When do you think Case took a turn for the worse?

cpirtle

cpirtle

Leathercrafter
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 28, 2001
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I'm the first person to admit I don't know a lot about Case. But I do know the samples I have seen or owned recently do not even come close to the ones I have that belonged to my grandfather.

Based on my own anecdotal experience I have drawn the conclusion that Case is resting on their laurels selling knives that should cost <1/2 the price, to collectors and users who are buying on the Case reputation.

So my question is (assuming you agree in whole or part), when did this change in product &/or philosophy take place?

I have a 1981 carbon steel Case on the way to me, what should I expect?



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I don't a whole lot about case either but I do have a few, one of them being a 76 I believe (don't recall the right date....late seventies) case large stockman with black pocket worn handles and CV blades. Fit and finish is excellect, I like the use of liners between my springs and this old knife has steel liners instead of brass.....wish they were brass. But the knife holds an edge as good if not better than my newer CV yellow handled knives. The one things I absolutly love about this knive compared to my 04 large stockman is this late seventies one has a california clip blade with a pull notch in the scale. The lower profile is pretty cool for a clip blade and the main blade is also alot thicker on the spine, the later cases I have with the exception of other models have thinner stock blades. Anyone else want to comment on this.

David
 
ColonialKnifeFan said:
I don't a whole lot about case either but I do have a few, one of them being a 76 I believe (don't recall the right date....late seventies) case large stockman with black pocket worn handles and CV blades. Fit and finish is excellect, I like the use of liners between my springs and this old knife has steel liners instead of brass.....wish they were brass. But the knife holds an edge as good if not better than my newer CV yellow handled knives. The one things I absolutly love about this knive compared to my 04 large stockman is this late seventies one has a california clip blade with a pull notch in the scale. The lower profile is pretty cool for a clip blade and the main blade is also alot thicker on the spine, the later cases I have with the exception of other models have thinner stock blades. Anyone else want to comment on this.

David
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Actually, those liners are nickel silver, the same material as the bolsters. NS is far better (and more expensive) than brass as a liner since it oxidizes less....traditionally it was used on higher end stockman and trapper patterns. Case stopped using it as a lining material for general line knives in about 1981 or 82.

The only Case pattern after WWII that had steel liners was the 6143 "Daddy Barlow" pattern.
 
IMO, they took a turn for the worse, when they made the decision to use crappy 420 stainless. I can picture this scene at some board meeting. Somebody said, "A lot of our collectors are never going to actually use our knives, so let's save a bunch of money and use this much cheaper stainless. It'll get sharp if you put enough work into it, but just barely so. They'll never know the difference, and we'll save a lot of money." :barf:
 
Hey,

I opened up a big can of worms on this subject about two months ago and I am still licking my wounds. As you are tired of hearing by now I collect only Pennsylvania related pockets. The older the better. I lived near the Case plant for 39 of my 47 years. My birthday is today matter of fact. Case made great knives and still has some beauties in my opinion. But I revert back to my post of two months ago and still say that quality control has gotten sloppy and that a little more attention to detail would pay off three fold in my opinion. I think the change to American brands in the early 70's started the process. I will now retire to my dog house and wait for someone to throw me a bone. Thanks :)
 
Sorry PA KNIVES, I can resist everything but temptation.
I have never been a CASE knives fan as the first one I bought--around 1960--was hinky. For years I would look at them at gunshows etc then spend my money for something else.
This year though I decided to take another hands on look at them. I bought two of the 4 1/4" stockman pattern knives with the CV blades, one with the yellow handle and the other with the amber bone handle. The amber bone one was absolutely gorgeously made and sharp as a razor on all three blades. The yellow handled knife was no where near as well fit and no where near as sharp though I had it popping hair in no time flat. I will put the yellow stockman to work as soon as my using and testing of the QUEEN congress in my pocket is through. As the QUEEN testing may take a while I may put the yellow handled CASE 4 1/4" stockman to work in the kitchen just to see how it does. Kitchen work usually separates the men from the boys very quickly.
 
Happy Birthday PA!

I tried the search function before posting and it seems to be pooched, so I posted this.

Nothing wrong with a little feisty debate, but I'd be arguing from a standpoint of little hands on experience with Case. Once my 81' 9 dot shows up I'll be able to give an accuarate opinion of it though ;)
 
As a child in the 50's and early 60's, I had relatives that had Case knives. They were objects of awe for me, and were good working knives of that era along with some other brands. None of those knives ( Western, Camillus, Queen, Schrade, Kutmaster etc) were considered to be anything but working tools.

In 1966, while in the Army, I purchased a Case non-stainless folder while in Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, working with the Forestry Service on a big forest fire. It was a pretty knife, and that was all. Junk steel or poor heat treat.....I don't know which. Wouldn't hold an edge for beans. Gave it away when I got done with the fire detail.

The current crop of Case puts more emphasis on pretty handle materials than on the quality/durability of the tool in order to provide fodder for all of those who collect such geegaws. Things got worse just prior to Zippo lighter co. bailing out the company sometime back in the 80's.

Things were so bad for Case where I live that they were selling for under $10 for almost any model in the local sporting goods stores. I bought several to give to unknowing friends and family members that would be impressed by their looks.

I know that this will be another sacred cow dispute like SAKS and other eye appeal knives. So be it, I rate the tool as it works for me.


