Why is a SBJ $20 more than a Stockman?

[B Hess]

I just bought a brand new Case Swayback Jack and a medium stockman. Both are jigged chestnut bone and both have CV steel. Both bought from a reputable dealer. The SBJ was $59.95 and the Stockman was $39.95. Just curious why 2 very similar knives have a $20 price difference. The stockman actually has 1 more blade.

 

[yablanowitz]

The stockman lack the TB in the model number. Tony Bose's initials are $10 each.

Okay, that's partly in jest. I'm guessing you don't have them in hand yet. The fit and finish on the SBJ (and other Bose collaboration models) are generally much better than the run-of-the-mill Case.

 

[B Hess]

I actually do have a SBJ in hand. It's nice but the fit and finish wasn't that amazing. Not as good as the GECs I've had for sure.

 

[coyote711]

If you look on the pen blade of the SBJ you'll see "T.B.62117". The T.B. is for Tony Bose. I'm not sure of the exact relationship here, nor if I'm wording it correctly, but Case produced the SBJ "in collaboration with" or "to the specs of" Tony Bose. You can count on any knife with the Bose name on it being quite a few steps above and beyond the fit & finish of normal Case production knives. I wouldn't say this about too many knives, but I believe the SBJ is a steal at the price it's sold for.

..... I see Jack beat me to it, but I've already typed this so I'll let it post.

 

[pwcb2005]

The sbj is a newer pattern. Case always charges more on new patterns to make up some of the initial tooling costs. That is also why the trapperlock is so high. The stockman pattern is an old standard pattern and they have already paid for the tooling long ago. Same for the trapper. More common and older equal cheaper. Jmho

 

[LKJW]

My SBJ is heads and shoulders above any NEW Case knives I own.

 

[The Government]

Well, I don't know about you all, but having the springs flush in all 3 positions on both blades was pretty impressive to me (and the pull is still prefect!).

I also like how the spring on the pen blade fills the "would be" empty space.

This is the kind of attention to detail that I don't see too often in other production knives.

 

[Groove]

Because the SBJ is more awesomer? Just my opinion.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

The 'T.B.' knives do have different grinds to the blades also. Sort of a slanted/sweeping and more radiused plunge grind at the ricasso, as opposed to the dead-straight vertical plunge on the 'standard' line, and perhaps some swedging not seen on the others. Flat-ground blades, too (hollow on most of the others). I'd think that exclusivity of the grinds alone, might add some to the process and/or the cost.

 

[aplehr1]

I only own two different Case patterns, a chestnut swayback jack, and a chestnut medium stockman. I have two of the sbs, and had four of the stockmans at one point - I gave away two of the stockmans as gifts. For my very limited sample, the F&F on all six knives were about equal. As others have mentioned, the swayback has a few additional features that might justify the added expense. But I have to say, the F&F won me over as a new Case fan. Excellent to perfect F&F on all six.

Adam

 

[Coyote3855]

I actually do have a SBJ in hand. It's nice but the fit and finish wasn't that amazing. Not as good as the GECs I've had for sure.

You've had better luck with GEC than I have. Very disappointed in the fit and finish of the two GECs I've handled. I sent one back for sloppy scale fit and blade play. I kept the next one because I really like the pattern, but it took half a day to correct defects: sharp corners on all bolsters, dull main blade that needed the kick ground to put the blade below the frame, sharp corners on the rear of the secondary blades. My Case and MooreMaker had better finish. I have a couple of Rough Riders (gasp!) that were superior to the GECs in all but blade steel.

 

[pertinux]

The 'T.B.' knives do have different grinds to the blades also. Sort of a slanted/sweeping and more radiused plunge grind at the ricasso, as opposed to the dead-straight vertical plunge on the 'standard' line, and perhaps some swedging not seen on the others.

I especially enjoy posts that lead to me taking out my knives and looking at them more closely.

Yours just did; thank you.

~ P.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I especially enjoy posts that lead to me taking out my knives and looking at them more closely.

Yours just did; thank you.

~ P.

You're welcome. I was taking a 2nd (3rd, 4th) look at my Case T.B. 5339 Sowbelly too, in seeing this thread. I think I'm even seeing some differential grinds on the blades, noticeable when viewed from above. They seem to be ground to a more 'tailored fit' into the handle, mostly on the side immediately facing an adjacent blade. I was going to mention this in reply to you last night, but wanted to make sure my tired eyes were actually seeing it.

 

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

The sbj is a newer pattern. Case always charges more on new patterns to make up some of the initial tooling costs. That is also why the trapperlock is so high.

Case probably also charges a higher wholesale markup on newer models - not just more to make up for fixed costs, but actually a higher profit margin. And some retailers may charge a higher markup on the more desirable models. As far as I can see, the SBJ is a hot new(ish) model, while the Stockman is a tried and true model, but with a lot of competitors. Tony Bose surely also gets a cut. And maybe they cost more to produce ... or not. But even if they cost the same to produce, I can see why Case would charge a higher wholesale markup on the trendier/newer knife model.