All About Pocket Knives

I’m curious if case knives coming from the factory are sharpened to a certain bevel such as 15 degree?

Having visited the factory and watched Case employees putting the final edge on knives I can tell you it's a "by hand" operation done by skilled craftsmen. My impression is that it's done by "feel" - I saw no precise measuring tools involved.

Based on years of experience re-sharpening Case knives for personal use my guesstimate is the factory angle is about 15 to 20 degrees per side. JMO.

BTW I posted that exact reply, word for word, to the same question on the Case Collector’s Club forum. It was confirmed by a Case employee, who responded “That pretty much nailed it.”

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:56 pm Having visited the factory and watched Case employees putting the final edge on knives I can tell you it's a "by hand" operation done by skilled craftsmen. My impression is that it's done by "feel" - I saw no precise measuring tools involved.

Based on years of experience re-sharpening Case knives for personal use my guesstimate is the factory angle is about 15 to 20 degrees per side. JMO.

BTW I posted that exact reply, word for word, to the same question on the Case Collector’s Club forum. It was confirmed by a Case employee, who responded “That pretty much nailed it.”

Ken

That would explain why there is a difference in feel of sharpness on new knives I have purchased. I think the
extra sharp ones were ground to 15 degrees.

Bob

Bob, I doubt it has anything to do with "new" knives. I don't think that process has changed at Case for decades. In fact it's been over 10 years since my last factory tour, but I made that post on the Case forum last year.

Ken

Interesting I would have thought they would have used some kind of machine that would grind each knife the same

I suspect such a robotic machine is possible. Not in use however at most "traditional" knife makers not turning out soul-less knives. Maybe this factory tour video will help. You'll see a lot of automation but many hand operations (and American workers) remain.

Ken

Nice video.

Ken

Thanks, Ken!

The video answers the bevel question, "... just the right angle."

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:23 pm I suspect such a robotic machine is possible. Not in use however at most "traditional" knife makers not turning out soul-less knives. Maybe this factory tour video will help. You'll see a lot of automation but many hand operations (and American workers) remain.

Ken

Nice video.I can see why each knifes bevel might mot be the same. They don't seem to use any guide while sharpening.

I asked the very same question by email, Case replied recommended sharpening angle 15 degrees. I have stuck to 15 degrees on all my case knives, and all are very sharp. All of my Case knifes have come sharp from the factory, and after a few strokes on a leather strop were all razor sharp.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:23 pm I suspect such a robotic machine is possible. Not in use however at most "traditional" knife makers not turning out soul-less knives. Maybe this factory tour video will help. You'll see a lot of automation but many hand operations (and American workers) remain.

Ken

Thanks for posting this Ken, very interesting.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:23 pm I suspect such a robotic machine is possible. Not in use however at most "traditional" knife makers not turning out soul-less knives. Maybe this factory tour video will help. You'll see a lot of automation but many hand operations (and American workers) remain.

Ken

This is the kind of thing many big companies want to do away with in the 21st century, skilled, well paid workers. Bring on the robots they say!

Factory tours are suspended at present because of Covid. When they re-start them, I think you have to be a Case Collector’s Club member to get a tour, but it’s worth every penny of the membership cost. During my tour I met some great Case employees who took time to answer all my dumb questions.

When we got to the knife assembly work stations, I observed as one of the women working there showed me how everything was done, how the parts were taken sequentially from bins and “piled” into place in the fixture, the pins set, etc. Then she stood up from her chair, motioned for me to sit down in her place and said “Here, you do one.” I’m ashamed to say I had not really paid close enough attention to do it! So she patiently pointed out what to do while I assembled a knife. Somewhere out there is a 3254 Trapper assembled by me!

If you get the opportunity to tour the Case factory, don’t miss it. My wife even enjoyed it!

Ken