Are Case knives still American made?

[JohnMcD348]

Just wondering. Now that Schrade has gone overseas I was wondering who makes the good general purpose folder her in the states? My son is 5 so probably in the next couple of year I'll bee looking for his first pocket knife for his 7th -9th birthday. My dad gave me an Old timer 3 blade folder for my 7th birthday and I still have it to this very day.

I know that Case and Zippo are part of the same company but do they actually make the knives here or are they imported and sold? I know other makers like Spyderco and such make alot of their stuff here in the US but I'm more interested in the old style pocket knives for a good starter. I just want it to be a good American made carbon steel bladed knife.

 

[Avenger29]

Says so on their website still made in the US.

I brought my first Case 5 years ago when I turned 16 and have only purchased American made knives since. It started me on the road to "worth a damn" knives.


"

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Case = USA

Yes.

Case is still made here in the US.

What has changed is that, while most -- or even all -- of their knives used to be made of CV steel, the bulk of them are now stainless.

The quality is still good, the edges are sharp, the blades still hold an edge, but the CV blades are now in the minority.

They have discontinued some patterns that I didn't discover until they'd already dropped them -- like the large yellow-handled Sod Buster in CV -- but I managed to obtain some anyhow.

For what it's worth, another stalwart American knife company, Buck Knives, has elected to bring their foreign production home to Idaho so, by the end of this year, my understanding is that the whole Buck line will be made here, too.

I support both Case and Buck every chance I get.

Drives the wife nuts, but she indulges me.

 

[Piraticalbob]

Another quality manufacturer of US-made pocket knives in traditional patterns is Queen Cutlery, under their own name and also the fine Schatt & Morgan line. Sadly, they don't appear to offer blades in high-carbon steel, only stainless, although they do offer knives in D2, an unusual blade steel for production pocket knives.

 

[Zeke/PA]

The Case Co. in Bradford Pa. is still in business, however just recently because of these hard times they laid off about 100 employees.
I too am a Case knife fan especially since my big score on several a few years back.
The best prices seem to be SMKW.

 

[hso]

Now that Schrade has gone overseas

Schrade didn't go overseas, the company went under and their name was bought.

Spyderco always has had the majority of it's manufacturing done in Japan with only a small percentage done here in the US.

I doubt that Case will ever have any manufacturing done over seas. That may be the death of them, but they're fighting to maintain the tradition.

 

[Norinco982lover]

I worked for Case as a salesman for about a year while I was in college (2 years ago).

Yes, they are still American made. In fact, while I worked there my manager visited one of the knife factories and was given a tour and they let him pick out and make his own knife. He said it was absolutely awesome.

Our outlet store also sold Buck--which has a lot of knives made overseas now--leatherman, and chicago cutlery. But we were a Case knives store.

~Norinco

p.s. I have forgotten a lot about the different models but I remember that in general Case knives were worth their weight in gold as compared to most of the china made Buck junk.

 

[middy]

Yes. Get him a yellow handle chrome vanadium peanut.

 

[JohnMcD348]

Good to know about Buck. I didn't hear they were moving back production. I guess I can actually start looking at there selections again in the next couple of years.

About the Buck knives, their Chrome Vanadium blades? Are they like the Old Uncle Henry blades? Stainless but hold an edge well? I'm still leaning more toward a plain old Carbon Steel 2 or 3 blade for him. Old School, help him learn to care for it to keep it from rusting up and a little easier to sharpen and hold the edge decently.

 

[middy]

You mean Case? Most of their knives are stainless, 420HC IIRC, but they still make some chrome vanadium (CV), like the yellow handle ones; it's the original Case steel, not stainless, and it's a nice carbon steel for knives... easily takes wicked sharp edge.

 

[Zeke/PA]

The last I heard, some former Schrade employees have re-opened the factory and are producing knives under the "Canal Street" brand.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Yep!
"Canal Street Cutlery" Ellenville, N.Y. has a website.
Check it out!

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Buck

I worked for Case as a salesman for about a year while I was in college (2 years ago).

Yes, they are still American made. In fact, while I worked there my manager visited one of the knife factories and was given a tour and they let him pick out and make his own knife. He said it was absolutely awesome.

Our outlet store also sold Buck--which has a lot of knives made overseas now--leatherman, and chicago cutlery. But we were a Case knives store.

~Norinco

p.s. I have forgotten a lot about the different models but I remember that in general Case knives were worth their weight in gold as compared to most of the china made Buck junk.

Note that a) Buck's classic patterns have always been made in the USA (the 110, 119, 105, 301, etc.), only certain newer patterns went overseas, b) their QC in China has actually been quite good, c) they're bringing everything home.

I'm speculating here, but they seem to feel that the perception their stuff was "all Chinese now" has hurt them. Repeat, that's speculation.

I talked to a number of their employees at the last factory sale, and they're pleased and relieved that production is coming home.

