Need some feedback on Case Humpbacks...

[TLARbb]

I've lately been fighting an itchy feeling about getting a humpback whittler. I have been wanting another whittler and the humpbacks are a bit out of the ordinary (for me anyway). I would like for owners of the various Case humpback designs (whittler, half whittler, stockman) to share with me, and others that may be curious, your likes and dislikes (if any) about the pattern. How does it feel in the hand when using it? Particularly the main blade. Do you think this is a better design than the more usual swell center pattern? Feel free to share photos of your knife. Especially, if you are an avid whittler yourself, a photo of the knife with some of its work would be special.

Ed J

 

[supratentorial]

Ed, I have three ebony stockman and one G-10 whittler. I also had a harvest orange stockman but I sold it. I prefer the stockman over the whittler since the stockman has a sheepfoot blade (the whittler doesn't have a straight blade) and the stockman has two springs (the whittler has three)... though the whittler is only a teeny tiny bit wider... and the springs on the whittler aren't that much thinner. The wells are completely open and easy to clean since there is no center cut liner on either pattern. The joints are sunk on both patterns. The sheepfoot joint on the stockman is just a wee bit shy of being completely sunk. The stockman has a cutout to access the nail nick for the spey. The whittler has cutouts to access the nail nicks for both of the secondary blades. I prefer thinner handle material such as ebony and G-10 since I think bulkier handle material makes it more difficult to access the recesses for the nail nicks -- your mileage may vary... also, I think they may have changed the kick on newer knives such that the blades are more easily accessed. I don't like the "as ground" blades on the G-10... it doesn't look as nice as the polished blades (purely subject, of course) and there are also some sharp edges on the "as ground" blades. I'm not a serious whittler though a recent post of a keychain has gotten me interested.

I like the feel of the stockman. The sheefoot blade is high which normally gets in the way but it actually seems to fit better in my hand than the whittler. On both patterns I don't notice the humpback at all when I'm using the knife. I like swell center patterns also... the humpbacks are larger knives than swell center whittlers like the Case 6383. But they aren't bulky. The ebony stockman is about the same thickness as my Case 3347 medium stockman.

 

[TLARbb]

Thanks for the input Jake. Anybody else like to share their experience and opinions?

Ed J

 

[Rick]

Not much to add to Supratentorial's informative post. My G-10 "whittler" (it's not a true whittler, as it has three backsprings) is solidly built and very nice looking, with good blade geometries and razor sharp edges, but I can't recommend it, in spite of its very reasonable cost.

The handle is needlessly thick and boxy due to the extra spring--a labor and cost-saving shortcut--and I don't care for Case's tendency to skimp on rounding their handle profiles these days. Here's the Humpback handle profile (on the right) compared to a Case XX Jack. That boxy cross-section is neither hand nor pocket-friendly, IMO.

I prefer the crisp as-ground finish to the blurry lines of Case's tumbled finish aesthetically, but they do have an abundance of sharp edges and corners.

Both small blades on my sample are real nail-breakers, possibly the worst in my experience, and that attribute all by itself would preclude a recommendation.

If it were me, I'd pass on this one and go with a GEC #62 or #57; both true split/tapered backspring whittlers. It'll cost about twice as much, but IMO, it's easily twice the knife in terms of fit, finish, ergos and overall design. With a few rare exceptions (like the sweet little Swayback Jack), modern regular production Case knives just can't compete with GEC for quality.

 

[Railsplitter]

I used to have a Humpback Whittler but I sold it. It was a fine knife and I just needed some cash at the time. I really can't add much to Jake's excellent summary of both knives. I like the Stockman much better as well but I have always liked Stockmans better than Whittlers.

This Humpback Stockman is my constant companion and I really cannot think of anything that I dislike about it.

Mine has a gap between the liner and backspring but it doesn't bother me personally. The handle scales are Rough Black, also known as Gum Fuddy. There are phospher bronze bushings in the pivots. There is one thing about this particular knife that stands out above any other knife I have ever owned: The blades all have a unique combination of blade pull and snap. The blades are nice and tight yet not difficult to open (maybe7.5 to 8 on the pull scale) but the sheepsfoot and spey blades snap shut as if the blade pull were a 10. The spear blade has good snap too but those other two really snap shut with authority but not at the expense of being nailbreakers to open.

The spear blade makes a nice user blade for me but I do not whittle. I find it to be a nice change of pace from the more common clip blade found on stockman patterns. I have never been bothered by the closed blades sticking out too far on this or any other knife. It is something that has never been a concern of mine regardless of the knife.

I think the Humpbacks are one of Case's most interesting patterns.

 

[Will Power]

I've got the Pocket Worn Orange Stockman.

The first one I got had 'issues' - plenty of blade play on all 3 blades, lot of gaps, and a raised spring. In fairness to CASE they were very fair to me, they sent me a replacement without seeing the defective knife! This might be because they took a long time and a reminder or two to respond...but I thought it very good.

The replacement had no blade play or raised spring, slight gap but really OK.

The knife has a lot to recommend for itself: nice look and a different design, a pattern that had not been made by them for a long time. Sunk joints so it won't rip the pockets(a common bugbear with GEC) Spear Master instead of Clip, The Sheepfoot's height is offset by the Humpback shape so you don't get that handfull of blades feel that make many Stockman awkward. The Spey is very thin indeed, you can flex it and the cut-out is a well executed feature (bone radioused around it very well).No way a nail breaker but not puny either,just right all 3.

I don't fancy the 3 springs aspect of the Whittler variant, I fear it makes it too heavy and cumbersome. My favourite Whittler in carbon comes from Böker Germany. Serp shape, semi-sunk joints and 3 very good blades with excellent in hand feel. True it's not split back, but the 2 tapered springs are done superbly and the pull is equal on all 3.

 

[Peregrin]

Ed, I picked up a Case Humpback Half Whittler in raindrop damascus. It has two nice sized blades, a clip and a pen. There are no half stops and no center liner. It has sunk joints and cutouts for accessing both blades. I like the pattern and the knife. It's comfortable in the hand, nice and thin (knife and blades) and the Thomas Damascus takes and holds a nice edge. It's also very nicely finished. The only problem I have with mine is it's handled in Case's less then spectacular stag.

Here's some pics I took:

I do think a true whittler needs a sheepfoot or wharncliffe blade but that's my personal feeling on it.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Will Power]

Interesting Gary, didn't know they did a Half Whittler Humpback too.

That Stag isn't too bad- for CASE. I've got worse by a long chalk

Regards, Will

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I have a humpback stockman in stag, one of my favorite knives. Except for the spey blade, it is a great knife. The spey blade is pain in the ass to get out.

 

[Thunder47]

I have the synthetic humpback stockman as well. And I like it quite a bit, but the spey blade is really difficult to get open. Since it is a knife I carry and use daily, I am considering grinding down the notch in the liner just a little to be able to get my thumbnail in to open.

 

[Peter Parker]

The HBW feels great in the hand and mine came with the best edged blades of any Case except my chestnut bone Canoe; they take a wicked edge! It feels cattleknife like in the hand but just a little better to my hand. The secondary blades were close to the nail breaker class but now that it's broke in they're just right. The only thing not to like is as mentioned it's not really a true whittler, but I like it anyway. Cuts great, looks great and carries easy. The quality on mine is outstanding!