All About Pocket Knives

RedRaiderRick wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 1:27 am I've bought new 6 Case knives in the past six months including 4 small Texas toothpicks, a medium Texas Toothpick, and a teardrop. While they all snap open nicely, Only the teardrop has a solid half notch the rest are "squishy". What's the story? I've always thought a good slip joint should snap open, closed, and half notch as a sign of quality. What is your perspective? Has Case gone cheap or what? I recently bought a Boker slip joint that is snappy in all three positions. Whatha heck?
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Welcome to AAPK. If I’m reading and interpreting your post correctly it seems there are two different things going on. First, the “half notch” you describe is most commonly called a “half stop”, where the blade “sets” into a firmer stop/rest position when halfway open. That is a feature not all knives have, regardless of age or manufacturer. Some knives have it only on one blade. Some folks like it, others do not. It is specific to the pattern of the knife, and most of the patterns you have were not designed to have the “half stop” feature. There are entire threads here on AAPK debating the half stop feature. For more on this see: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=65628

The other issue you’ve described is the opening and closing “snap” or audible click sound and tactile feel of a blade opening and closing. Many collectors call this “walk-and-talk”. The “walk” being the feel and smoothness of the blade’s opening (and closing) action, and the “talk” being the audible sound. A knife having a gritty or uneven feel while opening or closing is said to have poor “walk”. A knife that doesn’t have a tactile and audible snap when it closes is said to lack “talk”. Some describe it also as having a “slow” or “lazy” blade. Pre-1980 or thereabouts it was rare to find a new knife from any maker that had poor “walk-and-talk”. That was something induced by use and poor care - usually failure to oil the joints of the knife.

Unfortunately finding a new factory-made knife lacking in walk and talk is more common nowadays, regardless of maker. I have not found any brands immune to it, including Case, GEC, Böker, etc. Buy or examine enough knives and you will find it, and the only remedy for the buyer is to either hand-pick your knives from a brick and mortar retailer, or return defective knives if you buy on-line. In some cases the seller may select a knife having good snap/walk-and-talk if you request it. Some sellers may specify it in the listing description. If not, ask before you buy!

Ken

jerryd6818 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 1:40 pm

AndrewH wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:54 am Hi All, I just bought this SOD BUSTER here in Australia.
Initial research of the advertised Fair suggests Aurora Indiana. Can anyone suggest any other alternatives for the Fair that is advertised thanks. Just curious of the history, and thanks for any help.
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Aurora Indiana is in far southeastern Indiana on the bank of the Ohio river and just a hop skip and a jump West of Cincinnati Ohio. Sorry to see no one responded to your question.

Thanks for the reply . It appears to be a very longstanding Fair, and I like the knife. A bit of researchable history has made it even better.

Thanks for the education Ken and for your patience with a noob. I see you're a TSRA member which tells me you are not just a gun owner but probably a competitor. I was heavy into PPC, IDPA, 3gun, sniper comps back in the day and a TSRA member as well.

The knife I won in the Sheperd hills auction just arrived today

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... 5#p1090460

MadeinUSA wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:09 pm The knife I won in the Sheperd hills auction just arrived today

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... 5#p1090460

That's sweet

Estate sale last week. Tested for 15 bux. They had a black comp Cheetah & a goldstone coke bottle a friend bought.

Just arrived…

viewtopic.php?p=1091908#p1091908

MadeinUSA wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2023 9:13 pm The little congress arrived


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That shield looks fantastic on the red scales.

knife7knut wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 5:27 am Estate sale last week. Tested for 15 bux. They had a black comp Cheetah & a goldstone coke bottle a friend bought.

You want to double your money?
That's a great find.
Treefarmer

Fantastic find, Ray!

If Case were to ask me how to improve their business model, which they won't, I would recommend they go back to making great knives like they used to, even if they have to double their prices. I don't see the current generation ever attracting collectors the way vintage Case do because of diminished QandA. Of the last several I've purchased, only one, a bone teardrop has a half stop at all. A slip joint with no half stop is dangerous. Others have gaps between between scales and liners, another has a cracked pinstock.
The new gen line run $50 to $100ish. Wouldn't we all pay double for well-made in the USA Case knives?

