I'm a Case fan. But I definitely appreciate your efforts to keep them on their toes. No reason for customers to have to weed through several knives to make sure they don't get a clunker.
I am a big fan of Case Knives and purchased my first Case pocket knife in 1958. It was Medium Stockman with red bone handles and 3 Carbon Steel blades including a California Clip main blade. I carried that knife every single day for the next 18 years. It held an edge, it always function properly, and it never let me down. I used other knives during this time for hunting, scouting, camping, skinning, cleaning and General Utility. However, the original 1958 Stockman was the best EDC pocket knife, I still have it and I still carry it on occasion. I wish I could tell you that you are mistaken about the quality of modern Case knives. But, as much as it pains me to say this, you are not wrong. Even so, Case has a deep, rich American history and is still the most collectible pocket knife on the planet.
Wayne Eggerman I totally agree with all of that. As a long time buyer, I feel that you all are exactly who Case needs to hear from. We keep getting lower and lower quality while Case and other companies continue to profit. That’s not good for us, the end consumer. That’s a one sided battle that a lot of us help these companies win by defending their cut corners.
Some rough responses! Guys it just his viewpoint and he’s asking for your opinion not an argument. It’s not about winning a debate. Here’s mine. Both Case and especially GEC are marketed to favor the collector not the user. I see this as the big change from knife companies of fifty years or ago longer. The switch from we’re going to produce a knife the consumer will used till it wares out or breaks are gone. I think GEC builds on the model of a better quality knife while still not jumping into mass production on one hand or simi-custom on the other. Case’s model builds on larger scale production with many patterns and new variations all the time. It’s quality reflects the volume. GEC are found almost exclusively on line whereas Case can still be found at hardware stores. Should you expect more from GEC than Case sure. Enjoy everyone’s different viewpoints.
ratride1 Absolutely 👊. I think nostalgia is hard to overcome though and we all want to remember what we used to get in Case Knives. Unfortunately, the reality doesn’t match our memories.
I will carry my Case knives as EDC, but since GEC is so rare in my area, that even though I have been collecting for decades, I've never come across a GEC either on a shelf or for sale (my national mail order companies are ALWAYS sold out). So GEC is a collector's knife, sold out often in hours after release, and almost no one will use as an EDC. SAFE QUEENS BY DEFINITION. Case knives are the knives of our grandfathers, designed to be used. But here is the kicker...SMKW produces the Rough Ryder line of knives...and increasingly the quality coming out of the Rough Ryder line is approaching Case quality, and yes even GEC. And for $10 to $20 dollars per knife. Now that is something to talk about. A Rough Rider "Micarta Work Knife" at $10 is almost equal to a GEC! You check out the knife in question ( sold out at SMKW... I'm not the only one who sees this ) on the website or from reviews on TH-cam. So rant away on GEC'S or Case knives...but watch out, modern users are looking for knives to be put to use, not put in a drawer and drooled and argued over.
I totally agree, I recently traded a case trapper with burnt bone for a large five inch closed rough rider with a cool design that I felt was a better buy. They guy looked at me like I was crazy, but made the trade anyway and threw in a sheath.
I still like Case.For the average Joe who is not a collector the quality is good enough but the price is high.I just wish them using D2 and sharpen them better.
That’s my point. Nobody should have to settle. I don’t think a collector should be the only person that expects a product that looks like the guys on the line cared about what they ship out the door. D2 has a pretty clumpy steel makeup and has been shown to not hold up all that well. Then there’s a lot of it that isn’t heat treated worth a darn. At the end of the day, I just feel like everyone pays their hard earned money for companies, like Case to tell us how great their product is. However, we got it in hand and the edge is manageable at best before you can even look the rest of the knife over. Is a knife without and edge it tip even a knife?
The problem is that Americans think that they're making the best traditional knives in the world.Germany,Italy,Zweden,Japan are making great knives too.The Rough Rider knives made in China are almost as good as Case knives at a fraction of the price.But again:They make great traditional knives in the rest of the world
Erik Ramaekers There is definitely more competition now that probably any time in history. That’s the worst time for a company to lower their historically high, bar setting, standards.
You make a good point. I've purchased a couple lately that I have no issue with, but there's no doubt that the standards aren't what they used to be. If you buy from Case now with any sense of nostalgia, sad to say, I think you're buying for the wrong reason.
JT's Knife Life I’ll be adding another to the purchase list. I’m looking at a Texas Jack as I type this. I need some Case CV to Rockwell test along with the SS I already have and the GEC 1095/stainless I have.
Mine works fine, and I work on a farm. When I got my knife from case it was sharp, out of the box. I put tough work on it, but that was 2016, so I honestly don't know if they are that bad.
Ben Dougharty If I’m being 100% honest and that’s what I always strive to be, that’s the issue. Fine is not industry standard. For arguably 2-3 generations, Case set the standard. Case is now far from the standard. Case has become complacent on people remembering the nostalgia or say the knife is “good enough”. That’s not what W.R. Case and his brothers set out to make or actually brought to fruition for many years.
Your views are spot on and indisputable and i fully agree. I have more cases than GEC but they are older models from the 70s or i hand picked them or just got lucky. Lol. Just go to a store that sells them and see how many you need to go through to pick one out thats done right. .
Yes but WHAT STORE sells them? In the age of Amazon and the internet, the only STORES still out there are Walmart, Target, Lowe's and Home Depot. Dicks doesn't carry them (in at least the branches I have been to), Yes I suppose Bass Pro and Cabela's has them but I am nowhere near there and am not turning a Case selection into a weekend trip where I may have to take a day off work. I'm not being facetious, just please tell me where you can go to look at these things because it would be great to. Hell I have only found one store (a gun store) that I am able to pick from a stock of Benchmade knives, and I still can't find a brick and mortar store that carries Spyderco.
I sure hope Case is listening. I have owned many Case knives over the years. When I was 18 years old my dad gave me a Schrade 8OT and I carried that knife for 40 years. It was so reliable but it finally had been sharpened to the point of having to move on. So, I ordered a Case knife Stockman and the blade pull and back spring was too light. The sheepfoot blade would almost fall open if you turned it upside down. I miss Schrade since they moved to China and I don't want Case to go out of business or move but I would at least like to be able to get one with decent back spring tension. I don't care about gaps or perfectly centered blades I just want it to do it's job without folding up on my fingers. Great video and legitimate concern. Thanks for sharing.
I think Case makes very fine and quality knives. We that said, they're also a mass producing company, which naturally will cause some quality control problems. Now what percent is an acceptable amount? 10%? 20%? More? Case definitely needs to up its quality control to the point that receiving a crapy knife would be a rarity and not a common occurrence.
That’s it. You can’t claim to have world class cutlers working on your knives and Case guys don’t even trust your quality enough to not buy one in person because it has to be inspected before they want to spend money on it. That’s not world class in any regard and if your core canvass feels that way 😬
I realize that I am rather late to the party, but man, such a great video. I'm a big Case fan, but I too am tired of the shabbiness in quality. Your Logic and Argument skills were brilliant. Thank you for the truth.
The level of "quality" that people seem to not only find acceptable these days, but actually defend as good, is pretty sad. If people would dial back the rabid, fan boy mentality that prevails lately and start demanding the quality and craftsmanship commensurate with the often high price tags companies want for their sub par products we would all benefit.
sniper7369 That’s what I’m trying to say. I think we live on nostalgia with brands like Case and we’re not looking at what they’re putting into our hands. We are losing every time we don’t speak up.
Taylor eye witness is a prime example of this as well. People praise them in their reviews, like reality popular reviewers, so you buy one and it's the biggest piece of crap ever. Where did the honesty go?
Well said. Anyone that doesn't agree with you just doesn't know. However, since I don't buy them sight unseen, I walk aways with a beautiful example of pocket jewelry at a spectacular dollar value. Those of us who care know what to look for and I don't mind improving the edge; I actually enjoy working the edge of my knives. To your other point, I think the Case founder would be blown away with the success of his Company but would have to agree quality control needs help. Thanks for your insightful analysis.
At this point you are more likely to get a Case with (lets say) errors. That in and of itself is why some other knife manufacturers charge way less for comparable knives. So why is Case twice or more expensive? You can only live off your past accomplishments for so long. I hope Case sets up and takes notice and takes steps to regain their top spot.
A case knife purchase for my 8 year old son about a year ago is what got me into collecting knives as more than just users. Unfortunately the Case I got him is a massive piece of crap in pretty much every way possible. Looks cool though lol.
bought a yellow handle case twelve years ago and it is as close to perfection as one can be. And when things are hand made there are variations from one to the next.
JD Simons Times change, companies attention to detail changes, and standards drop. With all due respect, pick up 2 or 3 today and see what you get. You will not be happy and it won’t be handmade variation, it will be poor fit and finish. It honestly sucks that the company that used to be the standard for decades has gotten complacent, but that’s the truth.
Alchemy1 I plan to, and after having made some knives myself I know when you nit-pick things apart with "this little gap here" and "this doesnt sit perfectly center" there im sure youll find "poor quality" no matter what. The one ive got doesnt have the nickel pins or the oversized spring pin etc. but none of this ever affected its function it has served now longer than most people keep one in their pocket. Perhaps you're right though. When i look at one i wont buy one i find to be sub standard to me but im not ready to label an entire brand junk yet due to some small details here and there.
JD Simons Do some more reading up on the current company. Even old time Case guys will tell you these aren’t the Case knives of the 60’s and 70’s. The real honest ones will even tell you not to buy one sight unseen. I don’t know if you call that knit picky, but. I’ve also done an entire video where I break down what Case, themselves, say they’re putting out and you can see, what is in hand is not what Case says they’re putting out of their factory. Even the Bose/Case collabs that cost $300+ are hit and miss. It sucks that a company that set the standard for a generation or more have rested on their laurels, but that’s the case. No pun intended.
Been watching your vids for a year. This video made me a subscriber. Don't get me wrong, I like Case knives, but the last one I got, the brass pins were so unfinished that I sat down and sanded them for 20 mins. Don't even get me started on the misaligned spring/torsion bars and the scales. Case needs to step up their game.
A Khan Thank you, sir. It is truly a shame how far they have fallen and the fact that so many want to accept where they are when we know where they have been and could be.
I’m a knife nut and I’m 25yrs old! I’ve had 3 old case knives since as long as I could remember. Just this year I ordered all the new single blade Barlow’s and about another 8 or 9 other single bladed case knives and let me tell you they are completely trash
Andrew Short It’s sad, but the quality is so-so. Even if you get a good one, the edge is just meh and the tip is blunt because of how the knife moves through the process.
Sign of the times. Make it cheaper and faster without passing savings down to consumers. In fact prices continue to rise every year while quality and support go down. It's not just Case knives. GEC makes a good product but they only make them in small batches so good luck finding one in a pattern you like, even on the secondary market.
Sadly true. I don’t know that the small batch thing has been true of GEC since 2010 or before though. However, I guess that all depends on what we’re calling small batch. When they first started they did make runs that had each cover option in the 25-35 piece range. Then they upped it to 100’s for years. Now they’re running 4K+ piece runs. Everyone complained and they have upped and upped the numbers constantly. The downside (and what I told everyone they better be sure they know what they’re asking for) is that higher total numbers each run means WAY fewer patterns each year. Now people are staring to complain about that. They and most knife companies cannot win. We say black, they make black, and we say why isn’t there more white 😂😂😂🤷♂️. Just my opinion.
