You can't beat a Case knife

[cody6268]

GEC is way too expensive (as in, they rarely do anything Farm and Field anymore). I've been suggesting they do a Farm and Field line that is a slight step down from the regular GECs, but is unlimited production and affordably priced.

Schrade doesn't exist (well, the name is used for cheap POS knives from China), Camillus doesn't exist (see before), Queen doesn't exist (SMKW is using the name to sell Chinese Rough Ryders; Schatt and Morgan is still "Coming Soon". Bear and Son quality is variable, same with Utica. Moore Maker is just Bear and Son as well as Utica these days. Buck really pushed traditional slipjoints to the sidelines. Benchmade, Gerber, Hogue, Emerson, SOG, Spyderco, Sebenza, TOPS, Bark River, Leatherman, Esee, White River--these companies don't do traditional knives. TOPS, Esee, and White River all specialize in fixed blades. Everyone else does tactical, with Gerber and SOG also manufacturing multipurpose tools. That's what Leatherman is known for, and they've done few "Just a Knife" type folders. Plus, Gerber and SOG mostly just offer imported items. Leatherman assembles their tools from "Worldwide Components".

That basically leaves you with Case as the only real producer of a decent, affordable USA-made knife. I've put quite a bit of a focus on them these days; in both old and new models. Hoping to get a Copperhead pretty soon. My local knife store is out of stock with both bone CV versions (red, amber) and the Yellow Delrin. I'm hoping they get some in before I buy a Victorinox Harvester; which is a not-too common model I'm surprised they carry.

[cudgee]

GEC is way too expensive (as in, they rarely do anything Farm and Field anymore). I've been suggesting they do a Farm and Field line that is a slight step down from the regular GECs, but is unlimited production and affordably priced.

Schrade doesn't exist (well, the name is used for cheap POS knives from China), Camillus doesn't exist (see before), Queen doesn't exist (SMKW is using the name to sell Chinese Rough Ryders; Schatt and Morgan is still "Coming Soon". Bear and Son quality is variable, same with Utica. Moore Maker is just Bear and Son as well as Utica these days. Buck really pushed traditional slipjoints to the sidelines. Benchmade, Gerber, Hogue, Emerson, SOG, Spyderco, Sebenza, TOPS, Bark River, Leatherman, Esee, White River--these companies don't do traditional knives. TOPS, Esee, and White River all specialize in fixed blades. Everyone else does tactical, with Gerber and SOG also manufacturing multipurpose tools. That's what Leatherman is known for, and they've done few "Just a Knife" type folders. Plus, Gerber and SOG mostly just offer imported items. Leatherman assembles their tools from "Worldwide Components".

That basically leaves you with Case as the only real producer of a decent, affordable USA-made knife. I've put quite a bit of a focus on them these days; in both old and new models. Hoping to get a Copperhead pretty soon. My local knife store is out of stock with both bone CV versions (red, amber) and the Yellow Delrin. I'm hoping they get some in before I buy a Victorinox Harvester; which is a not-too common model I'm surprised they carry.

Schatt & Morgan in about a month i have been informed.

[cudgee]

This is the best fit and finish knife i have in my collection, if every Case knife left the factory in this condition they would rival any company. There is not a gap, no blade wrap, no blade play, the bolsters sit completely flush with the scales, and the color of the natural bone has a cream tinge to it and looks brilliant. They can do it, this is proof, so some of the negative feelings out there for them are unjust in a lot of respects, i know bad ones leave the factory and if you got one of those as your first purchase you would be turned off, and rightly so, but overall they produce a good product. I have 5 in my collection, and not one bad one amongst them.

[Dan In MI]

That basically leaves you with Case as the only real producer of a decent, affordable USA-made knife. I've put quite a bit of a focus on them these days; in both old and new models. Hoping to get a Copperhead pretty soon. My local knife store is out of stock with both bone CV versions (red, amber) and the Yellow Delrin. I'm hoping they get some in before I buy a Victorinox Harvester; which is a not-too common model I'm surprised they carry.

Agreed with everything you said, especially the bit about GEC. (I would add to that their distribution system, constant short supply, and/or whatever else makes them so hard to get.) As for the Copperhead vs. Victorinox Harvester dilemma...get both, either now or later!

I have 5 in my collection, and not one bad one amongst them.

The knife you showed is a real dandy!

I have more than a few Case knives, and some of them aren't perfect (Sod Buster Jrs. seem to have the largest degrees of imperfection). Maybe my standards are too low; that is a possibility. But all of those Cases are more than good enough for me.

[Mumbleypeg]

It’s about consistency. Mostly you don’t hear about the good or great knives Case (or anyone else) makes. The buyer got what they expected so they don’t post a rant about it. But when someone gets a problem they’re upset, so they tell everyone.

I don’t blame them, I’ve done it myself. In fact I have two GECs with flaws (both have lazy blades) I’ve posted about previously. You can also find rants I’ve made about Case. The problem is that a knife with a flaw, whether mechanical or cosmetic, should never have left the factory. One in a hundred or one in a thousand, makes no difference. Whoever gets it is not going to be a happy (and likely not a repeat) customer. Some years ago I saw statistics saying that one unhappy customer will tell twenty others about it. In this day of social media it’s likely more than twenty.

Ken

[edge213]

I too am a big fan of Case knives. I've had no complaints on fit and finish except sharpness, or I should say lack of sharpness.
The new Case knives I have purchased in the last year or so have been as dull as a butter knife.
I purchased 3 Copperheads from SHC this year. All 3 had to be sharpened before I could use them.

[zed6309]

Welcome to this awesome forum im a fan of Case knives, ive been gifted a few in the past from this very forum and i love them and this year ive picked up 4 , not all without there issues, but there things i don't mibd too much , like off centre blade, but Case need to watch there grinds as some are way off, but ive never had blade play or gaps and most have strong backsprings, i do wish they would put half stops on all there knives and nit just some, but i love em and pretty much carry a case daily