On my 8th, yes 8th, case knife in a row with serious side to side play?

Mike Large

Mike Large

Joined
Jun 24, 2017
Messages
419
Is this a new known thing from case I'm not aware of? When I buy a vintage case they all seem to lock up fine. No play. But my past 8 this last year have all been extremely wobbly? Most recent is the midnight stag lockback from SHC. I even wrote in the instructions "please check for blade play before shipping" and it's just as bad as the rest. Though it may sound like it, I'm really not complaining. I wrap them in a bandana and use pliers lightly to calm down the wobble a bit but this matter seems to really really be out of control. I mean theres no way that Case is cool with this? Any input would be awesome...thanks
 
I've bought six Case knives during the second half of the year and none of them have any blade play: the 6318 and 6344 medium stockmans, 6207W Wharncliffe mini trapper, TB61117 swayback gent, and 62032 small Texas jack (two of them). The date codes run from 2014 through 2017. All but the 6318 (which is the only 2017) were bought "in person" and I was able to inspect them before purchasing, but there was nothing that I looked at where I had to say, "this is too sloppy, let me see another one." Maybe I've just been really lucky, but that's my experience so far. Sure wish you were getting better results, that's a bit disappointing!
 
All were bought online. Knife center, dlt, shc, and so on. I was hoping someone would chime in and say this is normal because no one man can be this unlucky haha. Only two here have zero blade play. The 84' sodbuster and the peanut collectors club from this year up top...1514346895383306813995.jpg
 
Like i said, not so much complainomg as i am just conversing. I take pliers to the bolster and that seems to work most of the time, just takes away alot of the snap shut
 
I still have full intentions of filling that collectors case there just been a bit of a drag so far
 
My Christmas Case I got myself was a ivory kirinite peanut that, while it had no blade wobble, had a fairly noticeable liner/backspring gap. I asked the knife be inspected for 'fit and finish issues", so I guess I'm a little pickier than whomever inspected it. A "non-knife nut" certainly wouldn't see any flaws it the knife, and I've gotten to the point where I'm probably unreasonably fussy about gaps and such.

One of these days I'll learn my lesson concerning buying Case sight unseen. I'm sorry to hear of your bad luck, Mike L.!
 
All good. Making me all the better at fixing them as much as one can with at home remedies. Benchmade always gave me hell with side to side play. Gotten damn good at fixing this issue. Chris Reeve knives are worth every penny to collectors and users as picky as myself let me tell ya. Wont find even a spec of play in a CRK. Not to compare of course, just conversation.
 
Think I bought 2 new CASE knives this year: Small Stockman in Walnut Bone, looked very nice indeed but ALL 3 blades had a lot of play and pathetic snap, so I returned it to the dealer who replaced it. The replacement had no play but much less attractive bone, snap was better but not crisp.

The other one was a Half Whittler in 'Burnt Salmon Bone' well the bone has white and very anaemic pink spots in it, looked dreadful, nothing like grilled salmon! I tea dyed it a couple of times, not big improvement. no blade play here at all, goodish W&T but the springs are raised on open which impacts on handling.

The thing is, I live in Europe and must pay import tax so sending things back is not an easy business. I'm going to have to be a bit more cautious it seems.
 
Mike Large said:
Like i said, not so much complainomg as i am just conversing. I take pliers to the bolster and that seems to work most of the time, just takes away alot of the snap shut
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I stick a razor blade in the joint before squeezing and tapping, so as not to get it too tight. I haven't broken off a razor blade in a joint yet.
My new Cases are fine, though.
 
I bought one case, received one as a gift, and sold a bunch at the non blade forums feed store type place where i work this year. none had any issues whatsoever. i had one in the past that was sloppy right away, but that was years ago and only one. i can't imagine 8 in a row! that would be very off-putting to me, but i just wanted to add my two cents, that my own experience with them has been much more positive.
 
Out of nine Cases on my shelf, only one has any blade play, a delrin Sodbuster. All but one were bought new in the last three years. One was bought this year at a flea market, ha seen plenty of wear and abuse, but still no blade wobble.

BTW, the pliers I like to crimp the pins with is a Knipex Alligator, for its parallel jaws. I would imagine a channel lock or water pump pliers would work just as well. If I get the pivot too tight, I twist a screwdriver blade between the liners to back them off a bit.
 
Mike Large said:
Is this a new known thing from case I'm not aware of? When I buy a vintage case they all seem to lock up fine. No play. But my past 8 this last year have all been extremely wobbly? Most recent is the midnight stag lockback from SHC. I even wrote in the instructions "please check for blade play before shipping" and it's just as bad as the rest. Though it may sound like it, I'm really not complaining. I wrap them in a bandana and use pliers lightly to calm down the wobble a bit but this matter seems to really really be out of control. I mean theres no way that Case is cool with this? Any input would be awesome...thanks
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What an ironic thread. I assume your Case knives were more than $20, right? I also assume you purchased from a reputable dealer, right? You also included "specific notes and instructions" to have that dealer check for blade play and you STILL got a knife with blade play??? I was assured by members here that "any reputable" dealer would take notes and instructions to check for defects and assure your knife was perfect to your specific instructions, even on a $20 knife. In fact, I was thrashed for being obtuse and obstinate for saying this was not an assurance that they would "follow or even read" your notes and that I doubted any dealer would spend the time to inspect a $20 knife, thanks for proving my point and sorry that you got 8 bum Case knives in a row.
 
eisman said:
Fool me once...Not sure what the response would be after eight...
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Just received this trapper in the mail today. Centering is off but it is as solid as a rock!! Case knives have been passes down through my family for decades... ha I refuse to give up on them. Received a damn good one today...1514509171445918866599.jpg
 
First off, I'm a big fan of SHC. I stop when ever I travel through MO and buy often on their website. The only knife I ever bought from them that was questionable was a yellow delrin 6347 that had a noticable gap near the center pin. Easily fixed. In the last 3 year i purchased 6 knives sight unseen through their website (2-6318's. 2 Peanuts, an American Workman Sod Buster and a Copperlock). F&F on all has been perfect and IMHO they rival any GEC I've seen.
 
panoz77 said:
What an ironic thread. I assume your Case knives were more than $20, right? I also assume you purchased from a reputable dealer, right? You also included "specific notes and instructions" to have that dealer check for blade play and you STILL got a knife with blade play??? I was assured by members here that "any reputable" dealer would take notes and instructions to check for defects and assure your knife was perfect to your specific instructions, even on a $20 knife. In fact, I was thrashed for being obtuse and obstinate for saying this was not an assurance that they would "follow or even read" your notes and that I doubted any dealer would spend the time to inspect a $20 knife, thanks for proving my point and sorry that you got 8 bum Case knives in a row.
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Not all internet sellers will do that, one dealer I know of says they won't on their site if a customer bothers to read.

However Baryonyx, a bladeforums dealer, will inspect their knives before shipping. For an additional $2.50, they will also give it a hairpopping edge. They do as good or better job than I can. I was tickled pink with what they did for me, turns a $30 knife into an instant gem...straight into the pocket. They also have a seconds page where knives that fail the inspection are sold at a decent discount.

If you order by phone, about ten years age, the girl at New Graham pulled out the last two and let me pick, neither was perfect, but I got the one I was happy with.

Isn't this a GB&U thread?
 
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