Case Bose Collab's

[supratentorial]

[kootenay joe]

Great display of fine collabs suprat. You always have the best in knives.
Here i have the 1999 Collab, a Wharncliffe Trapper. I have had quite a few of the Case/Bose collabs and have in the past posted my disappointment because the collab i received had 'issues' that should not be there in a $300+ knife.
Of all the collabs i have owned this one is by far The Best. The fit & finish here are truly at full custom level of a top knife maker.
Was 1999 the beginning of the Case/Bose collab knives ? i.e. this Wharncliffe Trapper is the first of the collab knives ?
Is this of higher value to collectors than the later releases ?
thanks, kj

[supratentorial]

Thank you, KJ. That's a beautiful trapper. Trend setters too. I think these knives popularized the Wharncliffe swap though some of the new collectors might not have been collecting when it was uncommon. Now Queen and GEC are making Wharncliffe trappers too.

Some of my favorite things about the manufacturing of the Bose collaboration knives are the perfect grinds and swedges... way too perfect to be ground by hand. I know they cut the parts by wire EDM but I'm not sure how they grind the blades and swedges. It's definitely machine made with very close tolerances to Tony's original that he provides as a pattern.

I use the Norfolk and Muskrat the most. Usually I don't like the muskrat pattern, but it's an exception.

I hope they continue this series for many years. It would be great if Reese picks up the collaboration if Tony retires. The collaboration knives and Tony's regular production knives (e.g. Sowbelly) are my favorite knives from Case's current catalog.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Jake. Was 1999 the first year of the Case-Bose collabs ? i cannot find reference to this on line but it must be there maybe even here at AAPK ?
kj

[Railsplitter]

Yep, 1999 was the first year.
http://www.wrcase.com/special_programs/ ... ations.pdf

[supratentorial]

Hi Rick! Thank you for posting the info.

First Case/Bose collaboration knife !

[jerryd6818]

Great display of fine collabs suprat. You always have the best in knives.
Here i have the 1999 Collab, a Wharncliffe Trapper. I have had quite a few of the Case/Bose collabs and have in the past posted my disappointment because the collab i received had 'issues' that should not be there in a $300+ knife.
Of all the collabs i have owned this one is by far The Best. The fit & finish here are truly at full custom level of a top knife maker.
Was 1999 the beginning of the Case/Bose collab knives ? i.e. this Wharncliffe Trapper is the first of the collab knives ?
Is this of higher value to collectors than the later releases ?
thanks, kj

Holy cats Roland. The run-up on that trapper is purrrfect.

[Railsplitter]

Hi Rick! Thank you for posting the info.

First Case/Bose collaboration knife !

Howdy Jake! I had seen that list before but I didn't realize until today that the run numbers were a little higher in the very early years. Never noticed that the "exoitic" material runs were as low as 100 either.

That's a very fine knife you've got there Roland!

[wlf]

That's a good looking hound Jake, I expect very valuable.

[kootenay joe]

Rick, thanks for posting link to the Collab chart. I see it has "Eureka Jack" for this year 2017, but i'm assuming they are not yet released.
Thanks also for the kind words regarding my C-B Wharncliffe Trapper. In hand it really does feel like a well made full custom knife. Was i just very lucky, or was the 1999 collab a total home run, perhaps the best of all collabs for a uniformly high standard of fit & finish ?
Is today's market value about the same was when new, i.e. ~ $300 ? or is the 1999 Collab sought after and hard to find ?
It's too nice to sell, but i feel this way about many of my knives. I am just wondering what changes in $$ might have occurred while this knife slumbered in a comfy pouch in a dark safe.
kj

[Railsplitter]

I usually use completed listings on Ebay as a guide to current values. I looked up the 1999 Collab knife like yours and two have sold in the last few months. One sold in February for $350 and the other sold a week ago for $286.

Those are the only two completed listings on Ebay for that knife. I'm sure there were others but they must be too old to pop up in a search.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Rick. So the answer is: no appreciation in value and worth about the same as collabs from other more recent years.
I am surprised. I had thought that as the opening 'volley' on this esteemed series it would have commanded a higher price.
kj

[Railsplitter]

It certainly is strange how the market can be so diverse. Supply and demand and all that stuff. I see GEC knives that aren't even 3 months old selling for 300% of what they sold for new. Not long ago I saw a GEC Sunfish or Lumberjack (something like that) sell for $1300.

In contrast, I bought my 2009 Case/Bose Norfolk in 2015 for about 35% less than it sold for new and I bought it in like new condition with the box, pouch, and paperwork.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I got a good price. All I can say is Go Figure.

[supratentorial]

Thank you, Lyle ! She's a great dog !

There are a lot of new collectors who haven't been collecting long. Some don't even know that Tony popularized the Wharncliffe swap... or that Tony is responsible for the rebirth of the Schrade Zulu (originally a pen knife) as a curved jack... or that Tony is responsible for popularizing the Lanny's clip. It's sort of astonishing to me. But many of us have collected a lot longer and seen those things with our own eyes. Tony has had a huge impact on production knives as well as custom knives. A LOT of new custom knife makers are even using Tony patterns (he shipped the patterns to them to help them get started). And his work has been reproduced officially by Case and copied by other manufacturers. But some new collectors don't recognize his influence even when they see it. I've seen people talk about the Zulu or Lanny's clip and not even know Tony! Crazy! A lot of new collectors focus mostly on appearances rather than history and people... or the different ways that knives are manufactured. Hopefully that changes as collectors learn more about knives. Tony's a very modest gentleman but he has had a tremendous impact on "traditional" knives.

There's a lot of talk about GEC, especially with new collectors. The GEC secondary market prices are a bit mind blowing but I think it's a matter of demand. I don't think the knives are actually worth several times their retail price. People just want them real bad. The parts are mostly punched out (not cut by wire EDM). They're 1095, not a "super steel". They don't have mill relieved liners. They don't have pivot bushings. Still. They're nice knives. Not saying they aren't. I'm a GEC fan too. GEC has some skilled labor and they are paying particular attention to aesthetics and minor finish details that finicky collectors obsess over. Although I don't think the crazy secondary market prices will stop soon, I think it will slow down as years pass and GEC makes more and more knives. The second run of "beer scouts" is an example of the effect.

[kootenay joe]

Very good post Jake. Some of the newer collectors might follow up and dig into the long history of Traditional style pocket knives. As you say it is the history that creates the interest and focus for the established collector. I hope some of those brought into the area of Traditional knives by the GEC offerings will expand their interest to include vintage USA and Sheffield knives.
There is a vast treasure trove awaiting their discovery and for what is spent for a GEC on the secondary market they could buy a top example of an even better built knife that is 100+ years old.
kj

[FarSide]