Making the case for Case knives...

[ThatDamnSasquatch]

Moved from the "Whatever" thread by John's request so people can post pictures of their Case makes/models


Question for the JK fans, as this is really about the only place I talk knives/blades with anyone.

I have never owned a Case pocketknife, and I was wondering if any Case fans could expound on the quality and draw that leads one to become a follower/fan of Case knives. I've researched the brand history, and I understand their business, but having only handled one Case knife in my life, and not recalling it well as it was years back, I just wanted to know what others thoughts were on them.

I like the allure of "your grandfather's pocketknife" and something you can hand down that was made with pride in the USA, but I just didn't know if anyone had anything more than that to say about them. Blade quality? Build quality? Etc..? I'm considering buying one just to try them out, but didn't know if there were suggestions on models or if they were worth the time.

I like the Texas Toothpick series, as well as the Medium Stockman and Seahorse Whittlers.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JK Knives]

I'll post a few pictures tomorrow, I think quite a few of us here like Case knives. I only have 7 or 8, but I like them.

 

[mqqn]

I like Case knives, and I have had good experience with them in terms of quality.

For a time in the 90's I collected Trappers, and I still have a number of nice Case knives.

Apaloosa bone mini trapper

Case trapper with synthetic Burlwood scales

Green apaloosa peanut -

Brown bone trapper - I think I traded this one to John -

Red bone trapper rescaled by M. Hoover in pictured jasper.

Yellow delrin butterbean (won here in a contest run by Rob Thomason) -

Red bone humpback whittler -

Red pocketworn bone small pen (one of my favorite treatments...)

Red Pocketworn mini Texas Toothpick - I keep this one by my chair on the end table - great little knife! It was a gift from a secret santa from California I believe in the 2013 JK Christmas Exchange (thanks again to whoever sent it to me!! )

Deep canyon bone swayback jack -

Finally - I have this old Case kitchen knife that was in my mother in law's kitchen when we cleaned it out.

So - yea, I like them. Not all of them are going to be perfect, they are produced in mass numbers and are not terribly expensive.

best

mqqn

 

[RGrizzleLeather]

To me, Case knives are just classics and are the type of knives I grew up with. I also like that they are USA made. I usually prefer the single blade patterns like the Sod Buster, Cheetah and Copperlock because they are easier to open.

I have carried a knife of some sort for about as long as I can remember and when I was a kid, I didn't know what a tactical folder was. About as close as I ever came to a tactical knife back then was what we called a " One Arm Bandit ". When I was growing up carrying a knife even at school was pretty much normal and nobody thought much about it. They were just tools. We even had a teacher that was real good at sharpening with a stone and all the boys would have him sharpen their knives. Back then I carried knives like Case, Old Timer, Uncle Henry and Parker. Don't get me wrong, I still like an easy open knife with a pocket clip but there is just something about the classics.

As far as quality, I own and have owned a few Case knives over the years and I have always been happy with them. I do prefer the CV steel over their SS and wish they offered it in more patterns/handle material. I think the Sod Buster and Jr are one of the best folders out there for the money. I keep a Sodbuster on my work bench and use it all the time.

Here is a Red Bone mini Copperlock in CV I got not long ago. I really like how thin this one is.

 

[Rebel Nimrod]

I've only been using Case knives about 39 years or so now, so maybe a rookie to some of these guys. Got my first real knife when I was 11, a Case folding hunter my dad gave me, kind of a rite of passage I guess. I sure did love that thing...still do, it's over on my dresser! He made me a simple belt sheath so I wouldn't lose it, must have worked. They make very good knives, not the most modern powdered steels and titanium, but nice classic warm knives that function well and look better the more they are carried and worn....just feels right like a knife should. If you have a collector gene though, don't even get started on them, their is no bottom to that well!
That medium stockman would be a good place to start or if you like a larger knife the trapper is probably the most popular. Something for the office or church maybe a peanut, amazing what you can do with one. Sorry I don't have any pictures right now. I think you would be happy with Case if you find the model that fits you and your lifestyle, good luck!

