First impressions from GEC compared to my Rough Ryders from a traditionally un-trad-knife guy. Main point is Case, though (?)

Perhaps I've been abnormally 'lucky' ? I don't count my knives but probably have 25+ CASE and a few given to others. Can't say been horrified or seriously annoyed by any of them, quite the contrary as I carry and USE most of them frequently. Can I go into a shop and inspect one before buying? No, as I live in Europe so it has to be bought unseen...Russian Roulette? The chamber has yet to fire a deadly load :eek::D But it could...CASE make a huge volume of knives so therefore faults are more likely to be registered than say with GEC- small output- or RR small cost.

One of their knives I was not satisfied with due to blade play- otherwise the finish was very good, no gaps or bad fit of scales. I contacted them and they simply sent me a replacement telling me to keep the original! I don't know if they do that now but I was highly impressed at their attitude to overseas sales at the time. Another Stockman broke its spring- first ever knife to do this to me last year. CASE dealt with it quite quickly and efficiently. I just know I would not get this level of commitment from GEC (even e-mailing them you are very lucky to get a response...) and RR I would not know whom to contact and the shipping costs would be bigger than the knife's.

These are my experiences, I won't gainsay others' but I would not base a critique on just one knife, albeit first impressions. CASE make vastly superior Medium Stockman in my view to anything from GEC or RR, the 18 pattern has yet to be bettered. Superior how? Size, handling, range of scales, finish and choice of steel. Plus their small knives eclipse GEC. They also have a huge pattern range plus a real pedigree. This might be the reason I carry and use CASE knives more than other American or American owned (RR) brand? My GECs don't see so much use anymore, RR I used to buy as tester knives for the pattern, they're alright but don't believe they excite me so much. Nor has it to do with country of origin, a specious subject that I have no interest in whatsoever, these are inanimate objects.

All of these three companies make a decent, useful & interesting knife; in the end it's a matter of taste & aesthetics.

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But don't just believe me, have a look here: this is no crazed fanboy orgy either :D just rational enthusiasts.

Who still carries a Case Knife?

Which model do you prefer? What handle and blade materials?
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
Just Tom. said:
I could afford it - and maybe this is sharing too much here - but my wife is from a desperately poor town in a desperately poor country, and 100 or 200 dollars can be life-changing money for someone there. She has a family member we trust to distribute our charity money there, so sometimes when I get a hankering for some worldly item I don’t need, I add an extra $100 or so to what I usually send instead.
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That is what "giving" is all about. We tend to get wrapped up in our "first world problems", and forget what an impact our lunch or overpriced coffee money would make for someone in dire circumstances... good for you, sincerely....
 
Case does make some really fine knives... in my modest experience with them, it seems that they make some models more consistently wonderful than others. I've nearly without exception had good examples of the Swayback Jack/Gent... having owned probably 8 or so. Also the full size Copperhead. I've owned probably 4 or 5 of them. The Tribal Lock is also one I've never seen a bad example of...
Most of mine have been purchased online, and have been very nicely made. Case could definitely improve on their factory edge creation and sharpening, though.
Here's a swayback and a copperhead.....

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chevyrulez1 said:
Last time I was in TN and in the store, I asked to see one of the RR Moose pattern Tater Skin models because I thought they looked really cool. Opened the clip blade, and thought "this is cool"
Tried to open the spey blade and could not get it open, literally thought I was going to rip my thumbnail off, handed it back to the person at the counter thanked them and moved on.
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I don’t get it….. why not ask to see a second example?
Or even a third if necessary.
Back in the olden days when I’d shop in person I’d have the counter man pull out 3 or 4 and cherry pick the best of the lot.
Did it with knives, fishing reels and even boots.
 
Ebbtide said:
I don’t get it….. why not ask to see a second example?
Or even a third if necessary.
Back in the olden days when I’d shop in person I’d have the counter man pull out 3 or 4 and cherry pick the best of the lot.
Did it with knives, fishing reels and even boots.
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I thought about it, but already has several other purchases so I just decided to pass on that one.
 
I have handled only a few Rough Ryder knives, and they are great on the bang for the buck and fit and finish.

