Did the Muskrat get locked in the vault?

[Dan In MI]

Lately I have become enamored with Muskrats. I checked my favorite knife retailers, both general and Case specific, for them. Save for Case Knife Outlet, pickins were slim. I'm wondering if perhaps the Muskrat has been relegated to the vault. Would anyone be able to confirm or deny that?

[OLDE CUTLER]

Muskrats are one of my favorite of the old time patterns, but as you say they are not as commonly made by today's manufactures as they once were.

[Mumbleypeg]

I don't know if the Muskrat pattern is in the vault or discontinued permanently. I do see them available on eBay.

Ken

[MadeinUSA]

I hope not discontinued… I just recently discovered the beauty of them

[Mumbleypeg]

Hope I’m wrong but I’d be surprised if Case revives the Muskrat pattern. It was designed for hunters and especially trappers, for use in skinning small animals for their pelts. Not much demand for that these days, and most folks don’t want a knife having two identical blades (even the trappers popularized the Hawbaker Special, which hasn’t been produced in years). That basically leaves us collectors as the market.

A ray of hope - since the Muskrat was made on the 47 (large stockman) frame, if they ever bring the 47 back maybe they’ll produce some Muskrats along with it. The 47 stockman pattern at one time was one of Case’s more popular knives, but haven’t seen any in production recently.

That’s how I see it anyway. Again, I’d be happy to be wrong.

Ken

[jmh58]

Ken.. Can you ask over on the CCC Forum of a list of knives in the Vault..
I seem to remember a list so yrs ago..
And do they update that list??
John

[Mumbleypeg]

John, it seems every year about this time that question and others about the Case Vault Program get asked, both here and on the CCC Forum. I just did a search on the CCC forum and find numerous requests about the Vault program over the past several years, but the only official posts from Case are the annual vault release announcements. I can find numerous questions from members, but can’t find an official answer from Case regarding what patterns are “in the vault”, in about 10 years. There was an article about the Vault program around 10 years ago in the CCC Magazine. Since then a lot of annual speculation, wishes, or requests for certain patterns (everyone seems to have a favorite).

About 5 or 6 years ago there was speculation on a rumor (which spawned a LOT of posts on the forum) that the vault program had been dropped. As far as I can recall Case never commented about it, neither denied nor confirmed it. But the next year they announced another pattern had been released.

IMHO Case has created a great marketing scheme. They get a lot of speculation and discussion, wishful thinking, etc. In other words a lot of “chatter” - free publicity! Then in January, on or about the time of the SHOT Show, they announce the “Vault Release” pattern for that year. IMHO they don’t want anyone to know what’s “in the vault”.

Ken

Edit: I tried to post the old CCC Magazine article but it won’t post. Now it won’t let me delete the blank page either! I guess AAPK’s software is in cahoots with Case Marketing regarding the vault program mystery.

[Dan In MI]

I just recently discovered the beauty of them

That is indeed a beauty!

Seems the Muskrat's status is best described as "in limbo." All we can do is wait and see. But I did check Shepherd Hills last night, and they have a few 47s on offer. (I was able to handle a 47 with Tractor Supply's exclusive barn shield last year, and I regret not purchasing one or two.) As Ken said, there is a ray of hope.

Thanks to all for the replies!

[jmh58]

John, it seems every year about this time that question and others about the Case Vault Program get asked, both here and on the CCC Forum. I just did a search on the CCC forum and find numerous requests about the Vault program over the past several years, but the only official posts from Case are the annual vault release announcements. I can find numerous questions from members, but can’t find an official answer from Case regarding what patterns are “in the vault”, in about 10 years. There was an article about the Vault program around 10 years ago in the CCC Magazine. Since then a lot of annual speculation, wishes, or requests for certain patterns (everyone seems to have a favorite).

About 5 or 6 years ago there was speculation on a rumor (which spawned a LOT of posts on the forum) that the vault program had been dropped. As far as I can recall Case never commented about it, neither denied nor confirmed it. But the next year they announced another pattern had been released.

IMHO Case has created a great marketing scheme. They get a lot of speculation and discussion, wishful thinking, etc. In other words a lot of “chatter” - free publicity! Then in January, on or about the time of the SHOT Show, they announce the “Vault Release” pattern for that year. IMHO they don’t want anyone to know what’s “in the vault”.

Ken

Edit: I tried to post the old CCC Magazine article but it won’t post. Now it won’t let me delete the blank page either! I guess AAPK’s software is in cahoots with Case Marketing regarding the vault program mystery.

Thanks Ken..
One of my peeves with Case is their dishonesty with their customers.. Or secrecy maybe too..
John

[Mumbleypeg]

John, though I didn't care for some things I can’t recall any time Case was dishonest. I guess they’ve typically kept things pretty close when it comes to announcing products or future plans. I think that’s smart, but that’s just my opinion as someone once involved in marketing myself.

In my experience it’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Tell customers a future new product is coming and they gripe because they can’t buy it yet. Don’t tell them and they say you’re secretive.

Example: For years Case has announced the vault release for that year in January, at or about the time of SHOT Show. And for years, starting the prior November or earlier people have begun speculating and griping that Case hasn’t announced the vault release pattern yet. Last year after they announced it (the week of SHOT Show) people complained because the SHC and SMKW sites didn’t have any in stock yet and were taking back orders. IIRC a couple of weeks later the knives started showing up in dealer stock and some were even posting theirs here.

Ken

[Colonel26]

I hope it hasn’t gone away, as I really like the muskrats. As Ken stated, they are great for trapping and for small game. But they also carry very well in your pocket. I don’t carry one a lot working on the farm as I prefer a stockman, camilllus 72, or my loomfixer for that. But I do carry one at work often. When the biggest cutting job you’re likely to do is a stray thread or open a ream of paper, the muskrat is a dandy tool.

Plus they’re just one of those knives that is old school cool in my book.

[Lansky1]

I just wish somebody at Case would take a chance on the ratcliffe & release a limited run of them to see how it sells - practically everybody seems to like wharncliffe's and it would "modernize" the age old muskrat design. Case did sell a Tony Bose high end version of the ratcliffe, and the "improved hawbaker" version, which are both clearly desirable due to the prices they fetch. It just seems to me that the ratcliffe version would sell if they'd give it a chance ...