I quite agree with you. Sad to say that in some cases the Chinese do it better. Some of the problem lays with the retailers. It is not for me, as the purchaser, to take up issues with the manufacturer. If I am not happy with a product I throw it back to the retailer and tell them them to replace the item or return my money. If enough retailers complained or cancelled their orders with the manufacturer then things might change. Here, in the UK, I have no choice but to buy my Case knives on line as there are no local retailers. I thought Case would not ship sub-standard knives to Europe because I thought they valued their World-wide reputation. I was wrong. I had issues with my first Case knife. My message is "don't accept crap and tell your retailers that they shouldn't sell crap either".
I have been a Case Collectors Club Life Member since 2001. Of all the Case knives I have bought, only one prompted me to return it. It had been improperly stored by the retailer and had suffered damage due to excessive humidity. I returned it to the retailer. The retailer replaced it with a perfectly good knife of the same type. My collection comprises quite a few knives and they are of uniformly high quality. I am sorry to hear that others have suffered bad luck in this regard.
I have bought only 2 Case knives and both of them had QC issues. I was able to fix those issues myself, but neither of them should have ever passed inspection from the factory, which I why I searched this video.
Casey Rand I agree. I think that’s often the takeaway when we talk about knives, but that is an impossibility. I had this conversation with a buddy that has no problem paying $900 for a Norseman that’s 100% CNC made because he’s looking for perfection. I’ve owned knives from $1450 to souvenir knives. I haven’t seen a perfect knife yet and that’s because no man made item is going to be perfect. GEC definitely went through a rough patch in 2016 and 2017. Where I can’t agree is that the consistency and level of issue is equal from one brand to another. Even during their bad years. Case knives don’t have a tip and they look like they’ve been sharpened on the sidewalk by someone learning how to sharpen and that’s all of the production knives. It’s a function of the way they choose to process and finish their knives. The other issues may vary in frequency and type, but the other two are a constant. Even taking away the constant issues, I would still disagree that the other issues (centering, gaps, etc) are equal from brand to brand. Now the default argument for that is one costs $60 and the other $100. I say, I’ll pay more for a more consistent knife.
@@Alumapro23 Well said. I've got well over 200 GEC knives from 2006 through 2016.......the comparison to Case issues is nearly non-existent. Quite frankly, Case sucks.
I know I'm late here, but let me tell you something, I've been buying GEC knives for a long time now, and have well over 200 of them currently ( I sold some a few years back, and yes, I DO have 9 of em I EDC regularly, aside from my massive collection )...........GEC's made from every year, up to 2016......and I have never, EVER.......seen the issues in any of my GEC knives that are found on most modern Case knives. ( blade rap on certain patterns of GEC's because novices slam the blades shut on knives with strong springs........knives made 150 yrs ago would do the same thing) Furthermore, Bill Howard himself said it best: "There is no such thing as the perfect factory made knife". Far too many clueless people expect a GEC knife to be on par with custom-made folders costing a thousand dollars or more. A SLIGHT BLADE RUB MARK ON PATTERNS LIKE A WHITTLER, CONGRESS, OR STOCKMAN IS TO BE EXPECTED ON MANY BRANDS, INCLUDING GEC, AND EVEN THE BEST PRODUCTION KNIVES EVER MADE GOING BACK 175 YEARS. That goes for the best American makers AND great old knives made in Germany & Sheffield England. I HAVE ALSO BOUGHT MANY VINTAGE CASE KNIVES AND A FEW NEWER ONES, INCLUDING THE TONY BOSE COLLABORATION KNIVES, AND THE AVERAGE GEC BLOWS THEM AWAY IN FIT & FINISH, HANDS DOWN. I've only ever had to send back 2 GEC knives for repair: one with a loose shield and the other with a thin bone handle at the butt end. THAT'S IT, OUT OF NEARLY 300. Lastly, I'm 58 yrs old, and been carrying pocket knives since I was 6 yrs old, I KNOW THESE KNIVES. I've got fantastic old knives from Sheffield & the New York Knife Co. that are close to 165 yrs old. So I've EARNED the knowledge AND the Right to get pretty dismayed every time I see or hear someone making bogus claims about "multiple GEC knives with similar problems as modern Case knives". Sorry, but time and again, I call BS on that. You can see many of my GEC ( and others ) knives in my collaboration videos in the "Traditional Knives Anthology" series with Rob, at his youtube channel: "TheApostleP". I'm almost finished with written material & history to make 2 more videos about some of my antique folders as well as some older GEC knives, to post on Rob's channel.
For those that do love case knives I say to each is own but I don't personally care for them because the quality has deminished exponentially over the years and you get what you pay for. Other then that tho a 2 hand knife doesn't work for me in my line of work. Thanks for the video and the insight on case as a company.
Bennny Bustdown Thanks for the view and the comment. I think we need to have these conversations because more and more companies are doing this to us and we keep letting them slide/making excuses for them. This only hurts us. We keep getting lower and lower quality products and the companies keep on maximizing their bottom line. We lose and they win.
Schwinn used to build the Stingray. Colt used to build the 357 Python. Things change in 100 years. Everything is getting homogenized in terms of consumer products. Quality means different things now.
Reminds me of how Gerber does business. Both Case and Gerber are relying on their namesake. Both companies are a victim of their own success and neither has done anything worth mentioning in the knife world for years. There are so many other manufacturers that are putting out a better knife for equal or less than what Gerber's and Case's knives cost.
Anthony Waldrep We need to be expressing this to companies across the board. We keep taking whatever companies will put in our hands and we keep on losing. Case is far from the only one following this strategy. It’s sad that our standards as knife guys just gets lower and lower and we keep moving forward without a peep.
@@Alumapro23 I agree and I've stopped buying Gerber just because of how terrible the fit and finish is on their knives. Most US knife manufacturers seem to have much lower standards than overseas companies. The US market is also lagging behind. Look at how many overseas companies are putting bearings on sub $50 knives that are smoother than any ZT I've ever owned or played with and they cost 3 to 4 times the amount
I have a great deal of respect, that being said I just purchased with minimal research a half dozen Case Knives as a means to determine if they might be a secondary brand to GEC for collect ability, after hearing your thoughts on Case I am setting my expectations even lower than I had previously. My desire to try the case brand was brought on by my frustration as a new collector with the availability of GEC and the ridiculous prices I have encountered on the secondary market. As I said not much research was put into my decision to buy some Case knives but as an impulsive individual I often go down this road with some wins and some looses so I thank you for making this video and most other of your videos I find very insightful to a collector transitioning from modern day flippers to traditional slip joint knives from thus far GEC and now Case. Cheers!
@@Alumapro23 I am very pleased to tell you the first 3 Case knives exceeded my expectations for fit and finish and just having an overall appeal. I purchased the Barlow saw cut and a trapper in the same finish, also a 2300 amber pocket worn trapper that was very nice but a tad bit to slick for my taste. Of the 6 blades 3 were a bit off center which I can easily forgive on a otherwise near perfect knife. The snap was also pleasing so I would say all is good and I look very forward to the next 3 yet to arrive. I think it is already clearly established in my mind that Case will never stack up to a GEC but they are surly giving it an honest try buy my initial experience. Cheers!
I hear you. There is certainly stuff that is still great about Case, and some new things that Case has going on that are great, too. But there are these things that plain and simple suck when compared to knives from decades long passed. You cannot look at the glued in shields that often fall off within days of purchase, and say, 'Oh yeah, not the same, but certainly similar to the olden days, just as good, nay!, better since innovative.' And I like Case; vintage sure, new? Yes sure (if cherry-picked that is).
MJFallout That’s what I’m saying. We’re living more on nostalgia than the product our grandfathers handed down to us, what W.R. Case envisioned, and what Case claims they’re providing us. “Works of Art” from “some of the best cutlers in the business” that have to be cherry picked 🤔
I couldn’t agree more! I have had so many quality issues... truly sad. They haven’t innovated since the 1880s. Their heat treat on their stainless is terrible and they still have mystery steel... totally unacceptable!
@@Alumapro23 I couldn't agree more... and it's not like they are exactly cheap. I recently purchased one of the zytel stockman knives and the back springs were all over the place... and they told me it was acceptable per their QC.
Chris Reuther That’s insane, but they have a crowd that is blindly loyal and will lay a verbal onslaught on anyone that speaks the truth. They have no reason to change.
I won’t argue with your premise. Ibuy Case knives because I love the American history and…because I can easily get them. I would love to get some GECs but they are just too difficult to get. GEC limits its production numbers and that’s a fine business model to ensure the rarity of your products but it doesn’t ensure that GEC knives get into the hands of more Americans. I don’t have the time to jump on a GEC drop just so I can get a knife before they are all sold in the first 5 minutes.
I don’t know what’s gone on with GEC. They got tired of the supply complaints and went to 5K+ knife runs and since COVID, they’ve gone back to smaller numbers. I wonder if things will change again 🤷♂️
That’s excellent. Hopefully they have upped quality. They’ll still need to fix that no tip issue. Just can’t run the blank through processing without a little bit of material left so there’s a tip to grind when they sharpen the knife.
As a red blooded American, I'm going to make a comment that surely some will find controversial. @ 60 yo, automotive and HVAC tech, I'm finding more often than not, QC is subpar. The pride workers used to take has virtually disappeared. Corporate America and the CEOs have all but killed the USA workers over their greed. Once that pride is gone, how can you possibly "make America great again". That's purely my personal experiences with the vast majority of American manufacturing, save few that are family run businesses and very few others in addition. It's a sad state of affairs for our grandchildren. Thanks for the video Clint. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
💯👏. I’m not that old, but the saying “they don’t make them like they used to”, didn’t pop up out of no where. Even in my time here I’ve seen a decline in things. I’ve even heard manufacturers use the term “planned obsolescence” (speaking about items in general now). Hahaha! You can’t even get a good glass of soda now.
@@Alumapro23 Yes sir, it's really a shame too. FYI, I sub ur TH-cam and also follow on Instagram @djmblades. We have some common friends. Thank you for the "reveals" that you're posting and doing vids on here. Just sent 4 knives to Kurt for hrc. A couple of Spyderco's that aren't on the charts yet, Manix 2 CF 4v, Bradley 2 m4 and that one police 4 k390 with something unknown on the blade. PMI scan hopefully says what it is. But really, I appreciate your candid exposures on these companies. Strength in numbers sir. 😳😳😳😳
I personally don’t give a darn about the fit and finish very much unless it has and insane amount of wobble or giant gaps on both sides otherwise I don’t care I’ll use my knife until I can’t. It still cuts so I’m happy
Alchemy_1 I have a local hardware shop what gives pretty good discounts on case knives I just got a brand new case canoe in cv steel for 45$ and the fit in finish on it is actually quite close to perfect the only imperfection is a slight blade play on the main spear point blade but that doesn’t bother me it still cuts just fine
Case cutlery Kid I see people say this. Very few, but usually in these comments sections. I always ask for video. Nobody has posted one yet. I’ll also say that people tend to only buy when they can see these knives before buying too. Like buying from a local hardware store.
Also, i dont know why they dont have patterns people would really want. Like a mid sized lockback barlow or a larger canoe pattern. I dont even love many of their patterns myself
You should make a video of you actually buying and getting a gec knife that you really want. Good luck. I got notify me when available tabs all over the country for years.LOL
love Case have several but totally agree fit finish and quality is not what it once was. You really have to spend a lot more these days if you want something of top quality. Benchmade Is a knife company I really like and I think they are up to good standards unfortunately they don't do any traditional folders like these but then again that's not what benchmade is about. I like the carbon steel case knives you just have to clean them more often. totally agree point being
Wes Griffin No reason we can’t tell Case that we want better, even if it comes with a price increase. Letting them slide only gives us worse and worse quality.