Thomas Zinn
 
Case took a nosedive, in my opinion, somewhere in the mid-late 80s. I've a good deal of Case knives in the collection, and the Tested era is by far best. Case XX and XX USA are pretty equivalent, while the 1970s dot-series is still excellent, but not quite as good. Get to the 80s, though... *sigh*

Poor grinding, junky steel, overall sloppy work. It has started to turn a little, particularly the last 5 years, but the 80s and 90s will likely be remembered as pretty dim for Case.
 
Pennsyltucky

Man I haven't heard that one in a while. Thanks guys. First let me say that even though it was my birthday I didn't even get one KNIFE. WHAT!!!!! Oh well, I did network with fella who has turned be on to a vendor who has a Beaver Falls PA knife from the 1800's NOW that's a birthday present. I can't wait to close the deal and get this knife for my collection.When I do, I will let you know how it rates to the modern CASE knives. As you may or may not know, This company's equipment was purchased by the Cat company of Little Valley NY and the rest is history. Just had to let someone know who would appreciate it. Thanks guys ;)
 
You guys slay me. If a person is from Kentucky are they a Kentuckylvain?????

Sorry I got of the beaten path for a minute
 
cpirtle said:
Nothing wrong with a little feisty debate, but I'd be arguing from a standpoint of little hands on experience with Case. Once my 81' 9 dot shows up I'll be able to give an accuarate opinion of it though ;)
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You make your own mind up based on what's in your hand ! :)
I have ther feeling that with your 81 that you'll be OK though.

For knives made later in the 80's, and even early 90's , people have a valid point though.

Cheers
Rod

DO let us know YOUR thoughts when it arrives.
 
Well this is an interesting question to a fairly new collector?me. I haven't really narrowed down what I want to collect. As I've mentioned previously I've already got an automatic knife collection, which led me to the older American-made two-blade small switchblades by George Schrade and others, and that has gradually led me to just older pocket knives. I now have and am getting more and more familiar with Levine's 4th edition, which really doesn't address a lot about Case. (Wonder what he'd think of this question.) I bought some new Cases from some Lowe's Stores when I heard they were selling at about half price during a clearance back in 2001. And in my recent yard-sale-ing I've picked up two from the 40-64 years. But from what I've read from the rest of you.... the Blue-bone handled, Gold-oval shielded, serial numbered (? stamped with long-tail C on front bolster), single, Damascus bladed, standard Trapper, I picked up at a yard sale for $1 last week, really isn't as great a find as I thought!! It's a 1989. I don't know much about damascus, but the pattern on this one doesn't match from one side to the other.... so I suspect this is etched on.... I suppose, if this is faux damascus, that lends credence to the notion that Case was going downhill about 1989. Case being CASE, one would expect them to use real damascus, no?
Barry
 
NAFix said:
But from what I've read from the rest of you.... the Blue-bone handled, Gold-oval shielded, serial numbered (? stamped with long-tail C on front bolster), single, Damascus bladed, standard Trapper, I picked up at a yard sale for $1 last week, really isn't as great a find as I thought!! It's a 1989. I don't know much about damascus, but the pattern on this one doesn't match from one side to the other.... so I suspect this is etched on.... I suppose, if this is faux damascus, that lends credence to the notion that Case was going downhill about 1989. Case being CASE, one would expect them to use real damascus, no?
Barry
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Right.... just pack it up in a box and I'll take it off your hands.

Don't let anyone on here tell you that it is real damascus, and that the damascus pattern is supposed to be different on each side of the blade. And don't believe anyone who tells you that Case never made "etched patterned damascus". Oh, and don't let them tell you that the Long Tailed C on the bolster and serial number is a limited edition Case knife.

Just get it off your hands as quickly as possible :rolleyes:

Seriously... I'll buy it off you if you don't like it. Just name your price.

Rod
 
I bought my first Case in either '79 or '80. :barf: Any I've seen that were worthwhile were made before 1970.

Paul
 
Here's a quick scan of the knife, came in the mail today.

Fit and finish is about what I expect from Boker or Queen. Not bad, not custom quality. There are no gaps in the back spring, bolsters match the scales well, and there is no lateral play in the blade. The engagement of the spring to the blade is not clean but about on par with other mass production pieces I own. The blade sits a little higher in the handle than it has to so may may shave a little from the tang to drop it in better.

Walk and talk is great, as good or better than some of the customs I own. Very tight snap, 1/2 stop and no slop when open.

I plan to change out the scales to G-10 as the current pakkawood scales have a crack in them (not bad for 24 years old) and give it a good once over but I'd say it's a keeper given that I have about $23 in it. That's assuming the carbon steel takes and holds a decent edge.

Thanks for all of the replies, and glad no one got in a fight aside from making fun of PAknives ;) If it helps any I lived in Streetstucky (Streetsboro) for a while, and now I live in Stow where we're affectionately known as Stowbilly's...


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I just recently bought a Case yellow 34052 Congress.
I think it's a great traditional folder.
If this is what they are putting out then I don't see that they have a problem at all.

Allen.
 
I don't know about old case, and I don't know about the 1980s or 90s, but I've bought 4 case knives in the last three years as presents. One or two needed a little sharpening to be perfect, but that's it. Each one was loved by its recipient and is being used with no problems. Fit and finish balance with price was equal to Spyderco. Case sells knives from $15 to $500 and they have a checkered business history. This makes them easy to criticize by pinheaded anal retentive knife freaks. :) Like me. However even Ed Folwer recommended case in a recent blade article...but I guess you pundits know better.
 
Interesting thoughts.

In my opinion the general downhill slide started around 1972 and generally bottomed out in the late '80s / early 90's.
 
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