2012 Case Tec X Line

[woseyjales]

This announcement was posted on the Case Collector's Club Forum today.
Main focus of cCc responders so far is on the revelation
that this line will be made in China and the anticipated
ramifications from this change in Case's manufacturing philosophy.

A MESSAGE FROM CASE PRESIDENT TOM ARROWSMITH
by Lisa Boser-Miller on Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:15 pm

The 2011 Volume IV Edition of The Case Collector magazine will arrive in home soon.
This publication is once again filled with stories, photos, and familiar faces.
Before your copy arrives, I wanted to be the first to tell you about a feature story included in your magazine.
Case is excited to introduce its new assortment of modern knives, Tec X.
An exciting evolution for Case, the Tec X from Case collection features sleek and modern knives which sport
one-handed opening and closing features, pocket clips, special alloy blade steels and innovative coatings.
This development has been carefully crafted over several years and aims to broaden the appeal of Case to new consumers, while also offering something different and modern to existing Case fans.
These knives are well suited to busy workmen, outdoor enthusiasts and for all sorts of odd jobs around the home.
The one-hand opening features and pocket clip keep hands free to perform an endless number of tasks effectively with minimum fuss and maximum multitasking.
The Tec X collection will offer a choice of 28 knives in a wide assortment of handle and blade finishes with the modern style
that many knife enthusiasts are looking for today.
The assortment includes knives with anodized aluminum handles, AUS8 blades, titanium coating and a variety of finishes.
I am confident that this exciting brand extension will increase the relevancy of Case to a younger audience with an appetite for modern technology. Case knives are the most collected knives in the world, and we are humbled by our passionate brand advocates. By introducing Tex X from Case, we hope to offer something unique and practical to a whole new generation of passionate Americans.

Due to the vastly different manufacturing process required for Tec X, this assortment will be sourced from China, from a Case approved factory where the same quality standards set for the core Case products will be applied, and the same warranties will be offered. This was a carefully considered decision by Case and was taken so as not to disrupt the traditional hand-crafted manufacturing plant in Bradford, Pennsylvania, which will continue to be fully operational.
This fact was reinforced by Case owner George Duke who said
“The core products of Case will continue to be manufactured in Bradford. My family has a commitment to the community going back to 1932 that we have every intention of maintaining. Case fans, owners and collectors are also hugely important to us, and we will always strive to manufacture beautiful traditional knives to suit their tastes and needs. We also want to provide premium products to new, potential fans, and this is where Tec X comes in.”

The new Tec X from Case collection will be available to buy in the first quarter of 2012 from Case dealers.
I am extremely excited about this new development and hope you will be as well.
Sincerely,
Tom Arrowsmith
President and CEO
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company

[garddogg56]

WHY-NOT MAKE THIS LINE IN THE U.S.A. We need the JOBS HERE I call your 800 # try to get an answer about a knife sheath with NO return call and now your going to build knives in *&$^@^ china

[garddogg56]

Oh ya;tec X one X not even case tested twice

[edgy46]

[knifeaholic]

Wow...just wow...I got the email from Case today with the announcement of this product line, but I did not read far enough to find out that they will be made in China.

I wonder if Case has any idea what a can of worms they are opening with this move. Case having a line of their traditional patterns made in China can't be far behind...

[MrBlister]

WELP... thats that........

shame shame shame

[tjmurphy]

Mighty CASEy has struck out!!

[big monk]

WOW*****

[gino]

SICKENING! Benchmade went the same way thats why I wont buy ANYTHING they make any longer. I wont be buying any new CASE knives in the future either. I know its starting out with one part of the line made there but I am done with them all together. SICKENING!!!! They lost me as a fan. GREED strikes another!

[carvin don]

[Gunstock Jack]

This is a sad day for American cutlery. I suppose it's just the way large corporations operate these days, for financial reasons. Gotta keep the CEO's happy with mega bucks. I say keep the jobs in the USA; Buck tried this route and ended up terminating their Chinese production. Good for them! I've had it with foreign outsourcing.

[wv trapper I]

Very sad indeed, they should be made here!!! That's what is the matter with our country now!!!

Joe

[Dave O]

What effect will this have on those of us who have XX's and Dot knives and invested a lot of cash in the past to have a great case collection. Doesn't this sort of cast a shadow on all Case Knives?

The economy will improve some time, and those who were true to the cause will be rewarded. This puts Case in a group that none of us want to accept or deal with. I feel no pride in using, collecting or having a China knife!

[Iron Hoarder]

Do they not realize that we buy from them because they are American? I went to buy a Buck for my dad when his wore out after 25 years and when I got home I realized it was Chinese. I was so pissed off that I'll never buy a Buck again.

[deanmm56]

Here is a copy of an email I just sent Case relations. While I realize one email will not affect the business decision of W.R. Case & Sons to move part or maybe all of their production offshore I stand by my email with strong convictions ...... guess I'm going to start buying GEC & Canal Street from now on.

"Hello,

My name is Dean Morron, quite an avid fan and collector of Case knives. I've been collecting some form of Case knives ever since 1964 when my Dad purchased two fixed bladed knives at Yellowstone National Park, he told me one day they would be mine, great excitement for an eight year old !!!

