Poll: Best Current Overall Traditional between Case, GEC, Queen

Best Current Overall Traditional between Case, GEC, and Queen

  • Case Cutlery

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Great Eastern Cutlery

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Queen Cutlery

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
knifeswapper

knifeswapper

Knife Peddler
Joined
Sep 3, 2004
Messages
3,301
Nah, I like the idea. Version 2.0
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There is no doubt that the BF community includes knife lovers from every generation. We are one of many social hangouts, but one that I have been a member for a long time and respect the diversity of opinions. Those that have a lifetime of experience and those that have just discovered traditional pocket knives. Like Ford and Chevy, we don't always see eye to eye on things. But, as someone who genuinely likes to know what peers actually think, I want to take a poll. Like politics, many times we only see the opinions of the few and the silent majority stay silent.

Please don't comment with anything that could be construed as a preference or perceptions in this thread, just to keep it non-political.

Best Current Overall Traditional - If this is too broad for you to vote, I understand.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO CAST YOUR LOT. IT IS THE SILENT MAJORITY AS WELL AS THE FREQUENT POSTERS I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM.

To address a couple of concerns in the failed Version 1.0.

These are general perceptions from your experience. If we take the time to create the exact scenario in which the knife would be used and graded - it is no longer an opinion. My interest is general carry, work, opinions that YOU experience on a daily basis. If that is too broad for you to be comfortable answering, I understand.

If you feel dealers do not deserve to have your insight as a customer; I will not be offended by your abstention. This has nothing to do with me being a dealer - I look at the knives going out in the mail every day and have frequent discussions with other traditional dealers; and know exactly what the customer base is buying. The dealer side of me could care less what the poll says; because I know what sells. The knife nut side of me is simply interested in the current market perception.

Disclaimer: I understand it is not fair to many other makers to leave them off. Fact is, these are the ones that typically come up in conversations here.
 
2.0 looks good :thumbup: One of the beautiful things about an open discussion is the diversity. Everyone, including dealers, can express their opinions. Although people may disagree, it is first and foremost a part of the relatively small community of knife collectors and enthusiasts. For a user, my first choice would be GEC... maybe 81 or 66/68 or one of the folding hunter variations.... or maybe a 15.... or... ;)
 
Voted, based on my overall general perceptions from my personal use of knives from all three brands.
 
I only have a few Case and GEC knives, so I can't talk about Queen as it'd be unfair. For me GEC is better although by no means perfect. I preffer GEC because they seem more compact to me and generally have no gaps between the springs and liners (better QC). On the ones I have, Case has better bolster to scale transitions (bone) and their stainless springs on CV knives apeal to me as well. I carry my GECs more often than I do my Case knives and I voted for GEC.
 
No contest on the production end; GEC hands down. All brands have some issues with QC, but the complaints I hear about GEC are mostly due to overly high expectations, probably from the huge number of GEC fans expounding on their many virtues. I will replace/refund for any reason, but the reasons given are generally minor cosmetic issues or complaints like 'the blade doesn't center exactly' that would go unnoticed with most customers.

The Case/Bose models are a definite step up and they are quite nicely made, but have a price tag that goes along with the model quality.

Hi have not bought a Queen knife since the 'Heritage' series and later a 'Ruple' model as I was very disappointed it the F&F, but they may have dealt with those issues since. I have had very good experience overall with those Queen and S&M models made before about 2005 or so. The "Case Classic" series is a good example - branded CASE but made by Queen.

Best traditional overall? If we only needed one make/model, we wouldn't be here. :eek: I have many different brands in my assortment, mostly GEC but really anything and any age - just depends on if I happened to like it. :D:D:D


Thanks for being a solid dealer and respected BF member Mike! :thumbup:
 
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Looks like i agree with the majority on both polls
GEC Bullbuster is my best traditional knife
Take care
Graham
 
I've taken a shine to that little GEC 18. Just about disappears in the pocket, and is a good companion to my "non-traditional" EDC.
 
I think they all are capable of making a great knife that would stand up to decades of normal use and pocket carry!

For me, it comes down to blade steel, fit and finish and the wow factor (we all know what that is but it's different for each of us).

I don't own any case knives at this time. I prefer carbon steel and the fact of the matter is, no knives meet my criteria for purchase at a price point I want to buy or with a selection that wows me. I purchased a new schatt and Morgan and it was a nice knife but again, the options are limited and they just don't wow me. If at any time either of them make a knife with covers I like and a steel I want with blade combinations I am looking for, I'll buy one.

GEC sets the bar for me with their steel, usually exceptional fit and finish. The options are usually plentiful and from a few years of use I can say I would not hesitate to use any of the ones I have owned for any applicable job.
 
GEC for their quality materials and workmanship. I'm willing to give up a little f&f for a work knife, but overall . . . GEC hands down.
 
I vote blank :confused:, as there are so many patterns, and some are outstanding, other a real mess, nearly by all the contenders... I have knives from the 3 and enjoy all of them, those I choose and those I received...
 
I have and like knives from all 3 makers! If forced to choose one I would go with GEC, but Queen is a close second.
 
Voted, but really hard to say, definitively. Certain things I look for may only be available from one outfit, spread that out over decades, and shrug hands in the air.
Thanks, Neal
 
Hey Mike: ""Like Ford and Chevy, we don't always see eye to eye on things."" What about Mopar?


My vote is in:o
 
I voted gec. I have no queen knives and pretty much every case knife I have ordered lately has been complete garbage. I've returned every one of em. gaps in the spring/liner area, spring not seating flat when blade is open or closed. and blades rubbing fairly hard to one side or the other. I love the sodbuster pattern, so it pains me that I keep having to send em back after I order them. I'll just keep an eye out for some gec ones.

The sad thing is I ordered a imperial sodbuster and it was way way better than the last few case I ordered. :grumpy:
 
Not too many people have enough money to buy enough knives from all 3 companies to do a comparison. I know I don't. Many GEC lovers won't buy anything but GEC.

I voted Case, because their Bose collaborations ARE the best :)
 
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