New Shephard Hills catalog...some dissapointment

[Morrow]

I always look forward to the catalogs but I'm getting somewhat frustrated with Case. I'm looking through the Shephard Hills Spring 2008 right now and there is some super nice stuff...but....and here is where my frustration begins...almost everything is SS. There are some damascus offerings but almost no patterns in carbon. The patterns with mammoth ivory are so nice but I do not want SS. I'm having trouble understanding why there isn't a choice. I don't understand why I can't have that choice. If the mammoth ivory peanut had carbon blades I wouldn't be typing this ....I'd putting a couple in my shopping cart.

 

[RobbW]

Look at it as a blessing in disguise. If Case offered more CV with stag, mammoth, and other interesting scales, and did that in a variety of patterns, I'd be a poorer man. The wide variety of SS keeps me flush with the coin.

Besides, you can always look to Queen, Moore Maker and Great Eastern for 1095 with interesting scales.

 

[Morrow]

Look at it as a blessing in disguise. If Case offered more CV with stag, mammoth, and other interesting scales, and did that in a variety of patterns, I'd be a poorer man. The wide variety of SS keeps me flush with the coin.

Besides, you can always look to Queen, Moore Maker and Great Eastern for 1095 with interesting scales.

Very true...I suppose my expectations for Case are higher which is why I'm frustrated.

 

[stingray4540]

Yeah, that hella pisses me off. If Case makes a pattern in CV, why are only certain handle options available in CV? Just slap the same CV blades on a different handle pattern, and presto. But noooo nowadays SS sells more product. Stupid azz people. :rant off:

 

[Berkley]

The information in this post suggests that Case acquired some unknown but limited quantity of Chrome Vanadium steel several years ago. Apparently they have decided to use that supply sparingly until/unless more becomes available.

 

[billym]

The information in this post suggests that Case acquired some unknown but limited quantity of Chrome Vanadium steel several years ago. Apparently they have decided to use that supply sparingly until/unless more becomes available.

So ther is our answer. Get it while you can or hope some other steel maker decides to pick up the ball.
I just added two CV knives to my stash this week!

Anyone have any opinions about the blued CV-blade knives that Shepard Hills offers?
Bill

 

[Blues]

Take the info with a large grain of salt. I have heard from other industry insiders that the information is incorrect as regards the compostion of the steel.

This info has been floating around for quite some time. Fact is that Carbon V itself has been different steels at different times and reliable sources have disputed those who equate Case's CV with 50100b.

Add to that that there is nothing magical about CV (as much as I like carbon steel). Other carbon steels such as 52100, 5160, O-1 etc. are excellent steels. 52100 being my personal favorite.

 

[RobbW]

If Case makes a pattern in CV, why are only certain handle options available in CV?

The market for collectors is much larger than for users. Users buy a knife, or a couple of knives, and use them. You can only put so many knives into active rotation. As for collectors, well, the sky and their bank accounts are the limit for how many knives a collector can purchase and put into a collection. Filled up a display case? Just buy another. Filled up a vault? Purchase and fill another. I believe Case pretty much sells all the knives they make, so catering to a smaller sub-specialty of knife buyers (users) is not the prime directive of their business strategy.

I'm a user myself and understand your frustration. I like the marginal performance edge and LOVE the aesthetics of CV, but I can't realistically expect Case to cater to my demographic. And since I try hard to keep my knives to 10 or less, I also realize I'm not really going to fatten Case's pockets.

On the other hand, I've been glad to get acquainted with Queen, Schatt & Morgan and Northwestern because of Case's limited carbon offerings.

 

[billym]

I am at another trade show this week and I was looking at some Queens.
This is the first time I have actually held one. I did not get to give them a real close look as I was talking with the gentleman at the Ontario booth and did not want to be rude. They looked real nice. I will have to go back and look again.
Does D-2 patina?
Bill

 

[RobbW]

D2 is a tool steel that has just little enough chromium not to be classified as stainless. Nevertheless, it is very stain resistant. I don't coat or treat mine, just wipe clean after use, and have never had any patina after years of use.

Queen also makes several models in 1095. Those models are the ones I referenced earlier, not the D2.

 

[oldrifleman]

I also wish CASe would offer some of thier better (at least in my opinion) handle options with CV. I love the Prime stag Trapper I have, but REALLY wish that it had CV blades!. Steven

 

[ChrisY]

For a company like Case that has such a deep history and maintains its reputation based on tradition you would think traditional materials would be of more importance. Instead it's more like "Oh...you want a knife that actually cuts? Okay we'll offer 4 or 5 patterns with some nice yellow plastic scales. There you go...now run along."

So...You can get traditional scales with non-traditional steel or you can get non-traditional scales with traditional steel. Can't have both though. Oh no...that would be asking too much.

 

[Sword and Shield]

For a company like Case that has such a deep history and maintains its reputation based on tradition you would think traditional materials would be of more importance. Instead it's more like "Oh...you want a knife that actually cuts? Okay we'll offer 4 or 5 patterns with some nice yellow plastic scales. There you go...now run along."

