Back to the Swayback...

[eisman]

I've been working out of State for the last three weeks, and as luck would have it my regular travel companion didn't make it into my ditty bag this trip. Instead I've been carrying a Case Swayback Jack in CV that I've had in the truck for quite a while. I really like that knife; it's surprised me just how much.

I have a number of this pattern, factory and custom, but my normal carry is usually the 2013 BF Congress Jack by GEC. The Swayback is just slightly smaller, and the blades are close enough for me to make a couple small observations.

1. I very much prefer to have the pen blade in front of the main and the nail nick's on the same side. I think Case could do this with a slight relief like GEC did. It's awkward having to hold the knife differently to open different blades.

2. While the Sheepsfoot on the Congress is good, I prefer the Wharncliff. That GEC used a Wharncliff on some of the more recent #13 patterns is nice, but they made them all with the pen on the reverse side, which I dislike more, and that's why I still can't bring myself to carry one of those.

All in all the Case performed excellently, cutting rope, tape, plastic zip ties (something the Wharncliff shape is much better suited to than the Sheepsfoot), cardboard, paper, cloth, and wood without fail. Even cut some steak and chicken in due course. A really good knife, and it's easy to see why, when Case brought it out 6-7 years ago, it became so popular.

 

[Will Power]

I agree, a small Wharncliffe is a very useful blade for getting into tight places, knots, ties etc, will slice well too so foods or wire stripping come to mind. I disagree with you about side by side blades, I used to like this but nick access can be tricky and I think a knife looks better balanced with nicks on either side, small point though.

What is not easy to understand is why CASE discontinued this cv Barehead Chestnut Bone Jack?? It's the best looker, offers practicalities and yes it was popular. I gave mine away with the assumption I could replace it with ease - think other Chestnut or Amber Bone cv. That was an error and being in Europe looks like I'll never get another one....

 

[glennbad]

That's a great pattern! I think I may have one somewhere. If not, I'll have to remedy that. Although, it would look great with some nice amber stag, hmmmm.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

It's a great little knife. A while ago I went in a nearby hardware store to look through their Case knife display. It's just a very small one and quite picked over with just a few knives remaining. They're not listed as a dealer on the wrcase website so I suspect they're just waiting to sell off the remaining knives so they can take down the display. Anyway, as I was checking out a harvest orange pocket worn muskrat I happened to notice something in the upper left corner in the shadows and upon inspection discovered it was a 2009 chestnut bone CV swayback jack. I stopped looking right there and told the clerk that was the one I wanted. That was a really lucky find and I'm very glad that I had the opportunity to pick one up.

 

[JB in SC]

Great Bose pattern. One of their best IMO.

I have a Reese Bose (3 1/2") swayback. It's a workhorse of a knife.

 

[HeathH]

I scored one off the exchange a couple of hours ago... I can't wait to get it! I've been on the search for about 3 years, but I've never found a deal on one ('til today!). I was tempted by the new Swayback Gent in CV, but I think the utility of the pen blade along with the wharncliffe will make it a user rather than a dust collector. Beautiful bone on yours ~ gotta love Case's Chestnut