and thumbing thru one for just a little while you will have been taken over completely. Plus you will be that much more enlightened.
Greg
 
I totally agree with Greg (by the way, how many Cripple Creeks DO you have, if I might ask :) ) on this point....get Levine's Guide #4 (not #5, which Mr.Levine had nothing to do with). You can still get a copy from A.G. Russell...I think they are $45 + shipping. Sounds expensive....but REALLY worth it. You might find one on eBay.....but it would be quite a find.

Bill
 
How many CC's do I have? I have never really oounted them. I have quite a few I guess.
Greg
 
I don't in any way want to hijack this thread (sorry Starfish :( )....

I just happened to think of all the very nice pictures Greg has posted of many nice Cargill/Cripple Creek knives....made me think he must have quite a nice collection.

Maybe Starfish will go for a Cripple Creek traditional pattern someday as well as the new Case knives, now that he's "Hooked" :) .

Bill
 
El Lobo said:
I don't in any way want to hijack this thread (sorry Starfish :( )....

I just happened to think of all the very nice pictures Greg has posted of many nice Cargill/Cripple Creek knives....made me think he must have quite a nice collection.

Maybe Starfish will go for a Cripple Creek traditional pattern someday as well as the new Case knives, now that he's "Hooked" :) .

Bill
Click to expand...

No problem, Bill. You actually answered my first question after Greg posted his advice to get a BRL book...namely, which one?

I've looked at the Cripple Creek knives, usually those linked in by this forum. I'm pretty interested, but I think the advice to pick up BRL4 would be a wise idea so that I can distinguish between the "good" Cripple Creeks and the "not-so-good"...

Hopefully the Case knives that I receive will only add to the fires, and not be a disappointment that turns me away!

Matthew
 
Well, I received the knives yesterday afternoon. The yellow mini-trapper looks very nice. I'm very pleased with the fit/finish and walk/talk. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that both blades have half-stops. The only downside was that the blades were not as sharp as I'd like them to be but I kind of expected that.

The Texas Jack, on the other hand, was a disappointment. The handles look awesome, and the shape of the handle is nice too. Again, fit/finish and walk/talk are fine. However, the edge on the clip blade is uneven, and worse yet -- on one side, the edge has two distinct angles. It almost looks like a tanto on that side of the blade!

Needless to say, I'll be sending the Texas Jack back. I'm not sure yet whether I'll just get a refund, or if I'll exchange for the same or another Case knife. In the meantime, I've got to head out to the hardware store to find a replacement as it was supposed to be a Christmas present :(

Matthew
 
This is a fine example of my concerns voice on another thread about Quality Control. Check it out and learn from it. Perfect example. I hope the next one is better made. Merry Christmas to all
 
"Walk and talk" and "fit and finish" are the most important things to me in a regular pocketknife. I really don't expect a good edge on a regular pocketknife. I mainly owned/used Schrade Old Timers and Uncle Henrys all my life until about 5 years ago and always had to put a good edge on them myself. I didn't even realize that a factory knife could come sharp until I got my first Spyderco. :o
 
I opened the knives again (the knives were Christmas presents to me), and found that I overexaggerated how bad the texas jack edge was. I think I can probably fix that up, and I know I would have to put my own edge on the knife anyway :)

So, allow me to flip-flop here and say that I am pleased with the knives that I received. As Suerte pointed out, the important things were covered: fit and finish, and walk and talk. The edges are OK, but nothing to write home about. I do love the patterns that I picked out, and I'm glad I spent the time asking questions in this forum and researching specifications before purchasing. There may be more Case knives in my future, but there will definitely be more slipjoints! :)

Thanks again, everybody, for all of the advice that I received over the past few months!

Matthew
 
Sword and Shield said:
Queen's about the only one that puts a really good factory edge on a knife. Case cna do OK, but Queen is excellent.
Click to expand...

Where are you from and/or where do you get your Queens from? I've yet to handle a Queen knife with a factory edge that I'd call "good". The best I've seen so far would rate "barely adequate". As a point of reference, Vic SAKs have factory edges that rate "good" to me.

