What does Case need to do to survive?

I'd love to see Case change up their patterns. They mainly knock out the same 10-12 patterns over and over, just putting different themed scales on them.
There's nothing inovative about that. Now GEC may put out some silliness in a pattern now and then, but its new, out-of-the-box.
The most exciting thing about Case is their collaborative line with Bose. Almost prohibitively expensive, but still interesting. If they were to re-issue some of those models
into their production at more affordable prices, it would be a start.

But I realize its hard to have both the respect of knife afficionados (a small piece of the market) and still sell to the mainstream.
 
pinnah said:
/One thing I wonder about is if a company like Case could expand the realm of "collectors". I wonder if, with advertising and marketing, they could reinvigorate the practice of carrying a small slip joint as a life-style statement. Could they reestablish the norm of largely urban/suburban men carrying a small knife again? Could you imagine your local Macy's having a mini-Case knife display next to their wrist watch display? I can almost see that.
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That would be a shot in the arm across the board, but especially big for Case. Thinking of Carl and the store owner commenting on his damascus peanut.
 
I would like at the very least to see a Case display in Hardware stores again, here in the Northeast you are lucky to find even a Vic display. Many cities also have restrictions on locking blades, the closest city near me has I believe a 2" limit on locking knives, no limit on slipjoints.
 
Interesting thoughts. I also see case as the beanie baby of knives targeted @ collectors not users. I've been unable to pull the trigger on either a 'case/bose' (out of my $$$ range) or even a 'select' (not sure what I really get for the $$$) from them. My 'made in the USA' midset results in me introducing my sons and nephews to slipjoints with a case since they're relatively affordable. But as things stand now, I'd give them a GEC to mark a milestone accomplishment.

EDIT: Didn't really answer the question. I like the backs of my blades with a corner, I do not like the tumble polish approach that Case uses that produces the soft round corners. So I guess I'm voting for cut swedges.
 
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I have carried and collected case for years,but here recently the past 4 or 5 years I have seen a big quality change,sheilds falling off is the main thing.I do buy a case every year which is the case/bose collabs they are just a whole lot better knives.I have been buying alot of gec here lately and i have been very happy they might not put out alot of knives they might be higher priced but they are done right IMO
 
Interesting thread to pop up. As others have said, I don't think Case is going anywhere soon.

As I understand it, Case is owned by Zippo, who are absolute geniuses at marketing. Case knives and Zippo light fill a similar niche: Made in the USA items of pretty good quality that are useful, but are not the best out there. And they've never professed to be. They are highly collectible due to the myriad configurations (for lack of a better term) that you can find them in. Who cares if a knife snob thumbs their nose at Case's quality or their marketing scheme - that's not their intended market. Much like someone who is a diehard fan of 5-billion btu jet lighters ain't gonna buy a Zippo. You don't buy a Case (or a Zippo) because you're expecting the best. You're buying it either because you want something functional that isn't going to break the bank (usually Made in USA is a bonus), has nostalgic value, and/or is a neat little widget to collect.

Honestly, I think that's a much more solid business plan than GEC or other boutique shops out there (GEC, please don't EVER change) who rely on conniseurs who are willing to pay relatively larger amounts of money for something that's better quality, more exclusive, that caters to those deeper into the hobby.

Either way, I'm carrying my Case yeller Mini Trapper in CV today, will likely carry my GEC toothpick tomorrow, and might decide to bust out my Spyderco Manix II on Sunday.
 
Well, I read the whole thread patiently. There were very nice points of view.

IMO - Case should not change much in their product-line. Making knives for collectors is ok, for me. Though I am none. But they also make really good looking and good working workingknives (Yellow Delrin or Chestnut Brown Bone for example). So they made both. The only thing that could be a little strange - they offer the most knives for a long time. Why not a Medium Stockman with a Wharnicliffe instead a Pen or Spey? This would serve for the collector as well as for the guys who is working with the knives.

About F&F at Case´s I have to ask - who is perfect? Here a little gap, there some blade play ... but here in our little world it seems most of their knives work well. And only facing the worst flaws doesn´t seem to be correct for me. For sure, there are others, that work better. But I think we can´t compare Case with other knife companies like GEC or even costumes. That would be like comparing potatoes with onions. Both are doing their job, but everything in their own way.

What I wanted to say - I like Case´s very much. But I like other companies as well for the work they are doing.

Great thread! (And everyone was not loosing his tongue and telling something bad to each other - that shows another time the great character of this subforum :) )

Kind regards
Andi

BTW: I can only speak about german prizes for Case. They are no cheap. Comparing to US-ordered GECs they are even at the same prize level. (just wanted to add ;) )
 
wintermute said:
(...)
As I understand it, Case is owned by Zippo, who are absolute geniuses at marketing. Case knives and Zippo light fill a similar niche: Made in the USA items of pretty good quality that are useful, but are not the best out there. And they've never professed to be. They are highly collectible due to the myriad configurations (for lack of a better term) that you can find them in. Who cares if a knife snob thumbs their nose at Case's quality or their marketing scheme - that's not their intended market. Much like someone who is a diehard fan of 5-billion btu jet lighters ain't gonna buy a Zippo. You don't buy a Case (or a Zippo) because you're expecting the best. You're buying it either because you want something functional that isn't going to break the bank (usually Made in USA is a bonus), has nostalgic value, and/or is a neat little widget to collect. (...)
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:thumbup:
I think that's about as concise & accurate a characterization of Case as I've seen; the bolded & underlined portion in particular, which brings their Sod Buster to my mind. It takes no small amount of marketing genius to make such a plain & simple knife so popular, for so long.
 