My one part is they feel heavy. The ones that I have handled feel Chunky. Basically a bit wide and heavy. I was really feeling it with a Copperhead, but then I felt my Boker Copperhead and it is a bit heavy. It's just that the Rough Ryders are a bit wider and a bit heavier. However they don't feel as delicate as some of the more expensive knives.

I've wanted to try some of the Carbon and D2 versions to see how they are, but the patterns I want seem to not come in the higher end Rough Ryder knives yet.
 
No complaints on any RR or RRR knives I’ve bought. A few got returned for little things but for the price I don’t see anything else comparable in F&F
 
afishhunter said:
I have three (pre-2015) Case; Sodbuster Jr, a teardrop with damascus Wharnciffe blade, and a CV canoe. All have no issues. All were gifted to me. Of the three, the canoe has seen the most pocket time.

I have four GEC: '22 BF Bunny Knife number 291 (a gift), a number 14 Barlow (won in a give-a-way), a number 85 Harness Jack (a gift), and a number 82 Stockman (a gift).
Great knives, but they don't get much pocket time. (the bunny knife has had the most; over 4 months, but not consecutivly. The stockman is carried more than the other two.)
I know I have "destroyed" all the "collector value" of my GEC's. They have all been carried, used, sharpened, and have a patina on (all) the blade(s).
Reason they don't get much carry time: If something happened to them, I would never be able to replace it in this lifetime: both cost AND availability. They are special occasion carry for the most part.

Buck slipjoints: Standard 301, the '18 BF 2 blade 301 "stockman", a 389 Canoe, and three 371 stockmans. I had a 373 (offshore version of the 303, to see if I liked the size) I gifted it to a friend, after determing a "medium" stockman is not for me.
I know they aren't, but they look ... "flimsy" in hand, and are "too small" (even though I like a 3.062 to 3.5 inch Barlow. 🙄)

I also have a XL offshore Buck Trapper, but don't recall the number, and don't have access to it now, anyway. It was one of the TV "Professional" fisherman's model from SMKW, back in 2016 or 2017.

My one complaint on the Trapper?
The Wharncliffe secondry blade has Micro serratons.
I detest/loathe serrations.
Even my bread knives don't have them. Yes. I can slice a fresh baked loaf of bread with them without crushing the bread.
Unlike that fraud "Chef Tony" I know how to slice bread without crushing it.🙄 )

No issues with the Buck's, tho to be honest, I like the bolsters of the offshore 371's better than the domestic 301's.
The bolsters on the domestic knives are much, much thinner. I "think" the offshore 371's provide better support to the pivot pins.
I do prefer the "light" IMHO "3" to "4" pull on the 301 and 303.
The offshore knives are a consistent Victorinox 85mm and larger like "5".

Rough Rider/Ryder:
I only have around 60 of them in various patterns, including but not limited to: Stockman (9), Barlow (9), Canoe (9), Moose (5) two styles Spey blades; extra belly (1) standard Spey blade (4), Loom Fixer (1), Marlin Spike (1) Sunfish/Elephant Toe (large) (3)Two 4" closed Sleeve board and one 4.25 inch closed equal end.
I don't have any of the Rough Ryder Reserve line.
They are out of my budget.

I agree that RR has the best edges (edge angle, sharpness, evenness) out of the box.

None of my RR needed introduction to a sharpening stone or even a strop out of the box. (Tho a 60+ years habit of stropping the blades of a new knife first thing, whether it "needs" it or not, is difficult to break. Oh well. Dry stropping don't hurt anything.)
I did reset the angle and thin the edges on my Case, GEC, and (425HC) Buck knives, first thing when I got them.
I'm sorry, but 30 degrees inclusive or higher is not "sharp".

(30 degrees inclusive is what 4 generations on both sides of my family was unanimous about being the proper angle on a axe/hatchet/ tomahawk and Adze. Knives and cleavers were 20 to 25 degrees inclusive.

Maternal grandfather (c1916-1966) wasa carpenter. He used a hatchet/roofing hatchet daily on the job.

