Traditional Slip Joints...What Brand?

bleev3

bleev3

Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
241
The last several years I've been all consumed with Spydercos and Benchmades...but I'm looking to expand a bit.

I heard Case doesn't really make quality knives like they used to but their price range is about where I'd like to start...$60-$90.

Who makes top quality slip joints these days in the above price range?

Or should I put my faith and money in Case?

Thanks for the guidance.

EDIT: Hopefully I don't insult the Case guys...I'll post the youtube video I watched that makes me question the quality if requested.
 
Last edited:
Although I've only bought a half dozen Cases in the last couple years, every one has been of very high quality. I do prefer Queen/Schatt & Morgan because of their premium steel (D2 or ATS-34) and their great bone, but don't really feel their quality control is any better than Case, to be honest.

I believe the best right now is Great Eastern Cutlery, including Tidioute and Northfield UN-X-LD. Only the GEC branded knives have stainless, though, so if you don't like 1095 steel, you're a little limited. Try a GEC 4" toothpick (they make them in both carbon and stainless). Lots of handle materials to choose from, they really cut, and they feel great in the hand.
 
Last edited:
Love the toothpick, that's the one that sparked my interest in traditional knives. Love handle material choices...some are so beautiful. You have given me a lot to look into. Thanks for your time and guidance.
 
black mamba said:
Although I've only bought a half dozen Cases in the last couple years, every one has been of very high quality. I do prefer Queen/Schatt & Morgan because of their premium steel (D2 or ATS-34) and their great bone, but don't really feel their quality control is any better than Case, to be honest.

I believe the best right now is Great Eastern Cutlery, including Tidioute and Northfield UN-X-LD. Only the GEC branded knives have stainless, though, so if you don't like 1095 steel, you're a little limited. Try a GEC 4" tootpick (they make them in both carbon and stainless). Lots of handle materials to choose from, they really cut, and they feel great in the hand.
Click to expand...

Thanks alot for stealing my post. I think you got spyware on me. ;) Pretty much what Mamba said. I also like Bull Dog brand, fight'n rooster, and some of the old Old Timer Schrades... The USA ones, pre 2004, make sure you try some of those, around 30 to 40 for NIB carbon steel.
 
These are all such new waters to me...I feel disorientated knot knowing or ever hearing of these knife companies. Thanks guys...I'd like to keep it to US (made) companies if possible.
 
i second the opinion of black mamba.however i am a little more emphatic in my vocifercation , i.m.h.o. great eastern is making the best factory knife in the world. the only proof is for yourself to buy 2 similar knives ,one from gec & one from whom you think looks the best. examine all the springs,liners,handles & blades. check for spaces between any components, see if blades line up with frame, also see how the shield is inlaid in handle material. then sharpen each knife the same & start cutting wood or whatever. you will have the decision.
 
I'm a little confused, are all three companies great eastern? You know Northfield Un-X-LD ,
Tidioute Cutlery and Great Eastern?

Or are they completely different knives and quality?
 
Great Eastern Cutlery Co. markets three lines of knives:

Great Eastern
Northfield
Tidioute

All are quality knives. The Great Eatern line comes with Stainless Steel blades. Northfield and Tidioute come with 1095 Carbon blades.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FYI, Case makes quality knives.

Every company produces a lemon once in awhile and maybe one of those is the subject of your video from You Tube. But don't go by that one knive in the video no matter what brand is highlighted.
 
It is your thread so you can drift it anywhere you want. I am a little wary of the reviewer in the video. His opinions are just that. I agree with him on the older Case knives being better than some of the new. I have a Case peanut long tail C tang stamp from the 40's a few 65-69, and a handful of 70s dots. I only have a couple of 80s, couple of 90s, and the best current is my Tony Bose swayback Gent in chestnut bone CV. I bought it for 50, and it has quality all the way around. I am not overly hung up on the glued shield issue. I do not think shields fall off that much, if so, it would be easy to glue back on, or even buy a junker for parts, and glue it back on. I think this reviewer is slightly cynical, but he kept showing quality, nice knives, not bad ones. Where were the bad ones? I only watched part 1, not gonna watch part 2.
 
