Case knives over the hill.

[cbl51]

I've had a Case knife a long time ago, and my memory mush be rose colored. I was at a Bass Pro shop, and I saw a Case display and bought a Case stockman that is much like my Buck 301 stockman.


The first problem is that I had to hand pick through the knives to find one with no glaring faults. Most of the ones at the store had problems ranging from slow springs, to poor fit and finish. Now, after a few months use, I can only say that these knives may have been good once, but are a pale shadow of what they used to be, to hear tell what my dad said.


The steel is no better than some made in China knives. I've had to resharpen this knife after using it on things my Buck was not bothered by. It's a prettier knife than my Buck, but when it comes to cutting, it ain't worth half of what I paid for it. And I paid more for it than a Buck stockman. The Buck holds an edge way better than this thing I bought.


Pretty disappointed in yet another American product that's went downhill. I'll never spend money on a Case knife again. I guess they make knives mostly for the collector market now with knives for Elvis and John Deer tractors. Case has become the bernie babies of the knife world. Too bad.

[charles p]

A model I continue to buy (and give away) is their least expensive lock back with a black plastic handle.  Probably 3" or less folded.  Very light in the pocket and sharpens to a razor edge with a steel.  I usually buy several when I see them for sale.  It is not an investment knife to collect, just a great pocket knife that will not wear a hole in your pocket.
 
 

[KNIFE_NUT_1981]

I have to say, I agree with both of you... Case doesn't make the wide variety of working man's knives that they used to. All of their stockmans, trappers, muskrats, etc., that were invented by the working man, have now been made into, high polish, decorated, pretty "collector knives" and serve no practical purpose whatsoever. They are made out of shiney surgical steel, the springs are crap, the handle material is made to be pretty, rather than durable, and I am thoroughly disappointed... However, Case still makes at least one well-made, affordable, practical working man's knife, and that's the carbon steel Sodbuster, the only Case knife I would ever reccommend to anyone who might actually consider using it...

[Empty Quiver]

. I guess they make knives mostly for the collector market now with knives for Elvis and John Deer tractors. Case has become the bernie babies of the knife world. Too bad.

Beenie Baby    what a word picture to get to the heart of it.

[flintlock]

Try Bear knives out of Alabama...I've  been carrying one for a year now and like it...

[hillbill]

if you truly want a good case or any other pocket knife, simply go to ebay and buy a vintage one in good shape.very easy to do and not expensive.i have a vintage schrade stockman in my pocket now that is sharp as a straight razor, holds a edge well and it ridiculously easy to sharpen. cost about 25 buks with shipping

[mechanic]

Makers go to great lengths to make stainless steel take and hold an edge, cryogenics, etc.  Find yourself a good carbon steel knife, even a used one and don't look back. 
 
There are some good stainless knives...but not too many.
 
Ben

[Joel]

I've been saying Case knives are junk for years, at least their "regular" ones.  The Chrome Vanadium (CV) are a different story; they hold a much better edge and the carbon Sodbuster as far as I can see is made out of CV steel.  CV steel is also a cut above most other factory carbon blades out there that are made out of the simple high carbon tool steels.  I bought a Sodbuster in SS and ended up tossing it.  Most of my blades, folding or otherwise, are of the better quality stainless steels.....but I'm willing to pay the price for the higher quality steels.  Junk steel is junk steel, and you find it in carbon and stainless.   We makers don't go to "great lengths" to try and make stainless work.  A good quality stainless blade will work whether it's cryo'd or not.  Cryo just adds that extra "edge"....and that takes it  beyond what most of the factory(and custom) carbon and cheap stainless blades can do.  There are some excellent, modern carbon steels out there like A-2 and the CPM series which takes that type steel to a level equal to many of the newer stainless.  If you look at their composition however  they have about the same makeup as the high end stainless except for lower chromium; and that's not required for their designed function...otherwise they'd throw it in and you'd have another new "super" stainless steel.  I'm afraid I find it confusing when someone talks about how their old carbon blade is easily to sharpen and then complains that a equally cheap stainless blade "doesn't hold an edge".  Well, it's probably easy to sharpen also .  I've never owned an easy to sharpen knife yet that also held an edge for a good while.  I've some old, carbon pocket knives that date back to the 40's and 50's (Cutmaster, Imperial Schrade etc) that  are beautifully made and take a sharp edge....but not for long.  Still I carry  them for casual use just for the quality of the workmanship.  I'm afraid quality is a lot more expensive these days irregardless of what your preference is.