CABJ, 7 years wanting, 5 years waiting, or: Mine's coolor than yours :p

[Last Visible Canary]

After 5 years my custom orders have finally come to closure. in 2006 I ordered some knives and after computer changes, the 3 year limit on kept records, and other what nots, 2 of the orders went walkabout. I got a credit for one of them, and changed the last order to this so help make it easier to fill, and because it's honestly better then what I initially ordered (a choiless anorexic version of skunks finger grooved recurved satin jack). Garth has been accomodating to my requests and I ended up with cooler knives then what I initially ordered (my tastes have changed some since 2006 ).

The last alternative/switch from my order is this: The Choiless Anorexic Boss Jack. I made this photoshopped image in 2004, roughly 7 years ago

During that time and onward I started carrying various combinations of thick and thin knives. I've carried a SHSJ and SHSJLE, Ground down/modified THIN NICK and SHSJLE, a SJTAC and SJTACLE, and most recently a CABS and BOSS Jack. I've wanted a thin satin jack since 2004 and have had a custom order for one since 2006, and it is now a reality.

Some spec's on the CABJ vs. it's Choiless BOSS Jack and Choiless Anorexic BOSS Street counter parts

Boss Jack (roughly 7/32 - 0.21875)
Caliper measurements:
.205 Spine thickness above blade
.032 behind edge,
.080 3/16" back from the edge
Weight:
11.7oz

Choiless Anorexic Boss Jack, (roughly 1/8 - 0.125)
Caliper measurements:
.121 Spine thickness above blade
.034 behind edge,
.055 3/16" back from the edge
Weight:
8oz

Choiless Anorexic Boss Street - (roughly 5/32 - 0.15625)
Caliper measurements:
.140 Spine thickness above blade
.025 behind edge
.040 3/16" back from the edge
Weight:
6.2 oz


For only 1.8oz more you get a 6" blade that is slightly more robust and slightly thinner stock thickness. I got mine with sandstorm g10 and satin. The sand storm g10 that is now in stock is slightly different then the older version, it drops the grey layer and leaves the white black and brown. I honestly like the older version a little better because it makes the handle a little more muted, more 'desert like', but it is still very cool. Some comparison pictures:

With the boss street. As you can see from the specs above, the BOSS Street is a more acutely ground knife with a thinner edge and thinner full heigth grind. I'm happy with both, the boss jack feels robust enough for woods use, where I might be a little hesitant to really bash on the boss jack with a hard wood baton through knotted oak:

It's a beautiful knife, where the BOSS Street balances in between the index and middle finger making it slightly handle heavy, this balances very very slightly ahead of the index finger, not enough to keep it from balancing on your index finger when you hold it with just that one.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

It makes for an EXCELLENT camp/food prep knife.
Makin a sandwich:

When you hold it in a detail work food prep position, it balance white under the center of your grip/palm

and has an excellent rolling action from it's round belly

it can do thin slices:

and holds well in various grip positions being balanced well and light enough to not be cumbersome

I didn't take a picture of it, but I also sliced the sourdough in this image, something that would be annoying with a shorter knife like the BOSS street

As far as the various combinations that have been presented as "ideal camp" knives, I think this is pretty much the best of the best, the absolute most bang for your buck in weight penalty to chopping power and versatility:

B11+CABJ
Weight:
1lb 9.9oz

weight comparison of the various knives:

Cheers to garth for putting the rush on this and for making it for me in the first place :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Liu Kang]

That's a very impressive knife. I want one! Congrats!

 

[MADDMAN]

Beautiful blades, really. I have yet to make a custom shop order and have wondered/mused at the various wait times associated with doing so... is this a normal/ to be expected scenario? If so, I had better get on it!

 

[Last Visible Canary]

Beautiful blades, really. I have yet to make a custom shop order and have wondered/mused at the various wait times associated with doing so... is this a normal/ to be expected scenario? If so, I had better get on it!