 

[mobenzowner]

I grew up in a rural area that was far from affluent. Everyone's knife there was a work knife. The vast majority carried either an Old Timer of some sort or a Case Stockman or Trapper. It seems the folks slightly more well to do had Cases and those a bit less fortunate had Old Timers as they were some bit cheaper. Mine was an Old Timer so when I got where I could have either, I got a few Cases. Still have an affinity for the old USA made Old Timers however.

 

[JK Knives]

 

[mykel m]

I can't recommend Case after they did this to my little peanut when I sent it in to have the proud spring lowered and the sharp headed pins for the bail smoothed down.
The spring is still a bit proud and they somehow bowed the scales causing the huge gaps.(Looks like they pinched the bolsters???)
I was so disgusted with the service that I haven't returned it to be fixed.
Someday I will, I just can't get the sour taste from my first dealing with them out of my mouth yet.:barf:

Beautiful little nut, but that taste still lingers......

Get a GEC if you want real quality out of the box/tube.At most you'll have to sharpen it.
Like many manufactures, the sharpening is hit and miss with GEC, but the fit and finish is far beyond the big number manufacturers and you'll have a true heirloom knife to pass down.

 

[JK Knives]

That's why I suggest handling it before you buy! I always get mine from old hardware stores, but Bass Pro has a good selection. I've had one Gec, the one with the cap lifter, was not that impressed for the price, but it may have been the exception, I no longer have it.

 

[ThatDamnSasquatch]

I just watched the 3 video series on the factory walk-through that GEC did, and I have to say that I really enjoyed seeing their process from start to finish. I like their color ways a lot as well. I have one full scale Case dealer here in town that I am going to try to sneak over to at lunch and look around. I want to handle some of the GEC knives as well if I can find them, as the F&F seem to be outstanding from what I can see without having one in my hand.

 

[mqqn]

I just watched the 3 video series on the factory walk-through that GEC did, and I have to say that I really enjoyed seeing their process from start to finish. I like their color ways a lot as well. I have one full scale Case dealer here in town that I am going to try to sneak over to at lunch and look around. I want to handle some of the GEC knives as well if I can find them, as the F&F seem to be outstanding from what I can see without having one in my hand.

I saw your mention and went to watch the tour myself - that was awesome!!

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best

mqqn

 

[JK Knives]

Several USA made alternatives.

From left to right, Schrade Old Timer 34OT (carbon steel), Schrade Uncle Henry 897UH (stainless), Buck 303 Chairman Series (stainless)

 

[YoungCurmudgeon]

I think that, like all mass produced widgets, fit & finish on Case knives can run the gamut from exceptional to "why was this abomination allowed to escape". Getting your eyes and hands on a particular knife before buying is a great approach. That is what I did with my peanut. Went to a Master Dealer and bought the one that suited me.


A couple of weeks ago I took a chance on an older Case knife on an online auction.


As you can see it's not perfect; there are gaps between the liners and the spring. But I like this model, we share a year of birth, and due to the imperfections it's not a showpiece and I don't mind subjecting it to the rigors of everyday carry/use.

 

[B JACKSON]

I recently purchased a Farm & Field Bull Buster #215114 with Nifebrite scales and the darn thing is so absolutely perfect and beautiful (to me) that I can not bring myself to use it! I do not own ANY OTHER NON-USER knives, guns or fishing gear, so this has me baffled!

However, if Case would make a liner lock, full size Sodbuster in CV, I would trade

 

[JK Knives]

Or go with a true American Classic, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter.

Top to bottom, very early model, mid years model, current model.



The 2014 50th Anniversary model (these are still in most stores)



For total class, get one from the Buck Custom Shop. Available in high end steels, sweet handles, and engraving. From top to bottom, orangewood, indigo, and oak, all in premium steels, nickel bolsters, and engraved.

 

[Rebel Nimrod]

Nice bucks! Or he could really step it up to the finest production knives ever made (IMO), the Tony Bose Case annual series!

 

[ThatDamnSasquatch]

So I impulse purchased a couple from a local Case dealer I snuck off to after work. You're absolutely right when you say that you need to look at the EXACT knife you're considering, as I scrounged through around six knives from the case before I found two whose F&F were close to perfect.

However, I have become slightly obsessed with GEC knives and plan on finding the exact EDC I'd like to have from them and making that my "tax return gift" to myself.