There's nothing wrong with Case & most here will probably prefer the ones with CV blades (Myself included), but for the price range you listed, GEC (Any of the 3 under their name) & Queen come to mind for U.S. made knives. Also, many of the "current" Bulldog brand knives are made by GEC, so they're U.S. made, too (VS the Solingen, Germany made older ones).

Going up in price, Canal Street Cutlery & Schatt & Morgan (Made by Queen) are VERY nice, too. I do prefer the Schatt & Morgans of the 2, myself. Some of the Schatt & Morgan's have ATS-34 steel if you're more into stainless.

Once the bug bites, & it will, the Case/Bose collaborations are "killer." Their F&F rivals that of customs & are amazing, IMHO. Most of them have ATS-34 & the last couple yrs have 154CM, IIRC. They aren't cheap, though, but very nice. Admittedly, I only have 4 different custom slippies to compare them to, but of those, they compare very well.

Oh yeah, welcome to the Traditional section.
 
I second what Modoc said- Case makes great knives. GEC and Queen are spectacular as well, but I've been a Case guy for a long time and their knives have never let me down. I think it's great that we have companies like Queen, GEC and Case, so we have some options and variety within the American made lineup.
 
Case has an soft spot in my life. My grandfather carried one in 1945...which was stolen in the US barracks during WWII. I'd like nothing more than to continue his love and admiration for this company and knife. He is a respectable person and a 32 degree mason..as well as a son of the American revolution...as am I. Nothing means more to me than lineage.

That Case youtube video was very convincing. I'd love to invest in their knives because they have the history and are very beautiful...maybe I will just need to invest in a Case and GEC to make the choice.
 
I have a thing for Queen knives.
Traditional patterns. Good blade alloys, D2 and 1095. Good fit and finish except for not being sharp out of the box. That, I can fix.
I have other traditionals that I like very much. But a Queen 4" stockman in D2 is my normal EDC.
 
Case-Bose collaboration knives are as close as you can get to custom, without custom prices, IMHO. But only one pattern is released per year, and you better act fast because they don't stay around forever. I got my first, the Norfolk pattern, last year, and am looking forward to the Zulu pattern this year. I don't need quantity, so I'm opting instead for quality. Exceptional fit, finish and steel.
 
bleev3 said:
That Case youtube video was very convincing.
Click to expand...

I took the time to watch both videos and they proved nothing. That was one guy giving his opinions and he never really bashed any case knives per se.

I just picked up a new 4 1/8" CV Case Trapper with yellow Derlin handles this past Monday. It's a great knife. Fit and finish are first rate. The knife in my avatar is just like it. I've carried that knife in my avatar off and on for years and it performs admirably, sharpens easily, and holds it's edge well.

If you've got the money, get a sampling of knife brands -- Case, GEC, Queen, Bear & Son's, Schatt & Morgan, etc.. Heck, I've got a lot of knives made by a lot of companies and can't say that I dislike any of them. Some have their pluses and minuses but if you're a true knife guy, they're all good.
 
Case knives in that price range might be OK. I have several Cases, but they're all sub $40 models. All good users, but they very much look like hand made knives upon close inspection. Little imperfections here and there, that had they appeared on imports, would be used as examples for how bad imports could be. Sometimes breaks my heart.
 
shecky said:
Case knives in that price range might be OK. I have several Cases, but they're all sub $40 models. All good users, but they very much look like hand made knives upon close inspection. Little imperfections here and there, that had they appeared on imports, would be used as examples for how bad imports could be. Sometimes breaks my heart.
Click to expand...

I have $10 import knives that are better built than some Cases. I have other Cases that are fine and dandy. Personally, I doubt I'll buy any more unless I can look at them first to avoid any major flaws.

My Great Easterns, on the other hand, have all been very very good, quality wise. Haven't had any examples of the other brands mentioned...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top