Case like many older companies are now just doing away with quality, and living off the name they made in the past. It’s sad because my great great grandfather, great grandfather and my grandpa carried a Case. My grandpa carried a yellow trapper for as long as I can remember. He used it for everything. Case is losing their reputation sadly. Hopefully they do a 180!
Case quality is definitely hit or miss. I have a mini trapper that would rival anything GEC produces, but my mini copperlock falls short in the quality department. Being in quality control myself, my guess is they're getting lazy at following their own stated standards.
I am a GEC single blade collector. My GEC#44 knives are rarely used. Seven pull or more ,I have to use my feet and a CASE XX blade pick. The GEC#92 & #86 Jack knives have been a real treat for me. A GEC Trapper will be made for 2020 in the first quarter. Many Club/Forum knives will be made in the Trapper pattern. New or Old Trapper pattern is anybody's guess. I renewed my Oregon club membership. I need to join Allegheny Mountain knife club next week , when I get some more bones. I got a pre-order on the #62 Camel bone Easy Pocket Congress knife. I need a few more #86 Oil Field Jacks and a mess of GEC 2020 Trappers. I got a plan. No Custom Fixed blade , CASE XX ,or EBAY knives for a while.
I could still justify buying a case, even agreeing 100% with every point made in this video. I really do think it's a shame, given I have had Cases with worse finish than my Rough Ryders, but there are some that I've gotten with near perfect tolerances. They are capable of producing a quality knife. Not to say they don't need to step their game way way up--after all, Rough Ryder can also produce a quality knife. The problem must be me, that I would pay stupid money for a roll of the dice I suppose. Not to mention, I still can't get my hands on a Case that was sharp out of the box.
From videos I have seen on Case knives they look nice , however the quality is only slightly better than Rough Rider , Marbles or Queen knives. Though they cost double or more in price, I like they are made in the USA but they need to improve on quality in the finishing process not just crank out on assembly for mass profit. Yes GEC knives are the best slip joints I own and their fixed blades are high quality too. This makes GEC highly sought after and also difficult to buy when they drop on sale. Only the Tony Bose Case knives have higher quality but also at a very high price.
I think its a fair assessment I like Case but I do think they took a step back. They aren't as collectable now that they push a large amount of product which has definitely made their quality standards lower. Get GEC to pump that amount of knives and I'd bet their quality would be on par. Case has earned all their criticism but if GEC had to throttle up production would they really have the same standard
I'd say it's just a reflection of the lack of skilled craftsmen available in the market today. That and Americans love their fast food. Results of a debt based society that just wants it now but doesn't want to work for it. The government has everything so backwards it's amazing they can keep the doors open
Maybe I've been lucky, but I bought 3 and they're all perfect. I get the Delrin models, because the various bone models are for collecting. $45-$65 is a good price for the made in USA label and the extra polish above the Chinese competitors. If Rough Ryders were made in the US, I'd pay a little less, but I'd buy them.
Quality, Speed, Price. Pick two. Scaling production over 100 years through many changes in ownership and that ownership’s vision is a tough road to hoe. Compared to most other American brands today Case’s claims hold up...but what they are comparing them to doesn’t have the same standards as GEC. Zippo (parent company) cares enough about quality to make sure they are good enough compared to the other stuff out there at lower price points...but that’s where it ends. GEC has been able to scale in real time over the past, what 15 years? They haven’t had to navigate the same minefield of business issues of a 100+ year old company. What are the production number comparisons? All this to say your video is spot on, but there are reasons. Reasons that Mr Case couldn’t have predicted or controlled...he wouldn’t be proud of the quality, but he might be proud at how many people buy and carry his knives, how many people have been employed by his company, that his company is still around, and his bank account balance. Quality, Speed, Price. Pick two.
ETA: Their slogan should be something like “tradition at an affordable price.” Pay homage to your history, but don’t lie to your customers. I don’t expect your marketing campaign to be “average quality traditional knives” but be smart about it.
Thinking Pistol That I could buy. They are selling and trying to appeal to nostalgia. I also think a man’s name used to mean something. Before we were all about bigger homes and fancier cars. I don’t know that a man with integrity would sacrifice his namesake for profit. All speculation. The gentleman has passed on many years ago, but the older generation I know and have known had way different values than we do now.
There is no question that quality has gone downhill at WR Case And Sons. The only thing I can say SOMEWHAT, in their defense, is that they are competing with companies that have fooled a lot of people. If you think that a case knife, or rough ryder, or old timer or whatever can’t cut the same thing that your plastic handled spyderco cuts, which you paid $180 for because the blade is “blah blah super steel”, then you’re part of the problem.
I bought a CASE XX Trapper-lock Kickstart 2019 CCC Antique Autumn jigged bone knife. My fastest opening traditional pocket knife with no blade rattle or play. My 2018 Mid Hunter Kickstart red bone CV was a blade rattling piece of crap. CASE XX fixed the rattling , but the knife opens slower and not fully. The CASE XX Trapper-lock Kickstart is a wonderful fidget toy. I can't stop playing with it. I own a ton of GEC ,CASE XX , Schatt & Morgan , Boker Solingen , and other USA made knives. I have never sold or traded a knife in my like. I will give a knife away to the deserving. GEC knives work best for one arm , left hand me.
Very good video. You are definitely correct covering always buy a case knife in person. They make great products but slip on quality regularly. I just ordered a new case and found 3 problems I wasn’t happy with.
I purchased a Case knife for $50 in 2018 and the blade was bent out of the box. It was only a slight bend, and I still use the knife because it works fine and looks good, but the fact that a bent blade was allowed to pass QC is mind boggling. Do they not have any machines that check tolerances before they ship knives?
I’m not sure of their full QC process, but they rely on people’s love for the brand and the fact that they can “just send it in for warranty and Case will take care of you”. I’ve never understood that logic on lots of levels. If for no other reason, one of the biggest reasons guys buy Case is because of budget. It makes no sense to me to buy a $50-$60 knife and then spend $7-$8 to mail the knife back and whatever they’re going to charge to ship the knife back to me. Even just me shipping the knife to Case is over 10% of the cost of the knife. 🤷♂️
Wow. You out the nail right in the shield. I haven't purchased a new case knife in over a year because this is the unfortunate situation. Literally something has been wrong with every case knife I have ordered sight unseen. And that's another issue, since the explosion of the internet, most of us have no way of going into a store to handle these knives before buying. I have no store near me, nor have I ever even been to a store that carries Case knives to begin with. I look back on my collection, and though I like all or most of the Case knives I have, around 30% are flawless. NO I AM NOT NIT PICKING. They have become show pieces to look at but not too close. Sure I love the colors and the sparkle, but the fact is that the majority of the Case knives I own have very obvious problems that are not nit-picky micro-tolerance issues. Gritty action, terrible centering, blade-rub on multi blade models (or even single blades on the liners), hideously uneven grinds that look like they are sharpened by someone who is learning, some even recurved, bad tips on the blades, very few of them are actually hair shaving sharp, some have fit and finish issues so glaring (hold them up and one scale is obviously wider and more rounded than the other-- you'd think that surely someone could see that these knives are not symmetrical), cracks in bone from bad tolerance when putting pins in, covers with jig patterns that don't match (when I called about this one I was told that this was the way they come out of the factory and it was normal to have variation in matching of the covers. If I get sawcut bone going vertical or diagonal one one cover I don't want it to go horizontal on the other cover). There obviously should be no "natural variation." A trained monkey could look and see one thing is different than the other before giving approval for a knife to go out. What they are really saying is that they accept this problem (among others) as part of their manufacturing process, and you should too. Basically what they say is "you get what you get," and that is the price of being privileged to buy a knife with a Case logo. You accept a flawed knife because it is a Case knife and overlook those flaws. And they don't care. This kind of "oh well..." attitude brings me elsewhere. It's a shame that you have to spend in some cases well over a hundred dollars at GEC to get the same pattern that Case is selling for sixty dollars to have near flawless quality. And GEC knives are very hard to come by in the exact pattern you are looking for after you miss the boat. And after you've missed the boat the secondary market will cost you 300%+ of the original knife's price. I swear they make 30 knives of one pattern a year and 26 buddy-buddy knife collector nerds are immediately notified and then the knives are gone into the vault forever. Buying GEC is very frustrating but you know they are near perfect knives. I guess you have to pay a lot more for perfection or at least good quality control. It seems Case just let's anything out the door. The comparison I make is that when you hold up a Rough Rider knife next to a Case knife, you can tell the difference immediately because one is so much more bad than the other. Now, you take a Case knife and hold it next to a GEC knife, in it is the Case knife that looks obviously flawed. I hate to say it, but I am done with Case. The entire knife community sees that Case is not Case anymore, but Case doesn't care, because they still have a big enough customer base that they can put out crap and basically tell people they don't care because "you are getting the Case name." Mercedes Benz, Cadillac and BMW are terrible in the snow, but you know this and buy them because of the branding. Unrelated but not, I have only ordered one Spyderco unseen (I've ordered all of them unseen) that has had anything remotely if a problem because their reputation for perfection is so good. You can say that they are able to achieve this through technology, but with Case, I say nobody is watching anymore. I've also have never received a poor quality Buck 110 or 112. Why are they able to make flawless models and Case is not? Buck is a smaller operation as well and at least these two models never have any issues. Their Chinese models are garbage but it comes down to quality control. It takes a conscious effort to maintain that.you can now buy too quality Chinese knives with better fit and finish than American made knives (yes they are more expensive) but it's a question of intentionally observing good quality control which Case now doesn't care about. It's very sad, and one day the big elephant in the room is starting to be talked about. Your video is *wonderful* because what you say is what long time Case collectors such as myself have been thinking for years. Thanks for putting this one out. I know there will be comments from die hard Case collectors who have their heads in the sand. But the fact is you shouldn't have to cherry pick through a trusted dealer, or order with the expectation that you will be boxing up and returning 5 minutes after you open the knife. Thanks again for your video and keep them coming.
Sometimes the retailer will take new knives that have been rejected by their walk-in customers more than once and just send them out to their internet customers. Their job is to sell knives so they don't care what their mail-order customers do with the knife after they receive it and hope that we all think it's good enough. I believe that us internet customers do get the shaft more often from these retailers than we think.
Amen brother I want that trapper lock but I won't buy it because I know it's going to be jacked up off center and no good....... That trapper lock is 100 bucks I can't chance that!!!!!!!
Their warranty/repair depart is very good at centering knives. It just sucks that they cant get it right the first time and you have to pay to ship it to them.
I really like Case Sowbellies. I’m a loyal Case customer. I’m new to GEC knives. I feel that GEC knives have a much better fit and finish over Case knives. GEC knives are little works of art. I wish I could buy more. But they are really expensive on the secondary market. Jack Wolf Knives is doing an amazing job as well. I feel like Case has become complacent. They expect their fans to buy regardless of the slip in quality. I buy Case, but I don’t love them like I love GEC knives, and JWK. The new companies are hungry!!
