Hmm, should i?.... (Case Slipjoints)

M

MacTech

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Jan 7, 2006
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Over at my local sporting goods shop (Kittery Trading Post, in Kittery, Maine), they sell used knives in addition to new ones, yesterday when i went in to see if they had any interesting used bades, they did.....

they had a pair of Case slipjoints, a very small 3 bladed pocketknife, with a spearpoint, a wharncliff and drop point (IIRC) blade for $32, the thing was *mint*, still had the original box, the knife had the factory edge, and gleamed like new, the other one was a larger (3" blade) 2 blade model with a standard drop-point blade, and a spey blade, it too was in mint condition, they wanted $35 for that one

both knives have their original boxes, and look unused, it's obvious the previous owner was a collector....

for some reason, i really like the little 3 blader, but i'd feel somewhat guilty purchasing it and *using* it, i don't buy knives to collect, i buy them to *use*....

should i get one of them and just use it, or should i leave them for the collector market?
 
From what I hear Case knives are good users...but I have no experience with Case knives. Unless they have fancy handle material or something that would make them collectors knives I would say buy it and use it. (That is if you are in the market for a slipjoint)
 
Buy 'em an' use the hell out of them!:D Especially if they're the older carbon steel blades.

I can assure you, Case will be making PLENNNTTY of other knives for the collectors....
 
I would like to see a picture of the smaller one with the 3 blades, preferably to get an idea of how big it is.

anyone locate a link or picture of that particular knife, or even know what model it is?
 
I've got a couple of the newer Case knives and they do make an excellent user knife.
 
MacTech said:
the little one is the Small Stockman
the large one is the Trapper
identical knives to what you see on the weblinks provided
Click to expand...

Your links just show the Cse "baby Doctor's" pattern.

Do you mean these?

Small Stockman

3591.jpg


Trapper

3573.jpg
 
FlyingMuskrat said:
From what I hear Case knives are good users...but I have no experience with Case knives. Unless they have fancy handle material or something that would make them collectors knives I would say buy it and use it. (That is if you are in the market for a slipjoint)
Click to expand...

Much of what determines the value of used (and new, come to think of it) Case knives is the handle material used.

Some handle materials command quite high prices for Case Collectors.
 
You can't go wrong with a stockman pattern for an EDC knife. There are two in my EDC rotation: a Buck 301 and old carbon steel Boker. You get a lot more useful blade types with a slipjoint than a single blade "tactical," especially if you grind the different blades for different uses.
 
i collect case xx knives avidly and the trapper pattern is my favorite. i am trying to hone my collection down to just the trapper models. there are many sizes too, tiny trappers, medium trappers, standard trappers, etc....

i would get them (trapper at least) $35 for a trapper is good. cheapies cost $20-$30 so a case xx for $35 is good.

there's my .02 cents :)
 
A slipjoint is one of my most used and sharpened knives! it's the spice of life. Enjoy taking that nice knife out of your pocket and cut with confidence!
 
That is a very good price for the Trapper, that exact knife at dealer cost for my father and I would be $33. Go ahead and buy it, there is nothing special about that handle material. I collect case knives myself and would not consider putting that one in my collection. - Mike
 
Congrats on your new slipjoint! Be careful though, it could be the first step in a new addiction.

In case you were not aware, your knife was made in 2004.

On the question of using versus collecting, I've heard the saying around the Case plant is "They are tools, not jewels".

Nice knife. :thumbup:
 
How is the quality of the case stockman? Pretty good fit and finish? Any blade play?

-Bob
 
appearance-wise, the Stockman is one of my nicest looking knives, the bolsters are gleaming, blades are mirror finished, the jigged bone has depth and texture, cosmetics are a 10/10

fit and finish, all blades snap out to lock with a very positive "snap" feel, the drop point long blade, wharncliff medium blade, and spearpoint small blade have *no* sideways play, fit and finish are also 10/10

factory sharpness is right up there with Spyderco, maybe a *tiny* bit below, if Spyderco is a 10, the Case Stockman is a 8.5, after a Sharpmaker/stropping session, i'd rate it a 9.75

and the worst part, i'm thinking "maybe i should purcase the Trapper as well"....

i now understand the appeal of Case knives, functional little jewels, great knives, reminders of a simpler time, where obsession with the latest Übersteel, locking systems, and scale materials had yet to rear it's ugly head, where all you really needed was a good blade (or three)....
 
Those are good using knives. It will be decades before they increase in value, if ever. With new Chinese slippies coming out in 440c, for less than $20, I think we'll see depressed prices, even for Case!!
 
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