Poll: Best Current Work Traditional between Case, GEC, and Queen

[Planterz]

If we change the intent to "value" then it is a bit of a different question and we would need to include the Opinel; which is at least 1/6th as good as Queen or GEC knife at 1/6th the price.
But, the question was not intended to be respective to what you might lose; it was which company do you think makes the best work knife.

With respect Mike, I think value is a very important factor in a "work knife". To me, a "work knife" is something I care less about than a more expensive, nicer knife. I just got a GEC Weasel in bloodwood, and it'd make a fantastic work knife. But I'm not going to use it like I would a Farm and Field. And I wouldn't even use a Farm and Field like I would one of my new Opinels. And then there's snap-off or replaceable blade utility knives that you get at Ace Hardware for a few bucks.

"Best" is subjective to the user and to task at hand, and to the user doing the task at hand. Sometimes the task at hand can be rough on the knife and you don't want to use something nicer/better so a cheaper something, like an Opinel, is the "best" knife. That's the way I see it anyway.

 

[rwc53]

My vote is for Case as well. I own several GEC's and a couple of knives made by Queen, but I would pick the Case for the "down and dirty" work. This is simply based on price and availability. They are tough, have decent steel (whether CV or Tru-Sharp stainless), and easily replaceable.

Ron

 

[Will Power]

The reason I briefly mentioned loss is that it's a very real factor in an actively used work-knife. How many times has somebody laid down a knife on a wall, by a tree,sack, left it on a truck or in somebody else's tool-kit etc? But I still think CASE offer the best solution plus it has a very good warranty or repair reputation. Moreover, not many of them are rare or expensive to replace, vintage and Collaborations excluded.

 

[knifeswapper]

With respect Mike, I think value is a very important factor in a "work knife". To me, a "work knife" is something I care less about than a more expensive, nicer knife. I just got a GEC Weasel in bloodwood, and it'd make a fantastic work knife. But I'm not going to use it like I would a Farm and Field. And I wouldn't even use a Farm and Field like I would one of my new Opinels. And then there's snap-off or replaceable blade utility knives that you get at Ace Hardware for a few bucks.

"Best" is subjective to the user and to task at hand, and to the user doing the task at hand. Sometimes the task at hand can be rough on the knife and you don't want to use something nicer/better so a cheaper something, like an Opinel, is the "best" knife. That's the way I see it anyway.

I don't disagree that value is important as a whole, but that is another question. The knife I use more than any other for work is a $2 box cutter; but I wouldn't pick it in anyone's poll that had "Best" in the title. But interpretation is good collateral information.

We were going bird hunting when it was starting to warm a bit and my buddy pulled his dog out of the pen that I can't stand; and left his award winning male. When I asked him why we were taking her; he replied that "the rattlers may be out today and I don't want to lose my good dog". That didn't make this his best dog, it just made it his least valuable to him. So it seems a bit reversed to consider the knife that you don't mind ruining as the knife you consider your best.

 

[knifeswapper]

Maybe more polls, this is kinda fun.

Best current traditional knife to lose or ruin?
If you could pick the best single knife one of these three companies ever made, which company's knife would it be?
If you had to shop within 5 miles of your house, which knife would you buy?
If you were specifically going to make 73 cuts in 1/2" sisal and you were a billionaire, which knife would it be?

Not actually wanting answers to these at this time

 

[Cory Hess]

I love the way you set these polls up, Mike. I've been having a lot of fun tracking the results. I think that the differences in the results are very interesting. I don't think it's a surprise to anybody that GEC would come out on top of both polls. What I find interesting is that GEC is running just under 80% on the best overall poll and around 55% for the best work knife poll. I don't know if this is surprising or not, but it's at least interesting. To me anyways.

 

[knifeswapper]

I love the way you set these polls up, Mike. I've been having a lot of fun tracking the results. I think that the differences in the results are very interesting. I don't think it's a surprise to anybody that GEC would come out on top of both polls. What I find interesting is that GEC is running just under 80% on the best overall poll and around 55% for the best work knife poll. I don't know if this is surprising or not, but it's at least interesting. To me anyways.

Like the old saying about statistics, you can make them say anything you want I think the outcome would have been different had the results not been accessible until after the poll closed.

I think the interpretation of "Work Knife" kept a lot of people away from that one; as the turnout is 25% less. But maybe only 75% of our membership ever do any work (just kidding)

 

[jc57]

My work (paid job) does not involve use of a knife. I chose to interpret "work" to mean "home improvement tasks". I.e., things beyond just having a pocket knife for little daily tasks that come up at random. A genuine task needing a cutting tool.

I picked the best option out of the three listed based on what I have actually used in those situations. Usually it is none of the above.

 

[knifeswapper]

My work (paid job) does not involve use of a knife. I chose to interpret "work" to mean "home improvement tasks". I.e., things beyond just having a pocket knife for little daily tasks that come up at random. A genuine task needing a cutting tool.

I picked the best option out of the three listed based on what I have actually used in those situations. Usually it is none of the above.

