Is Case being influenced by GEC?

btmccutcheon

btmccutcheon

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Jul 10, 2013
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Over the past year or so I've noticed what appears to be a trend in features that Case has been coming out with that I've seen in GEC previously. Maybe they were there before but I just didn't notice them, but a couple of things have caught my eye recently which has been the crown lifter trappers seen first in the GEC #15's and the glow-in-the-dark kirinite that I saw first in nifebright and sunbright acrylic from GEC.

The first GEC I ever saw, and it was the one that made me start looking into GEC was the #85 Bullet End Jack. When I first saw that knife, I don't think Case had anything like it. Now they have the teardrop. Additionally, after that I started seeing more wharncliffes offered by GEC, then I started noticing more wharncliffe options from Case.
:rolleyes:
So am I hallucinating, or am I seeing Case taking cues from GEC and the porch members here?
 
I hope so. :thumbup: Actually, it would be nice if Case gave GEC a run for their money and came out with a hand made line with old techniques. They may already have for all I know.
 
I think people are going to Case with a wish list. There's a thread on here pushing them to make a beer scout style knife to compete.
 
Case looks to be following the market. GEC just so happens to be creating the market.
 
I think this is it more than anything, but the "wishes" seem to come from GEC products frequently!
 
btmccutcheon said:
Over the past year or so I've noticed what appears to be a trend in features that Case has been coming out with that I've seen in GEC previously. Maybe they were there before but I just didn't notice them, but a couple of things have caught my eye recently which has been the crown lifter trappers seen first in the GEC #15's and the glow-in-the-dark kirinite that I saw first in nifebright and sunbright acrylic from GEC.

The first GEC I ever saw, and it was the one that made me start looking into GEC was the #85 Bullet End Jack. When I first saw that knife, I don't think Case had anything like it. Now they have the teardrop. Additionally, after that I started seeing more wharncliffes offered by GEC, then I started noticing more wharncliffe options from Case.
:rolleyes:
So am I hallucinating, or am I seeing Case taking cues from GEC and the porch members here?
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Really? More wharncliffe options from Case? I hope so.

I'm aware of the Seahorse, Mini Copperhead, and Mini and Tiny Trappers. most of which I believe have been around for awhile. Besides these, what am I missing?

I so wish that Case would make a Peanut with a Wharncliffe blade!
 
No, I don't think that Case is being influenced by GEC in any meaningful way.
 
MadTrapper said:
Really? More wharncliffe options from Case? I hope so.

I'm aware of the Seahorse, Mini Copperhead, and Mini and Tiny Trappers. most of which I believe have been around for awhile. Besides these, what am I missing?

I so wish that Case would make a Peanut with a Wharncliffe blade!
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Wharncliffe Teardrop:
 
Danke42 said:
I think people are going to Case with a wish list. There's a thread on here pushing them to make a beer scout style knife to compete.
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They have already released the "beer trap". Is that what you are referring to?
 
r8shell said:
Wharncliffe Teardrop:
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Aw yes, the teardrop, I'd forgotten that one. Probably forgot it as it's not a design I'd ever buy.

I forgot about the sway back too... Case has been making some Wharnies but I don't believe that they've been influenced by GEC. The Wharncliffe has been around for a long time. It seems to be enjoying an increase in popularity perhaps...
 
btmccutcheon said:
So am I hallucinating, or am I seeing Case taking cues from GEC and the porch members here?
Click to expand...

I sure hope so. Maybe Case will give us some 440C next, in a sub-hundred dollar knife, and finally add a few points to the steel hardness.

Or maybe get around to producing a nice Barlow again.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Case had a line of Wharncliffe Trappers and Mini Trappers back in 2007, before anyone knew who GEC was. They have made the Copperhead patterns with Wharncliffe blades well before GEC was even in business. I have a Tiny Trapper, couple of Mini Trappers, several Copperheads, Mini Copperheads, and even a Trapper with Wharncliffe blades, several of them pre-dating GEC.

The Tear Drop Jack was a Tony Bose design, patterned after an old Schrade design. I don't think that had anything to do with the GEC 85.

The caplifter addition to the Mini Trapper, maybe so. Also, their adoption of Kirinite may be a reaction to GEC's Acrylics, but Case used celluloid and colored Delrin for a long time before GEC showed up. So maybe it's just a continuation of what they used to do, but using newer materials.

I don't think GEC is much driving the Case product line, though perhaps there are a few influences. Only a fool ignores what his competitors are doing in a marketplace.
 
jc57 said:
Case had a line of Wharncliffe Trappers and Mini Trappers back in 2007, before anyone knew who GEC was. They have made the Copperhead patterns with Wharncliffe blades well before GEC was even in business. I have a Tiny Trapper, couple of Mini Trappers, several Copperheads, Mini Copperheads, and even a Trapper with Wharncliffe blades, several of them pre-dating GEC.

The Tear Drop Jack was a Tony Bose design, patterned after an old Schrade design. I don't think that had anything to do with the GEC 85.

The caplifter addition to the Mini Trapper, maybe so. Also, their adoption of Kirinite may be a reaction to GEC's Acrylics, but Case used celluloid and colored Delrin for a long time before GEC showed up. So maybe it's just a continuation of what they used to do, but using newer materials.

I don't think GEC is much driving the Case product line, though perhaps there are a few influences. Only a fool ignores what his competitors are doing in a marketplace.
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You got that right :).

Tony Bose says all current traditional knives are not really new, just copies or riffs on past masters.
 
If all you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. ;)

The addition of the Wharncliffe blade to Case's trapper can be partially attributed to Tony Bose. If I recall correctly, there's some discussion about it on the forum a long time ago. As jc57 said, their mini trapper line is BG (Before GEC ;) ). The Case Bose collaboration slimline trapper was even earlier in 1999.

It's interesting that this subject has come up several times but GEC has directly copied Case/Tony Bose without permission (even using Tony's name before removing it at his request) but that didn't get much of any discussion on the forum.
 
Good question.... If Case converts 3/4 of their output to large trappers and lockbacks in order to compete with the non-traditionals we'll know for sure lol.

Will
 
Buzzbait said:
I sure hope so. Maybe Case will give us some 440C next, in a sub-hundred dollar knife, and finally add a few points to the steel hardness.

Or maybe get around to producing a nice Barlow again.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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They made a barlow with "exotic steel" several years ago. 440C would be okay but I'm happier that they're using ATS-34 and 154CM.

supratentorial said:
The barlow was from 2007. Photo from the web (not my knife, unfortunately). 250 made.

003.JPG
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I don't think it has much to with GEC though.

mnblade said:
At various online sellers, the price is around $90, putting this one in the same category as a GEC. Could this be a sign that Case will be offering more premium products targeted to the same knife knuts who buy Great Easterns?
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supratentorial said:
Case's exotic steel has been around a long time. I don't think it has anything at all to do with GEC. GEC hasn't been around for very long. If it is competition with another company it would be competition with Queen.

I know they've made a barlow, Seahorse whittler, muskrat, backpocket, and a few other regular production knives with either 154cm or ATS-34. There are others as well but I don't remember. If I recall correctly, the prices were sky high when they first started using "exotic steel".
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Jake, I want to thank you for putting my thoughts to word with an eloquence that I simply couldn't muster. I'd agree that the discussion should be focused on how Case has influenced GEC more than the other way around.
 
I would think that if GEC is influencing Case , then Case would make some newer Barlows , and put out some good Stag on the Back Pockets.
I am inclined to agree with Mr. Bose .
Traditional knives , by their definition , are not new patterns.

Harry
 
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