Case Old vs New

[smiling-knife]

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a great thanksgiving. I have read in various threads that the quality of the new Case knives is just not the same as the old. I think that generally applies across the board these days. Roughly when did this major old/new quality divide take place and what is the evidence/examples that informs this conclusion. Looking forward to your responses. Thanks in advance s-k

[stockman]

Hello Trust that you had great day Thanksgiving. S-K I don't buy new knives for my self, except knives made up for our local knife club. I like old case knives alot, anything newer than 1970 is new to me. I did not like the Parker era knives, the case classics are nice, but I don't buy them. I do buy new case regular production knives for my six year old grandson, he has seven now. I inspect them when they come in and they look like well made knives to me, I get him one a year. I think the quality is better now. Fit and finish is OK. Hope this helps some.

Stockman

[PA Knives]

HEY!

A few years ago I posted a similar comment on the Blade Forum. I about got my head chewed off. I complained that the new CASE knives were just inferior in my opinion. I was given a new trapper for christmas that year and the fit and finish was awful. I eventually sold the knife and bought one from the 1960's. PERFECT fit and finish. Now I understand some problems getting through the inspection process, but go the store and look at a dozen or so new CASE knives, then go home and look at the old ones you have. Easy lesson to learn in my opinion. Give me an old Hollingsworth Kane PA over any of the new knives and mine will hold an edge longer, last longer and look better than most of todays knives. 'NO one loves knives from Pennsylvania any better than me and I lived near the CASE plant for many years. I respect and appreciate them tremendously. They are no different than any of the other companies. Money is the reason for the changes. I understand that. I just don't like what they are doing. "gluing on a shield" come on, that's just not right, but it does save money.

Again, just MY opinion.

by the way, I stil have my head, but I don't have the knife.

[CarlM]

I like my Case knives 1970's or older. It might just be in my head but, the newer Case knives don't seem to stay sharp as well and the older ones seem to have better snap. The older red bone is my favorite. I even like them worn slick. To me, the older ones just have more character.

[Turkey Creek Tom]

It seems that the older Case knives were made for use, while the current knives are made for collecting.
But like most, they prefer the older Case for collecting.
When I was a boy and growing up every man and boy carried a knife.
Now, you can get a group of ten men together and you asked to see their knives and maybe two of the ten will have a knife on them.
Did the old Case knives attach the sheild to the handle by rivit and now glue is used?
I know as a boy, I was impressed with Case due to the wearing of the bone and the fact that you never saw one with the shield missing from the handle.
I remember many of the other knives in the decade of the 50's and 60's had glue on shields.
I had to go into a Federal Building several months ago and had to leave my pocket knife behind and I felt almost undressed.