Still a Case man for now

J

jwh

Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Messages
730
After all of this (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/933293-Buck-vs-Case-vs-GEC-vs-Canal-Street-Cutlery) discussion of opinions, facts and experiences I couldn't pull the trigger. While I am sure I will end up with some GEC knives I could not bring myself to spend that amount without seeing one in person. For about what the one GEC I had in the cart several times cost I was able to get a Case Medium Congress and a Mini Copperhead plus some change. Both of these are Navy wth Red Shields. Thanks all. I will try and get pics up next week when they arrive.

I will be in Denver fairly soon. Does anyone know of a GEC dealer in or around Denver, CO? Thanks.

jwh
 
I have about a half a dozen GECs and more than a dozen Case knives. They're both great, but different.

The GECs have more of a handmade look. For example you can see the swedges are all hand done on a GEC blade. Case knives have more of a machine made look, for example the blades are tumble finished and are high polished. I happen to like the way Case knives have high polished backsprings, but the GEC springs have crisp edges and meet the blade with almost no seam , Case knives are rounded ( from the tumbling process).

GEC stag scales on are beautiful, Case .... well , they're ok.

So it will come down to your preferences. Some on the forum have said they've gotten Case knives with terrible grinds or dull, it's never happened to me, but I did get a GEC equal end Muskrat with some tool marks on the back of the blade.

You might want to check out Queen, I like the way they're finished too, again they have a handmade look, but not as expensive as GEC.
 
Kinda funny. When I think about buying a Case, I end up buying a Buck because of its lower price. I don't feel short changed, either.
 
jwh - You really should pull the trigger on a GEC. Use your credit card and buy from a reputable dealer, and consider that your "seeing it in person." With GECs it is more about quality than quantity, so try not to think in terms of how many Cases you could buy for the same money. Just pick a design you REALLY like, and I don't think you will regret it later.

dogstar said:
Kinda funny. When I think about buying a Case, I end up buying a Buck because of its lower price. I don't feel short changed, either.
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I'm kind of in the middle here, dogstar. If I can find the design I want in a US-made Buck, I'll go for it. They seem to have better snap to them, better fit, and sharper blade tips than Cases. These days, I can't bring myself to buy a Chinese-made Buck, even if it is exactly what I'm looking for, the quality is good, and the price is right. They are close enough that I'll happily pay more and get the US-made Case instead of the Chinese-made Buck.
 
The navy bone/red shield mini Copperhead is a sweet knife, I love mine! FnF are great and it's a nice usable size and almost disappears in the pocket.

I do love me my GEC's though! I was all Case until I found this forum. Since then I've picked up GEC, Schatt and Morgan, Queen, Colonel Coon (made by Queen), Boker, Weidmannsheil, German Eye, Fight'n Rooster, Hen & Rooster and Buck. Not a bad one in the lot, and now I have way too many knives :D
 
I like Buck, they make good, solid knives. I've never seen a Buck with good snap however, my Case knives all have much more solid snap to the backsprings. Buck also has a very limited selection of traditionals. Case has more than I can count.

I've never had an actual problem with either however. One can carry either with pride.
 
dogstar said:
Kinda funny. When I think about buying a Case, I end up buying a Buck because of its lower price. I don't feel short changed, either.
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Case has lower priced knives too, I bought a Slim Trapper with delrin scales for $29.00.

I've got it in my pocket today.
 
JPD1998 said:
I have about a half a dozen GECs and more than a dozen Case knives. They're both great, but different.

finished too, again they have a handmade look, but not as expensive as GEC.
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Thanks for the info.

jwh
 
Smaug said:
jwh - You really should pull the trigger on a GEC.Just pick a design you REALLY like, and I don't think you will regret it later.
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It's just a matter of time. I am one of the lucky ones who hasn't been shipped any bad Case knives yet.

jwh
 
JPD1998 said:
Case has lower priced knives too, I bought a Slim Trapper with delrin scales for $29.00.

I've got it in my pocket today.
Click to expand...

I have a wide variety of Case knives (fixed and folders) from a Delrin Peanut to the Black Bowie. I like em all.

jwh
 
I believe that JPD1998 hit the nail on the head. While I'm a huge GEC fan and own numerous different models I also own just as many if not more Case. While it is debatable which is the "better" knife there is one thing you can't deny and that is both manufactorers have a distinctive style that seperates them apart from each other. It's kind of hard to describe GEC's style but after you handle several you'll see what I mean they're not necessarily better but just different. I personally like GEC knives slightly better than Case and just about any other traditonal production knife but realy in the end it's just about preferance or as the illustration goes it's a Ford VS Chevy kind of arguement.
 
You will like a GEC knife. If you feel the urge, I don't think you will regret it. As for the Case mini copperhead, that is my favorite small, everyday carry knife. I love mine and have thought about getting one in the Navy bone with Red shield, but I have one backordered in deep canyon bone that I am waiting for now.

I will say that the 2011 Bladeforums easy open bullet end jack is probably the best made production knife I have ever bought. (Made by GEC)

Ed J
 
GEC does make some incredible knives. I'm always in awe at how nearly perfect my powderhorn jack is. I think their one flaw is the spring strength, it's a wee bit tough to open.
 
Case is about 45 minutes from our camp..I've visited the factory and seeing all the history,videos and watching the workers behind the glass do their majic was really neat...I wish I had more than one Case knife but man are they pricy..
CD
 
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