Case vs GEC Jackknives: Is Nailbreaker a Dealbreaker?

My preference for the farm has always been a 3 blade medium Case stockman in CV for farm work. It usually took me 8 to 10 years to wear down the sheep foot blade to the point I would just buy another. This is from an ol farm boys experence. Now days I use nearly any thing that tickles my fancy, as I am able to afford to have "toys" and not just tools for everyday work.
You asked about GEC vs Case on pull? From all of the knives of both companies I have handled MY opinion is that Case generaly have the easier pull. That said, I like the GEC steel better for some reason, and I think, in general the average GEC is the better knife. Only thing I would warn about the swayback jack for EDC farm work is that I think that small pen blade would see an early demise if it where used hard on a farm. The sheep foot on the stockman was always my most used, and sharpened blade. If I had to choose a farm EDC today, it would be a stockman with D2 blades!;)
 
Take a look at the Queen straight jack in amber bone - that is just straightforward a good knife, no qualifiers :D
 
Queen's quality and fit and finish is iffy at best these days. Gaps are the norm and blades are butter knife dull out of the box.
 
coyote711 said:
For your first Case CV with bone handles you'd have a hard time doing better than what you've already chosen: the Swayback Jack or the Texas Jack. You'll not find any GEC knife that is of consistently better quality than the SBJ. Get ya one in Chestnut Bone CV. Personally, of the two I like the Small Texas Jack better because it feels better in the hand to me. YMMV. At 3 1/2" closed it's not all that "small" either. Get ya one in Amber Bone CV.

For a great GEC that's consistently not a nail-breaker check out the #33 Conductor. Great little knife! It may be a little small for horse chores & farm work ..... but then again, maybe not. ;) At any rate the Conductor pattern is a great introduction to the GEC stable of knives. Highly recommended.

Good luck and let us know what you decide on!
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You're dead on about the #33. I got one last week and the pull is WAY easier to live with than my Ben Hogan or Barlow. I do think the quality is somewhat superior
to Case but not enough to put up with a knife that can barely be opened safely.
 
I love a nail breaker personally, I have REAL thick nails and the added spring tension on the open blade is appealing...its the one thing I dont like about my old timer schrades, the spring is insanely pitiful!

That said the only knife I've had snap closed on my finger (nearly severing the tip) was an old lambs foot from Sheffield...it snaps like a bear trap!!!
 
I'm with Robert on this one, I like a strong pull and a lot does depend on the condition of your nails(take those vitamins&minerals):D

If the OP doesn't fancy tough springs then best avoid GEC, that said, the patterns 56,66 and 33 have much milder springs. This may be due to lack of half-stops on these patterns. I really cannot see anybody having difficulty with those patterns, The Calf Roper Medium Stockman 66 ought to be ideal. The new pattern 85 Bullet Jack might be worth considering too, also comes with a punch with some options:thumbup: CASE's Swayback is excellently finished but not all of its models are and I think GEC much more consistent, their carbon is very impressive should wear a long, long time.
 
jackknife said:
I wonder if Case or GEC would come out with a line of 'old fart knives'. Knives with less than normal spring strength for us poor old folks.

Carl.
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I don't know about Case or G.E.C, but my new Buck 301 that I got last Christmas, has perrty soft springs. A little softer than I like, but the rest of the knife is just fine...
 
I have a Schatt&Morgan file and wire tested Texas Toothpick(beautiful knife) that I won't carry because of its nail breaker spring.I've busted my thumbnail more than once opening the blade on that folder.That was just sharpening and fondling opening and closing.Nail breakers are deal breakers for me as well.Give me a Case or a Buck anyday.
 
I am in the same position as the OP deciding on a new jack knife. The only slipjoint I have now was a gift, a Case small toothpick, which I carry daily. I probably buy a Case jack knife because they offer more affordable users. GEC knives are around $90+ even for their basic models, and I can get a case working knife for about 1/3 the price. I am a young man, and not a knife collector, For me saving money means being able to spend more time in the field. If GEC produced a readily available, simple jack knife with plain synthetic scales and superior steel to case for $50-70, I would buy that knife in a heartbeat. My opinion is that GEC is a semi-custom collectors brand, they make almost every pattern with exotic handles. While Case appeals to collectors, they also have a great line of working knives for working men.
 
Thanks Nathan for another useful video. As I suspected, my 66 is not alone in having a mild pull. That Snakewood looks really good too.

