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

Growing up one of my sisters liked chihuahuas i referred to them as texas rats another liked teacup poodles and the other liked homely sickly strays,myself I liked huskies and mastiff breeds.whats that have to do with case,rr,gec im not sure.but I own 6 case peanuts and all are excellent except one which had a few issues. But case makes a danm good peanut.not sure of a gec equivalent,and if there is one I don't think it would be worth the extra coin because of case peanut quality. Now the bigger gec that is another story.mind you most of my case mini trappers are fairly God quality except the light pull,but gec pulls are mostly heading it that direction of late.
 
CASE do small patterns far more convincingly than GEC do in my opinion-with the exception of the 33 Conductor (bit too much bolster for my liking though....)

The RR Peanut I have in Green chequered bone is a very good quality knife but I've never been able to get on with the Peanut craze which was in vogue a few years ago. I find them fiddly, despite having no dexterity issues and long thin fingers, the secondary blade often being very tricky to open, always preferred the Penknife arrangement blade each end. Peanut can't deal with a decent sized Apple or Pear unless you want the handle getting covered in juice and the little blade stuck...😂

Have a few RR knives but I no longer carry them and likewise GEC gets less carry than formerly, I like CASE, Queen Cutlery knives and European patterns, but I'm glad to have all of these in my collection too- you can look at them on the desk/table and enjoy too!
 
Jakeywax31 said:
Nothing wrong with liking either, Gary. Us spey people need to stick together.
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Tyson A Wright said:
No, no, no - no strikes against you. You like what you like, and it doesn't completely match with my tastes, but who cares? If I ever hire you to be my Official Knife Buyer, I guess we'll have to have a stern talk about how the clip point is the best blade shape, but until then, you do you!
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I was just kidding around about my preferences. 🤓
One of the things that's attracted me about The Porch right from the start is that everyone is welcome and accepted here, regardless of their preferences and idiosyncrasies! :thumbsup::cool::cool::thumbsup:

Tyson, we'll probably never get to the point of that "stern talk" because I don't intend pursuing a license to be an Official Knife Buyer. If it ever DID happen, you'd have to do a LOT of talking to convince me that a clip point blade is better than a spear point, drop point, lambsfoot, sheepsfoot, "leaf-shaped", and spey.

- GT
 
Will Power said:
CASE do small patterns far more convincingly than GEC do in my opinion-with the exception of the 33 Conductor (bit too much bolster for my liking though....)

The RR Peanut I have in Green chequered bone is a very good quality knife but I've never been able to get on with the Peanut craze which was in vogue a few years ago. I find them fiddly, despite having no dexterity issues and long thin fingers, the secondary blade often being very tricky to open, always preferred the Penknife arrangement blade each end. Peanut can't deal with a decent sized Apple or Pear unless you want the handle getting covered in juice and the little blade stuck...😂

Have a few RR knives but I no longer carry them and likewise GEC gets less carry than formerly, I like CASE, Queen Cutlery knives and European patterns, but I'm glad to have all of these in my collection too- you can look at them on the desk/table and enjoy too!
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I agree, the #33 Conductor is well done. The #68 is nice also. The #09 Esquire was very well done (if you like sleeveboards… I didn’t love the pattern per se but neither Case nor any other company could have designed it better…) Not as much a fan of the #66, though some love them, and the various other “small” ones seem too chunky in proportions to me, to be really elegant. Which is much of the point of a smaller knife.

I do like the Peanut, but I agree, a penknife configuration is usually superior. I’d like to see GEC do one. In Northfield trim, just the tiniest bit larger than Case’s version, but preserving the slim proportions of the Case, it might be a very good companion.
 
GaiusJulius said:
I agree, the #33 Conductor is well done. The #68 is nice also. The #09 Esquire was very well done (if you like sleeveboards… I didn’t love the pattern per se but neither Case nor any other company could have designed it better…) Not as much a fan of the #66, though some love them, and the various other “small” ones seem too chunky in proportions to me, to be really elegant. Which is much of the point of a smaller knife.

I do like the Peanut, but I agree, a penknife configuration is usually superior. I’d like to see GEC do one. In Northfield trim, just the tiniest bit larger than Case’s version, but preserving the slim proportions of the Case, it might be a very good companion.
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The 33 and 68 are excellent knives,I'm not hung up on blade rub one iota, unfortunately you have to be cognizant of it in case you decide to sell,no one wants blade rub.
 
Im with everyone else who said that Rough Riders are weird. They are technically fine, I have used them and enjoyed them but they seem so...cheap. I hate the China thing, and the materials (like their crummy nickel silver) suck kinda. Mostly though, they just make a lot of ugly, tacky, cheap looking knives and the "R" bolster is a travesty. Sorry.
Admittedly though, they do actually sharpen the knives unlike GEC at 5x the price. Lol

Give me a Case any day.
 