Maternal great grandfather (1892-1974) was a farmer. He used an axe and hatchet every day on the farm. He also owned an Adze.
(he inherited it from his da) but I don't know how often he used it, outside of helping a neighbor built a barn, shed, or other outbuilding. (or constructing an outbuilding on his farm.)

Maternal great-great grandmother (c.1869-1963) was also knowlageable and skilled with use of an axe, hatchet, and Adze. I think Great-Great grandpa had a farm before moving to town and opening a general store.
Great-Great Grandma was of "native American" descent (I don't know what tribe or Nation) I don't know the conditions of her childhood andteen years, but she did tell me once her dad took her deer hunting the first time when she was 7 or 8. She went deer unting every year after until she was 90 or 91 and could not walk so good no more. I know shewas acrack shot with bow, (and knew how to make a wood self bow and the arrows for it using reeds) rifle, and revolver. I'm pretty sure sheknew how to toss a knife and hatchet or tomahawk to good effect, as well.
Truth to tell, shewas a cool "little old lady". I was 8 when she passed, so I did get some time (not enough) to spend with her.
At any rate, I figure (then and now) they knew what they were talking about when it come to edge angles and how to sharpen freehand, 😊

The pull on all my RR is a consistant 4 or 5 on all the blades on any one knife.
(Stockman's without a half stop are a Buck 301 like "4": with a half stop a smooth "5".
Patterns other than a stockman are a "4.5" to "5" pull on all the blades.)

The RR knives I have are all as good as or better than the more expensive knives, insofar as fit and finish is concerned. (excluding the big underlined "R" on the bolsters of the patterns that feature it.)

The heat treat on their 440A stainless steel, and T-10 carbon steel is at least as good as that of my vintage Imperial-Schrade family of brands knives with 440A "Schrade+" blades, and their 1095 carbon steel bades.
"Top Notch" in other words.

NOT a "popular" opinion, but I have fund the post 2004 offshore Schrade and Old Timer knives to be "better" than the pre-2004 domestic Schrade and Old Timer knives. ("Better" because the Swinden Key construction was finally dropped in 2004.)
The blade steel may be 7CR15Mov and 9CR18MoV (3CR whatever MoV for the Imperials, which I have not tried) but they hold an edge at leastaswell as the domestic knives did/do, and the factory edge angles are close to what the pre-2004 knives came with.
My only "complaint" is no carbon steel blades on the offshore produced knives.

For the best "Bang For the Buck" it is difficult to top the Rough Ryder.

OH!!! One other advantage of the Buck and Rough Rider over Case and GEC:
The Warrantee/Guarantee.

Both Case and GEC's warrantee/guarantee is valid for the original purchaser, WITH PROOF OF PURCHASE.
If you are not the original owner (excluding Case and GEC, and the dealerships and brokers before it was sold to the consumer) OR you ARE the "original" owner, but lost the original receipt, the knife is "out of warrantee" The Warrantee/Guarantee is null and void.
Obviously, they CAN repair a knife out of warrantee, for little or nothing if they choose to do so (and can do so without setting precident) but they are under zero obligation to do so.

Since all my GEC and Case were gifts, the warratee/guarantee is null and void on my knives.

Buck and Rough Ryder don't care if you are the original purchaser, or if you have proof of purchase.

Find a Buck or Rough Rider that has been lost in the woods for 20 plus years, or on the bottom of a river/crick/stream/lake/pond/ or even ocean for 20 plus years? It is still under the lifetime warrantee/guarantee!
(RR will replace with a knife the same pattern, since they don't have parts or a repair department.
Buck will repair if they have the parts, or replace with the closest current production model.)
Buck has e SPA program, in which you can have your old knife restored to like new condition for around $8. (a blade replacement (current production 420HC blade only. Advanced steels usually not available, even if the knife originally had aS30V, 440C, CPM154, etc blade.) adds something like $10 (if the blade not replaceable under warranty due to abuse/misuse/broken/over sharpened, etc) to the cost of a SPA.
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In my experience, Case repaired my knives for free even though the problem was my fault and w/o even asking how I got them.
 