I like Case knives for their functionality and looks. Great thin slicey blades and they make good looking knives. The price is good as well. Their 55hrc steel is pretty lack luster. I currently don’t own any regular Case knives only two of the Tony Bose annual collab knives. I usually pass on them unless its a pattern I like with a cover material I really like in anything but their 420hc. I’d rather buy Böker Tree Brand similar price but better quality
Alchemy_1 A big turn off for me is their steels and heat treatment their 420hc is garbage I will not buy it 55hrc really?! Their carbon is run the same so it’s not that good either. Their 154cm is good tho it’s treated to Tony Bose specs deep cryo treated either in house or peters I’d guess (it better be good in a $400-550 mid tech Slipjoint) id say based off my use GECs 1095 outlasts cases SS and CV for what seems like twice the time. I’d like to try an old case knife but worth the money? Idk I love old USA Schrades more than anything and those are bounds ahead of modern Case knives but Case was supposedly better back in the day maybe worth a try at one.
NewAgeofAwesome Yes, heat treat is very important. No matter how “good” the steel is supposed to be, it may as well be iron if the heat treat isn’t done right. I’ve had a few of the older Cases pass through my hands and they are better. I like Schrade too. If I was picking old school knives, I’d look for a Schrade first.
excellent video,i agree with what you say 100% Here in the UK we can only buy through on line suppliers and not in a shop,so i will never buy a Case knife unless the supplier agrees to inspect it before it is sent as the quality and finish of their knifes is so hit and miss, blade centering is abysmal, scale matching often poor and i have never had a sharp Case knife out of the box. Let the knife buyers decide,they have the knifes,we have the money!
It always amazes me that this is even a point of contention amongst knife buyers. There are years worth of accounts where people have shared their stories. Some even with pics/vids. This always blows me away because there are only 2 sides in this whole thing, the consumer and the manufacturer. If you’re helping one, you’re likely hurting the other. People are so in love with their favorite companies that they would rather take up for them at any cost. I would love to see such a historically significant company take their crown back and stop resting on their laurels. 👊
You talked about Case knives and I heard talk about Harley Davidsons bikes! And I own a bone handle, scrimshawed Harley Davidson Trapper Case knife. However it was razor sharp.
Thierry Martin I take your Case point, but that is one knife. The general consensus, even from Case guys, is that any Case made in the last 30+ years does not represent the bar that was set by Mr. Case and his brothers and held for decades. I don’t get the HD reference. I don’t ride motorcycles. I know there is concern about them not being US made, but I do not know of quality concerns past the general decline all products have seen as we move forward in time. Someone just told me the other day that you used to be able to buy a fridge and pass it down to your kids. Now, you can’t get a fridge that lasts more than a few years, if you’re lucky, before it needs repair and it’s ready for the trash around year 10.
I agree with you. Just purchased a Stockman case knife from Blade HQ. Has no walk and talk and the blades barely have enough spring tension to keep the blades open. Looking to use the return policy.
Nothing wrong with that. “Heirloom quality” usually doesn’t come with QC issues though. The things our fathers and grandfathers passed down to us were solid pieces. I even have my great grandfather’s shotgun. Still solid as hell. Unfortunately, Case of today just isn’t there.
Your not wrong on your points and I totally understand your views. I have tracked down a few GEC knives and the quality was good but they were not perfect. I have purchased a few Cases as well. Not perfect either. I like all the options Case offers and that I don't have to overpay for them or track down releases (I am selective with Case). Without exception every Case I have bought needs a full sharpening, but unfortunately knives from most companies I buy including expensive ones need to be sharpened. Good video keep up the great content. Sharpening is an essential skill if one wants to get into knives and actually use them as tools.
I’d buy GECsif I could find them without having to pay the ridiculous aftermarket prices. What happened to GEC? The availability is not there anymore. Collector knives used to have a dozen models are so available at all times in the past. As far as I know they haven’t listed even one model for a few years.
I totally agreed with every point you make. I really don't like trashing Case or any American company but you are spot on with regard to quality control. It is hit and miss. I always hold my breath when I open the package, will there be a gap? will the backspring be mushy? I love the patterns and nostalgic feel but guys at Case you need to do better. The claims of pride and craftsmanship are frankly embarrassing yourselves. One can't deny GEC makes an heirloom quality blade which far surpasses Case. I just don't like paying 300 dollars for a pocketknife I will hard use as a tool. I 'm not optimistic of their future at Case. At this time, I think if you want an American " carrying" pocket knife, Buck is really the only option and sadly they're moving to China as well. I don't buy Chinese. There is a market for quality ( maybe not as expensive as GEC) but I have yet to find it. Anyway, thanks for the brutally honest and accurate post. Very well said sir. And it needed to be said. You did so, and eloquently Best wishes
I've never owned a Case knife. I've handled plenty at local shops but never run across a Case knife that I liked the looks, feel, and action on. But I understand what you are saying. For the most part many people feel about Case the same as I feel about Benchmade. I will not buy a Benchmade unless I can get my hands on it first to check the grinds and centering.
I will tell you how I feel about it, I've bought 1 case knife in the last 10 years. I probably have spent thousands of dollars on knives since then and I am hesitant to buy another case knife.
kcbeem123 Yeah and I’ve even heard those can be a little hit or miss. Shaky grinds, gaps in back springs, etc. Much more minor problems, but at $400 you want, or at leas I want, a traditional that’s pretty much perfect. Secondary they even still seem to be around $350ish, right?
I just arrived here tonight I'm looking for a channel that review case,buck,rough Ryder, boker etc. I'm burned out on GEC. GEC are excellent but not everyone can afford and everybody does not have the connections with the right people. To be able to get one.
I still buy a Case or two a year hoping they will turn it all around, and probably will for life. It really is a shame what they've become. I refuse to cross my fingers on a GEC drop to get one fast enough and even more so refuse to spend triple the price for one on the after market, so I quit trying altogether with those. If Case would genuinely step it up 100% it would be a dream come true for traditional knife guys
I went to a Bass Pro Shops when I started collecting and I remember watching a guy go through the entire inventory they had on a case knife to find a good one. That was all I needed to see.
The really frustrating part is I have a fairly recent CV sodbuster thats one of the best knives I have, the fit, springs, and blade quality are insane and the heat treat is spot on. Then I have a jigged blue bone stainless trapper from Lowe's that the fit and finish are fine on but the blade won't get sharp for the life of it. I imagine the heat treat is off. These days I'd def check the Case knife in person before purchasing and I would stick to their CV as the blades on my CV Case knives are a lot better than their Stainless. IDK if the stainless has problems with their heat treat consistency or its just their carbon steel is that much better than whatever alloy they use for stainless.
He has some past vidoes where he talks about his negative experiences. I own several S&Ms and the quality varies tremendously; some are among the best traditionals I own and some have major fit and finish problems. Lack of consistency is one of the main reasons Queen is no longer in business.
GhostNeck S&M is Queen and Queen had similar issues as Case. Only difference is Queen didn’t have the name to fall back on. Unfortunately we lost Queen 2-3 years ago because of poor quality leading to poor sales.
Case hasn't produced a knife that can hold a candle to a GEC since before the 70's and to equal a GEC you would have to go back a couple more decades. I have Case knives from the 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's 2010's and none them equal a modern GEC.
11/10/21 received my first ever case knife, the tribal lock. I really like the design. Fit and finish of my knife looks very good. Blade is shaving sharp on most of the edge with some ruff spots. The problem is the lock release is extremely difficulty to release. It has not loosened up after working the action on and off for a couple of days. I can send it back but unfortunately the seller does not have an exchange unit. I am torn between sending it to case for repair or just returning it for refund. I would really like a good example of this black canvas tribal lock. Its a very nice design in my opinion. So sad to see another American mfg just push out poor quality products.
That sucks, man. I hate it as well. My tribal lock is the only Case that I still own. It is a cool design. I’ve owned 2 and both were just okay. I still wish they had a tip/point from the factory though.
Case hasnt been Case for 40 years. Ever since they went with glued shields and delrin covers in the 70's. If they start centering their blades, stop rounding off the tips of their blades during sharpening, bring back their red jig bone and start using pin shields again they'll be right back to where they were in their heyday.
Matthew Perry We have to demand it though or it won’t happen. That’s the sad part. We would rather make excuses or give passes for brands we love. The company continues to profit and we continue to lose.
@@Alumapro23 I agree. I've actually e-mailed them. I stopped buying new Case knives. The only ones I've considered is the sowbelly, because GEC hasn't made one. I still buy vintage Case knives pre- glue & delrin every now and then.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
Bro, you legit put more work into this video than goes into a dozen case knives.
😂😂😂
Sgt. Kong LOL...I wouldn’t necessarily say that.
That's very diplomatic of you😂🗡️
Sgt. Kong LOL
omg
yas
I'm a Case fan. But I definitely appreciate your efforts to keep them on their toes. No reason for customers to have to weed through several knives to make sure they don't get a clunker.
Preach!!! You are spot on! It’s why I’ve been selling most of my Cases & moving to GEC!
I think that quantity over quality is the downfall of high quality craftsmanship,
Really well said sir.
I am a big fan of Case Knives and purchased my first Case pocket knife in 1958. It was Medium Stockman with red bone handles and 3 Carbon Steel blades including a California Clip main blade. I carried that knife every single day for the next 18 years. It held an edge, it always function properly, and it never let me down. I used other knives during this time for hunting, scouting, camping, skinning, cleaning and General Utility. However, the original 1958 Stockman was the best EDC pocket knife, I still have it and I still carry it on occasion.
I wish I could tell you that you are mistaken about the quality of modern Case knives. But, as much as it pains me to say this, you are not wrong. Even so, Case has a deep, rich American history and is still the most collectible pocket knife on the planet.
Wayne Eggerman I totally agree with all of that. As a long time buyer, I feel that you all are exactly who Case needs to hear from. We keep getting lower and lower quality while Case and other companies continue to profit. That’s not good for us, the end consumer. That’s a one sided battle that a lot of us help these companies win by defending their cut corners.
Some rough responses! Guys it just his viewpoint and he’s asking for your opinion not an argument. It’s not about winning a debate. Here’s mine. Both Case and especially GEC are marketed to favor the collector not the user. I see this as the big change from knife companies of fifty years or ago longer. The switch from we’re going to produce a knife the consumer will used till it wares out or breaks are gone. I think GEC builds on the model of a better quality knife while still not jumping into mass production on one hand or simi-custom on the other. Case’s model builds on larger scale production with many patterns and new variations all the time. It’s quality reflects the volume. GEC are found almost exclusively on line whereas Case can still be found at hardware stores. Should you expect more from GEC than Case sure. Enjoy everyone’s different viewpoints.
ratride1 Absolutely 👊. I think nostalgia is hard to overcome though and we all want to remember what we used to get in Case Knives. Unfortunately, the reality doesn’t match our memories.
I will carry my Case knives as EDC, but since GEC is so rare in my area, that even though I have been collecting for decades, I've never come across a GEC either on a shelf or for sale (my national mail order companies are ALWAYS sold out).
So GEC is a collector's knife, sold out often in hours after release, and almost no one will use as an EDC. SAFE QUEENS BY DEFINITION.
Case knives are the knives of our grandfathers, designed to be used.
But here is the kicker...SMKW produces the Rough Ryder line of knives...and increasingly the quality coming out of the Rough Ryder line is approaching Case quality, and yes even GEC. And for $10 to $20 dollars per knife. Now that is something to talk about. A Rough Rider "Micarta Work Knife" at $10 is almost equal to a GEC!