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I agree. Less embellishment and out-of-the-box thinking would lead to more desirable knives, IMO.
 
All Rough Ryders are not the same. Some are real gems. Some are junk. (sorry Nick) It likely is the contract facility that determines this, but I have a handful that are very nice. I probably have more GEC's than Rough Ryders but have carried Rough Ryders more because I dont worry about using them. They are more affordable users. AND they often come sharp which the acronym knives rarely have, for me at least.

Comparisons are rarely useful for achieving a consensus. Whatever makes you happy is what is important.
 
GEC’s are built like they ordered the stock thickness to the drawing spec.

Case’s are built like they ordered the stock thickness to the drawing spec 100 years ago and never bothered to check new shipments.

Rough Ryders are built like they used whatever stock they had acquired with the factory and the drawing was done by a 5th grader who was inspired by his grandpa’s knife.

Now all that said, the price point generally reflects all of the above, and there’s some worthy examples in each category.
 
Are the case/bose knives really that flawless? I am interested if they are, but have also had bad luck with case in the past decade. My confidence in the brand has taken a hit because of that. I’m willing to pay for perfection however.
 
Slice-E said:
Are the case/bose knives really that flawless? I am interested if they are, but have also had bad luck with case in the past decade. My confidence in the brand has taken a hit because of that. I’m willing to pay for perfection however.
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I have six of the Case/Bose collabs & they're by far my favorite traditionals. They're about as good as it gets without going full custom. Good luck finding one though. And keep in mind that they're not being made anymore. So what's left on dealer's shelves may be ones that have been returned for one reason or another.

I think this Premium Stockman was my first Case/Bose


And the Wharncliff Trapper my most recent.
 
Ironbut said:
I have six of the Case/Bose collabs & they're by far my favorite traditionals. They're about as good as it gets without going full custom. Good luck finding one though. And keep in mind that they're not being made anymore. So what's left on dealer's shelves may be ones that have been returned for one reason or another.

I think this Premium Stockman was my first Case/Bose


And the Wharncliff Trapper my most recent.
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Arent there some in stock at dlt right now?
 
Slice-E said:
Are the case/bose knives really that flawless? I am interested if they are, but have also had bad luck with case in the past decade. My confidence in the brand has taken a hit because of that. I’m willing to pay for perfection however.
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No knife is flawless, not even a custom knife. I have 5 and never had to return one except an Arkansas hunter for a repair because I goobered it. They fixed it for free :)
 
brownshoe said:
No knife is flawless, not even a custom knife. I have 5 and never had to return one except an Arkansas hunter for a repair because I goobered it. They fixed it for free :)
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Good point, I just would like to buy one of their damascus case/bose offerings but if they are only in stock because they have an issue or something then I would rather not take my chances
 
Slice-E said:
Are the case/bose knives really that flawless? I am interested if they are, but have also had bad luck with case in the past decade. My confidence in the brand has taken a hit because of that. I’m willing to pay for perfection however.
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No, they aren’t. Case has sent out some wonky ones but they stand behind them all. I’ve sent two back for a few issues and they came back to me perfect then. If you’re willing to wait that time and invest that to send them, then taking a chance on one of the very few left in a shelf is worth it. Or find a second hand that the seller provides good pics. Even then, case will fix it.

I’ve got one that was rebuilt by Mr Tony himself. It’s the only perfect one I have 😂.

They are worth it, though, if you don’t overpay. They are very fine knives without going full custom. And they are better than some customs that’s I’ve paid more for.
 
CVamberbonehead said:
Im with everyone else who said that Rough Riders are weird. They are technically fine, I have used them and enjoyed them but they seem so...cheap. I hate the China thing, and the materials (like their crummy nickel silver) suck kinda. Mostly though, they just make a lot of ugly, tacky, cheap looking knives and the "R" bolster is a travesty. Sorry.
Admittedly though, they do actually sharpen the knives unlike GEC at 5x the price. Lol

Give me a Case any day.
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Does Case sharpen their knives though?
 
I have way more European and "Western" knives, and still appreciate the value of RR. Their RRR line not so much. They may cost similar to what GEC used to (should) cost and to what Case costs, and are very good quality but I doubt that they will be worth more in the future (I do not even know if GEC will be worth more in 20, 30 years really). I also agree that some RRs do feel "soulless". For actual use, they are brilliant.
Victorinox and other brands that have been here for a looong time, yes they are worth buying for "investment", many other brands are popular now (fashionable) but you can not predict if they will be around in 30 years.

I also see the political aspect, and the assumption that everybody is expected to dislike anything not made in a "friendly" country / region / village (according to their citizenship, ethnic background and political beliefs), though I do not see this Forum, in total, as the appropriate place to push or force ideals on these matters.
 
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