#78 American Jack

View attachment 816487 View attachment 816488

This bad boy is delayed in the mail somewhere. It should have arrived today, but the tracking from Knife Connection seems to be spotty. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow. I have never seen a better group of knives than these Ironwoods. I missed out on the dramatic ones, one great one was actually snatched right out of my shopping cart, so I selected the the most detailed and intricate grain pattern remaining. This one will be a keeper unless I find a very special Cocobolo. The single blade Cocobolos seem to be slow getting to the dealers. I am also anxious to see if my Appaloosa Bone from DLT is a keeper. I will have to depend on the luck of the draw with that one.
 
My black micarta finally made its way to my mailbox. Woot! I really like this one, especially the texture. It reminds me of the muslin micarta on the recent run of 13s.

24308273567_596c8d6e99_b.jpg


Size comparison with a 74. Different shape but not too dissimilar in length.

25304200758_98bd267aa5_b.jpg


One more probably unnecessary size comparison photo since I have it handy. I showed a photo of the 78 to a friend of mine and he accused it of being tiny and useless so I needed to take a photo with a reference item that would mean something to him to show him it's really not. It's right on par with a 91mm Victorinox, which is plenty big and functional.

25305874338_d48c9779a8_b.jpg
 
Why is it I can still find the two blade versions on vendor websites when the single blade versions are getting snapped up? I can easily find a two blade version of the #14 Lick Creek Boys knife today as well.

I know I am in single blade fan camp for most of my knives (new 78 on its way to me now) but is this the usual sales result? Do they produce more of the two blade versions so it gives the appearance of them not moving off shelves as quickly?. How many frames come up with the single or multiple blade options and is this the usual result?

,,,Mike in Canada
 
Duper said:
Why is it I can still find the two blade versions on vendor websites when the single blade versions are getting snapped up? I can easily find a two blade version of the #14 Lick Creek Boys knife today as well.

I know I am in single blade fan camp for most of my knives (new 78 on its way to me now) but is this the usual sales result? Do they produce more of the two blade versions so it gives the appearance of them not moving off shelves as quickly?. How many frames come up with the single or multiple blade options and is this the usual result?

,,,Mike in Canada
Click to expand...

A few factors at play. First of all, the SFO's are all single-blade and SFOs tend to get snapped up quicker than regular production. Second, in the case of the 14 and the 78, you have a spear main with a pen secondary - many people will consider this redundant and opt for the slimmer package. A coping secondary may have made the 2-blade variations more popular.

As for me, I see the 2-blades as more "classic reproductions" for some reason and so they're more appealing to me. I feel the same way about the 2-blade 85s - they just seem more "correct" to me.
 
tstaut tstaut , I think the same way. The 2 blades look more like the traditional jacks that were produced in the early 1900’s. I had a single blade in stag on reserve but I had to pick up a 2 blade in white bone. To me, that variant looked the best and most “standard”. Plain covers, plain nail nicks, plain hot dog shield, and the traditional configuration of pen in front of the main blade.

Another reason the single blades are being picked up faster I’m guessing is because the first run of the 78’s were all 2 blades. This is the first time the singles have been produced.
 
I’m in the single blade fan club on this particular pattern . But I do like the 2 Blade also just not as much :D
 
tstaut said:
A few factors at play. First of all, the SFO's are all single-blade and SFOs tend to get snapped up quicker than regular production. Second, in the case of the 14 and the 78, you have a spear main with a pen secondary - many people will consider this redundant and opt for the slimmer package. A coping secondary may have made the 2-blade variations more popular.

As for me, I see the 2-blades as more "classic reproductions" for some reason and so they're more appealing to me. I feel the same way about the 2-blade 85s - they just seem more "correct" to me.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that! I was just thinking cost may be a factor as well. It is only a few dollars but to some it may make a difference when budgeting for new acquisitions.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
In my haste to order some of these, I mistakenly ordered two of the 2 blade versions in Elderberry Jigged Bone. I am not a fan of 2 blade knives so they will probably end up on the exchange at a discount when I receive them. I then "corrected" myself by ordering a 1 blade model with the same covers. :)
 
Just ordered a single blade Cocobolo from Mike at CK! After missing the KSF and TKC SFOs I didn’t want to miss out on this option. Also, here’s to hoping I get a good Appaloosa Bone from DLT...
 
Duper said:
Why is it I can still find the two blade versions on vendor websites when the single blade versions are getting snapped up? I can easily find a two blade version of the #14 Lick Creek Boys knife today as well.

I know I am in single blade fan camp for most of my knives (new 78 on its way to me now) but is this the usual sales result? Do they produce more of the two blade versions so it gives the appearance of them not moving off shelves as quickly?. How many frames come up with the single or multiple blade options and is this the usual result?