You check out the knife in question ( sold out at SMKW... I'm not the only one who sees this ) on the website or from reviews on TH-cam. So rant away on GEC'S or Case knives...but watch out, modern users are looking for knives to be put to use, not put in a drawer and drooled and argued over.
I've found that a 15 dollar rough ryder is on par with case
I totally agree, I recently traded a case trapper with burnt bone for a large five inch closed rough rider with a cool design that I felt was a better buy. They guy looked at me like I was crazy, but made the trade anyway and threw in a sheath.
But I wont but a chinese traditional knife.
Yeah, but the Case knife doesn't send profits to enemies of the USA. A Case knife supports American workers.
@David P. Even if that's the ONLY plus, it's a pretty big one.
Case has better resale and is made in the Usa!
I still like Case.For the average Joe who is not a collector the quality is good enough but the price is high.I just wish them using D2 and sharpen them better.
That’s my point. Nobody should have to settle. I don’t think a collector should be the only person that expects a product that looks like the guys on the line cared about what they ship out the door.
D2 has a pretty clumpy steel makeup and has been shown to not hold up all that well. Then there’s a lot of it that isn’t heat treated worth a darn.
At the end of the day, I just feel like everyone pays their hard earned money for companies, like Case to tell us how great their product is. However, we got it in hand and the edge is manageable at best before you can even look the rest of the knife over. Is a knife without and edge it tip even a knife?
The problem is that Americans think that they're making the best traditional knives in the world.Germany,Italy,Zweden,Japan are making great knives too.The Rough Rider knives made in China are almost as good as Case knives at a fraction of the price.But again:They make great traditional knives in the rest of the world
Erik Ramaekers There is definitely more competition now that probably any time in history. That’s the worst time for a company to lower their historically high, bar setting, standards.
You make a good point. I've purchased a couple lately that I have no issue with, but there's no doubt that the standards aren't what they used to be.
If you buy from Case now with any sense of nostalgia, sad to say, I think you're buying for the wrong reason.
JT's Knife Life I’ll be adding another to the purchase list. I’m looking at a Texas Jack as I type this. I need some Case CV to Rockwell test along with the SS I already have and the GEC 1095/stainless I have.
You said it all. And everything you said is the reason I know longer buy Case knives. Thanks for this video. 👊👍
Rick Temmen 👊
THANK YOU for saying this ... I feel like they haven’t been the same for many years as they were when I was a kid
Mine works fine, and I work on a farm. When I got my knife from case it was sharp, out of the box. I put tough work on it, but that was 2016, so I honestly don't know if they are that bad.
Ben Dougharty If I’m being 100% honest and that’s what I always strive to be, that’s the issue. Fine is not industry standard. For arguably 2-3 generations, Case set the standard. Case is now far from the standard. Case has become complacent on people remembering the nostalgia or say the knife is “good enough”. That’s not what W.R. Case and his brothers set out to make or actually brought to fruition for many years.
I have faith Case will make a turn around - I sure hope so because I love them dearly!
We can hope, but it a been a loooooooooong time since Case was consistent and that’s putting it respectfully. 😂
Your views are spot on and indisputable and i fully agree. I have more cases than GEC but they are older models from the 70s or i hand picked them or just got lucky. Lol. Just go to a store that sells them and see how many you need to go through to pick one out thats done right. .
Yes but WHAT STORE sells them? In the age of Amazon and the internet, the only STORES still out there are Walmart, Target, Lowe's and Home Depot. Dicks doesn't carry them (in at least the branches I have been to), Yes I suppose Bass Pro and Cabela's has them but I am nowhere near there and am not turning a Case selection into a weekend trip where I may have to take a day off work. I'm not being facetious, just please tell me where you can go to look at these things because it would be great to. Hell I have only found one store (a gun store) that I am able to pick from a stock of Benchmade knives, and I still can't find a brick and mortar store that carries Spyderco.
olmmedic It’s sad.
I sure hope Case is listening. I have owned many Case knives over the years. When I was 18 years old my dad gave me a Schrade 8OT and I carried that knife for 40 years. It was so reliable but it finally had been sharpened to the point of having to move on. So, I ordered a Case knife Stockman and the blade pull and back spring was too light. The sheepfoot blade would almost fall open if you turned it upside down. I miss Schrade since they moved to China and I don't want Case to go out of business or move but I would at least like to be able to get one with decent back spring tension. I don't care about gaps or perfectly centered blades I just want it to do it's job without folding up on my fingers. Great video and legitimate concern. Thanks for sharing.
I think Case makes very fine and quality knives. We that said, they're also a mass producing company, which naturally will cause some quality control problems. Now what percent is an acceptable amount? 10%? 20%? More? Case definitely needs to up its quality control to the point that receiving a crapy knife would be a rarity and not a common occurrence.
That’s it. You can’t claim to have world class cutlers working on your knives and Case guys don’t even trust your quality enough to not buy one in person because it has to be inspected before they want to spend money on it. That’s not world class in any regard and if your core canvass feels that way 😬
I realize that I am rather late to the party, but man, such a great video. I'm a big Case fan, but I too am tired of the shabbiness in quality. Your Logic and Argument skills were brilliant. Thank you for the truth.
Thank you for the kind words, sir. I really wish people would stop making excuses for them and make them return to their old standards.
I love Case knives but I do admit I buy all of them in person and put hands on em first 😂. Great video sir, I really appreciate your efforts here.
Among my favorite patterns is the Barlow knife and one of my top 5 Barlows is a Case. That Case is 50+ to 75+ years old :)
You know what I hate about this channel . . . . The well crafted rebuttals 😂😂
Howard green 😂😂😂👊
Do have some Case knives, but when I want to get the job done, I usually go for my Spyderco.
Nothing wrong with that. 👊
I got a case from an online dealer and it’s excellent ! I sharpen my own edges and think it’s cool they come with a rough edge
Very well done we the viewers appreciate it!
Kevin Fitzgerald Thank you 👊
The level of "quality" that people seem to not only find acceptable these days, but actually defend as good, is pretty sad. If people would dial back the rabid, fan boy mentality that prevails lately and start demanding the quality and craftsmanship commensurate with the often high price tags companies want for their sub par products we would all benefit.
sniper7369 That’s what I’m trying to say. I think we live on nostalgia with brands like Case and we’re not looking at what they’re putting into our hands. We are losing every time we don’t speak up.
Yes!!!
Taylor eye witness is a prime example of this as well. People praise them in their reviews, like reality popular reviewers, so you buy one and it's the biggest piece of crap ever. Where did the honesty go?
Well said. Anyone that doesn't agree with you just doesn't know. However, since I don't buy them sight unseen, I walk aways with a beautiful example of pocket jewelry at a spectacular dollar value. Those of us who care know what to look for and I don't mind improving the edge; I actually enjoy working the edge of my knives. To your other point, I think the Case founder would be blown away with the success of his Company but would have to agree quality control needs help. Thanks for your insightful analysis.
At this point you are more likely to get a Case with (lets say) errors. That in and of itself is why some other knife manufacturers charge way less for comparable knives. So why is Case twice or more expensive? You can only live off your past accomplishments for so long. I hope Case sets up and takes notice and takes steps to regain their top spot.
A case knife purchase for my 8 year old son about a year ago is what got me into collecting knives as more than just users. Unfortunately the Case I got him is a massive piece of crap in pretty much every way possible. Looks cool though lol.
Derek Cb Hahaha! It sucks, but Case has gone WAY downhill.
Great point...a bad knife is bad...cheap or not. A great , well made knife is great ...cheap or not
bought a yellow handle case twelve years ago and it is as close to perfection as one can be. And when things are hand made there are variations from one to the next.
JD Simons Times change, companies attention to detail changes, and standards drop. With all due respect, pick up 2 or 3 today and see what you get. You will not be happy and it won’t be handmade variation, it will be poor fit and finish. It honestly sucks that the company that used to be the standard for decades has gotten complacent, but that’s the truth.
Alchemy1 I plan to, and after having made some knives myself I know when you nit-pick things apart with "this little gap here" and "this doesnt sit perfectly center" there im sure youll find "poor quality" no matter what. The one ive got doesnt have the nickel pins or the oversized spring pin etc. but none of this ever affected its function it has served now longer than most people keep one in their pocket. Perhaps you're right though. When i look at one i wont buy one i find to be sub standard to me but im not ready to label an entire brand junk yet due to some small details here and there.
JD Simons Do some more reading up on the current company. Even old time Case guys will tell you these aren’t the Case knives of the 60’s and 70’s. The real honest ones will even tell you not to buy one sight unseen. I don’t know if you call that knit picky, but.
I’ve also done an entire video where I break down what Case, themselves, say they’re putting out and you can see, what is in hand is not what Case says they’re putting out of their factory.
Even the Bose/Case collabs that cost $300+ are hit and miss. It sucks that a company that set the standard for a generation or more have rested on their laurels, but that’s the case. No pun intended.
Been watching your vids for a year. This video made me a subscriber. Don't get me wrong, I like Case knives, but the last one I got, the brass pins were so unfinished that I sat down and sanded them for 20 mins. Don't even get me started on the misaligned spring/torsion bars and the scales. Case needs to step up their game.
A Khan Thank you, sir. It is truly a shame how far they have fallen and the fact that so many want to accept where they are when we know where they have been and could be.
I think you are spot on here. Furthermore I think the video was respectful and simply stated facts.💯
I’m a knife nut and I’m 25yrs old! I’ve had 3 old case knives since as long as I could remember. Just this year I ordered all the new single blade Barlow’s and about another 8 or 9 other single bladed case knives and let me tell you they are completely trash
Andrew Short It’s sad, but the quality is so-so. Even if you get a good one, the edge is just meh and the tip is blunt because of how the knife moves through the process.
Sign of the times. Make it cheaper and faster without passing savings down to consumers. In fact prices continue to rise every year while quality and support go down. It's not just Case knives. GEC makes a good product but they only make them in small batches so good luck finding one in a pattern you like, even on the secondary market.
Sadly true. I don’t know that the small batch thing has been true of GEC since 2010 or before though. However, I guess that all depends on what we’re calling small batch. When they first started they did make runs that had each cover option in the 25-35 piece range. Then they upped it to 100’s for years. Now they’re running 4K+ piece runs. Everyone complained and they have upped and upped the numbers constantly. The downside (and what I told everyone they better be sure they know what they’re asking for) is that higher total numbers each run means WAY fewer patterns each year. Now people are staring to complain about that. They and most knife companies cannot win. We say black, they make black, and we say why isn’t there more white 😂😂😂🤷♂️. Just my opinion.
I quite agree with you. Sad to say that in some cases the Chinese do it better. Some of the problem lays with the retailers. It is not for me, as the purchaser, to take up issues with the manufacturer. If I am not happy with a product I throw it back to the retailer and tell them them to replace the item or return my money. If enough retailers complained or cancelled their orders with the manufacturer then things might change. Here, in the UK, I have no choice but to buy my Case knives on line as there are no local retailers. I thought Case would not ship sub-standard knives to Europe because I thought they valued their World-wide reputation. I was wrong. I had issues with my first Case knife. My message is "don't accept crap and tell your retailers that they shouldn't sell crap either".
I have been a Case Collectors Club Life Member since 2001. Of all the Case knives I have bought, only one prompted me to return it. It had been improperly stored by the retailer and had suffered damage due to excessive humidity. I returned it to the retailer. The retailer replaced it with a perfectly good knife of the same type. My collection comprises quite a few knives and they are of uniformly high quality.
I am sorry to hear that others have suffered bad luck in this regard.