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Well Wintermute, you are on to something, no matter what else I am carrying the two items I am never without are my Zippo and my Case Peanut. I could never figure out why the guys I worked with never had a lighter, we brazed copper fittings and made and soldered drain pans and copper pans all the time, never had my lighter given back always had to ask for it back.
 
I would like to add that I carry a Case peanut every day (sometimes paired with a ZT301 ;) ). I had originally gotten a CV chestnut bone peanut last year, but fat people in the summer time and CV just do not mix. So I picked up an SS peanut with brown delrin scales a couple days ago.

These are great little knives. Fit and finish wise, I got two good ones. Nice edges, not the best but they're sharp. A good example of a working knife from a good company.
 
I would like that Case steps up its QC and perhaps expanded their CV models and cater more to the user crowd. But I get that where the collectors are there is the money.
 
I would like to see Case do a limited edition each year of a different steel like Spyderco does with their Mule Team knives.

Say a very sellable pattern like the 6347 stockman done each year in a new steel. I think many of us would buy one each year.
 
One other thought ........ If I were a marketing bigwig at Case, I would hire a nerd with an aptitude for videos, and flood YouTube with all kinds of video content. Those things do NOT have to be super glossy and professional to have an impact. I'd say almost the opposite. Get one "host" or "hostess" with charisma and do a bunch of short vids around the factory. Interview leading retailers and folks at knife shows. Show employees pulling fish out of a lake. Show some more chats with Tony B. Create a YouTube channel that's all about the Case experience.

-- Mark
 
Case makes a great knife. That said some of what comes out of that factory is absolute crap and is to be sent back. I don't mind this process and continue to order their knives. My only real gripe is the move to 3 springs on the 47 pattern. Not a fan of this. But I digress...
 
I agree with Comoha in this thread. While I like the Case knives I own and use they could come out either with a new pattern or better blade combos on the ones they do have. I love stockmens but would like to see one with the usual clip blade, a larger sheepsfoot, and perhaps a pen or wharncliff blade as the 3rd blade. I'd also like to see long nail pulls on the blades. Brass bolsters would be nice once in while, as well as different wood handles. Just my thoughts.
Paul
 
BTW: I can only speak about german prizes for Case. They are no cheap. Comparing to US-ordered GECs they are even at the same prize level. (just wanted to add ;) )
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Living in the Netherlands this sums it up pretty well for me. Case Queen and GEC don't differ all that much in price for me. So while they might not compete in the same price bracket in the US they certainly do so on the international market.

Why would I buy a case with on and of quality when I could get a Queen or a GEC for very close to the same price that (generally) had better fit and finish and higher end materials?
 
Interesting thread for sure, and interesting opinions as well.
I have to be honest, it seems that this thread is a bit drifting away from its title.

On one side, the theme is: what does Case need to do to survive?
Honestly, I don't know much about their bank account, but so far I never saw Case as a company struggling to get by, nor on the edge of bankrupcy. As far as I can tell, Case, just like Zippo, have developed their marketing strategy long ago and stick to it...and I'm sure it works fine. I may be wrong, but I don't see Case closing down in the near future, for many reasons.

On the other side, the real question to which most of us have an answer is: what would you like Case to change?
Better steel, more patterns, better website pictures, a good QC, a custom shop, are all great suggestions to me...meaning that I would like Case to offer those things. But, pretty often, the company's choices are different from the customer's wishes; that's mainly because I represent a grain of sand in the beach of their customers, and I am a buyer and user, not a company manager.
To make a comparison with another company, I'd love GEC to stop coming out with huge beefy knives, but that's just me...the fact that they hit along that line must mean that either they're crazy or they sell well in that department.

Obviously, in the end, the public chooses, and determines the survival, prosperity, or bankrupt of a company. But are we sure that we represent the majority of that buyers' audience, or the main stream of customers? I suspect we don't.

With this said, there's nothing wrong in wishing... :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
Interesting thread for sure, and interesting opinions as well.
I have to be honest, it seems that this thread is a bit drifting away from its title.

On one side, the theme is: what does Case need to do to survive?

On the other side, the real question to which most of us have an answer is: what would you like Case to change?
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Thanks, Fausto.

I've been thinking same as I've read along, especially regarding niche customers' desires which a currently successful company has no incentive to entertain. I've run into this before in other hobbies or undertakings, wherein the most devoted zealots (as t'were) can be shocked to discover they represent so little of a company's actual "business."

You phrased a clear dichotomy more eloquently than I would have.

Among my wishes: that Case would maintain an expanded selection of "heritage" knives in CV not as randomly available exclusives, but as a consistent offering. Amber peanut in CV, I'm looking at, I mean for, you.

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
I quickly tire of Case's pattern silliness to feed the Collector Monster they've embraced as their bread-and-butter, requiring them to constantly mix jigging patterns and bone colors without ever "matching," ie, repeating a combination that leaves already-invested collectors distraught.
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I couldn't agree more with this comment! Recently, I received the latest catalog from [a Case dealer] and it was shocking how many differently themed scales/runs there were. :barf:
 
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