? about Case Knives and the Tru Sharp Surgical Steel

J

jwh

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Apr 23, 2010
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Some websites list the steel as Tru Sharp Surgical Steel and some just list SS. Are both of these terms referring to the same steel or is there a difference? Thanks for your help.


jwh
 
Its 420HC? I believe. Thats pretty mild cutlery steel. I wish they used CV or 1095 for everything....D2 would even be better!
 
akadave2 said:
Its 420HC? I believe. Thats pretty mild cutlery steel. I wish they used CV or 1095 for everything....D2 would even be better!
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As far as I know, it is 420HC. But imo, it´s a good steel and has a good HT. So I think it keeps the edge well, not very good, but well.
 
I have heard from people even at (non member dealer reference removed) that Case was now more of a collectible than a "user". The guy in the shop selling pocket knives steered me over to the Queens. I still like Case knives though
 
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In a nutshell:

Case's 'SS' = 'Tru-Sharp' (or so-called 'Tru-Sharp Surgical Stainless') = 420HC

When asked, Case has confirmed it's 'Tru-Sharp' stainless (marked as 'SS' on their blades) is, in fact, 420HC. They heat-treat it a couple RC points lower than Buck's 420HC; something like RC 56-57, vs RC 58 or so in Buck's blades. But it still performs pretty well, or even excellent if the edge is truly cleaned up & refined. The main thing to be aware of with it, is it's tendency to form some stubborn burrs/wire edges when sharpening. Once those are cleaned up, these blades can be excellent slicers. Especially if edge angles are in the neighborhood of ~30° inclusive (15° per side).
 
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akadave2 said:
I have heard from people even at (non member dealer reference removed) that Case was now more of a collectible than a "user". basically, that a load of bull. The guy in the shop selling pocket knives steered me over to the Queens. I still like Case knives though
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The reason the guy steered you over to the Queens is because they cost more and the guy makes more profit off them and you fell for it.

There's not a Queen knife made that a Case knife of comperable size and style can't match when it comes to use.
 
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Modoc ED said:
The reason the guy steered you over to the Queens is because they cost more and the guy makes more profit off them and you fell for it.

There's not a Queen knife made that a Case knife of comperable size and style can't match when it comes to use.
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I took it with a grain of salt to be sure. I just though it was interesting that I was in what is essentially "Case Mecca" (non member dealer reference removed) with regards to Case knives and he was trying to sell me a Queen! :D
 
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akadave2 said:
I have heard from people even at (non member dealer reference removed) that Case was now more of a collectible than a "user". The guy in the shop selling pocket knives steered me over to the Queens. I still like Case knives though
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I'm certain (non member dealer reference removed)sees 'collectors' a lot more as a bigger chunk of their business. They've probably generated more SFO's (Special Factory Orders) for Case than anyone else, in limited or 'exclusive' handle materials/designs/colors, which are designed to appeal to collectors who want to display them. I'm sure their viewpoint (or the viewpoint of at least some of their salespeople) has been skewed as a result. The knives are just as functional, as 'users', as any other similarly-priced and constructed knife made with a mainstream cutlery steel like 420HC. You already know this, as you've indicated. I just wish the salespeople were a little more informed about it. ;)
 
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Tru-Sharp is a decent enough steel. I like their CV a good bit better, but I am prejudiced in favor of carbon steels.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I'm certain (non member dealer reference removed) sees 'collectors' a lot more as a bigger chunk of their business. They've probably generated more SFO's (Special Factory Orders) for Case than anyone else, in limited or 'exclusive' handle materials/designs/colors, which are designed to appeal to collectors who want to display them. I'm sure their viewpoint (or the viewpoint of at least some of their salespeople) has been skewed as a result. The knives are just as functional, as 'users', as any other similarly-priced and constructed knife made with a mainstream cutlery steel like 420HC. You already know this, as you've indicated. I just wish the salespeople were a little more informed about it. ;)
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True about the sales people. You would think that they would have some very informed Case people working there given the amount of floorspace the Case section covers.
 
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I find it adequate for the tasks I ask of it. Looks good in brushed finish too.
 
Heads up folks. I've deleted all the inappropriate vendor references in this thread.

Only vendors that are Blade Forum Dealer Members are allowed to be mentioned in the threads. The dealer members pay good money and help to financially support this forum. Any mention of non member dealers is free advertising and not fair to the dealer members.

If you are in doubt, there is a list of dealer members here, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/935876-***List-Of-Bladeforums-Dealers***.
Thanks for your cooperation.
 
Case stainless is great stuff for my EDC purposes. I do wish they would bring it up to Bucks standards. Still plenty good enough for me. It really is all about the heat treat, my Case SS knives seem to hold abetter edge than my Boker carbons and my Case carbons are as good as anything out there.
 
I have a like new Queen Canoe in D2. Well, almost like new. The blade looks like it's been used for 50 years because I basically ground it down to nothing trying to sharpen it. Never did succeed. It's dull as a butter knife still. Don't like D2.
 
I prefer CV, but I have no issue at all with TruSharp. I find it on par with Victorinox's stainless, which means it's good stuff in my book.
 
Brasso3 said:
I have a like new Queen Canoe in D2. Well, almost like new. The blade looks like it's been used for 50 years because I basically ground it down to nothing trying to sharpen it. Never did succeed. It's dull as a butter knife still. Don't like D2.
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It's straightforward with a guided system.
 
Brasso3 said:
I have a like new Queen Canoe in D2. Well, almost like new. The blade looks like it's been used for 50 years because I basically ground it down to nothing trying to sharpen it. Never did succeed. It's dull as a butter knife still. Don't like D2.
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Get the Lansky Diamond kit. My D2 Whittler will shave dry. Its wicked sharp!...all blades!
 
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