Brandonc, you make a valid point but I think the fact that GEC uses thicker stock and I feel, has superior carbon to CASE cv rules out the cost cutting. GEC has a remarkable consistency in QC as well. You might want to keep your eye open for a 2nd hand GEC on the Traditionals for sale forum, some decent knives can be found there. Good luck, W
 
I don't like blades that are hard to open. But, most of the time with some use they will "limber up" and be fine. I like some snap with a medium to medium minus pull for my knives. I hate to keep bringing it up, but the mini copperhead I have is just right. I have others that are as well.

The new Bladeforum knife is a fabulous knife, but the pull on the caplifter causes me to hurt my thumbnail when it hits the half stop. I am ambivalent to half stops, but a strong pull and a half stop is a bad combination for me. It remains to be seen if I can warm up to it or if it warms up to me. Doesn't keep it from being a great piece of craftsmanship which I fully appreciate.

Ed J
 
Thanks everyone for all the responses. I'll be looking at the advice you all gave me, like the GEC #66 and the #33 conductor. It seems these two GEC knives would fit my description and don't have a nailbender. I'm also looking at the dogleg jack too, but I think I'll try the Case SBJ chestnut bone this christmas first because I've just seen so many loving posts about it and it's a little cheaper. I'll try to keep an eye out for a second-hand GEC on the sale forum here.

I guess since you all say that Buck and Schrade have springs that are on the loose side, then I am a weak-spring kinda guy, because I think my Buck 55 and Schrade 108OT are fantastic knives. Thanks again, and any more recommendations are welcome.
 
I've got a Case small Texas Jack (in amber bone CV), and a GEC #66 Serpentine Jack (ebony scales), which are very similar in size and pattern.
I've also got/had some other Case knives and a GEC EZ Open barlow.

The GEC #66 Serpentine Jack is not a nail breaker at all. I would not like it if it was, as I have soft desk hands, and am sensitive to that.
I like the GEC #66 Serpentine Jack better than the Case Small Texas Jack, although the Case Small Texas Jack is a nice knife. The GEC has significantly much more character, and looks like a knife from days of old. The GEC is roundish, whereas the Case is somewhat flat, and has squared bolsters, which are fine, but which I don't like as much. The scales on every GEC I've seen are very nice, such that they get me excited significantly more than those on Case knives I've seen. The blades on both these GEC and Case jacks are fine. The main clip on the Case is more narrow, than that of the GEC, and I prefer the GEC main blade. Both small blades are fine, but again I have a slight preference for the GEC small blade. The GEC #66 Serpentine Jack is a very nice knife, and I make it my general EDC above all others right now. It's a very usefull size to cover most pocket situations. The Amber Bone scales on the nice, but for some reason, they look a bit "manufactured". There's just something about the GECs that calls to me.

I am a carbon steel freak. The GEC offerings move me significantly more than those of Case, and there isn't as many CV Cases, so I find myself looking at the GECs much more.

I just ordered a GEC #33 Conductor. It will be here in a few days. It should be a little smaller and lighter than the #66, gets great reviews, and come in beautiful scales, which I'm looking forward to. I've also been looking at the GEC Congresses.

My GEC EZ Open Barlow, is a little too hard to open, but since it doesn't even have nail nicks, it's still OK. I think if you research each particular GEC model, you can easily avoid a nail breaker.
 
My 73 had close to nail breaker pulls but now it is broke in it's like my heavier Queens and Cases. My 53 was just right out of the tube!
 
Speaking of non-nail-breaker GEC's, I just got a Powderhorn (ebony scales) and it's a very smooth "5" on the open & close of both blades - and no half-stops. I normally don't care for the toothpick pattern, but the GEC Toothpick and Powderhorn (a two bladed "toothpick") are really sweet. My little finger just curls around the curve of the tail on that knife when in use and it just feels right! And it carries way better in the pocket than I thought a 4" knife would.

GLDNDomer, good choice on the Chestnut Bone SBJ! And, as you mentioned, the Buck 55 is a great little knife! I haven't given mine much love lately - my GEC Conductor just doesn't want to give up any (watch)pocket time to any other knife. ;)

Eager, I think you'll really like your Conductor - it "boxes above its weight" in so many ways!
 
I would recommend either a GEC #66 Jack or Calf Roper.The GEC #66 Serpentine Jack is not a nail breaker at all.They are made to last,good stuff!

Brian E.
 
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