So...You can get traditional scales with non-traditional steel or you can get non-traditional scales with traditional steel. Can't have both though. Oh no...that would be asking too much.

I don't know about yellow synthetic being non-traditional. I've seen some older ones in yellow celluloid that dated to the early 20s. 80 years or so is a decent tradition.

 

[ChrisY]

Okay..Lets consider yellow celluoid as being traditional. If one had a choice...How many buyers do you think would choose yellow celluoid over any of the other scales such as stag or bone? umm..not many. that's my point.. of all the scales they chose for their "user" CV line they offer yellow celluoid???

 

[Bob W]

I agree with the poor carbon choices at Case. They offer few patterns in CV, and then only in one or two handle materials.

As to the over-representation of CV blades with yellow plastic handles, I'm at a loss to explain. Those don't interest me at all.

I am especially disappointed that the Eisenhower is not available in CV. Now that would be a winner, Eisenhower or other equal-end pattern with CV and pocketworn handles...

And I was stunned to discover, while visiting Shepard Hills actually, that none of the fixed blades or hunting knives are available in carbon steel. Talk about a gap in product lines...

 

[ChrisY]

My theory is that Case is trying not to mix CV blades with better scales as sort of a general indicator to the world that when you buy yellow celluoid you should expect some corrosion. This makes it easy for them to deal with customer satisfaction issues related to steel discoloration.

 

[sunnyd]

For a company like Case that has such a deep history and maintains its reputation based on tradition you would think traditional materials would be of more importance. Instead it's more like "Oh...you want a knife that actually cuts? Okay we'll offer 4 or 5 patterns with some nice yellow plastic scales. There you go...now run along."

So...You can get traditional scales with non-traditional steel or you can get non-traditional scales with traditional steel. Can't have both though. Oh no...that would be asking too much.

OHHH BROTHER, Here we go again.. Are you all kidding about Tru-sharp steel,, or what??!..

So ChrisY and all the other naysayers here, Please tell me the last experience you had where Case's TS-SS didn't fulfill your cutting chores just as well as CV??..

Let me just say here I have done more than just a few comparison testing with both CV & TS-SS over many years. And I grew up on 1970's Case XX Dot knives carbon steel and older Case XX carbon steel.

Look Fellows, I am not trying to embarrass you all, but honestly, TS-SS will handle 99% of all of your cutting chores compared to CV with much less blade maintenance.. I too love CV but I don't get all fanatical about it.. And I will guarantee if you just give it a chance you all will also come to the same conclusion as most the the rest of us have had with TS-SS... which, by the way are great results.

Try it, you'll like it..

 

[Sword and Shield]

So ChrisY and all the other naysayers here, Please tell me the last experience you had where Case's TS-SS didn't fulfill your cutting chores just as well as CV??..

Sure thing, Sunny. Last time was last weekend, giving my dad a hand with a couple window guards at work. We were going to repaint them, and I needed to cut down some cardboard to keep from dripping on the customer's porch.

I had a daddy barlow in my pocket that I'd been meaning to put to work, and it had a nice toothy edge- same as I put on almost everything, and the same as my CV Cases.

Started slicing and the edge was markedly dulled after 20 linear feet. I've done similar cutting with smaller CV blades (like the clip on my large stock), and they've still shaved hair afterward.

 

[oldrifleman]

Look Fellows, I am not trying to embarrass you all, but honestly, TS-SS will handle 99% of all of your cutting chores compared to CV with much less blade maintenance.. I too love CV but I don't get all fanatical about it.. And I will guarantee if you just give it a chance you all will also come to the same conclusion as most the the rest of us have had with TS-SS... which, by the way are great results.

Try it, you'll like it..

I agree, TS-SS is pretty good, but I would still love CV, That said I am carrying a TS-SS Trapper right now and it is plenty sharp. Steven

 

[Morrow]

OHHH BROTHER, Here we go again.. Are you all kidding about Tru-sharp steel,, or what??!..

So ChrisY and all the other naysayers here, Please tell me the last experience you had where Case's TS-SS didn't fulfill your cutting chores just as well as CV??..

Let me just say here I have done more than just a few comparison testing with both CV & TS-SS over many years. And I grew up on 1970's Case XX Dot knives carbon steel and older Case XX carbon steel.

Look Fellows, I am not trying to embarrass you all, but honestly, TS-SS will handle 99% of all of your cutting chores compared to CV with much less blade maintenance.. I too love CV but I don't get all fanatical about it.. And I will guarantee if you just give it a chance you all will also come to the same conclusion as most the the rest of us have had with TS-SS... which, by the way are great results.

Try it, you'll like it..

I have plenty of Case SS and I do not agree with your opinion. The Tru-Sharp does not hold it's edge as well as the CV from my experience. I have SS and CV peanuts (both sharpened at the same angle on a Sharp Maker to same basic level of sharpness). I help my father cut up cardboard on the weekends and the SS peanut dulls much faster than the CV peanut. I guess there wouldn't be a noticeable difference between the two for lighter cutting, but for my needs, the CV is superior.

The original reason for this post wasn't a fanatical rant but more of an expression of disappointment when it comes to choice of materials.