What do You Think of This One?

Mark J

Mark J

Joined
Mar 15, 2001
Messages
2,450
While I'm not a huge slipjoint fan (have a few, carry them occasionally), this new Case design has really caught my eye. While it appeals to my aesthetic side, the price of $150 (for a medium stockman, not the toothpick pictured here) does not appeal to my wallet. What do you think?

- Mark

Case2.jpg
 
Mark,

It's a nice looking knife. And Case typically have very good fit & finish. But do you plan on using it? If so, the Case would not really be ideal, because of its blade steel. Its like a low end 420 or something. Case is usually for collecting, and carefully fondling.

If you want a user, check out the new Queen D2s.
 
I think it looks great, but would probably choose a more utilitarian handle. I don't personally see any advantage to having a fancy handle like that. I find that mine get pretty scratched up.

I also don't have trouble with Case as user knives. The steel may not be the best, but it seems to work pretty well.
 
Originally posted by komondor
And Case typically have very good fit & finish.
Click to expand...

Good fit an finish on a Case? Not the ones I've seen. The fit/finish on the average Schrade beats any Case I've handled in the past 2 years. Just this weekend, I was at SMKW and got to handle a large variety of Case slipjoints. Most had very loose, wobbly blades. The ones that didn't had noticeable gaps between the backsprings and spacers. Say what you want about Frost Cutlery slipjoints, but the one I had several years ago had better fit finish than any Case I've seen.

Edited to add: I want to point out that I bought a Frost Cutlery Smoothbone Canoe when I was in college. It was tight, had good walk/talk and had good fit/finish. I don't know what the steel was, but it held an edge acceptably well. I liked it so much, I ordered a Canoe from Case (assumed it would be better) for over 3 times the price of the Frost. I was very disapointed when I got it. The walk/talk was weak and the blades were loose. I sent it back. Ever since, I've always taken a close look at Case knives, but have yet to find one that feels like the quality knife they are supposed to be. At SMKW, I handled at least 10 Case pocketknives. All but two had noticeably loose blades. One felt so loose, I thought it might break if I used it.


Chris
 
Hi,

Just to echo what Chris(mtnbkr) said be really careful when buying Case. I have found that the springs varied from very strong:), to extremely lame. Their milling is sometimes off on their liners, etc.... Their edging sometimes needs to be cleaned up also.

An interesting side note, Their working lines(the yellows,etc....) generally have a higher standard of fit/finish then their collector lines.

Their quality has gotten better in recent years, but their still one of those brands I still like to handle in person.

HTH:D:).
 
One other thing I noticed about the newer CASE knives. Take a look at the tip of the blade of the knife in the picture. Looks rounded off to me. Not unusual in my opinion.
 
All my own opinion...Case is for collectors. They make very visually appealing knives. They cater to collectors...notice how often they introduce a new line or new variation of an old one.

The fit, finish, walk and talk of SOME Case knives I have handled and/or owned has been very good...however, on MOST these qualities were nothin' to write home about. And they use cheap steel for the blades...no excuse for that.

For a "user" slip joint I have yet to find anything better than the old dark green bone Bowens in 440C. They remind of the Energizer bunny...keep cuttin' and cuttin' and never need sharpening!
 
Thanks for the input everyone. It's apparent that if I want to consider getting this knife, I should handle it in person to first check for fit and finish. I'll also definitely take a look at the other knives that were suggested. We'll see...

- Mark
 
I agree with bob bowie about the yellow handle Cases. I got one last year and it's great in almost every way. My only gripe is that the back of the blade (where it meets the backspring when open) is rounded off slightly instead of nicely squared. Good walk & talk and sharp tips - all for a measly $30.

In comparison, my fancy-schmancy Autumn Bone Copperlock has a few more flaws and one of those rounded tips. I'm only getting yellow handled users from now on.
 
In my years of collecting (including Case knives) I've come to the conclusion that anything manufactured as a "Collectable" isn't. What makes a collectable is an item that was quality manufactured and has proved itself over the years. Case has the time, but its standards have become really lame. I haven't owned a Case for several years now and don't even really bother looking at them anymore. Just an opinion but I'm convinced that the name "Case" mainly attracts the "new" collectors just because its a recognizable name. My apologies to all of the serious hardcore Case collectors.
 
I've never been a fan of Case knives. I've owned two and gave them away. They need to hire someone with a quality control background, the system have in place now isn't cutting it.
 
You guys that have been banging on Case,buy a couple of the Pre 1970's stuff.It doesn't have to be new.Buy a used one.Blade steel? I carry a 6318pu,1971 and I can shave with it.
 
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