I have bought only 2 Case knives and both of them had QC issues. I was able to fix those issues myself, but neither of them should have ever passed inspection from the factory, which I why I searched this video.
I haven’t found a perfect folder yet. I’ve purchased multiple gec knives with problems similar to case.
Casey Rand I agree. I think that’s often the takeaway when we talk about knives, but that is an impossibility. I had this conversation with a buddy that has no problem paying $900 for a Norseman that’s 100% CNC made because he’s looking for perfection. I’ve owned knives from $1450 to souvenir knives. I haven’t seen a perfect knife yet and that’s because no man made item is going to be perfect.
GEC definitely went through a rough patch in 2016 and 2017. Where I can’t agree is that the consistency and level of issue is equal from one brand to another. Even during their bad years. Case knives don’t have a tip and they look like they’ve been sharpened on the sidewalk by someone learning how to sharpen and that’s all of the production knives. It’s a function of the way they choose to process and finish their knives. The other issues may vary in frequency and type, but the other two are a constant. Even taking away the constant issues, I would still disagree that the other issues (centering, gaps, etc) are equal from brand to brand.
Now the default argument for that is one costs $60 and the other $100. I say, I’ll pay more for a more consistent knife.
@@Alumapro23 Well said. I've got well over 200 GEC knives from 2006 through 2016.......the comparison to Case issues is nearly non-existent. Quite frankly, Case sucks.
I know I'm late here, but let me tell you something, I've been buying GEC knives for a long time now, and have well over 200 of them currently ( I sold some a few years back, and yes, I DO have 9 of em I EDC regularly, aside from my massive collection )...........GEC's made from every year, up to 2016......and I have never, EVER.......seen the issues in any of my GEC knives that are found on most modern Case knives. ( blade rap on certain patterns of GEC's because novices slam the blades shut on knives with strong springs........knives made 150 yrs ago would do the same thing) Furthermore, Bill Howard himself said it best: "There is no such thing as the perfect factory made knife". Far too many clueless people expect a GEC knife to be on par with custom-made folders costing a thousand dollars or more. A SLIGHT BLADE RUB MARK ON PATTERNS LIKE A WHITTLER, CONGRESS, OR STOCKMAN IS TO BE EXPECTED ON MANY BRANDS, INCLUDING GEC, AND EVEN THE BEST PRODUCTION KNIVES EVER MADE GOING BACK 175 YEARS. That goes for the best American makers AND great old knives made in Germany & Sheffield England. I HAVE ALSO BOUGHT MANY VINTAGE CASE KNIVES AND A FEW NEWER ONES, INCLUDING THE TONY BOSE COLLABORATION KNIVES, AND THE AVERAGE GEC BLOWS THEM AWAY IN FIT & FINISH, HANDS DOWN. I've only ever had to send back 2 GEC knives for repair: one with a loose shield and the other with a thin bone handle at the butt end. THAT'S IT, OUT OF NEARLY 300. Lastly, I'm 58 yrs old, and been carrying pocket knives since I was 6 yrs old, I KNOW THESE KNIVES. I've got fantastic old knives from Sheffield & the New York Knife Co. that are close to 165 yrs old. So I've EARNED the knowledge AND the Right to get pretty dismayed every time I see or hear someone making bogus claims about "multiple GEC knives with similar problems as modern Case knives". Sorry, but time and again, I call BS on that. You can see many of my GEC ( and others ) knives in my collaboration videos in the "Traditional Knives Anthology" series with Rob, at his youtube channel: "TheApostleP". I'm almost finished with written material & history to make 2 more videos about some of my antique folders as well as some older GEC knives, to post on Rob's channel.
Howabouthetruth 💯👊 People will still argue for Case though. Nostalgia is powerful 😂
For those that do love case knives I say to each is own but I don't personally care for them because the quality has deminished exponentially over the years and you get what you pay for. Other then that tho a 2 hand knife doesn't work for me in my line of work. Thanks for the video and the insight on case as a company.
Bennny Bustdown Thanks for the view and the comment. I think we need to have these conversations because more and more companies are doing this to us and we keep letting them slide/making excuses for them. This only hurts us. We keep getting lower and lower quality products and the companies keep on maximizing their bottom line. We lose and they win.
Schwinn used to build the Stingray. Colt used to build the 357 Python. Things change in 100 years. Everything is getting homogenized in terms of consumer products. Quality means different things now.
Reminds me of how Gerber does business. Both Case and Gerber are relying on their namesake. Both companies are a victim of their own success and neither has done anything worth mentioning in the knife world for years. There are so many other manufacturers that are putting out a better knife for equal or less than what Gerber's and Case's knives cost.
Anthony Waldrep We need to be expressing this to companies across the board. We keep taking whatever companies will put in our hands and we keep on losing. Case is far from the only one following this strategy. It’s sad that our standards as knife guys just gets lower and lower and we keep moving forward without a peep.
@@Alumapro23 I agree and I've stopped buying Gerber just because of how terrible the fit and finish is on their knives. Most US knife manufacturers seem to have much lower standards than overseas companies. The US market is also lagging behind. Look at how many overseas companies are putting bearings on sub $50 knives that are smoother than any ZT I've ever owned or played with and they cost 3 to 4 times the amount
Anthony Waldrep gerber dosent even make a decent knife anymore unfortunately
@@Maddawwg45 That's very true. They are certainly not the same company from a few decades ago
I have a great deal of respect, that being said I just purchased with minimal research a half dozen Case Knives as a means to determine if they might be a secondary brand to GEC for collect ability, after hearing your thoughts on Case I am setting my expectations even lower than I had previously. My desire to try the case brand was brought on by my frustration as a new collector with the availability of GEC and the ridiculous prices I have encountered on the secondary market. As I said not much research was put into my decision to buy some Case knives but as an impulsive individual I often go down this road with some wins and some looses so I thank you for making this video and most other of your videos I find very insightful to a collector transitioning from modern day flippers to traditional slip joint knives from thus far GEC and now Case. Cheers!
woptucci 👊 What your thoughts on the Case knives you got?
@@Alumapro23 I have yet to receive them but I will let you know if possible.
woptucci Sounds good 👊
@@Alumapro23 I am very pleased to tell you the first 3 Case knives exceeded my expectations for fit and finish and just having an overall appeal. I purchased the Barlow saw cut and a trapper in the same finish, also a 2300 amber pocket worn trapper that was very nice but a tad bit to slick for my taste. Of the 6 blades 3 were a bit off center which I can easily forgive on a otherwise near perfect knife. The snap was also pleasing so I would say all is good and I look very forward to the next 3 yet to arrive. I think it is already clearly established in my mind that Case will never stack up to a GEC but they are surly giving it an honest try buy my initial experience. Cheers!
woptucci That is awesome! Hopefully they’re working to get better and increase consistency 👊
All of my casexx knives are pre'64,those old casexx's now are RIGHT, awsome,slot of them have a pure custom look!!!🙂
I hear you. There is certainly stuff that is still great about Case, and some new things that Case has going on that are great, too.
But there are these things that plain and simple suck when compared to knives from decades long passed.
You cannot look at the glued in shields that often fall off within days of purchase, and say, 'Oh yeah, not the same, but certainly similar to the olden days, just as good, nay!, better since innovative.'
And I like Case; vintage sure, new? Yes sure (if cherry-picked that is).
MJFallout That’s what I’m saying. We’re living more on nostalgia than the product our grandfathers handed down to us, what W.R. Case envisioned, and what Case claims they’re providing us. “Works of Art” from “some of the best cutlers in the business” that have to be cherry picked 🤔
I couldn’t agree more! I have had so many quality issues... truly sad. They haven’t innovated since the 1880s. Their heat treat on their stainless is terrible and they still have mystery steel... totally unacceptable!
Chris Reuther It is sad, man. I wish people would stop accepting their sliding quality.
@@Alumapro23 I couldn't agree more... and it's not like they are exactly cheap. I recently purchased one of the zytel stockman knives and the back springs were all over the place... and they told me it was acceptable per their QC.
Chris Reuther That’s insane, but they have a crowd that is blindly loyal and will lay a verbal onslaught on anyone that speaks the truth. They have no reason to change.
Alchemy_1 I find Buck has been in that same mindset as well. Loyal unwavering base regardless of actual quality
Chris Reuther Sad, but true. Lots of our iconic brands have died a death because of it or are just pumping out crap now.
I won’t argue with your premise. Ibuy Case knives because I love the American history and…because I can easily get them. I would love to get some GECs but they are just too difficult to get. GEC limits its production numbers and that’s a fine business model to ensure the rarity of your products but it doesn’t ensure that GEC knives get into the hands of more Americans. I don’t have the time to jump on a GEC drop just so I can get a knife before they are all sold in the first 5 minutes.
I don’t know what’s gone on with GEC. They got tired of the supply complaints and went to 5K+ knife runs and since COVID, they’ve gone back to smaller numbers. I wonder if things will change again 🤷♂️
I ordered 2 trappers. They looked like polished gems. For me I’m very happy although tone knife was sharper than the other slightly
That’s excellent. Hopefully they have upped quality. They’ll still need to fix that no tip issue. Just can’t run the blank through processing without a little bit of material left so there’s a tip to grind when they sharpen the knife.
As a red blooded American, I'm going to make a comment that surely some will find controversial. @ 60 yo, automotive and HVAC tech, I'm finding more often than not, QC is subpar. The pride workers used to take has virtually disappeared. Corporate America and the CEOs have all but killed the USA workers over their greed. Once that pride is gone, how can you possibly "make America great again". That's purely my personal experiences with the vast majority of American manufacturing, save few that are family run businesses and very few others in addition. It's a sad state of affairs for our grandchildren. Thanks for the video Clint. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
💯👏. I’m not that old, but the saying “they don’t make them like they used to”, didn’t pop up out of no where. Even in my time here I’ve seen a decline in things. I’ve even heard manufacturers use the term “planned obsolescence” (speaking about items in general now).
Hahaha! You can’t even get a good glass of soda now.
@@Alumapro23 Yes sir, it's really a shame too. FYI, I sub ur TH-cam and also follow on Instagram @djmblades. We have some common friends. Thank you for the "reveals" that you're posting and doing vids on here. Just sent 4 knives to Kurt for hrc. A couple of Spyderco's that aren't on the charts yet, Manix 2 CF 4v, Bradley 2 m4 and that one police 4 k390 with something unknown on the blade. PMI scan hopefully says what it is. But really, I appreciate your candid exposures on these companies. Strength in numbers sir. 😳😳😳😳
Although not American, Puma fell victim to the same circumstances. They just dont make them like they used to and I stopped buying them years ago.
I personally don’t give a darn about the fit and finish very much unless it has and insane amount of wobble or giant gaps on both sides otherwise I don’t care I’ll use my knife until I can’t. It still cuts so I’m happy
Case cutlery Kid I’d be happy with this level of QC if I was buying a $30 Boker or Buck knife too. I agree.
Alchemy_1 I have a local hardware shop what gives pretty good discounts on case knives I just got a brand new case canoe in cv steel for 45$ and the fit in finish on it is actually quite close to perfect the only imperfection is a slight blade play on the main spear point blade but that doesn’t bother me it still cuts just fine
Case cutlery Kid I see people say this. Very few, but usually in these comments sections. I always ask for video. Nobody has posted one yet.
I’ll also say that people tend to only buy when they can see these knives before buying too. Like buying from a local hardware store.