What say you all?

RedRaiderRick wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 5:32 am If Case were to ask me how to improve their business model, which they won't, I would recommend they go back to making great knives like they used to, even if they have to double their prices. I don't see the current generation ever attracting collectors the way vintage Case do because of diminished QandA. Of the last several I've purchased, only one, a bone teardrop has a half stop at all. A slip joint with no half stop is dangerous. Others have gaps between between scales and liners, another has a cracked pinstock.
The new gen line run $50 to $100ish. Wouldn't we all pay double for well-made in the USA Case knives?

What say you all?

I've been saying that for years. Amen brother, hallelujah! They could charge GEC prices and sell out. And if you ask me, what GEC did, and what they do is make the kind of knives Case used to make. There might not have even been a market or niche for GEC if Case, Queen and Schrade hadn't lowered their standards and quit making the top quality knives. But they did and GEC exploited that. Now GEC sets the standard instead of Case and sells knives Case could have been. You nailed it an couldn't agree more.

Mumblypeg, I just discovered your July post explaining "walk and talk." I think it is very well done. Should be permanently preserved for the instruction of others.

Man, what a great bunch of recent finds! There are still some out there for sure!

Two new ones I got in the mail today. Ordered from Shepherd Hills. Both are 2023, Case XX Peach Seed Jig Mahogany Bone handles with Carbon Steel Blades. First a 6207 Minitrapper, the other a 61749L Mini CopperLock. I like the looks of both, but I really like how the handles of the Mini Copperlock looks.

Papa Bones wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:36 pm Two new ones I got in the mail today. Ordered from Shepherd Hills. Both are 2023, Case XX Peach Seed Jig Mahogany Bone handles with Carbon Steel Blades. First a 6207 Minitrapper, the other a 61749L Mini CopperLock. I like the looks of both, but I really like how the handles of the Mini Copperlock looks.

2023 Case XX 6207 and 61749L Mahog Bone.JPG

Nice Smitty! I love Copperlocks!

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 12:17 pm Mumblypeg, I just discovered your July post explaining "walk and talk." I think it is very well done. Should be permanently preserved for the instruction of others.

The compliment goes to the folks who were kind enough to explain it to me years ago, when I was starting out as a new collector. I’m just passing it on, but thank you for the comment.

Ken

Knice pick-ups, Smitty!

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 11:09 pm

Papa Bones wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:36 pm Two new ones I got in the mail today. Ordered from Shepherd Hills. Both are 2023, Case XX Peach Seed Jig Mahogany Bone handles with Carbon Steel Blades. First a 6207 Minitrapper, the other a 61749L Mini CopperLock. I like the looks of both, but I really like how the handles of the Mini Copperlock looks.

2023 Case XX 6207 and 61749L Mahog Bone.JPG

Nice Smitty! I love Copperlocks!

Thanks TMK. Kind of fond of them myself.

Dan In MI wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:38 am Knice pick-ups, Smitty!

Appreciate it Dan.

Papa Bones wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:36 pm Two new ones I got in the mail today. Ordered from Shepherd Hills. Both are 2023, Case XX Peach Seed Jig Mahogany Bone handles with Carbon Steel Blades. First a 6207 Minitrapper, the other a 61749L Mini CopperLock. I like the looks of both, but I really like how the handles of the Mini Copperlock looks.

2023 Case XX 6207 and 61749L Mahog Bone.JPG

Those are two "minis" that aren't so "mini," and I love them! Excellent choices!

1967redrider wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 12:22 pm
Those are two "minis" that aren't so "mini," and I love them! Excellent choices!

Appreciate it Redrider.

Mahogany Trapper carbon
Beard & Owl Slip

I love this Mini Trapper!

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 1:21 am I love this Mini Trapper!

Great lookin Mini, TopDog!

deathtakeslast wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:19 pm Mahogany Trapper carbon
Beard & Owl Slip

Welcome, and beautiful handles on that one, DTL!