All About Pocket Knives

I see the newTec-X website is currently under construction. http://www.tecx.com So far, I do not see the name 'Case' anywhere on the knife, nor is it mentioned on any of the web pages (but more to come). Maybe if George Duke can keep Tec-X a truly separate product, these new Chinese made knives will not seriously dilute the value or reputation of our American Made Case knives.

I looked at a few of those knives and I just dont think they look all that great to me!

I'll stick with an AMERICAN made Kershaw or Buck

So much for keeping the " Case " name out of it . I got this from the same website you posted :

" TEC-X LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

We warrant each and every Tec X knife to be free of defects in material and workmanship for the life of the owner, and we will repair or replace with a new Tec X knife, at our option, any Tec X knife that is defective. That is how strongly we feel about the quality of our cutlery. If you believe your Tec X knife has a manufacturing defect, mail your knife along with a written explanation of the problem to:
Tec X - W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company
Repair Department
50 Owens Way, Bradford PA 16701 USA

I guess they don't want the knives being returned to China for warranty repairs ?

Those look like cheap Chinese tacticals,oh wait they are!

baliblaster wrote:Those look like cheap Chinese tacticals,oh wait they are!

That's really all they're meant to be. Case is going after the teen and twenty-something market who doesn't buy traditional pocket knives. NO, I don't agree with the decision to have them made in China! But what's done is done. I've found out that all the TecX knives are being sent to Bradford for inspection and packaging before reaching the dealers (might have created a job or two in PA.) and I suspect that most returned will just be replaced. I'm sticking with the traditional folders myself, but there is a market Case was missing out on and this is how they decided to reach it (again, not that I agree with how they did it).

Well said Elvis My older Case knives will always be in pocket and collection in the heart.

I've kinda got mixed feelings about this.

I think it was probably a good move on Case's part to not brand these knives as "Case." Look at some of the reactions over the years to Buck's outsourcing some models to China, but selling them as "Buck." There are still folks convinced that Buck has moved all production off-shore, others who were so incensed at what they felt was Buck "hiding" the country of origin that they'll never purchase another Buck.

On the other hand, Boker has done well marketing outsourcing production by having several brands indicating origin of the knives, but based on their main Boker brand. "Boker" brand is made in Germany, "Boker Arbolito" brand in Argentina, "Boker Plus" and "Boker Magnum" in Taiwan and China, etc. Origin is indicated on their webpage by the brand name, an explanation of brand names is easy to find on the page, and the knives are marked with both brand and country of origin.

If Case went with the Boker model, and called these "Case Tec-X" knives, they might be able to capitalize on their name recognition and at the same time keep it clear in the mind of the consumer that the knives were outsourced.

I can't figure out what they are doing with "Tec-X" brand while at the same time indicating customer service will be provided by Case. I suspect that Case acknowledging their connection to the Tec-X knives in the guarantee might lend some confidence to folks who are hesitating to purchase. From the consumer perspective, it might convince some folks to pay the premium Case is going to be asking for their knives over similar generic knives.

It will be interesting to watch. . . .

I think these are ugly, but I am not a big fan of tacti-cool knives!! ;p). They remind me of those cheap knives I see all the time at convenience stores. I also think Case should have kept the production in the US, but the last I heard, they were having financial problems, so this is not surprising. I like Case knives, but find them overpriced for what they are. How can Buck and Bear and Sons make knives here in the US at a fair price, but Case cannot?