Vault Patterns Question

[cody6268]

I am wondering, can a Vault re-release be a pattern that hasn't been used in decades, not just a few years?

It seems that in recent years, many "Vault" patterns haven't previously been out of production for that long at all, maybe 10-15 years at most. Case hasn't used many of its classic jack knife patterns for years, and I'd love for Case to reintroduce the 07 with a pen secondary, as opposed to Wharncliffe or a spey blade.

[BIGHEAD]

They could but if a pattern has been out of production for many years the tooling for those knives is likely gone or worn out and new tooling isn’t cheap. So you will not likely see any older patterns come back. Tough personally I think it is a mistake on Case’s part. If they were to bring back say the 99 1/2 Railsplitter or the Loom fixer they would make a mint.

[Beavertail]

They could but if a pattern has been out of production for many years the tooling for those knives is likely gone or worn out and new tooling isn’t cheap. So you will not likely see any older patterns come back. Tough personally I think it is a mistake on Case’s part. If they were to bring back say the 99 1/2 Railsplitter or the Loom fixer they would make a mint.

I would love to see Case bring back the two patterns you mentioned, they couldn't make enough of them to keep up with demand.

[BIGHEAD]

Exactly and that has been stated to the Case royalty many times but it falls on deaf ears.

[Mumbleypeg]

When Case changed tooling and production methods to a more automated “assembly line” process, many patterns disappeared never to be seen in production again. I’m betting by-pattern sales data was part of the decision making, and a pattern they “can’t make enough of to keep up with demand” wasn’t dropped. I doubt those patterns will ever be offered again from Case. As already said “tooling is expensive”.

At some point after that, they introduced the “Case Vault” program, and retired several of the patterns that survived the re-tooling. Which further limited the product “diversity” ongoing on the factory floor at any point in time. As an old manufacturing operations guy I can tell you that every additional different product you manufacture has a cost associated with it. Tooling, training, inventory, etc. Doing a few products well is easier, and lower cost, than doing a lot of products well. The result is ongoing debate between sales and manufacturing over the size of the product line. A very wise man, my boss at the time, told me “There are two sure ways to ruin a business. One is to do nothing your customers want. The other is to do everything your customers want.”

Case introduced some more modern “flipper” patterns in the past couple of years which is probably indicative where their tooling budget is going. I’m guessing in attempt to gain market share. FWIW since manufacturing of assisted opening knives is now (or soon will be) legal in PA, I hope Case is working on some “automatic” knife designs and tooling.

Ken

[Beavertail]

"I hope Case is working on some “automatic” knife designs and tooling."
Now that's a pattern I'd like seen made again, if it were made like a more traditional automatic instead of the more modern versions made today.

[jmh58]

Loomfixer!!
John

[1967redrider]

If they made one, I wonder what the price point would be on a traditional Springer?

[Rookie]

With so much of Case factory modernized and automated, it would be astronomical to get tooling for all their historical patterns. My thoughts are that any pattern they haven't released in the past 20 years will never be made again.

I think they've identified the patterns that are the best sellers over all, and offer the most variety for the easiest setup costs.

[Colonel26]

Loomfixer!!
John

[quote=BIGHEAD post_id=<a href="tel:1048718">1048718</a> time=<a href="tel:1671057272">1671057272</a> user_id=2923]
They could but if a pattern has been out of production for many years the tooling for those knives is likely gone or worn out and new tooling isn’t cheap. So you will not likely see any older patterns come back. Tough personally I think it is a mistake on Case’s part. If they were to bring back say the 99 1/2 Railsplitter or the Loom fixer they would make a mint.

I would love to see Case bring back the two patterns you mentioned, they couldn't make enough of them to keep up with demand.
[/quote]

They could but if a pattern has been out of production for many years the tooling for those knives is likely gone or worn out and new tooling isn’t cheap. So you will not likely see any older patterns come back. Tough personally I think it is a mistake on Case’s part. If they were to bring back say the 99 1/2 Railsplitter or the Loom fixer they would make a mint.

No one would like for CASE to resurrect the loomfixer (or the 99 1/2 pattern for that matter) more than me. That is if they’d do it right, which I doubt they would. My fear is that if they ever did bring it back the new model with it’s stainless springs wouldn’t not have the kind of snap the old ones have, they’d put some kind of crazy handle scales on it, and blasphemy of all blasphemies…they’d put stainless blades in it instead of the righteous CV blades it ought to have. In short, I fear they’d make it a glorified Rough Ryder.

I don’t see it happening.

[Beavertail]

Loomfixer!!
John

[quote=BIGHEAD post_id=<a href="tel:1048718">1048718</a> time=<a href="tel:1671057272">1671057272</a> user_id=2923]
They could but if a pattern has been out of production for many years the tooling for those knives is likely gone or worn out and new tooling isn’t cheap. So you will not likely see any older patterns come back. Tough personally I think it is a mistake on Case’s part. If they were to bring back say the 99 1/2 Railsplitter or the Loom fixer they would make a mint.

I would love to see Case bring back the two patterns you mentioned, they couldn't make enough of them to keep up with demand.

They could but if a pattern has been out of production for many years the tooling for those knives is likely gone or worn out and new tooling isn’t cheap. So you will not likely see any older patterns come back. Tough personally I think it is a mistake on Case’s part. If they were to bring back say the 99 1/2 Railsplitter or the Loom fixer they would make a mint.

No one would like for CASE to resurrect the loomfixer (or the 99 1/2 pattern for that matter) more than me. That is if they’d do it right, which I doubt they would. My fear is that if they ever did bring it back the new model with it’s stainless springs wouldn’t not have the kind of snap the old ones have, they’d put some kind of crazy handle scales on it, and blasphemy of all blasphemies…they’d put stainless blades in it instead of the righteous CV blades it ought to have. In short, I fear they’d make it a glorified Rough Ryder.

I don’t see it happening.
[/quote]
You make some very good points I haven't thought of.
You're probably right if they did start making them again they would mess them up.
I know my old loomfixer and 99 1/2 still have great snap and are wonderful to keep sharp.

[Dinadan]

I have wondered about the thinking behind Case's selection of knives many times. It must be something along the lines of the the tooling being gone. Surely stupidity could not account for the vast variety of Seahorse Whittlers that Case makes, but never a single 6380 Whittler. There must be a good reason for that choice.

Personally, I find the Case line up kind of boring. Of current production I have a few Seahorse Whittlers, and one each of a few other patterns. It sure would be nice to see some of the older patterns show back up. And I and perfectly happy with stainless blades!

[BIGHEAD]

Well the seahorse is out of production. And the line up is based off sales as it has been told to me.

[jmh58]

Well the seahorse is out of production. And the line up is based off sales as it has been told to me.

Barry.. I seem to remember seeing a list of all the patterns Case has in the vault???
Ring a bell??
Is there anyone one over on the CCC site that does??
John