All About Pocket Knives

Are there other pocket knives of similar quality if not better than CASE knives?? I just picked up a Mini Muskrat and I'm very pleased with the quality!

Well. IMO, i rank Great Eastern better than CASE. And I am a big CASE fan! the fit and finish on my GEC's has been AMAZING!

Lenny, I'd say you will receive quite a mix of answers to this one.
There are several that rival or surpass Case in quality but there is also an offsetting increase in price usually.

First thing to remember is collect what YOU like.

Even within the Case lineup itself and various eras there will be variations in both collectibility & degree of quality.
My Schrade USA have been more consistent in quality, but do not display as wide an array of patterns & colors as does Case.
Schatt & Morgan seem to surpass Case on attention to detail and less likely to have any fit or finish demerits. Also usually lower production quantities & higher initial cost.
I also have some Queen Items that I consider in same price & quality ranges as the Case.
Many here will mention the Canal St. & GEC brands as superior quality products. But again, remember they are smaller specialty brands with considerably smaller lineup and higher pricing.
Currently with Case items, I'm reluctant to buy online due to the wide variance in color, blade finish quality, pin fit & finish, handle match front to back and even the cutting edges consistency.
I've found it preferable to be able to inspect items at authorized dealer (or knife show). I've been able to inspect 3-4 of same pattern in same series and not be able to get any of them due to manufacturing flaws. Then in next pattern, series have 3 of 4 perfect, just a matter of choosing one.
One of my biggest peeves is to have knives not match advertising pics.
The black bone with red shield, it's hard to find a truly "black" one. Most have various degrees of chocolate brown mixed in. The white bone with red oval shield are usually mixed with some Gray from slight to moderate, but not in ads. The olive gren barnboard were shown green from bolster to bolster. But most I've seen have greenish/brown center and the ends toward the bolsters have been hafted down to white.
So at least examining in person you know what you are buying. Mailorder is more of a "potluck" system lately.
Despite these observations Mentioned, last I heard Case still lays claim to be the most collected knife brand in the world, so it must be true.

Nice on the eyes, this was the only picture I could find there all different.

lenny357 wrote:Are there other pocket knives of similar quality if not better than CASE knives?? I just picked up a Mini Muskrat and I'm very pleased with the quality!

I think you will get good & not so good with every American made production slipjoint.
Personally I think Case's quality has gone down hill in the past 10 years or so. And I will never spend another dime on Great Eastern knives. So that only leaves 2 companies here in the states, Queen & Canal Street.
Mostly I collect Schatt & Morgan which is the upper end of the Queen line. But the steel is only "collectors steel" 420 SS on most of their knives. The D2 steel used in Queens regular runs has some fans & some detractors. Personally I like it, and the 1095 sometimes used.
I have also been pleased with Canal Street's products. Their use of steel & fit & finish has been oustanding for the $$.

Of course these are just my opinion,
Dave

Hiya Lenny,

It took me a long time, but I finally realized that I'm NOT a collector - I just accumulate knives. I have handled a few hundred thousand or so, and bought/sold/traded my share.

My suggestion sounds trite, but collect what YOU like. There are other directions in knife collecting. You bought a muskrat - you could build a collection of just 'rats, fr'instance. Some people collect just pearl-handled knives. Etc. Etc. If you should decide to collect only Case - collect all the history you can, to go with those knives, as well. Learn everything you can, about your interests - THAT is the obsession, for me.

As everyone else will tell you, advice is worth what you pay for it. And mine's free.

Just have fun, that's the important thing.

JR

lenny357 Well here is what I think will help you.

Take your Case Muskrat with you to a knife show.

Find a Canal Street, Queens, Queens S & M, Great Eastern, Bulldog, Moore Maker or even a Fight N Roster. Then you compare them to yours. I feel you are new to this but that is one way for you to learn what YOU like and why. Hold as many knives in your hand that you can at the show. Even try to find a Case just like yours. They should be the same but they won't be.

The thing you need to watch out for is WHERE it was made. Many knives are now made in CHINA like to name a few Buck, Schrade, even Remington. Just because they have the U.S.A. flag on the box or have a good U.S.A. name not be fooled.

The more you read things here at AAPK the faster you will pick up good and bad knives and why some times too. I hope I have saved you some money.


As everyone else will tell you, advice is worth what you pay for it. And mine's free.... ...That's a good one.

lots of knives are better than case knives!!!!!! but its best to collect knives that will allways be valuable. for me its case tested or older,platts, winchester then remington. IM NOT SAYING THERES NOT MORE VALUABLE BRANDS ON KNIVES, THERES ALOT MORE. but after of 30 years of collecting ive figured out its best to stay limited. otherwise i'd be broke!!!!!!!

Well Lots of good help thanks.. I plan on going to a knife show up in Lutherville Just below Balitimore on the 9th of December. Looks like a good one and also the only one that I know of close.