Also, i dont know why they dont have patterns people would really want. Like a mid sized lockback barlow or a larger canoe pattern. I dont even love many of their patterns myself
You should make a video of you actually buying and getting a gec knife that you really want. Good luck. I got notify me when available tabs all over the country for years.LOL
love Case have several but totally agree fit finish and quality is not what it once was. You really have to spend a lot more these days if you want something of top quality. Benchmade Is a knife company I really like and I think they are up to good standards unfortunately they don't do any traditional folders like these but then again that's not what benchmade is about. I like the carbon steel case knives you just have to clean them more often. totally agree point being
Wes Griffin No reason we can’t tell Case that we want better, even if it comes with a price increase. Letting them slide only gives us worse and worse quality.
Case like many older companies are now just doing away with quality, and living off the name they made in the past. It’s sad because my great great grandfather, great grandfather and my grandpa carried a Case. My grandpa carried a yellow trapper for as long as I can remember. He used it for everything. Case is losing their reputation sadly. Hopefully they do a 180!
All your points are Legit , I buy Case, I have to go to the local dealer and pick the one I want .
Bill Ruber It’s sad, but true.
I do stil buy and use Case , I just have to go to the local shop and hamd pick them
Case quality is definitely hit or miss. I have a mini trapper that would rival anything GEC produces, but my mini copperlock falls short in the quality department. Being in quality control myself, my guess is they're getting lazy at following their own stated standards.
David Lotspeich Yeah, it’s pretty sad. I want competition in the market.
I am a GEC single blade collector. My GEC#44 knives are rarely used. Seven pull or more ,I have to use my feet and a CASE XX blade pick. The GEC#92 & #86 Jack knives have been a real treat for me. A GEC Trapper will be made for 2020 in the first quarter. Many Club/Forum knives will be made in the Trapper pattern. New or Old Trapper pattern is anybody's guess. I renewed my Oregon club membership. I need to join Allegheny Mountain knife club next week , when I get some more bones. I got a pre-order on the #62 Camel bone Easy Pocket Congress knife. I need a few more #86 Oil Field Jacks and a mess of GEC 2020 Trappers. I got a plan. No Custom Fixed blade , CASE XX ,or EBAY knives for a while.
I could still justify buying a case, even agreeing 100% with every point made in this video. I really do think it's a shame, given I have had Cases with worse finish than my Rough Ryders, but there are some that I've gotten with near perfect tolerances. They are capable of producing a quality knife. Not to say they don't need to step their game way way up--after all, Rough Ryder can also produce a quality knife. The problem must be me, that I would pay stupid money for a roll of the dice I suppose.
Not to mention, I still can't get my hands on a Case that was sharp out of the box.
It is definitely a shame that if you want one you have to hand pick them or be content with exchanging them or sending them in for warranty.
Loved this video man, a lot of good points.i need to grab some traditionals soon
Sharp Thinking I need to get back in my traditional game. There haven’t been a lot of releases catching my eye over the last 6-8 months.
From videos I have seen on Case knives they look nice , however the quality is only slightly better than Rough Rider , Marbles or Queen knives. Though they cost double or more in price, I like they are made in the USA but they need to improve on quality in the finishing process not just crank out on assembly for mass profit. Yes GEC knives are the best slip joints I own and their fixed blades are high quality too. This makes GEC highly sought after and also difficult to buy when they drop on sale. Only the Tony Bose Case knives have higher quality but also at a very high price.
💯
I think its a fair assessment I like Case but I do think they took a step back. They aren't as collectable now that they push a large amount of product which has definitely made their quality standards lower. Get GEC to pump that amount of knives and I'd bet their quality would be on par. Case has earned all their criticism but if GEC had to throttle up production would they really have the same standard
I'd say it's just a reflection of the lack of skilled craftsmen available in the market today. That and Americans love their fast food. Results of a debt based society that just wants it now but doesn't want to work for it. The government has everything so backwards it's amazing they can keep the doors open
Maybe I've been lucky, but I bought 3 and they're all perfect. I get the Delrin models, because the various bone models are for collecting. $45-$65 is a good price for the made in USA label and the extra polish above the Chinese competitors. If Rough Ryders were made in the US, I'd pay a little less, but I'd buy them.
I’m glad you got some solid picks. It sucks to not be happy with a purchase.
@@Alumapro23 I have a couple Bear and Son knives that are dripping in disappointment.
Quality, Speed, Price. Pick two.
Scaling production over 100 years through many changes in ownership and that ownership’s vision is a tough road to hoe. Compared to most other American brands today Case’s claims hold up...but what they are comparing them to doesn’t have the same standards as GEC. Zippo (parent company) cares enough about quality to make sure they are good enough compared to the other stuff out there at lower price points...but that’s where it ends.
GEC has been able to scale in real time over the past, what 15 years? They haven’t had to navigate the same minefield of business issues of a 100+ year old company. What are the production number comparisons?
All this to say your video is spot on, but there are reasons. Reasons that Mr Case couldn’t have predicted or controlled...he wouldn’t be proud of the quality, but he might be proud at how many people buy and carry his knives, how many people have been employed by his company, that his company is still around, and his bank account balance.
Quality, Speed, Price. Pick two.
ETA: Their slogan should be something like “tradition at an affordable price.” Pay homage to your history, but don’t lie to your customers. I don’t expect your marketing campaign to be “average quality traditional knives” but be smart about it.
Thinking Pistol That I could buy. They are selling and trying to appeal to nostalgia. I also think a man’s name used to mean something. Before we were all about bigger homes and fancier cars. I don’t know that a man with integrity would sacrifice his namesake for profit. All speculation. The gentleman has passed on many years ago, but the older generation I know and have known had way different values than we do now.
There is no question that quality has gone downhill at WR Case And Sons. The only thing I can say SOMEWHAT, in their defense, is that they are competing with companies that have fooled a lot of people. If you think that a case knife, or rough ryder, or old timer or whatever can’t cut the same thing that your plastic handled spyderco cuts, which you paid $180 for because the blade is “blah blah super steel”, then you’re part of the problem.
I bought a CASE XX Trapper-lock Kickstart 2019 CCC Antique Autumn jigged bone knife. My fastest opening traditional pocket knife with no blade rattle or play. My 2018 Mid Hunter Kickstart red bone CV was a blade rattling piece of crap. CASE XX fixed the rattling , but the knife opens slower and not fully. The CASE XX Trapper-lock Kickstart is a wonderful fidget toy. I can't stop playing with it. I own a ton of GEC ,CASE XX , Schatt & Morgan , Boker Solingen , and other USA made knives. I have never sold or traded a knife in my like. I will give a knife away to the deserving. GEC knives work best for one arm , left hand me.
Very good video. You are definitely correct covering always buy a case knife in person. They make great products but slip on quality regularly. I just ordered a new case and found 3 problems I wasn’t happy with.
I purchased a Case knife for $50 in 2018 and the blade was bent out of the box. It was only a slight bend, and I still use the knife because it works fine and looks good, but the fact that a bent blade was allowed to pass QC is mind boggling. Do they not have any machines that check tolerances before they ship knives?
I’m not sure of their full QC process, but they rely on people’s love for the brand and the fact that they can “just send it in for warranty and Case will take care of you”. I’ve never understood that logic on lots of levels. If for no other reason, one of the biggest reasons guys buy Case is because of budget. It makes no sense to me to buy a $50-$60 knife and then spend $7-$8 to mail the knife back and whatever they’re going to charge to ship the knife back to me. Even just me shipping the knife to Case is over 10% of the cost of the knife. 🤷♂️
Wow. You out the nail right in the shield. I haven't purchased a new case knife in over a year because this is the unfortunate situation. Literally something has been wrong with every case knife I have ordered sight unseen. And that's another issue, since the explosion of the internet, most of us have no way of going into a store to handle these knives before buying. I have no store near me, nor have I ever even been to a store that carries Case knives to begin with. I look back on my collection, and though I like all or most of the Case knives I have, around 30% are flawless. NO I AM NOT NIT PICKING. They have become show pieces to look at but not too close. Sure I love the colors and the sparkle, but the fact is that the majority of the Case knives I own have very obvious problems that are not nit-picky micro-tolerance issues. Gritty action, terrible centering, blade-rub on multi blade models (or even single blades on the liners), hideously uneven grinds that look like they are sharpened by someone who is learning, some even recurved, bad tips on the blades, very few of them are actually hair shaving sharp, some have fit and finish issues so glaring (hold them up and one scale is obviously wider and more rounded than the other-- you'd think that surely someone could see that these knives are not symmetrical), cracks in bone from bad tolerance when putting pins in, covers with jig patterns that don't match (when I called about this one I was told that this was the way they come out of the factory and it was normal to have variation in matching of the covers. If I get sawcut bone going vertical or diagonal one one cover I don't want it to go horizontal on the other cover). There obviously should be no "natural variation." A trained monkey could look and see one thing is different than the other before giving approval for a knife to go out. What they are really saying is that they accept this problem (among others) as part of their manufacturing process, and you should too. Basically what they say is "you get what you get," and that is the price of being privileged to buy a knife with a Case logo. You accept a flawed knife because it is a Case knife and overlook those flaws. And they don't care. This kind of "oh well..." attitude brings me elsewhere. It's a shame that you have to spend in some cases well over a hundred dollars at GEC to get the same pattern that Case is selling for sixty dollars to have near flawless quality. And GEC knives are very hard to come by in the exact pattern you are looking for after you miss the boat. And after you've missed the boat the secondary market will cost you 300%+ of the original knife's price. I swear they make 30 knives of one pattern a year and 26 buddy-buddy knife collector nerds are immediately notified and then the knives are gone into the vault forever. Buying GEC is very frustrating but you know they are near perfect knives. I guess you have to pay a lot more for perfection or at least good quality control. It seems Case just let's anything out the door. The comparison I make is that when you hold up a Rough Rider knife next to a Case knife, you can tell the difference immediately because one is so much more bad than the other. Now, you take a Case knife and hold it next to a GEC knife, in it is the Case knife that looks obviously flawed. I hate to say it, but I am done with Case. The entire knife community sees that Case is not Case anymore, but Case doesn't care, because they still have a big enough customer base that they can put out crap and basically tell people they don't care because "you are getting the Case name." Mercedes Benz, Cadillac and BMW are terrible in the snow, but you know this and buy them because of the branding. Unrelated but not, I have only ordered one Spyderco unseen (I've ordered all of them unseen) that has had anything remotely if a problem because their reputation for perfection is so good. You can say that they are able to achieve this through technology, but with Case, I say nobody is watching anymore. I've also have never received a poor quality Buck 110 or 112. Why are they able to make flawless models and Case is not? Buck is a smaller operation as well and at least these two models never have any issues. Their Chinese models are garbage but it comes down to quality control. It takes a conscious effort to maintain that.you can now buy too quality Chinese knives with better fit and finish than American made knives (yes they are more expensive) but it's a question of intentionally observing good quality control which Case now doesn't care about. It's very sad, and one day the big elephant in the room is starting to be talked about. Your video is *wonderful* because what you say is what long time Case collectors such as myself have been thinking for years. Thanks for putting this one out. I know there will be comments from die hard Case collectors who have their heads in the sand. But the fact is you shouldn't have to cherry pick through a trusted dealer, or order with the expectation that you will be boxing up and returning 5 minutes after you open the knife. Thanks again for your video and keep them coming.
