All About Pocket Knives

Mumbleypeg wrote:Interesting development in the Yellowhorse/Case saga makes me wonder how much truth there was to the OP in this thread. This along with several other patterns like it appeared on the Shepherd Hills Cutlery website. Says it's a Brian Yellowhorse and Case collaboration, so I'm guessing any speculation about hard feelings between Case and the Yellowhorse family must have been unfounded.

I suspect the whole kerfuffle kicked off because Case and Yellowhorse were trying to come to an agreement on dual-branded knives, couldn't (at first) -- leading to the legal moves by Case -- and eventually agreed on what you see there, plus who know what else might be coming down the pike.

Having the lawyers write a few letters might have saved Case a significant amount of money in negotiations. They say all's fair in love and war -- add capitalism to that list!

I read a thread with replies from David YH dated 2008 where he (DYH) stated he was no longer buying, and modifying NEW case knives. He was only working on customer supplied Case knives.

That was to avoid the issues you all are describing. Especially warranty issues with Case themselves.

AS far as I can find, there is nothing newer than those statements (2008) either supporting or denying any conflict between David YH, and Case.

Casexx does have something they can do about the David Yellowhorse knives. Remanufacturing and customizing a knife is basically counterfeiting it. If Case does not license him, they can sue him for damage done to their brands for putting out knives they don't license.

wad4729 wrote:Casexx does have something they can do about the David Yellowhorse knives. Remanufacturing and customizing a knife is basically counterfeiting it. If Case does not license him, they can sue him for damage done to their brands for putting out knives they don't license.

I'm not sure that that is correct, that strikes me as non sequitur reasoning.
If you apply that logic to automobiles, anyone who buys a Chevrolet and makes a hot rod out of it by customizing their own car could be accused of counterfeiting a Chevrolet. I believe the court would find that the owner of the Chevrolet can pretty much do anything he wants to it, probably even paint Ford on the side if it didn't look like a Ford Motor Company logo.
Once you buy an object, you own that object, ( unlike Microsoft software), and you can modify that product however it meets your needs or desires, within limits.

Case can probably can sue DY, it seems anyone can sue anyone they want today as long as they have enough money. The real trick is to win in court before you go bankrupt. And to win a court case like that they would probably have to prove that they, Case Cutlery, had suffered substantial damage and financial loss from DY's actions.

It sounds like a long and expensive court battle and the only one who will likely get any money out of it will be the trial lawyers. It sounds to me like a net lose - lose situation for DY, Case and the knife collecting hobby at large.

I know they stopped Painted Pony from doing this . They now have worked out a deal where Michael Pay's a small royalty to do this .

Uhhhh, if y’all scroll up a few posts and read, it seems this is old news (the OP is from 2017). Yellowhorse is currently making Case re-handles, with Yellowhorse/Case etch, and selling them through Case authorized dealers. Appears some kind of amicable agreement was reached some time ago.

Carry on!

Ken