Thoughts and Opinions on Case

[BK14]

Hi everyone,
My lovely mother surprised me with a Case Texas Jack in Amber Bone and CV steel yesterday after coming back from a short vacation she was on. I've enjoyed Case knives for awhile, and my CV Sodbuster Jr. is one of my favorite knives. I really am liking the Texas Jack so far, and it got me thinking, in the world of GEC and other high end traditionals, what draws those who like them to Case over the competition? What patterns does everyone enjoy, and CV or SS? I know that I enjoy the greater availability and options, but do wish more cover materials and patterns were made in CV. I know that there have been threads like this before, and countless debates of "versus" with these well known companies, but I am just curious what draws people to these knives still, despite general lesser quality compared to GEC. I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts, and photos are always welcome! I hope everyone is having a good Memorial Day and remembering those who serve today as well.

 

[supratentorial]

Has it been one week already? Saying the knives are lesser quality than GEC is the OPINION that you have and it's a popular opinion in the weekly Case beat downs. Looking at the Case Norfolk that I just took out of my pocket, I certainly don't feel that I have an inferior knife. I also think that my Case yeller sowbelly is a very high quality knife and I use it regularly. Case makes a good knife.

 

[black mamba]

Although I have both carbon and stainless knives, I'm partial to the stainless. Case's Tru-Sharp isn't very up to date, but it does take a decent edge and works fine for EDC tasks. With Case I tend to like the patterns and features you don't find anywhere else; here's a few examples.

Humpback Stockman

Saddlehorn Jack

Silver Script Shields

Raindrop Stainless Damascus Blades

 

[pmew]

Case certainly make a fine knife. I love GEC - my collection of 25s speaks for itself - but Case gets a raw deal around here sometimes. They can produce stunning production models at a much more competitive price than GEC;

This is one I picked up online and it is more than a match for any jigged bone GEC I own

 

[Railsplitter]

I like Case for many reasons. Their rich history, abundance of pattern and handle material choices, blade steel choices, dollar for dollar value, customer service, the Case/Bose lineup, to name a few.

I prefer Case's Tru-sharp steel but I wish they could offer more patterns in the as ground finish or the satin finish that they use on the Case/Bose collabs. I like a lot of Case's patterns but my two favorites are the Norfolk and the Humpback Stockman.

View attachment 714405

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[supratentorial]

Nice knives, Rick and Jeff.

This is a custom, NOT a Case knife, but it is the prototype that is used by Case as a pattern for the collaboration knife. The Case knives are cut by wire EDM from the templates, not punched out with dies. Like the custom, the knife from Case will have 154cm steel, steel bolsters and liners, mill relieved liners, and even the pivot bushings. The grinds, plunge, and swedges on the Case version is the best that I have seen on a production knife. I think they are machine made (waaay to perfect to be ground by hand). The pivot bushings and mill relieved liners also provide the best movement on any production knife that I have seen.

GEC makes a great knife using die cut parts and attention to the small details (some meaningful details, some not really meaningful) that collectors obsess over. They pay more attention to these small details than Case on their regular production knives. The medium and larger blades have hand finished grinds that are second only the machine made grinds on the Case collaboration knives. Compared to other hand ground blades, they are the best that I have seen. For knives without bushings, they often have excellent walk and talk though there are exceptions. They make great knives. There is some variation in different models, as there is also with Case's regular production run. Generalizations only go so far. They are regularly adding new patterns and it is a fun ride to follow.

Instead of putting one or the other down, I'd highly recommend buying knives from both great American brands.

 

[knarfeng]

what draws people to these knives still, despite general lesser quality compared to GEC

I buy Case knives for several reasons.
♦ Some of their patterns are as good as anything GEC puts out. With a number of Case knives, I don't feel like I gave up anything in the way of Quality.
♦ I don't always feel like spending $100 for a knife.
♦ I seldom feel like spending $100 for a carbon steel bladed knife. And the selection of GEC stainless knives is slim. Plus the patterns offered in stainless are often odd and are nothing I wish to possess.
♦ To me there is an overemphasis on fit and finish these days. I don't buy show pieces. I buy knives to use them. Even Case knives which are of lesser fit and finish are still decently made and are quite sufficient to satisfy my needs and desires.

