Buying the right Case Swayback Jack the first time

M

Mud Shrimp Moe

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Nov 6, 2011
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First post in Traditionals, as I've been carrying traditional one handed lockback folders and SAKs for most of my life.

But I have an itch for a Case Swayback Jack. The model variants and costs have me a bit confused, and I could use a primer on them. Some have "surgical stainless" (a term I've never cared for) some have chrome vanadium blades. Some have two bolsters. Some only one. There are limited edition models as well. The price differences between the variants can be rather extreme.

I've searched and read about them on this forum, but still have a couple of questions.

1) Is the chrome vanadium blade worth paying a bit more for? What are the advantages of this blade steel, besides the fact it will patina faster?
2) Any advice on models with no back bolster? I tend to prefer that look, actually.
3) Colors? I tend to dig the green and blue bone models. I think these are less popular, but I like them.
4) Limited editions? Are these something highly desirable?

If I were buying right now, I'd probably go with the Swayback Jack Bermuda Green bone (no back bolster) with the non CV blade. But what gives me pause is the CV blades. The color choices are more limited on CV blades. I've found it in Chestnut, which is nice but a little less preferred. And it carries a price premium.

I'm less concerned about price than I am getting a quality knife, however. What's your advice?
 
CV is non stainless carbon steel. It takes a razor sharp edge very fast and keeps it nicely. It is a breeze to sharpen.
Case's SS steel is stainless but other than that it acts pretty similar to CV. Both are good quality blades.
For a while I was only interested in CV (and I still prefer it) but since I have aquired some SS Case knives I have been convinced these are quality blades as well.
CV usually only comes in a few product lines Yellow delrin, Amber bone, Chestnut Bone, Dark red bone and now stag rancher. Only Chestnut Bone has a CV SBJ too bad I wish they had more CV SBJ offerings too.
Don't worry about Case SS it is servicable steel.
 
I have Case SBJ in both chestnut and green bone. I carry the chesnut CV regularily, mainly because I got that one first. The CV is really easy to keep sharp even though it won't hold the edge as long. I too wish Case would offer the CV blades in a greater variety of scale materials. In my opinion the limited editions will only be worthwhile if you're a collector; if you're going to use the knife the collectablity decreases. With the prices Case is charging for some of their higher end knives you can buy a true custom, which is why I have knives in this pattern from 3-4 makers.
GreenSBJ.jpg
 
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Well, I don´t own a SBJ, but I own the SBG (Sway Back Gent, similar knife but without a secondary pen blade). I like that one.


IMG_1137.jpg


I also prefered that one without the endbolsters. At this pattern it just looks cooler :cool:

billym already told you a lot about the used steel used by Case.

Many of the guys here have the Chestnut Brown Bone CV version of the SBJ. Seems to be really a nice one, maybe I gonna get also one, at any time.

The Swaybacks make a good decision for an EDC knife. I personally would prefer a Case in CV and without the endbolsters.

Kind regards
Andi
 
So it looks like I must decide between the Bermuda Green or Blue models ... colors I prefer, and cheaper to buy, but with no CV blades ... versus a Chestnut with CV. I like the Chestnut pretty well, really. It's a bit generic, but fine, and $10-15 more money.

Hard choice. :(
 
Can't speak with as much experience as most of the guys on here, but i own s Case SBJ in CV chestnut bone. It has been more or less all i carried for the past two months, I love everything about it and would highly advise it.

But ultimately its gonna sit in your pocket so choose what you like.

Regards
Andrew
 
Mud Shrimp Moe said:
So it looks like I must decide between the Bermuda Green or Blue models ... colors I prefer, and cheaper to buy, but with no CV blades ... versus a Chestnut with CV. I like the Chestnut pretty well, really. It's a bit generic, but fine, and $10-15 more money.

Hard choice. :(
Click to expand...

If you know you prefer green or blue scales, and aren't sure of the cost/benefit of CV steel, I'd go for one of those instead of the chestnut. But, that's just me. :-)

(My chestnut SBJ is probably my favorite knife; whatever you choose, I hope you'll be as pleased as I am with this patterns styling, finish, and heft.)

Do you have any place you can see one or more of them in person before buying? I've found Cases's stock photos to sometimes bear little resemblance to their finished knives, in terms of color saturation and/or hue. I greatly appreciate people's taking the time to take and post their own pictures of the various scale types for this reason.

Good luck with your decision!

~ P.
 
I have a Chesnut CV and a Green SS. Both real nice. I hardly every carry the green one though.
 
IMO the CV SBJ is one of the best knives that Case has put out in years. A real bargain for a knife made this well.

IMG_3736.jpg
 
I think Case's CV is very good blade steel. I also like their Tru-Sharp stainless although in my opinion, CV holds an edge a little better. I prefer stainless steel blades for an EDC. I have used both CV and Tru-Sharp and for me, the low maintenance of Tru-Sharp outweighs the slightly better edge retention of CV. It's really a matter of personal preference.

I like the looks of the Bermuda Green SBJ a lot. In fact, if I was in the market for a SBJ that's the one I would get. It just happens to have Tru-Sharp blades but if it was CV I would still be very tempted. I like that color.

I have a Bermuda Green Peanut. Here is a pic of my own for color reference. Not the greatest pic but it might help a little.

BirtdayPeanut.jpg
 
I also have been tempted to get a SBJ, and like you I think the green looks good.

The knife I have in this pattern is the gent, because I usually prefer single blade knives. This one is honey brown bone with the Kinfolks branding. It has the SS blade (my peanut has CV), and I have been pleased with both.
 
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Thanks for the pics. I really love that Bermuda Green color. The Chestnut is also nice, but the Bermuda Green really does it for me.
 
Another thing to consider is that the Bermuda Green is from the Pocket Worn line which means that the knife will be buffed more than usual (i.e. the corners of the bolsters will be rounded off and the scales will be smoother and more rounded).
 
The price difference you're seeing may be the difference from a straight Case & the Case/Bose collaboration version. The Case/Bose is a bit more but I think the f/f is a littler better. (IMO)
 
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