New Case Chestnuts

M

mdsmith

Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
1,495
Well, I got into work today to find a UPS box sitting on my desk. Inside it were the Case chestnut stockman and peanut I had ordered. I have to say that I am very happy with the peanut, but the stockman is a different story. First off, the main blade on the stockman seem to have weak spring tension. I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but it seems to be the case with all of the larger blade Case knives I've owned. The smaller knives, like the peanut are fine, as are the smaller blades on the stockman. I don't know if I'm expecting too much, or maybe if it's because my first slip joint was a S&M stockman, which for me seems to have perfect spring tension. The second thing I noticed is that the handles on the stockman look more like maroon derlin than the nice chestnut handles of the peanut. I'm surprised that there is this much variation between the knives. I've attached a few pictures to show you what I mean. Lastly, is is normal for you to be able to see the point of the sheeps foot blade ever when it's closed? I never noticed this before, but maybe I just missed it on my other knives. I'm thinking about sending it back in exchange for the swayback jack since I've never heard anything bad about them.

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Now on to the good part. This peanut is AWESOME. Great fit and finish, no gaps, nice snap, and beautiful handle scales. I can't wait to throw this bad boy into my pocket and get a nice patina going. This is my first CV knife.

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I don't know if it's just me, or my old eyes, but it looks like the peanut is the one that's a bit off. A wee bit light.

I have two chestnuts, my peanut, and the gifted swayback that Jason sent me. Both are almost identical in color, which is a very dark reddish brown, with a lighter fade toward the ends of the knife. The dye is very dark in the middle of the scales where the jigging is.

I think there is going to be some varying of color in an organic material. Some may be a bit lighter, or darker, depending on the bone. I wouldn't worry about it, as long as the knife is okay.

The point of a blade should not be above the handle, but this is just a tiny oversight by someone at Case. Two or three passes with a very small file on the kick will fix it. But it is a pain on a new knife. But as far as sending it back for a swayback, I'm now prejudiced as all heck in that arena, so don't trust me on that. I don't know why you would want a big fat lumbering stockman when you could have an exquisite pocket jewel like a swayback in your pocket.:D;)

But like I said, I'm freshly beguiled.

Carl.

P.S.- Use the heck out of that 'nut!:thumbup:
 
I agree Carl. Neither of these knives look like I expected. I have seen numerous pictures where there is a smooth transition from a dark brownish red, into an almost translucent orangish color. The peanut , while lighter than I thought, still does have some of this transition of color, but the one side of the stockman is pretty much just flat maroon.
 
I have two Case stockmans, and both sheepfoot blades stood up too far. A quick pass on the grinder fixed that.
 
never too sharp said:
I have two Case stockmans, and both sheepfoot blades stood up too far. A quick pass on the grinder fixed that.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. This one is definitely going back. I know this wasn't an expensive knife, but between the weak spring, the sheeps foot standing up to high, and not being happy with the handle, I figure it's worth exchanging. I have a S&M stockman that I absolutely love, and I think I'll stick with that when I want to carry a stockman. Only thing I would change on that one is the stainless blades. I've got a few others I've been wanting to try anyway, like the caramel bone mini copperlock and the black G-10 jack.
 
Im not to fond of high riding blades in the frame... BUT.... In exactly that stockman I have it that way as in your picture .... WHY..... The sheepfoot can be pinched open in that position and as the blades lies so tight in the frame there is no risk for me to cut myself on that blade as I only use one at a time and the other one protects me from that tip.
It took me a while geting komfortable with it, but nowadays Im quite used to it and the ability to pinch open a blade on a stockman is one of the things making it my most carried and used knife the last years.

Bosse
 
congrats on the new cases.
i have the same stockman as you. all springs are good for me and yes the sheepfoot blade is exactly like yours and does not bother me. the funniest thing about mine is that the scales do not match.... not just a little but a lot.

one side is orange and the other is a beautiful deep brown color. i think they could have done a better job matching the scales but that is that. it was never intended to be a show piece and it's got to be difficult to get perfect matches on a production knife.

can't say about the weak spring big blade theory. i have several smaller cases with lackluster springs. i would return the knife for this alone. as far as the SBJ you would not be dissapointed.
 
Keep that stockman. That sheeps foot will never give you any problems. Carried mine three years EDC with no incidents.
 
I would keep the stockman and just lower the sheepsfoot blade myself.

Then, I would put a decent edge on all three blades, force a patina, and carry the heck out of that knife.
 
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