Opinions on Case Russlocks?

A

Aaron_Jones

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Mar 4, 2017
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Been thinking about purchasing a russlock. I always wanted a locking case like a copperlock or trapperlock but the russlock's big friction-folderesque tang and linerlock appealed to me. Just looking for opinions on the application, aesthetic, and quality of a russlock before I pull the trigger on one... Also, what are your favorite inlays/handle material? I am a personal fan of Case's amber bone and bermuda green collections. Anything on Russlocks is appreciated in this thread! Thanks!
 
In my experience, it's a bit trying to master opening that thing one-handed.

What are you planning on using this pocketknife for? My understanding is that linerlocks are the least "reliable" locking method (although this is all relative). If it's just everyday carry and general use you'd be good though.

If you're doing heavier cutting with it I'd suggest looking at different locking methods. Case doesn't make a frame lock that I'm aware of so the next best is a lock back or midlock.
 
I have a few, and one of them was my EDC for a few years. I still carry it from time to time.

I agree with TedderX above that liner locks aren't the best locks, but I've never had any issues. I don't puncture car hoods or chop ice blocks with it, but I've put it through reasonable paces without concern.

The flipper definitely was awkward at first to be honest, but once you practice, it becomes second nature. I use this anytime I know I will only have one hand to open the knife- no need for moderns. There's a few that even have pocket clips if you prefer that.

I have a natural bone with red shield (my favorite & EDC), black bone, dark red...maybe 2 or 3 more. All clip points. I don't think I like the drop points, but have never handled one. I'd say out if the 8 or so I've ever owned, about half have had poor centering - if you care about such things. I don't as long as it doesn't affect function.

I'll share a photo if I get a chance to take them out tomorrow. It's one of my favorite Case patterns.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
This knife was the start of a great friendship for me here on the Porch so I have an emotional attachment to it but I will try to not be biased. Neal70 gifted this knife to me and we have since become good friends.

First in appearance the stag is exceptional, side to side it is very closely matched both in color and thickness. I have come to the conclusion that I don't like the looks of the lever or "tail". At first I thought they were cool but after really looking at it good to me it just looks weird. I did have a concern of it getting caught on my pocket but I have not had that happen not to say it couldn't just that it hasn't to me.

Fit and finish on mine is okay blade is a little to the mark side but doesn't rub, small gap between spine and liner.

Steel is typical Case stainless very easy to sharpen with decent edge retention. The blade grind is actually very good on mine.

Like most everyone else my one hand opening experience is with modern folders and this knife doesn't really compare to the ease of opening something like Spyderco. There is a bit of a learning curve and IMO it will always be a bit hard to operate as a one hander just from the fact it's slipjoint with a fairly stiff back spring.

The lock works fine and does give you a bit more security from fold up accidents during use where a lot of pressure is required those seem always to result in a bloody finger.

All said it is a good hardy knife I feel would be very effective as an EDC. I would probably never buy another one but the one I have has great sentimental value to me because of the fact it was a gift from my good friend Neal and will never be for sale at any price.


 
Other than the looks of the thing, it's surprisingly useful and ergonomic once you get used to the opening process. I have four of them, I think. Two with the clip blade, and two with the drop point. I prefer the clip blade.

Because of the way I hold it to open it, I definitely recommend a jigged bone with some grip to it. I find this Amber Bone to be ideal for that - the jigging is nice and crisp.



Here's my opening procedure - starting with the knife held in the curled fingers - the thumb rolls back over the bolster, like that lever is a sprig of hair sticking up and you are using your thumb to slick it down, rotating over the top. The spine of the knife swings past the heel of your thumb. The knife ends up open with the edge up, and then a quick roll of it in your fingers and it is edge down ready for use.

After you have practiced it a little, it will open with no effort and without looking at it.

Starting:


Mid open. At this point the knife is held primarily by the grip of the pinky and ring fingers:


Rolled into place - thumb naturally hits the flat spot on the back of the blade, front finger tends to go into the "choil" area.


That choil area on the blade also completely protects your thumb when closing it using the liner lock. The blade will close half-way and then stop against your thumb in the broad, flat, choil. (It's not really a choil, it's the flat part of the tang there. The choil is that little notch in front of it).

I should have videoed it but I was holding the phone in one hand and opening the knife with the other one.

