GEC Eureka jack or Case Sway back jack ?

I like a pocket knife in the 3.5-4 inch range. The Eureka Jack fits that bill and the larger blade has a belly with the smaller blade being straight.

I'd like the SBJ more if it were a little bigger.

Both are great knives though. :D
 
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I don't own a Eureka, but I do own a SBJ. It's as fine a Case knife as I've ever handled. It's flawless. Mine is Chestnut/CV.
 
These are both really good knives, particularly in the sense that they are unusual patterns.

I have the CASE in both stainless and cv versions, these are Barehead knives and I assume you want a Barehead Eureka? Excellent F&F on the SBJs much higher than is usual with CASE (they must've invested in new machinery for that one)

The Tidioute Eureka I have in Green Bone is also extremely well made, NO gaps or build faults. I'm even thinking of getting the latest version in Calico Bone but it is end capped and I feel this looks better as a Barehead.

As others have commented, the sizes are quite different and you have Wharncliffe master on the CASE and Spear on the GEC which are very different animals. Both are fine blades to use. So the suggestion of a Wharncliffe Houndstooth 55 is probably a better comparison, I prefer the 55 over the SBJ. Which brings me to my conclusion, the GEC is better in the hand, I've never quite been convinced by the feel&ergonomics of a Swayback, the Eureka is really pleasant to hold and use.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will not feel disappointed.
 
Thank y'all for the replies! HAPPY 4th OF JULY TO YA!!!!!!!!!!I wish you all nice hot BBQ and icy cold drinks to go with all your good friends and family!!!
I think this calls for a side by side, care to oblige us JustinR?
Click to expand...
Yes please Mr JustinR:D
Sorry I missed the question about what size knife I prefer. I normally would go with the smaller size, 3.5 or smaller but 3 5/8 is not too big.If I had found the swayback in CV with the deep canyon bone I would own it already for sure but I do not think Case makes the swayback in that configuration. Do they?
 
Chestnut SBJ and the 92... Tough choice. I own both and would not want to get rid of either. My vote for an all around pocket jackknife is going to go GEC over Case most days though. Better steel, finer grinds--but you pay for the difference.
 
Oh! For a moment I thought GEC finally made a swayback jack. Well, still waiting... :(

I would choose the GEC, but either will do nicely.
 
Eureka Jack! Never owned it. I had a SBJ, and it was a great knife too, or the SBG. Case has done a good job on their Bose collaborations, from the annuals to their regular line. Both CV and SS. I will always go for the GEC though. Higher craftsmanship than the Case regular series. The Eureka jack is next on my list, as long as Charlie gives us all a break on these durn Charlows!
 
If you want/expect stainless, the only way to go is with the Case Sway Back Jack. Otherwise, you're comparing the chestnut bone/CV SBJ to the GEC eureka jacks. The F&F of the Case / Tony Bose collaborations are of a higher quality than their regular knives. Mine has evenly matched bone, no blade wobble, nice walk and talk, no liner gaps, and the springs are flush in the half-stop position. If only I hadn't dropped it and cracked the bone...

I don't own a(n?) Eureka Jack yet, but it's next on my list. Namely, the ivory bone one that Smithhammer keeps torturing me with by posting pictures of. And maybe an ebony one. And a snakewood one. And maybe a second ivory bone one to keep pristine so I can see how the other one ages in comparison. And a buffalo horn one. Anybody got $500 I can borrow indefinitely...?

That said, the SBJ and the EJ are pretty different in size. While the EJ is by no means a large knife, it's definitely larger than the SBJ. The SBJ is smallish...not peanut small, but it's definitely a 3-finger knife, whereas a 3 5/8" knife should be a 4 finger knife unless you have particularly huge hands.

In the end, you'll probably get both. And carry both, if not at the same time. The EJ for most days, the SBJ for when you don't want something as big/heavy in your pockets.
 
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Thank you all for your suggestions and help! I have decided to go with the GEC Eureka jack first and get the case sbj 2nd. Then the GEC #55 aaaaaaand then the Swayback gent haaha! Thanks you folks are great!
 
I collect the Case SwayBack Jack Knives and have ""few"" of them and only 3 of the GEC Eureka/Jacks ~~ but I am going to work on the GEC's for awhile because Case has let there workmanship fall behind just a bit and GEC has always been 100% as far as I am concerned.! Things don't get better with them I am going to be a trading a few Knives.!
If you know what I mean.?? LOL
 
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