Back to the original topic . . .

If you want to stay with the three-blade tradition, Case still does the Medium Stockman in CV steel. The springs have a real snap to them, so you'll want to make sure he has the finger strength to manipulate that. Buck also does a Stockman (their "medium" stockman is called the "Cadet"), and they're easier to manipulate, but it's a stainless, not carbon steel.

As suggested above, Queen still does carbon steel blades, but I have no exposure to them.

Alternative Case patterns in CV steel: Sod Buster Junior (single blade, good general purpose knife), Peanut (pictured above), Medium Trapper (two blades), Slimline (Barehead) Trapper (one blade).

You can look around the knife-related forums (BladeForums comes to mind) and surf eBay for carbon steel classic patterns no longer in production. I got my large yellow-handled CV steel Case Sod Busters on eBay. I got one of my CV Sodbuster Jr pieces by shopping local feed stores for old stock.

I've even found old Imperial Barlows (Irish production) in carbon steel at local shops. Sometimes sporting goods shops and feed stores will have no idea what they've got, other than "it's old" and they've stuck a discounted price on it.

Look around.

What you want is out there.

 

[Norinco982lover]

Arfin, I want to clarify my post: Buck makes a LOT of fantastic knives-- what I was trying to refer to was the knives that were bulk made in china that were branded as "Authentic Buck" knives. We would put these at the front of our store for the tourists and sell them like crazy all day long for $10-20. They were very cheaply made...and for the most part--crap.

It is good to hear that Buck is moving production back home...I'm sure their quality and hopefully their business will increase dramatically.

~Norinco

 

[JohnMcD348]

I looked a a couple of sites that had the Canal Street Cutlery and nearly went into sticker shock. Their 3 blade folder was $119.00.

Holy Cow.

I'll probably end up with a Case or Buck knife. I guess I can start shopping now and just keep it in my gin cabinet until he's old enough to have it.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Try Bear and Son knives They have Carbon Steel.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Arfin, I want to clarify my post: Buck makes a LOT of fantastic knives-- what I was trying to refer to was the knives that were bulk made in china that were branded as "Authentic Buck" knives. We would put these at the front of our store for the tourists and sell them like crazy all day long for $10-20. They were very cheaply made...and for the most part--crap.

It is good to hear that Buck is moving production back home...I'm sure their quality and hopefully their business will increase dramatically.

~Norinco

Understood.

Like I said, I have a few (well, okay, several) of their China production pieces, and I'm happy with all of them.

On several occasions, on THR and other forums, I have had to correct the perception that Buck knives (especially their Wal-Mart 110 and 119 offerings) were made in China. I'd be surfing along and find yet another thread with posts declaring that "Bucks are now made in China" and find myself correcting (yet again) the "Buck = Chinese crap" myth.

It is that experience that leads me to conjecture that they're pulling production home in no small part due to minsinformation hurting their overall reputation and, thus, their business as a whole.

 

[gpknives]

I have been collecting knives for over 50 years. If Case ever goes over the pond, I'll cry myself to sleep and quit collecting them.

 

[Slamfire]

Case subcontracts knives. There was a pattern I wanted, and I purchased it from Queen. I was very disappointed as the steel was soft and would not take an edge.

So I bought the same pattern from Case. Must have cost $70.00 or so. Same butter soft steel for the knife blade. Examining the Queen and the Case, outside of the handle slabs, there was absolutely no dimensional, constructional, or any difference. I concluded that Case subcontracted some knives.

Then I saw in the Camillus auction, pictures of case folding knives. Camillus was making them for Case.

At least Camillus made a decent knife.

As my Case "labeled" knife sucks, I don't give a hoot one way or the other if Case stays or goes. I am not buying any more of their knives.

 

[hso]

So, one knife and you're willing to write the whole company off instead of sending it back to them? Have you even tried letting them know that the thing is dead soft?

 

[hwp]

Case has sub contracted a FEW knives over the years. None in quite a while.

For cheap/non custom traditional pocket knives (under $100) Case is flat out the best in that price range.

Bucks slip joints are good working knives but not the equal of the Case.

I have about 20-30 USA made Schrades (old timer/uncle henry) and several Camillus slip joints and I can assure you the quality of materials, fit and finish, and craftsmanship is way higher with the Case.

 

[bikerdoc]

I buy all the old USA Schrade, and Camillus I can find. Still have more Case than any thing else.

 

[Lew]

What's the fascination with the yellow handles?

 

[HiWayMan]

What's the fascination with the yellow handles?

Ever lose a knife outside. A damn sight easier to find with those yellow handles. And besides it is tacticool.....haven't you all heard...........yellow is the new black.

 

[Lew]

I did not know that. Guess I'll have to dye my 5.11 pants/shirt/vest/mask/gloves/ballistic helmet/boots/socks yellow. I want to be on the forefront of tacticality. Just wait till all them perps at the mall see me comin'!