Tec-X collection from Case.

[knarfeng]

I wouldn't buy Case knives that were foreign made.
If I want modern (and I often do), there are plenty of US manufacturers to choose from.

 

[seelow123]

I wouldn't buy Case knives that were foreign made.
If I want modern (and I often do), there are plenty of US manufacturers to choose from.

Same here. I'm sure they will sell just fine without me spending my money on them.

 

[338375]

Thanks for supporting W.R. Case & Sons, who've been hand-crafting fine knives exclusively in the USA since 1889!

Sincerely,


The Associates of W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company


I thought it was interesting to see this printed on the bottom of the ad ... I don't see how this will improve the company. There are already plenty of cheap imported folders on the market. Is there really that much demand for knives like those ?

 

[mnblade]

Schrade tried it with the X-Timer but it seems the timing wasn't right or the marketing wasn't quite where it needed to be.

In the case of Schrade, I think you're being too kind and generous. Every "modern" product they put out in the last couple of years of their existence made me want to puke. I felt terrible for their employees when the company went under. But at the same time, it was kind of like putting a lame horse down.

Let's hope Case isn't lurching in that direction.

I can say at least, that -- while not my cup of tea -- these designs aren't throw-up bad.

-- Mark

 

[quattromori]

This thread helps me realize how much you guys care about Case as a company.
I guess this act can be considered from two different points of view.
On one side, I think we have to surrender to the fact that "tacticool" knives, modern folders and cheap work knives represent the huge majority of the market, while traditionals only get a very thin loaf of the bread. So it should not surprise to see "traditional" companies try to jump to the other side of the fence and dive into the bigger market if they want to survive...even if nobody here knows if they "need" to make that move, or they're just trying to explore that market to see how it goes.
On the other side, a good quality product in a niche market (and properly managed) is going to last forever; it's not going to be the best selling factory in the business, but will probably grow deeper roots (such as Case did), and stay and survive.
Since I'm not American, I may see things differently, and personally I don't mind Case producing their knives in the US, China or on Mars. I'm just not convinced that those knives will be hitting the right spot of the market, since they probably can't afford (speaking of company image) to sell US made CV swayback jacks, and China made cheap modern folders. It seems (and your reactions speak for it) that traditional knife users don't like them taking this step, and are maybe worried that this could have a bad influence on the quality of their knives. And, on the other hand, they will have to face the competition of cheaper China made knives (which are growing bigger and bigger) on one side, being probably suffocated on the upper side by companies who already have established their market (Spyderco to name one).
I don't know how this is going to end, and I guess I will never really care about Case modern folders. Still, they're losing some points towards the customers that have supported them so far...and if the quality of their traditionals should start going down, they might risk to lose what they have built in decades.
My guess is that they're trying to be a two legged giant...and that's risky. I assume they know what they're doing (they should have marketing experts that should know better than us users), but the history of knife producers in the US (I've read of some examples here on BF) makes us tremble with doubt. Personally, instead of the two legged giant, I would rather see them as a brick. Not growing too tall, but not tumbling down either. I guess that's what they're been so far, and what traditionalists expect from their company.

Fausto

 

[Will Power]

I can't see it working. There are a lot of cheap and bad modern knives and a lot of cheap and good ones already out there on the market, saturation in other words. That's the problem, lot of Chinese made knives are decent&well finished, think Spyderco Byrd or A.G.Russell's lines, so why chance it with CASE's take on this? The designs look bargain basement and the name of the line is ridiculous as well. It's of course OK if it enables CASE to continue with its core, Traditional knives, but I fear it may compromise everything.

Far better to invest in newer equipment and maintain a really serious level of quality control, that will keep customers and certainly attract new loyal ones. The Swayback is an excellently made slipjoint so why not extend that level to more of its range? Yes, the G-10 range is good and could be expanded into other micartas including expensive lines. The Trapperlock seems to be plagued with finish issues and annoyances however, that kind of thing can drag a company right down.

This new 'line' looks like the wrong kind of fix to me:thumbdn:

 

[mnblade]

... the new "Schrade" seems to be doing okay.

Small point of fact: There is no Schrade company anymore, it's just a trademark someone bought to put on their knives. No one is drawing paycheck that says "Schrade" on it.

On an unrelated note, I wonder how many folks complaining about Case's move own Rough Riders.

-- Mark

 

[IVANKERLEY]

well i'm not ready to give up on case, i'm sure they have their reasons for trying this, as did buck when they did it. that being said i wonder how they are dealing with the negative pushback from case fans? their facebook post on it had overwhelmingly negative responses. The problem for them i'm sure is getting the younger gen excited about carrying a pocket knife. My son has slipjoints of all sorts foreign and domestic including a case, by and large he carries his kershaw or his buck nobleman. Now my hope is that when he's 30 he'll get nostalgic (like i did) and pull 'em out and get all obsessed over them i know its not a great plan but its the only one ive got
I will say that i am a little concerned because as has been said both camillus and schrade went under, but those i believe we're different circumstances. I hope Case fares much better. If anybody gets some info to the contrary i would hope they'd let me know so i can buy a dozen or so medium and jumbo stockmans in yeller and amber bone CV by far my favorite edc knives, and the thought of not carrying one is just too much. My wife would kill me but desperate times and all that
regards
gene

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I think that Case can get by without these one hand openers, that look like junk. I think that going this route will be the death knell of this company. Queen is part of Ontario Knives, so they can fall back on them, and vice versa. OKC has a varied lineup that cater to most tastes. GEC is more of a niche brand, but their prices reflect the overall quality. Lots of other slipjoint makers out there that are getting by okay.