It's really a clever design that works, but it's ugly. Kind of like those modern knives with the holes - ugly but functional.
 
I used to carry the knife in that photo spread a lot. I really liked it. Curse of too many knives, I guess. I should let it out of the penalty box and back into the pocket.

r redden said:
Good post John. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I try now and then, Randy. I love me some GEC knives but I guess I'm a Case man at heart. Most of the time I don't have much of value to add here unless someone throws me a pitch right up there in the strike zone. Russlocks I can talk about. ;)
 
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I have two, a clip point and drop point. They are both excellent knives although they don't get carried too often. I have a different method of opening the Russlock. I have large hands which always made it difficult to open it the way John demonstrated. I just pushed the tail against my leg and rolled it open.
 
I have a clip point and drop point and prefer the looks of the drop point. If you don't like the lever for opening, the drop point blade at least has enough room where you could open it by pinching the blade.
 
Great tutorial John.
Not wanting to blow my own trumpet or boast on about how good I am but I did do a video of mysrlf opening one each hand simultaneously....it was easy.
:yawn:
:rolleyes:
Lots of love for the Russlocks
 
I had two at one time but ended up selling one and gifting the other. My complaint was that when closed, the lever would wear holes in my pocket. I almost lost one that had worked its way through the hole. That's when I ended up getting rid of them.
 
Yeah I have one of each (drop and clip), have owned them for a long time now, and open them the same way as the above without issues. Just takes some practice.
One thing about them is the locks seem to go all the way over to the other liner. From what I have seen/read, this would be found totally unacceptable in the modern folder world. But in the context of more traditional folders, which generally don't have any washers or bearings seperating the blade from the liners, I find it totally acceptable and perhaps more secure from failing or lock slip.
 
In the modern folder world, the lockbar holds the blade open. On the Russlock, the backspring holds the blade open, so where the locking tab sits is pretty much irrelevant as long as it gets in the way of closing the blade.
 
I think they may just not rub a lot of traditionalists in a good way. But I like them quite well. As much as I like the aesthetics of traditionals, the functionality of one hand opening cannot be denied, and that can be hard to come by among "traditional" knives.

I currently have two, a shield-less chestnut bone version and a G-10 handled Carhartt model. The Carhartt one especially is very appealing, with a smoother action and more positive feel and lockup. along with brushed stainless bolsters and the "as ground" blade finish, it feels like a really exemplary sample of Case's abilities.

The pattern is one I think is not only often overlooked by enthusiasts, but I think would be nice to be taken up by other manufacturers. I'd also kind of like seeing Case to one without the liner lock. One hand opening slipjoint is something that really appeals to me with some modern knives.
 
In the world of Case knife collectors, there seems to be a lot of interest in the pattern. Or at least that's how it was during the time I was a member of the Case Collector's Club. That's why Case keeps it around and releases it in a lot of handle materials. At one large Case dealer, there are 104 different Russlock variations available to order as of when I just now checked.

The forum culture here may only partially overlap with Case's overall target market. We seem to lean more towards carry-and-use, and other brands than Case.

I remember on the Case Collector Club forum there was a thread about "what Case did you carry today" and several of the responses were "you mean you actually CARRY your knives?" or one guy who owned probably 500 knives carried nothing but a yellow Delrin trapper for the previous 20 years. Many of them carried a Case/Bose collab or had a rotation of 3 or 4 Case/Bose but their general production Case knives were for collecting, trading, and display only.

I remember some wise poster around here musing at the fact that Case makes decent affordable user knives that people buy to collect and display, while GEC makes beautiful collector's pieces that people buy to carry and use, and he couldn't quite figure out why that was.
 
I absolutely think you should try a russlock. I can go either way with a lock, but a one hand opening traditional knife that actually looks traditional is very cool to me. Obviously it's not very comfortable in hand due to the lock, but it's not abrasive or sharp. I hold it kind of sideways so I don't notice the lock sticking up too much. Opening and closing one hand is very easy to get used to, I had it down in a couple minutes. I probably would have never bought one until I received one in a trade and I have become a fan.

The russlock a very interesting and unique design and I would urge anybody to try one out.
 
No doubt about it, the Russlock is different. A local hardware store has a decent Case display, and I know I have seen several Russlocks in it. Maybe next time I go that direction I'll have to pick one up.
 
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