 

[Wowbagger]

The very last knife I bought, couple days ago, was a Case Trapper. I have a few.
That was after buying fancy shmancy M4 and S110V knives the previous weeks.
So . . . yah . . . Case still has an important place in my pocket.
Link to my thread on the latest Trapper <<<<<here

As far as GEC I think they do a great job and the knives are priced right considering they are made in the USA in small batches. I have a huge problem with GEC that I think most people here find to be an advantage or some shtuff. And that is they are so EDD that they have to change models/ production runs every five _______ (fill in the blank). Every time I finally see one of their knives that I like and think could work for me . . .
they are out of stock everywhere. So if I had a GEC t-shirt I would have printed on it :

Great Eastern Cutlery
Out of Stock EVERYWHERE​

I suppose I am over reacting but I just don't have the time and energy to fight the great fight to find a little slip joint that I kind of like. And once found pay an inflated price for it.

To be truthful I have only found one of their knives that in my eyes was "to die for" . . . the Grinling Whittler in ebony.

The other thing that creeps me out about GEC is I go to a seller's site, pick out the knife I want from the general category, description and number; click on the knife and it is often something other than described . . . blade shape different, even number of blades other than described.
In short shopping for and trying to actually BUY a GEC has been just a huge waste of my time and a frustration with no reward.
Period.
Case ? Yah . . . I'll buy another Case knife.

 

[jc57]

Price. Availability. Patterns. Handle options. Stainless steel. Blade grinds. Visual appeal.

 

[Ratbert]

Case does indeed make quite a fine knife. I would like to have a Texas Jack myself one day, as I think it would be a great companion.

My yellow delrin medium stockman in CV cost less than $20 on sale at a local hiking store. It is a workhorse and a worthy addition to my pockets, when I'm looking at knives to carry for the week.

I think the main draws for me are the obvious ones...very good knives at a good price and availability. It's nice to be able to go to the hardware store and look over several models of knives and chose a particular handle or color that strikes you.

(Supratentorial, that TB Tribal Spear is a beaut!)

 

[KBA]

I agree Case has been given a bad wrap, but IMO I cannot see the price justification in the Case Bose colabs. $350+- for a production traditional seems way over priced just to carry a name attached. Ive read QC issues on each one and to approach custom prices, it just seems odd.

As for the sub $75 market I am fine with Case. I dont always enjoy their grinds and the blade height on some blades just seem cut in half, but that is a subjective opinion.

I do wonder what percentage of Case knives are of poor quality. I wonder if they care or have broken it down to a justified loss to net the most profit. It would be interesting know return percentages and complaints per X knives sold. As it would be to know Queen and GEC percentage numbers.

 

[Fodderwing]

Although I have both carbon and stainless knives, I'm partial to the stainless. Case's Tru-Sharp isn't very up to date, but it does take a decent edge and works fine for EDC tasks. With Case I tend to like the patterns and features you don't find anywhere else; here's a few examples

Love that saddlehorn jack and I have nary one of them. That's gotta change.

 

[willard0341]

like the gentlemen above mentioned "enjoy all of them"

 

[supratentorial]

I agree Case has been given a bad wrap, but IMO I cannot see the price justification in the Case Bose colabs. $350+- for a production traditional seems way over priced just to carry a name attached. Ive read QC issues on each one and to approach custom prices, it just seems odd.

As for the sub $75 market I am fine with Case. I dont always enjoy their grinds and the blade height on some blades just seem cut in half, but that is a subjective opinion.

I do wonder what percentage of Case knives are of poor quality. I wonder if they care or have broken it down to a justified loss to net the most profit. It would be interesting know return percentages and complaints per X knives sold. As it would be to know Queen and GEC percentage numbers.

Brett,

Although I have had good experiences with the collaboration knives, I have seen some finish issues on some. The components are usually perfect since they are cut by Wire EDM. Never seen a problem there. It's the part involving manual labor that can cause some hiccups. Case will take care of any problems.

The price can be a barrier but I don't think it's because of the name. The sowbelly also carries the Bose name and I paid $50 for it. The difference in price is due to the materials and the manufacturing of the collaboration knives.

Just upgrading to 154CM on a regular production trapper (not a Bose regular production and not a Bose collaboration knife), increases the price by about $100. So some of the cost is due to the blade upgrade. This seems similar to other other brands as well. A Tuna Valley knife with 154CM is usually around $200. A Victorinox Pioneer with a Damascus blade is also much more expensive because of the blade steel upgrade.

Also, some of the cost is coming from mill relieving the liners and integrating bushings into each blade. There are no other manufacturers doing it so I have no price comparison.

From what I understand, a lot of the cost is coming from the manufacturing by Wire EDM. It is much more expensive than using a die. If I recall correctly, Tony said this is one of the biggest reasons for the additional cost. I don't know if this is also how the grinds and swedges are cut but they are so perfect that they must be machine made (I just don't know for sure what type of machine). I think the Queen Burke cattle knife was also cut out instead of punched out and it was also a very expensive knife... might have been about the same retail price but I don't recall for sure.