,,,Mike in Canada
Click to expand...
I agree with the provided reasons wholeheartedly, and would like to add that the slimmer profile of the single blade makes it much more carry friendly. If the secondary blade is not considered paramount, then why take up the extra pocket space?

Edit: guess I didn't add much that tstaut tstaut didn't already say. Sorry:)
 
BenjaminRush said:
Just ordered a single blade Cocobolo from Mike at CK! After missing the KSF and TKC SFOs I didn’t want to miss out on this option. Also, here’s to hoping I get a good Appaloosa Bone from DLT...
Click to expand...
Thanks for letting us know! I was worried I would miss this one too, and was able to grab one in time.
 
I wasn't planning on getting a 2b 78. If I was looking at a 2b I likely would of held off due to a few people saying it was difficult to access the main nail nick.

The 14 is a small knife. The secondary on a small knife is tiny. The extra width of the 14 2b may not fit as well with peoples thoughts about use because you're shopping for a small knife and the second blade makes it bigger. For me, if I carry a 14, it's one of two knives that I have with me so I have no use for a tiny secondary.

Who knows.. interesting question regarding production totals. You could easily check GEC totals to see if 2b is produced in larger quantity.

Edit - checked GEC production totals of the 14 for 2016. They made more single blade knives than 2 blade knives in every cover.

142116
RUST RED JIG BONE 286 PCS.
ANTIQUE YELLOW JIG BONE 348 PCS.
GABON EBONY WOOD 306 PCS.
OD GREEN LINEN MICARTA 288 PCS.
NIFEBRITE ACRYLIC 172 PCS.

142216
RUST RED JIG BONE 237 PCS.
ANTIQUE YELLOW JIG BONE 254 PCS.
GABON EBONY WOOD 257 PCS.
OD GREEN LINEN MICARTA 227 PCS.
NIFEBRITE ACRYLIC 147 PCS.
 
Last edited:
I just don't like how the 2B version of the 78 looks with both nail nicks nested so closely together on the same side. Plus I keep my nails short and I'd be afraid accessing the main would be difficult.

I'm all for two blade knives, and if GEC put the nail nick of the secondary on the opposite side that of the main like they do on some other patterns I'd be all over it. I'm sticking with the 1B version of this pattern.
 
I'm Just surprised that Collector Knives still has the single blade Cocobolo available. I reserved and purchased one thinking they would be gone in a heartbeat!
 
TOM K. said:
I'm Just surprised that Collector Knives still has the single blade Cocobolo available. I reserved and purchased one thinking they would be gone in a heartbeat!
Click to expand...

Edit -

I'm surprised too. I figured they would be snapped up right away.
 
Last edited:
Photos are the key for me. Those Cocobolo knives will range from brilliant to very ordinary. (removed non BF dealer member references) will hopefully post individual photos. Is anyone aware of others who might post photos?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
cbr1000 said:
I checked them out earlier. No individual pictures of knives (that I could find) so that might have something to do with it.
Click to expand...

Has nothing to do with it. We have been increasing our orders in hopes of being able to stock items for more than a couple days. Since this was a run where the factory asked for numbers and built to dealer orders - we got all we wanted. Not to mention they are not even due to arrive until tomorrow from the factory; and have only been publicly accessible for about 15 hours.

Not to say that some people would be more likely to purchase one if they could see multi-angle shots of every knife in stock. Only to say that providing that adds significant cost It is a one man show around here. And that one man spends about 60 hours weekly on the supplemental income as it is. My sincerest apologies for not having several employees to make the process smoother, but my business model in its current form only works because I count my time at near zero. And some days I feel over-paid....
 
Last edited:
knifeswapper said:
Has nothing to do with it. We have been increasing our orders in hopes of being able to stock items for more than a couple days. Since this was a run where the factory asked for numbers and built to dealer orders - we got all we wanted. Not to mention they are not even due to arrive until tomorrow from the factory; and have only been publicly accessible for about 15 hours.

Not to say that some people would be more likely to purchase one if they could see multi-angle shots of every knife in stock. Only to say that providing that adds significant cost It is a one man show around here. And that one man spends about 60 hours weekly on the supplemental income as it is. My sincerest apologies for not having several employees to make the process smoother, but my business model in its current form only works because I count my time at near zero. And some days I feel over-paid....
Click to expand...
Thanks for doing what you can to keep the prices low, Mike. No doubt it would take much more time to photograph each individual knife, and even more effort to keep it straight which was which. Personally, I'm ok to be surprised a little. It seems the chances are slim that I would get a "bad" one from GEC.
 
I’ll echo the thanks to Mike for what he does. I’m proud to count myself among his customers.

This may not be a popular opinion, but I’m not a huge fan of the individually photographed knives — makes me feel like I have to pick just the right one and may lead to buyers remorse if I stumble upon one I like better later or on another site. I’m happy ordering just a cover option and sticking with what I get.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top