Leo

PS

Don't get me wrong, I love Queens.
 
Lion said:
Where are you from and/or where do you get your Queens from? I've yet to handle a Queen knife with a factory edge that I'd call "good". The best I've seen so far would rate "barely adequate". As a point of reference, Vic SAKs have factory edges that rate "good" to me.

Leo

PS

Don't get me wrong, I love Queens.
Click to expand...

Odd. I've had one poorly edged Q, my first- a whittler. My Coco muskrat shaved out of the box, and my CSB Special Muskrat was about 3 strokes on a Sharpmaker away. My latest- a CSB toothpick- had almost the best edge I've ever seen on a factory knife. Shaved easily, almost as sharp as my best Spyderco.

I'm out of Ohio, but all of mine have come from Knifecenter.
 
sometimes its "hit or miss" with queen. The majority that I have bought have had good razor edges. some have not, but for the most part its been pretty good.
 
Starfish said:
So, allow me to flip-flop here and say that I am pleased with the knives that I received. As Suerte pointed out, the important things were covered: fit and finish, and walk and talk. The edges are OK, but nothing to write home about. I do love the patterns that I picked out, and I'm glad I spent the time asking questions in this forum and researching specifications before purchasing. There may be more Case knives in my future, but there will definitely be more slipjoints! :)
Matthew
Click to expand...
Matthew.... I have followed this thread since you started it, as I have both of those knives too. In fact, I bought the 62032CV Amber Bone Jack as a user, because I had previously picked up a truly mint - never out of the box - 1981 62032, and I couldn't bring myself to use that one.

My Amber Bone Jack didn't suffer the problems that yours did by the way, it was even, and shaving sharp straight out of the box. (Aside: why is it that I have lots of hair on the back of my right hand, and my left hand is as smooth as a baby's bottom?)

So.... how do you feel about them now it is a few weeks later?

Cheers
Rod
 
Rod Neep said:
Matthew.... I have followed this thread since you started it, as I have both of those knives too. In fact, I bought the 62032CV Amber Bone Jack as a user, because I had previously picked up a truly mint - never out of the box - 1981 62032, and I couldn't bring myself to use that one.

My Amber Bone Jack didn't suffer the problems that yours did by the way, it was even, and shaving sharp straight out of the box. (Aside: why is it that I have lots of hair on the back of my right hand, and my left hand is as smooth as a baby's bottom?)

So.... how do you feel about them now it is a few weeks later?

Cheers
Rod
Click to expand...

Hi Rod,

I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it, but it turned out that the clip blade of the yellow mini-trapper was rounded off when I received it. I sent that knife back to Case shortly after the holidays, and was just informed by the Case historian and KFC moderator that it was shipped back to me yesterday. I look forward to getting that knife back for some pocket time!

As for the small Texas jack: I have been carrying it everyday since the holidays! It's a great knife; just the right size handle to grasp, without being too big for the pockets. The jigged bone gives the handle some texture to improve grip, in addition to the shape of the handle itself. The small pen blade is terrific for detail work, as it is nearly straight for the entire length of the edge - sort of a modified Wharncliff. The larger blade, of course, is good for cutting apples, opening envelopes, and all the other things for which I carry a knife.

All in all, I have been pleased with the small Texas jack despite the minor edge unevenness. I have no doubts that I will be similarly pleased by the mini-trapper when it gets back :)

Thanks for asking,

Matthew
 
Starfish said:
As for the small Texas jack: I have been carrying it everyday since the holidays! It's a great knife; just the right size handle to grasp, without being too big for the pockets.
The larger blade, of course, is good for cutting apples, opening envelopes, and all the other things for which I carry a knife.

Matthew
Click to expand...
Ah! :) Cutting apples.

So your carbon steel Texas Jack now has a blade that has lovely greys, blues, purples and oranges, and the start of a gey patina that makes a knife look like one that has lived. (Just like mine).

Way to go ! ;)

Cheers
Rod
ps. I like my Jack so much that I have now also ordered a Case CV Amber Bone Stockman.
 
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