I have recently read that Case's new line of knives, Tec-X, will be made in China and I had to write to W.R.Case & Sons to say, " Please tell me it is NOT so ".
The reason I have collected and admired Case knives for the last 47 years is because they ( your knives ) have and are made in AMERICA.

I along with millions of other Americans enjoy buying American made products. W.R. Case & Sons, a company 150 years strong, stood for " The American Way , Apple Pie and Old Glory" all wrapped into ONE because your products were/are made in America.

Again I repeat, Please tell me it is not so !!!!! Once Chinese production starts on one line of Case knives how soon before the total production of Case products goes to a foreign land ?

If indeed these knives will be made in China, PLEASE remove my name from your data base. I will no longer be buying Case products.


A devoted customer for 47 years,

Dean M. Morron

[chetr1200c]

why didnt they just go back to queen for help. this is a terrible step for case. it will have years of adverse reprocussions that probably can never be reversed for some.

maybe this new case line should be discussed in the counterfeit forum...

[tjmurphy]

I would say that Case is looking for a cheap, lose/break it and who cares, line of knives. It is a shame though that they could not farm this one out in the U.S. For the most part these "tek" knives are no brainers, handles are cast, blades are stamped, no back springs a simple liner lock and a couple of screws. Oh, and a pocket clip.

[MikeB]

I don't like the design, I don't like the fact that they are made out of the US. It's against Case tradition. They should have put more thoughts into it
Mike

[Just Plain Dave]

In and of itself I don't think one hand "Tactcal" Case knives made in China will be a horrid thing.

I have several Taiwan and China "Tacticals" that d what they are supposed to.

The fact that it could be used as a proof of concept and cause Traditionals to be built in China is a HORRID thing!

There i nothing functionally wrong with Rough Rider. But they have no soul!

[garddogg56]

Dean;Very nice and profesional e-mail.Mine was more like a construction worker that had just lost his job,his wife,and his largest part of his knife collection oh ya and the perpitrader KICKED the dog on his way out the door Oh well MY Dodge truck is owned by fiat,my Carhartts were outsourced to indochina,my Klein were outsourced to germany my Tv went jap.This country is losing it's backbone while we are getting the bone.I'm telling you,BUY AMERICAN THE JOB YOU SAVE WILL BE YOUR OWN over and out.

[bonehead]

I love Case knives and have plenty of them. This news along with there new product ,IMO will very quickly have an impact on Case here in the US. I suppose we will have to wait and see.

BH

[orvet]

"Due to the vastly different manufacturing process required for Tec X, this assortment will be sourced from China, from a Case approved factory where the same quality standards set for the core Case products will be applied, and the same warranties will be offered."

So I am wondering, if what is quoted here is in fact true; that the knives meet the same quality standards as the knives made in Bradford, why don’t they have the China factory make the blades for the traditional Case knives? It would be a lot cheaper.

And if they can actually make the same quality knife as those made in Bradford, why not move the production of the traditional knives to China as well? It would be a lot cheaper and would give them a better bottom line.


It would seem to me Case is having an identity crisis: either they are a company committed to making quality American pocketknives, or they are a knife company who is just out to make a buck. I guess they have just answered that question.


On Case’s website under the “About Us” tab they say:
“W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company is an American manufacturer of premium, hand-crafted knives that are passed down for generations.”

I guess that no longer applies.

That page on their website also notes that they are owned by Zippo. I guess this is what when the bean counters from a non-knife company take over a knife company; the knife company looses its identity.


Farewell Case. You were great while you lasted.

[Iron Hoarder]

Can someone go put a '"MADE IN CHINA" banner on their website for them?

[knife-nut]

Here is a copy of an email I just sent Case relations. While I realize one email will not affect the business decision of W.R. Case & Sons to move part or maybe all of their production offshore I stand by my email with strong convictions ...... guess I'm going to start buying GEC & Canal Street from now on.

"Hello,

My name is Dean Morron, quite an avid fan and collector of Case knives. I've been collecting some form of Case knives ever since 1964 when my Dad purchased two fixed bladed knives at Yellowstone National Park, he told me one day they would be mine, great excitement for an eight year old !!!

I have recently read that Case's new line of knives, Tec-X, will be made in China and I had to write to W.R.Case & Sons to say, " Please tell me it is NOT so ".
The reason I have collected and admired Case knives for the last 47 years is because they ( your knives ) have and are made in AMERICA.

I along with millions of other Americans enjoy buying American made products. W.R. Case & Sons, a company 150 years strong, stood for " The American Way , Apple Pie and Old Glory" all wrapped into ONE because your products were/are made in America.

Again I repeat, Please tell me it is not so !!!!! Once Chinese production starts on one line of Case knives how soon before the total production of Case products goes to a foreign land ?

If indeed these knives will be made in China, PLEASE remove my name from your data base. I will no longer be buying Case products.


A devoted customer for 47 years,

Dean M. Morron

Please post there email address. I want to send them my opinion about this too. Maybe if they hear from enough collectors, they might reconsider. Mark.

[basser5]

http://www.wrcase.com/support/contact_us/