Change in Case tang stamps

[Mumbleypeg]

Just announced on the Case Collector’s Club site. Immediately followed by posts there with concerns over counterfeiting. I don’t see a problem myself, at least not for years - no one counterfeits modern Case knives - there’s no money in it! Plus lasers are not cheap, even more so those capable of doing what Case describes in that announcement.

Ken

[cody6268]

Makes perfect sense to me. Most other cutlery companies do it these days. Most of my US-made Spydercos, Benchmades, Esees, and even some Bear models have a lasered stamp.

Making tang stamping dies has to be pricey, and those wear out and have to be replaced over time. A laser is almost a one-and-done purchase and does not need to be replaced. Also, I'm sure it works much better on some of the harder, tougher premium steels Case has recently introduced. I'm sure this will also help to keep costs down, which means Case is better off financially, and it means they can keep costs passed on to us consumers down.

I wonder if this also means patterns that typically don't have a date stamp (i.e. Mini Blackhorn) will?

[centennialknives]

I read this too on the Case collector's forum. Mixed feelings from me. But having spent 30 years in manufacturing, I understand. As a collector, it's the turn of a page into a new era. It happens.

Regarding the counterfeit potential, they shared a photo showing they will be doing "deep engraving" vs. just a surface scan. So it should turn out well.

**Edit: Just realized you show the laser tang example they posted. Looks good!

[OLDE CUTLER]

Maybe Case could offer a new service. For a fee you could send your Case knife back to them and have it authenticated. They would then laser mark something on the pile side of the blades that it is indeed a real Case. Or maybe this wouldn't work because there are so many knives that people think are real , but aren't. Or counterfeiters would take the authenticated blades out and put them into Kutmasters. Nah, bad idea.

[1967redrider]

Interesting, thanks Ken. Things will be bad when one can 3D print old Tested blades.

[Gunsil]

Maybe Case could offer a new service. For a fee you could send your Case knife back to them and have it authenticated. They would then laser mark something on the pile side of the blades that it is indeed a real Case. Or maybe this wouldn't work because there are so many knives that people think are real , but aren't. Or counterfeiters would take the authenticated blades out and put them into Kutmasters. Nah, bad idea.

There isn't anybody at Case who could authenticate any knife more than 20 or so years old. They have nobody there with any experience with older knives, there are people here who'd do a better job of authenticating old or antique Case knives.

As far as using a laser rather than a stamp, I am sure it simply boils down to that the laser is cheaper.

[98src]

+1

[RancherinAz]

I read this too on the Case collector's forum. Mixed feelings from me. But having spent 30 years in manufacturing, I understand. As a collector, it's the turn of a page into a new era. It happens.

Regarding the counterfeit potential, they shared a photo showing they will be doing "deep engraving" vs. just a surface scan. So it should turn out well.

**Edit: Just realized you show the laser tang example they posted. Looks good!

Looks like a stamped tang to me .
Maybe I’m missing something …

[NotEnoughCash]

This just makes me want to buy older Case knives. I can’t imagine anyone preferring this to an actual stamp. This is nothing but a money saver and the savings will not be passed onto the consumer. Boooooo. I love my Case knives but….

[Mumbleypeg]

It is indeed a cost saver, but not in the way most think. If you’ve worked in a manufacturing operation you probably understand that having interchangeable parts saves cost. In this case, in the old process, pattern numbers, date codes, etc were stamped when the blades were stamped from rolled steel. The numbers/letters were part of the same tooling that stamps out the blades. Often when the blade was created, its lot in life was cast - usable only in the frame for which that blade was created, even if the same blade shape could be used in multiple other patterns.

However, if you don’t have to mark that blade until after the knife is assembled, then you can stamp it accordingly with whatever pattern, date code, etc is needed. Meaning you don’t have to keep excess (overruns) of previously stamped blades in inventory until needed, you just use them on the next pattern needing that size and type of blade. Instant inventory flexibility, therefore not as much inventory. Which translates to cost reduction.

As for the aesthetics, the laser stamps I have seen to date are cut into the steel like older stamps are. It’s not ink. Maybe they look a little different, but likely not to the casual observer. Pass the cost-savings on to your customers? Dream on. More like not having to raise prices as much as otherwise would be needed to keep up with inflation and other escalating costs. JMO, from a career in manufacturing.

Ken

[NotEnoughCash]

Yes, yes, yes and yes. I totally agree with your breakdown about the reasoning for this change but I’m not a casual buyer and neither is anyone on this forum. I mean, I do see and feel a difference in the etched markings. It just screams cheaper to me is all. I like peanuts. A brand new Case peanut will cost you 50 bucks (on the very low end). That’s a tiny little knife. For 50 and up it shouldn’t show obvious signs of cost savings. It’s just disappointing to me I guess. I still love the knives.

[gsmith7158]

Well it is the wave of the future in manufacturing. It's happening through out business and it's not going to stop. I'm sure before long they'll have C3PO doing the final buffing.

[Railsplitter]

I no longer collect Case knives but I have other knives with laser engraved tang stamps. Laser engraving is good stuff, in my opinion. I’m all for it.

If it’s nothing more than a cost saving effort then it has less negative impact on the customer than some of the cost saving things they’ve done in the past.

It’s a far cry better than when they stopped pinning shields and started gluing them on.

[Mumbleypeg]

I no longer collect Case knives but I have other knives with laser engraved tang stamps. Laser engraving is good stuff, in my opinion. I’m all for it.

If it’s nothing more than a cost saving effort then it has less negative impact on the customer than some of the cost saving things they’ve done in the past.

It’s a far cry better than when they stopped pinning shields and started gluing them on.

Amen to that! And seeing as they’ve been doing it for almost two years now………………

Ken

[Steve Warden]

Yes, yes, yes and yes. I totally agree with your breakdown about the reasoning for this change but I’m not a casual buyer and neither is anyone on this forum.

Hello.
Casual buyer here.
No big deal to me.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Yes, yes, yes and yes. I totally agree with your breakdown about the reasoning for this change but I’m not a casual buyer and neither is anyone on this forum.

Hello.
Casual buyer here.
No big deal to me.

Yes, I can't believe that statement.

[NotEnoughCash]

I guess it’s just me.

[Mumbleypeg]

I guess it’s just me.

No worries, some of us can be very opinionated. (Just don’t take us too seriously). You'll fit right in.

Welcome to AAPK.

Ken

[NotEnoughCash]

Thank you, Ken. I expected most knife people to be very upset about this change. I miss judged it. I’m new here and just looking for friends and information. I don’t have unconditional loyalty to any brand and I should have recognized the subforum that I was in before giving Case a kick in the pants. Happy New Years all.

[bestgear]

I’m new here and just looking for friends and information.

you’ve come to the right place, don’t let one members passion alter your position and thank you for sharing your position. Change is hard, especially to many who adopt the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude. This is an open forum that as long as the terms and conditions we all agreed to aren’t violated, all dialogue and viewpoints is welcomed.

Personally, I like the crisp lines to the lasered tang stamps but appreciate both sides of the coin.

[Steve Warden]

I guess it’s just me.

All good.

[GSPTOPDOG]

It is indeed a cost saver, but not in the way most think...As for the aesthetics, the laser stamps I have seen to date are cut into the steel like older stamps are. It’s not ink.

I think the problem for me was that on the new Case XX knives that I bought recently, the new laser tang stamp (now I guess it's a maker's mark ) looks like ink! I rubbed it with my fingers and it was NOT a deep mark. That is why I thought it was etched on (before seeing this thread)