Same here, work requires little work. But when you work, all other things being equal, which brand would the knife of your choice belong to? That was all I was after.

 

[Old Hunter]

I voted a day or two ago, but made no comment, so I'll make it now. I carry a Case medium Stockman to work nearly every day, I use the Sheepfoot to cut samples of wallboard and open packaging. I use the clip to open packaging, etc. I chose a Case as they are well made, easy to find/buy locally, and not so expensive that I would cringe to cut a sheet of cement board with one. OH

 

[Buzzbait]

Love the polls. I think things would have turned out differently, if the poll had asked for something like Best Traditional Utility Knife. I think that the phrase Utility Knife is much easier to grasp than Work Knife.

 

[spyderg]

I picked GEC, great knives. I'm disappointed in what I've got/seen from Queen. F&F just not very good at all, blade play, doesn't inspire confidence as a user. And Case seems pretty hit and miss, probably more good than not so much but if you get a miss, it's pretty dissapointing, if you get a good one it's great. Just not feeling them aesthetically for some reason, and if I don't like it, I'm not likely to use it so it's out. This leaves GEC which I've had only one that dissapointed a bit, (up down blade play on one of two 72's I picked up). I particularly like many of the Northwoods they've produced. My Denim Esky Zulu sees the most use as of late. We shall see what happens after my Hawthorne finally gets here...

 

[Buzzbait]

My Denim Esky Zulu sees the most use as of late. We shall see what happens after my Hawthorne finally gets here...

I've been using the heck out of that same knife. I initially wasn't so impressed with the Esky Zulu. Aesthetically, it just didn't appeal to me. I found it to be bland and boring. But after it got some accidental pitting in the blade, I finally allowed myself to use it for learning freehand sharpening techniques, and doing tons of cutting chores to test the newly sharpened edges. The blade is scratched from freehand sharpening and cutting extremely dirty cardboard, and is loaded with patina from cutting lemons, onions, peppers, limes and oranges while cooking. The denim micarta has soaked in a ton of mineral oil, leaving it dingy and ragged looking. But boy is it a great working knife. The blade shape is crazy versatile. The grind is thin and efficient. There's a nice strong pull on the blade, yet I can still pinch to open it. The 1095 takes an absolutely hair popping edge. The knife is light and slim in the pocket for a blade of that length. And the overall grip feels soooo good in my hand. What was once my most disappointing GEC creation, and become one of my favorite working knives.

 

[spyderg]

The blade shape is crazy versatile. The grind is thin and efficient.

I can't say enough about the blade being just right either. They hit it out of the park with this one! Funny enough, I'm hoping to pick up a Case Tribal Spear when they come out as long as the reviews are favourable because of how much I like the Esky. It's also what convinced me to grab the Heartland clip, another great knife but something about that Esky, especially in denim.

 

[Dean51]

At one time I would have said the stockman and over the next 50 years only the brand would change. At first it was Case, then Old Timer, then Buck and finally Camillus, came out as the best of the best.

I didn't even have to think about it, I just voted Queen, because of the #63 Railsplitter. It's my favorite carry, my favorite worker my favorite knife. With three D2 blades it will out cut all my other knives period.

 

[boy&hisdogs]

Case, because I've lost and broken my fair share of knives. Those were $20 China mades too, I would hate to lose a $100+ GEC.

They all cut stuff. It's just that we as collectors, tinkerers, makers and traders notice the most minute details that are lost on the average person. Not that they aren't worth the extra money, time and effort for us, but they all have nice thin blades and carbon steel, and the same general selection of shapes/sizes.

But one costs half of what the others do and is avalible at nearly any hardware store big or small, chain or local.

That's why I vote for Case. It's all you need and still made in the USA with respectable quality. Anything more is past the point of diminishing returns IMO.

 

[NMpops]

For a work knife, Case Medium Stockman in Stainless. It was the "work" in the poll that swings it to Case. While my GEC knives would certainly be up to any task, I feel they are too nice to get down and dirty.

i feel the same way except that I have never purchased a GEC. The GEC knives I have handled, while nice are not really worth the extra cost to me. If I shop carefully I can buy Case knives that have F&F almost equal to and in some cases better than GEC. Plus I actually prefer stainless in a working knife. My all time favorite being the Case 6375 American Workman in as-ground SS.

 

[knifeswapper]

There we go, scratched into the sands of time.... BladeForum Poll results for Best Current Work Traditional between our PA factories.
60% GEC
26% Case
14% Queen

 

[4thpoint]

Mike, just like you use a $2.00 box cutter, I use Rough Riders as my beater knives (Hawkbills and Half Hawks).
It would have been nice to see a RR section in that Poll.

 

[knifeswapper]

Mike, just like you use a $2.00 box cutter, I use Rough Riders as my beater knives (Hawkbills and Half Hawks).
It would have been nice to see a RR section in that Poll.

What should have actually been in the wording of the poll was "without consideration of cost". Because there were a lot of votes that went to the cheaper solution when my intent was to get a poll of the "best" working knife family; not the one you "least mind ruining or losing".