Just my opinion, YMMV, but I think Case is a step up in finish from a Schrade Old Timer or Uncle Henry. But the old Schrade-Walden's were right up there with them.
As far as Queen and S&M, its touch and go. When they get it right, Queens are great fit and finish, but sometimes you can get a nail breaker, or a dull one that takes alot of work to "get it there". They are not as consistant as Case.
Eye Brands are very nice knives. I had one of thier stag stockman's and it was a beautifull knife, great finish, smooth operation, and held and edge very good. My nephew has the knife now. The nicer Eye-Brands are about up there with Case, but the working knives like the sodbusters are a little rougher. Looking at my yellow Case soddie next to my yellow Eye-Brand soddie, the Case is smoother finished, brass liners compared to the steel liners and some gaps here and there on the German knife. But the Eye-Brand soddie is just as rugged as the Case, has a heck of a spring with great snap.
I guess what I like about Case is they are an old line American company, and have great customer relations. Some years ago I sent them my dad's old brown bone peanut he bought in 1937. It was in worn condition with a cracked handle scale and main blade worn 50%. Case did a great job putting in a new main blade and replacing the cracked scale to the point of somehow matching the old faded brown dye very closely. I've been edc'ing the knife on and off, and now the main blade has developed a nice grey patina, you can't tell the knife was ever worked on. Still has crisp walk and talk. A wonderful lady named Shirley was my contact.
Since then I have really loved Case. You don't just get traditional knives, you get traditional service, with a real live person to talk to.
