Coffin Jack

DeathbySnooSnoo said:
This is truly a work of art. One of the best looking knives I have ever seen!
i
I wish that there were more coffin handled knives around. Its a pattern I like a lot.
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Thanks. Getting it for $210 was the icing on a very sweet cake, but no suede pouch:grumpy:
 
Thanks for the compliments.

You guys that like that ebony - pick one up if you can, I don't think you'll be sorry you did.
The 'relief pocket milled' liners are an amazing thing to see and they make me wonder why other makers don't do that; not a scratch on those tangs.
 
Of the knifemakers who make Traditional style knives i'd say about half of them mill relieve the liners.
"Half" is a guess, but you get the point, it is fairly common in customs.
kj
 
Every now and then you can find a Canal Street Coffin Jack for sale. Not sure when they were produced, but they are not as salty as a custom, and they look real nice.
 
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kj
 
kootenay joe said:
"Matters not to me. It's a well made knife."
I agree, but part of the enjoyment i get from collecting is seeking out the history behind a knife or knife company. It adds meaning to a knife beyond it being just a nice knife.
kj
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Nicely put. And BTW you look good in Gold.
 
kootenay joe said:
"Matters not to me. It's a well made knife."
I agree, but part of the enjoyment i get from collecting is seeking out the history behind a knife or knife company. It adds meaning to a knife beyond it being just a nice knife.
kj
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For some perhaps that is the case. There is extremely little story or history behind the knives I collect beyond the history of mass production companies. Perhaps why the vast majority of my knives have cost me $20 or less.
 
Among others i am also a Schrade collector. If you hang out in the Schrade Knife Collectors forum here (very bottom of "Manufacturers Forums"), every minute change in every production knife is noted and talked about. e.g. change of length of a swedge on the 8OT clip blade, or change from matchstriker to regular pull, etc., on & on. No detail is ever overlooked.
With the closure of Schrade in 2004 some forum members purchased all the tons of paperwork, contains minutes of business meetings, shop floor production notes for every day, etc. These notes give definite evidence of when certain runs were made and who they were making it for (lots of SFO's), etc.
You can get as deep into the history of any knife or any knife company as you feel driven to. Soon you find out that what is marked on a knife as far as name, etc. often means very little, as all knife companies were making knives or knife parts for each other so it becomes a forensic puzzle to figure out who made what.
And all of this is a lot of fun.
kj
 
First. Thanks to everyone for posting pictures and responding.

Second. Chuck, that Ebony Bose is my current grail. I think I might even make the trip to Atlanta in search of one this summer.

Third. Its really interesting how you all know/find the history of these knives. I'm trying to absorb all the information I can from BF. Thanks again!
 
For the experts, what is the difference between the coffin jack and the coke-bottle style? Is it just the beveling, or something more? I really like the discussion, it is a knife I was unaware of, and really good looking knives posted above!
 
The proper name for a "Coke Bottle" pattern is a "Swell Center Jack", usually 2 sizes; small one is ~ 3 1/2" and the larger at 5- 5 3/8" is a "Swell Center Folding Hunter".
A "Coffin" Jack can also be called a "Crown" Jack: usually has bolsters and caps, both squared rather than rounded. They have a slight taper with blades at the narrower end. Sides can be straight or have a slight swell either in the middle or towards the caps. Rare pattern after about WW I.
But, i am not an expert. I am taking this from LGK 4th ed.
kj
 
Right. Coffin Jack and not a "Coke Bottle" because it has squared caps.
The definitions for known patterns are helpful but there are plenty of knives that could fit into either of 2 named patterns, or not exactly right for any pattern.
And knife companies play a role as well. Case started the term "Half Whittler" for a Serpentine Pen knife ? or Double End Jack ? (i don't know if Case's "Half Whittler" has 1 or 2 springs).
kj
 
I have 4-5 of these. They are great carbon steel bladed knives made by Queen cutlery. Pretty bone on all of the ones I have. Bargain when you can find them. Made in the 80's.

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Mort Canard said:
Does anyone have an idea of the GEC pattern that would be a good platform for for a new production of Coffin Jacks? The #99 Wall Street might work but it is a lock back. The #63 Templar/Mako is also a possible candidate but the fishtail bolster would have to be significantly reworked.
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What about the #22?

 
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