Sometimes the retailer will take new knives that have been rejected by their walk-in customers more than once and just send them out to their internet customers. Their job is to sell knives so they don't care what their mail-order customers do with the knife after they receive it and hope that we all think it's good enough. I believe that us internet customers do get the shaft more often from these retailers than we think.
Amen brother I want that trapper lock but I won't buy it because I know it's going to be jacked up off center and no good....... That trapper lock is 100 bucks I can't chance that!!!!!!!
Their warranty/repair depart is very good at centering knives. It just sucks that they cant get it right the first time and you have to pay to ship it to them.
I really like Case Sowbellies. I’m a loyal Case customer. I’m new to GEC knives. I feel that GEC knives have a much better fit and finish over Case knives. GEC knives are little works of art. I wish I could buy more. But they are really expensive on the secondary market.
Jack Wolf Knives is doing an amazing job as well. I feel like Case has become complacent. They expect their fans to buy regardless of the slip in quality. I buy Case, but I don’t love them like I love GEC knives, and JWK. The new companies are hungry!!
No such thing as a perfect knife. Great Eastern Cutlery tries like hell to make one !
I have been going to high end boker . Love their classic look and quality. Need some puma too
Thank you, sir 🙏👊. There are definitely better options out there. 👍
CASE is putting more focus towards the collector rather than a useful flat ground carbon steel knife that the average working man can afford.
I collect Case. It’s an American tradition. Everyone stop with the knife shaming.
Robert Pack Holding a company to the standard they set and maintained for many decades is shaming?
I like Case knives for their functionality and looks. Great thin slicey blades and they make good looking knives. The price is good as well.
Their 55hrc steel is pretty lack luster. I currently don’t own any regular Case knives only two of the Tony Bose annual collab knives. I usually pass on them unless its a pattern I like with a cover material I really like in anything but their 420hc. I’d rather buy Böker Tree Brand similar price but better quality
NewAgeofAwesome Very fair. 👊
Alchemy_1 A big turn off for me is their steels and heat treatment their 420hc is garbage I will not buy it 55hrc really?! Their carbon is run the same so it’s not that good either.
Their 154cm is good tho it’s treated to Tony Bose specs deep cryo treated either in house or peters I’d guess (it better be good in a $400-550 mid tech Slipjoint) id say based off my use GECs 1095 outlasts cases SS and CV for what seems like twice the time.
I’d like to try an old case knife but worth the money? Idk I love old USA Schrades more than anything and those are bounds ahead of modern Case knives but Case was supposedly better back in the day maybe worth a try at one.
NewAgeofAwesome Yes, heat treat is very important. No matter how “good” the steel is supposed to be, it may as well be iron if the heat treat isn’t done right.
I’ve had a few of the older Cases pass through my hands and they are better. I like Schrade too. If I was picking old school knives, I’d look for a Schrade first.
excellent video,i agree with what you say 100% Here in the UK we can only buy through on line suppliers and not in a shop,so i will never buy a Case knife unless the supplier agrees to inspect it before it is sent as the quality and finish of their knifes is so hit and miss, blade centering is abysmal, scale matching often poor and i have never had a sharp Case knife out of the box. Let the knife buyers decide,they have the knifes,we have the money!
It always amazes me that this is even a point of contention amongst knife buyers. There are years worth of accounts where people have shared their stories. Some even with pics/vids.
This always blows me away because there are only 2 sides in this whole thing, the consumer and the manufacturer. If you’re helping one, you’re likely hurting the other. People are so in love with their favorite companies that they would rather take up for them at any cost.
I would love to see such a historically significant company take their crown back and stop resting on their laurels. 👊
Oh man you should’ve been a lawyer, if you aren’t already
Thank you. That is high praise. 🙏👊
You talked about Case knives and I heard talk about Harley Davidsons bikes! And I own a bone handle, scrimshawed Harley Davidson Trapper Case knife. However it was razor sharp.
Thierry Martin I take your Case point, but that is one knife. The general consensus, even from Case guys, is that any Case made in the last 30+ years does not represent the bar that was set by Mr. Case and his brothers and held for decades.
I don’t get the HD reference. I don’t ride motorcycles. I know there is concern about them not being US made, but I do not know of quality concerns past the general decline all products have seen as we move forward in time. Someone just told me the other day that you used to be able to buy a fridge and pass it down to your kids. Now, you can’t get a fridge that lasts more than a few years, if you’re lucky, before it needs repair and it’s ready for the trash around year 10.
I agree with you. Just purchased a Stockman case knife from Blade HQ. Has no walk and talk and the blades barely have enough spring tension to keep the blades open. Looking to use the return policy.
Chris Mccarthy That sucks!
I just think they are neat. Someday my kids might like to have something that Dad walked around with in his pocket.
Nothing wrong with that. “Heirloom quality” usually doesn’t come with QC issues though. The things our fathers and grandfathers passed down to us were solid pieces. I even have my great grandfather’s shotgun. Still solid as hell. Unfortunately, Case of today just isn’t there.
Your not wrong on your points and I totally understand your views. I have tracked down a few GEC knives and the quality was good but they were not perfect. I have purchased a few Cases as well. Not perfect either. I like all the options Case offers and that I don't have to overpay for them or track down releases (I am selective with Case). Without exception every Case I have bought needs a full sharpening, but unfortunately knives from most companies I buy including expensive ones need to be sharpened. Good video keep up the great content. Sharpening is an essential skill if one wants to get into knives and actually use them as tools.
Damn valid points! Thanks for opening my eyes.
🙏👊
I’d buy GECsif I could find them without having to pay the ridiculous aftermarket prices. What happened to GEC? The availability is not there anymore. Collector knives used to have a dozen models are so available at all times in the past. As far as I know they haven’t listed even one model for a few years.
I totally agreed with every point you make. I really don't like trashing Case or any American company but you are spot on with regard to quality control. It is hit and miss. I always hold my breath when I open the package, will there be a gap? will the backspring be mushy? I love the patterns and nostalgic feel but guys at Case you need to do better. The claims of pride and craftsmanship are frankly embarrassing yourselves. One can't deny GEC makes an heirloom quality blade which far surpasses Case. I just don't like paying 300 dollars for a pocketknife I will hard use as a tool. I 'm not optimistic of their future at Case. At this time, I think if you want an American " carrying" pocket knife, Buck is really the only option and sadly they're moving to China as well. I don't buy Chinese. There is a market for quality ( maybe not as expensive as GEC) but I have yet to find it.
Anyway, thanks for the brutally honest and accurate post. Very well said sir. And it needed to be said. You did so, and eloquently
Best wishes
I've never owned a Case knife. I've handled plenty at local shops but never run across a Case knife that I liked the looks, feel, and action on.
But I understand what you are saying. For the most part many people feel about Case the same as I feel about Benchmade. I will not buy a Benchmade unless I can get my hands on it first to check the grinds and centering.
I will tell you how I feel about it, I've bought 1 case knife in the last 10 years. I probably have spent thousands of dollars on knives since then and I am hesitant to buy another case knife.
💯, man. It’s a real shame.
The only Case knives that I find to be quality are the Bose knives but at 400 plus I will go custom and wait for those on the secondary.
kcbeem123 Yeah and I’ve even heard those can be a little hit or miss. Shaky grinds, gaps in back springs, etc. Much more minor problems, but at $400 you want, or at leas I want, a traditional that’s pretty much perfect. Secondary they even still seem to be around $350ish, right?
I love Case Knives! But you are right on! I hate that I cant just order one and expect it to be good....
I just arrived here tonight I'm looking for a channel that review case,buck,rough Ryder, boker etc. I'm burned out on GEC. GEC are excellent but not everyone can afford and everybody does not have the connections with the right people. To be able to get one.
I still buy a Case or two a year hoping they will turn it all around, and probably will for life. It really is a shame what they've become. I refuse to cross my fingers on a GEC drop to get one fast enough and even more so refuse to spend triple the price for one on the after market, so I quit trying altogether with those. If Case would genuinely step it up 100% it would be a dream come true for traditional knife guys
I went to a Bass Pro Shops when I started collecting and I remember watching a guy go through the entire inventory they had on a case knife to find a good one. That was all I needed to see.
Sad but true,cant argue with anything you said,man🤔🤔🤔
The really frustrating part is I have a fairly recent CV sodbuster thats one of the best knives I have, the fit, springs, and blade quality are insane and the heat treat is spot on. Then I have a jigged blue bone stainless trapper from Lowe's that the fit and finish are fine on but the blade won't get sharp for the life of it. I imagine the heat treat is off.
These days I'd def check the Case knife in person before purchasing and I would stick to their CV as the blades on my CV Case knives are a lot better than their Stainless. IDK if the stainless has problems with their heat treat consistency or its just their carbon steel is that much better than whatever alloy they use for stainless.
Start your own company if its so bad.
Canan Jones Or I could just vote with my dollar and buy something that I don’t have to cherry pick. I think one makes more sense than the other.
@@Alumapro23 You, sir, are true diplomat. The best I could come up with was: "What a silly comment".
Peter M. 😂😂😂
Since Zippo bought Case the quality is not the same as they use to be.
Love Zippo lighters though. Amazing that it would go down, as Zippo is a quality brand that makes good products I:
From my understanding there was a period before Zippo when the quality was worse than now
Well-presented argument. Though I would also say every company is a few bad decisions away from slipping, even GEC.
Recently got a 2003 Schatt & Morgan barlow. Was blown away with the quality. Whats your thoughts on that brand?
He has some past vidoes where he talks about his negative experiences. I own several S&Ms and the quality varies tremendously; some are among the best traditionals I own and some have major fit and finish problems. Lack of consistency is one of the main reasons Queen is no longer in business.
GhostNeck S&M is Queen and Queen had similar issues as Case. Only difference is Queen didn’t have the name to fall back on. Unfortunately we lost Queen 2-3 years ago because of poor quality leading to poor sales.
Josh W Exactly 😂
Josh W oops 👊
GhostNeck there out of business now i believe
Case hasn't produced a knife that can hold a candle to a GEC since before the 70's and to equal a GEC you would have to go back a couple more decades. I have Case knives from the 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's 2010's and none them equal a modern GEC.
11/10/21 received my first ever case knife, the tribal lock. I really like the design. Fit and finish of my knife looks very good. Blade is shaving sharp on most of the edge with some ruff spots. The problem is the lock release is extremely difficulty to release. It has not loosened up after working the action on and off for a couple of days. I can send it back but unfortunately the seller does not have an exchange unit. I am torn between sending it to case for repair or just returning it for refund. I would really like a good example of this black canvas tribal lock. Its a very nice design in my opinion. So sad to see another American mfg just push out poor quality products.
That sucks, man. I hate it as well. My tribal lock is the only Case that I still own. It is a cool design. I’ve owned 2 and both were just okay. I still wish they had a tip/point from the factory though.
Case hasnt been Case for 40 years. Ever since they went with glued shields and delrin covers in the 70's. If they start centering their blades, stop rounding off the tips of their blades during sharpening, bring back their red jig bone and start using pin shields again they'll be right back to where they were in their heyday.
Matthew Perry We have to demand it though or it won’t happen. That’s the sad part. We would rather make excuses or give passes for brands we love. The company continues to profit and we continue to lose.
@@Alumapro23 I agree. I've actually e-mailed them. I stopped buying new Case knives. The only ones I've considered is the sowbelly, because GEC hasn't made one. I still buy vintage Case knives pre- glue & delrin every now and then.
Matthew Perry We definitely have to vote with our dollars. Otherwise, it’s never going to stop. 👊