So I think there's a lot of reasons for the added cost. But I do understand how price can be a barrier. It's not a substitute for the true art produced at Wilfred Works by Tony but it is a reproduction that can be bought and used at a fraction of the cost. I appreciate that Tony is willing to do it all. And I hope both Tony and Case continue to do the collaboration knives. I'm also hoping that Reese picks it up when Tony retires.

 

[popedandy]

Good quality. Good availability. Good range of patterns. Good price - I even got my 154cm trapper for under $100. Stainless blades. Pull that is strong enough to get the job done without being a bit hard on my aging hands. Nothing against other brands - I have had fine knives from all of them, but Case hits the sweet spot for me.

 

[KBA]

supratentorial

Thnak you for the time and explanation. I also find the Tuna Valley line and Vic Damascus to way over priced as well, lol. .

In all seriousness, I find Case knives worth the buy under the $75 price. Above that I think there has to be some personal justiciaction. As in most knives, one's own personal finances can play a part, or just their idea of value. I do wonder the profit margins on knives such as Tuna Valley and Case Bose colabs.

I suppose I hold a stigma against production traditional knives that run above $150 (only to include stag), this includes Northwoods as well. It may be ill fonded but I cant help but see a larger profit margin in those price ranges. And, an attempt to milk the wallets of collectors.

Thanks again for the education. I do appreciate your understanding and insight.

 

[Wurrwulf]

They can't consistently dye bone to save their lives, but other than that, I have no issues with Case. I'd love to look at the promo pictures, order a knife, and have it show up looking like the promo pictures, but that is not the case most of the time. The closest Case Platinum dealer to me that is worth it's salt is a 4 hr drive. For half the price of a GEC, it's not expected to match quality, but a red knife should not arrive pink, a gray knife should not arrive blue, and an Amber bone knife should not arrive pumpkin orange.

 

[YellowSwiss]

My collection (well, don't really collect..I like knives I can use) runs from knives costing into the hundreds, to Rough Rider models (which I love!), but every day I like to have at least 1 Case with me. I never feel underwhelmed by Case steel...and I love that traditional feel...in its truest form. I like super steel ok, but grandpa never needed it, so In figure I can do just fine without it!

 

[KBA]

Just an opinion here for my thoughts on Case.

If a knife new at retail cost $100 and soon becomes $225 on the secondary market I find it hard to use that knife. This is why I have left GEC and the idea of even buying them frequently. I don't collect, preserve, or study for historical accuracy so the idea of having knives beyond users doesn't make much since. I see knives as a tool first. I also attach my own personal desire to project a memory on that knife or knives as an heirloom token.The more genuine use it has the better.

If a knife is automatically considered a collectors piece I wont even consider using that knife. I consider the Case Bose colabs in this category. If a knife cost $350 and automatically is a collectors piece I certainly will not use that knife. So, I don't see a value in using a Case Bose or any other knife such as this for that matter. The Tuna mammoth knives are amazing but who is going to cut into dog food, mulch, or other chores with a $500 mammoth custom or Tuna Valley.

If you're only owning a knife to own, and not use it, who owns who?

Now, there are some knives that I will claim as my own. I know they will likely go for more on the secondary market, but I consider them mine. I don't see them as a collectors piece, as I do not collect. I also don't see them as a poor investment as they will carry my story of use and one day be handed down. I also don't buy a lot or keep a lot of them as the more I have takes away from actually using the knives I want to carry a story or memory. So, the ones I own I want to be a balance of quality, function, and have that unique or special factor.

The price of a knife is dictated on value based imo on its use ability, not its collectability or whose brand and name is on it. I find GEC, at retail cost, to be the most balanced imo for my definition of value. I define value as an heirloom pice that I will enjoy using and carry a heirloom quality as say a old Schrade Cut Co, or Russell barlow, not a run of the mill Gerber or Sabre. I know on the heirloom side this doesnt really matter, but I have a choice, so why not GEC over Gerber.

Now, if I didn't care about the heirloom aspect or wasn't as picky in the ones I chose, Case would be perfect. They cut. They have a great warranty. Their even made in USA (if that matters) Yet, they are mass produced and more "common." I see the $75 and under Case knife as a great user, but I do not personally value them as an heirloom piece to be used.

Anyways, Im out of breath.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

They make a nice and serviceable knife at a good price. I also think their proportions are better than GEC. The overall size is generally a little slimmer than GEC.

I do think Case could get their dye process better and leave crisper edges instead of polishing them away......

I also just don't feel right working an exclusive and expensive knife.... I think that is why I get happy when using a Case.