Copperhead or the Swell center Jack.

K

kidwholaughs

Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
1,189
Hey guys,

There are two knives that have really caught my eye. By I can only get one.

The copperhead with the warncliff blade. Note: This is the Case version: Large warncliffe with a pen blade.
http://www.caseknifeoutlet.com/knifedetail.cfm?id=1496

The small swell center jack, aka small coke bottle
http://www.caseknifeoutlet.com/knifedetail.cfm?id=190

I will be using the heck out of them. Can anyone offer me some experience on these knives. Perhaps comparsions. I am looking for practicality for this knife. No use for it sitting on the shelf.

God bless
 
I love both of those knives. I've had a blue bone copperhead wharncliffe with SS blades for about 4 years. It is my favorite everyday knife, and it's pretty to boot. I prefer a slightly lighter knife if I'm wearing light slacks, but otherwise, it's great. It's a worker. I whittle with it, too.

I've been drooling over that swell center jack, though. Just a pretty little thing, isn't it!
 
It's tough to beat that CV steel. I own a Copperhead and like it very much.
 
I have a Boker copperhead, which is my "dressy" knife. It fits nicely in the watch pockets of most of my pants. I like having two blades in case one gets dull or damaged. I've been thinking about canoes and peanuts lately, because the big blade/small blade combo seems so useful.
 
Well, I'm about to show my ignorance, but what exactly is a copperhead? I have seen several different patterns of knife called a copperhead, and would like to know what the actual definition is?

Also, can anyone recommend a Case dealer with good prices and service?
Thanks
 
The only Copperheads on my photo post are the Boker models. Copperheads have large bolsters like a canoe on the blade pivot end only (look a the bolsters on kidwholaugh's Case Copperhead link). They cover the square end of the blade that protrudes above the handle on most other patterns. Copperhead blade shapes can vary, but they all seem to have the bolsters in common.
 
Kid, those are two completely different sized knives. The copperhead is bigger, heavier, and probably tougher, not to discount the toughness of the small one, but the bigger, normally the stronger.

The copperhead has bigger and stronger blades. If you need a smaller knife for some reason, the Coke bottle swell center will be a strong and tough knife too. It's over one inch shorter, and is lighter.

Good luck. I love my 3 inch swell center coke bottle Case.

Again, one is 4.125 inches the other is 3 inches. One is larger and heavier, and one is smaller and lighter.

Both tough jack knives.
 
In addition to the "fat" bolster on the pivot end, all of the copperheads I've seen have two blades of about the same size (clip and drop point), rather than a large and a small.

I don't know where the name of the pattern comes from though.
 
all of the copperheads I've seen have two blades of about the same size (clip and drop point), rather than a large and a small.

I don't know where the name of the pattern comes from though.
Click to expand...

I've seen them in the typical jackknife pattern, with one short and one long blade, as well as with two long blades. Also, with just one blade.

What I heard about the origin of the name was that the bolster resembles a Copperhead snake's head, from one angle or another. Don't know if that's true, but it makes sense.
 
The Case 49 pattern copperheads in the two bladed form will have the one long clip blade and the short pen or spear point style blade. Some of the Chinese copperhead knives are patterned after the Case style. Most all of the European copperheads have two equal length blades, clip and skinner, like a downsized folding hunter. Case has made a few copperheads with a single blade, and Queen does also. I have two of the Queens. I wish Queen would make some more with two blades. That would be a nice knife, amber stag bone and two D2 blades.
 
Silverdagger said:
Kid, those are two completely different sized knives. The copperhead is bigger, heavier, and probably tougher, not to discount the toughness of the small one, but the bigger, normally the stronger.

The copperhead has bigger and stronger blades. If you need a smaller knife for some reason, the Coke bottle swell center will be a strong and tough knife too. It's over one inch shorter, and is lighter.

Good luck. I love my 3 inch swell center coke bottle Case.

Both tough jack knives.
Click to expand...

Yeah you are right, that copperhead is pretty heavy. My A G russell toothpick is 3 oz but that copperhead is a quater pounder.
Btw, how would you rate your swell center jack in terms of utility and performance. Most importantly, how does it cut and sharpen.

God Bless
 
Been carrying a copperhead for 30 or so years.One of my favorite EDC'sRed bone and carbon steel.Can't get much better.
Randy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top