I think the 3 year wait time that took place in getting my MOAB is a little closer to realistic. I think everything after that was because my orders info was lost and the shop/custom shop being slammed 24/7. If you do put forward a custom order just follow best practices with such orders, keep a folder with:
-a print out of your initial order
-any design drawings you send
-what date you sent it on
-how much you were quoted
-any communications you have with garth/amy/anyone in the shop regarding your order
-any bank records recording charges made for the order

-Check in every 6 months after the first two years just to keep up with it. Try to remember that these are the wait times and that the shop is often slammed, garth has a lot of things to keep up with.

Wait times will vary based on what your order, when you order it, and what happens in the time between when your order it and when you receive it. Try to be fair and understanding and the shop will do you right.





As an aside, when people ask what I consider 'a good fighter', these two knives are pretty much it. I'd rather them have a pointier tip, but the other elements are all there. The BOSS jack is long enough and thick enough to be used as an excellent slasher in that it has enough weight to sink the blade in and give a concussive force during chopping motions, where as the CABJ is thin enough to act like a butcher knife, moving bast flesh to bone readily without the need for the extra weight. They represent the two sides of "fighting knives", heavy chopper vs. thin fast slicer. Both are free from major flaw such as catch points or poor handle ergo's. I would not have thought of the BOSS Jack as a fighter with it's original edge, it was simply to obtuse for general use let alone fighting.

 

[resinguy]

Congratulations!! :thumbup:

It's a shame that your original orders got lost in the shuffle,and that you had to wait so long for your dream to be fulfilled, but I'm glad to hear that Garth took care of you in the end.

Choiless Anorexic BOSS Jack!! ( I wonder if Garth cut that out of skinny stock, or ran a standard BJ blank through a surface grinder? )

Might be time for another Death Chat Thread! You have shown us the path to Busse nirvana. Maybe skunk will order a few hundred for the Store.

The Choiless BOSS Jack LE has tempted me, but no one has one yet has in hand to file a report. Your comments re the handling/balance of the CABJ make me wonder how the the CBJ LE will feel. Sounds like yours is near neutral, or at least not blade heavy. That makes it hard to predict how the standard 0.18" LE thick version will feel. I wonder if it would need the G10 scales to pull the balance back away from blade heavy?
(of course, I would still have to explain to resinwife why I need this despite our current austerity regime )

 

[Last Visible Canary]

Congratulations!! :thumbup:
( I wonder if Garth cut that out of skinny stock, or ran a standard BJ blank through a surface grinder? )

He had mentioned that they had gotten a new surface grinder, so I'm pretty sure this is just one of the standard blanks that was ground down to 1/8". I don't know whether it was the .220 or .180 stock, but I'm sure it wasn't 1/8" stock.

Might be time for another Death Chat Thread! You have shown us the path to Busse nirvana. Maybe skunk will order a few hundred for the Store.

The Choiless BOSS Jack LE has tempted me, but no one has one yet has in hand to file a report. Your comments re the handling/balance of the CABJ make me wonder how the the CBJ LE will feel. Sounds like yours is near neutral, or at least not blade heavy. That makes it hard to predict how the standard 0.18" LE thick version will feel. I wonder if it would need the G10 scales to pull the balance back away from blade heavy?
(of course, I would still have to explain to resinwife why I need this despite our current austerity regime )

The CBJ proto that I have balances slightly forward of the CABJ, but not so significantly that it feels like a totally different knife. It takes some effort to balance on the CBJ proto on my index finger and I think I'm relying a little on skin friction to keep it from rolling forward, but it's doable. The CABJ balances right on the index without a lot of effort. Chances are the .180 CBJLE will feel fairly neutral, balancing very close to the index.

That said, both of these knives are in g10. I'm not sure how the canvas, linen or paper micarta would handle. (or aluminum (though thats not really a production option ))

 

[JAB]

Niiiice!:thumbup: That defthinitely looks like it was worth the wait!

I, too, wonder how the choil-less LEs are going to measure up (if y'all will pardon the pun). I still haven't placed my order yet, either.

 

[CR33]

Grats bro!! Really nice blade-no doubt. I got no love for the sandstorm- but that is a beautiful blade bro. Great pics too. Thx for sharing.

 

[type00rev]

Congrats....that's a sweet blade.

 

[lsheldon]

Very nice, you are an exceptionally patient person... Congrats...