I personally think that Case needs to get away from all of the "junk" gimmicks, and stick to making good knives, with good steel (maybe bump up the SS steel). However, just like their gimmick scales sell like hotcakes, I think that there is a distinct possibility that this new line will sell pretty well to the same crowd.

Maybe the guy who owns Taylor brands bought them out?

BTW, I like my one hand openers, but they are of high quality. If Case had come out with some high quality one hand openers, I would have been more receptive. These look like junk, regardless of country of origin. I hope that Case does well with these, because if they don't, no more Case.

Someone mentioned Case delving into bushcraft etc. I would like to see that, but I guess their slipjoints aren't for the American public anymore, these new TECX knives are.

 

[mnblade]

I think Case could create a bigger buzz by opening a custom-shop option where buyers could mix/match scales. "Want a medium stockman in CV with lilac scales? No problem at the Case Custom Shop!"

BTW, from a marketing point of view, it seems weird to let the cat out of the bag about these Tex-X knives and then let people stew on them for months. They should have announced them the week they were going to be available.

-- Mark

 

[moonwilson]

Small point of fact: There is no Schrade company anymore, it's just a trademark someone bought to put on their knives. No one is drawing paycheck that says "Schrade" on it.

On an unrelated note, I wonder how many folks complaining about Case's move own Rough Riders.

-- Mark

Of course I know that. That's why I put "Schrade" in quotes. Somebody's making money off of the Schrade name (Frost/ Taylor?) too bad it's not Schrade any more. I'm still a bit too shaken up to make much of a point, but my point is, if somebody is going to make knives in China with Case's name on them, and make money on them, it might as well be Case. Because if Case were to go under (God forbid), you can bet your bottom dollar that somebody would buy the name, and slap it on imported knives similar to those in the Tec-X line (or worse) and make money off of them. If this move helps keep the factory in Bradford open, then it's not totally bad I guess. Horrible and saddening though it may be.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Disgusting.

Is this the beginning of the end? Case wouldn't be pimping their name if they weren't hurting.

 

[Ryanol]

Its just a horrible move from a marketing dept. if this is a slice of pie you want, build a standalone website with a small logo in the footer that says "a WR Case company". Exploit your distribution network and push this brand on its own two feet instead of trying to piggy back on the traditionals back.

 

[Sonnemann]

I wouldn't buy Case knives that were foreign made.
If I want modern (and I often do), there are plenty of US manufacturers to choose from.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I know the economy sucks for everyone, but I didn't imagine that iconic brands like Case/Zippo were hurting so badly that they felt the need to sully what is one of their most valuable attributes. Now of course I'm typing this on a computer made in China, wearing a watch made in Japan, and with goodness knows how many other imported things around me. But for those old historic brands still making quality goods in the USA...it's a crying shame.

PS If Case has any reasonable people left in their marketing department, I hope they're reading this thread!

 

[moonwilson]

I wonder what Tony Bose thinks about this.

 

[Ryanol]

IMHO -The day they make a traditional abroad is first shovel of dirt in digging their own grave.

This whole thing reminds me of "New Coke"

 

[nphelps4130]

I was extremely sorry to see the email in my inbox about this Tec-X line from Case. These designs look cheap and generic. I agree 100% with those who said that if Case wants to expand their market or go 'modern' then they should have gone the 'William Henry route' with high-quality 'tactical' knives or expanded their fixed blade lines to include bushcraft styles and machetes. Or maybe just expand their current modernized traditional lines with more new designs that include G-10, micarta, pocket clips, thumb studs, locks, etc.

While I prefer US-made knives, I am not against imported knives; but these in particular seem like a really bad choice for Case, of all companies...

 

[moonwilson]

Now that I've calmed down a bit, I looked a bit closer at the knives in the press release. I noticed something that made me feel a lot better about this announcement. The knives don't appear to have a Case logo, or say "Case" anywhere on them. They say "Tec-X". So maybe this is a move by Case to use their design resources and distribution network to cash in a bit on the remarkable knife manufacturing capability that exists in China right now. Let's face it, the Chinese are able to make some pretty nice knives at very low prices at the moment. Since a lot of market share is going that way anyway, why not get in on it, if doing so doesn't compromise the brand name and identity?

If the knives don't say "Case" directly on them, or maybe just have a little "by Case" stamping on them, like Spyderco does with their Byrd line, then I have no problem with this whatsoever.

Maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all.


Post 7,000.

 

[quattromori]

if this is a slice of pie you want, build a standalone website with a small logo in the footer that says "a WR Case company". Exploit your distribution network and push this brand on its own two feet instead of trying to piggy back on the traditionals back.

Even though on the pure practical side it doesn't change a single thing, I agree that this might be a better image strategy; save the name for the US traditionals, and use a new one for modern knives.
The customized option that Mark suggested surely sounds attractive to all of us, but I guess it wouldn't have meant any big change in sales.
Guess they chose their way...we'll see where it takes them.

Fausto

 

[2Dead]

I have no interest in these new folders. I would have preferred that if they were going to introduce modern one hand opening design knives that they go towards the gentlemen folder designs instead of the tacticool ones. And, they should be made in the US. Just my opinion.