I have a few RR and they’re all serviceable. I have a couple that are downright great. Their quality seems, on average, higher than Case and close to GEC, at least on my admittedly small sample. I don’t like their weirdness though. They have a lot of difficulty with making a normal, straightforward traditional knife. Everything about the knife will be ok except one or two aesthetic things that are just completely wrong/out of left field. This has to be deliberate and it makes me resent the brand. They could make awesome knives, and in a quest to be cool (to whom?) they choose mediocrity. It also wouldn’t be hard at all to have a line of more strictly traditional knives since they’re clearly good at making traditional slipjoint knives in a plethora of varieties. They could seriously establish themselves as a force and it would essentially only take a few strokes of the pen to do it.

GECs are mostly great, especially in the post-2019 timeframe. Their QC is really on point these days. It’s always been well above average but now it often approaches perfection. However, their price point is so high, and the purchasing process so involved, that there’s a definite reluctance to use the knives lest they be lost or damaged. Or just used at all/that first bolster scratch might cost me $100, especially if the pattern is now “collectible.” This doesn’t stop me from carrying them but it definitely makes using and carrying a GEC a much more weighty decision than it needs to be/should be. GEC has some great patterns but seem to have a reluctance to make anything thin or svelte. Most of their knives are on the chunky/rustic side, which isn’t always bad but I do have to scratch my head a bit since smaller patterns are generally more practical/all that’s necessary. I can’t fault them for following the market (the market doesn’t seem to appreciate the smaller patterns as much), but at the same time everything they make sells instantly so it seems a rather moot point. Nevertheless they have a nice story (“these knives are made with a lot of hand finishing and assembly by a few dozen real people in Titusville, PA”) and they’re usually excellent… so when that’s combined with a pattern that’s great and the details are superb too (typically the SFOs… again, seems the “regular” designs are often just a tad lackluster compared to what they could be…) it’s a magic combination. I, unfortunately, understand the allure and mystique, even if I shake my head at it.

Case are sometimes great sometimes rather poor, f&f wise. I like their patterns more than the other two companies but I wish they’d put $5 per knife (given they make thousands of knives a week this amount would go a long long way) into a little more finishing, QC, and make their shields classier than their current norm. Generally the shields are small, glued in, defaced with Case branding, and stamped in such a way they’re hard to read anyway. So, they could be much better too… but for them it would take a bigger process revamp. I don’t buy many new Case.
 
If ya like the Barlow pattern try a Boker. Very crisp action and fit n finish is awesome. Only wish they made a little bigger one too
 
donnord said:
I do not have a GEC but I have a couple of RRs, Cases, Camillus, and SAKs, and some others. I am always surprised by the RRs they are a lot of knife for the money. That said, I bought the RRs cause the designs were unique and interesting, but In general I avoid Chinese made knives. It seems from my limited observation that Case is riding the slipjoint craze and pricing accordingly, same with GEC to a point.
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ebrandwein said:
I was down on Case for a number of years but their quality control seems to have improved lately. The last three Case knives I bought were almost flawless.
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My opinion is that: Yes Case prices are rising and Yes Case uniformity and quality are improving. I consider those related.

I think GEC showed Case that people are willing to pay more for a nicer knife...And I think Case took the lesson to heart.
 
Ebbtide said:
I don’t get it….. why not ask to see a second example?
Or even a third if necessary.
Back in the olden days when I’d shop in person I’d have the counter man pull out 3 or 4 and cherry pick the best of the lot.
Did it with knives, fishing reels and even boots.
Click to expand...

The people at the Case counter at smkw always seem annoyed when I asked to see extra examples of a specific knife, but I'm not going to buy something with significant blade play. I do the same thing with any slipjoint. I guess most people don't really care.
 
Prior to 2015 I bought Case knives via internet and found no problems on any of them . Since then I have only bought Case that I sorted through to find an acceptable one . In 2015 I bought my first GEC and have never been disappointed . I did buy some of the very early Chinese knives and they were okay for the money but were too small . I have bought one RR but just could not like it . Well made but it was just blah . I have found that I prefer to buy Patterns and hand fit that I like and that just seems to be GEC knives .

Harry
 
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