Help a traditional virgin!

licepuppet

licepuppet

Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
65
Greeting everyone. Since the beginning of my knife hobby I have been into mostly tactical style knives. Spyderco Military, ZT 0302, etc. Recently my taste in knives has begun to mature and I NEED a traditional style folder.

After looking at all the various styles of traditional knives I have narrowed it down to two main knives. The Case Chestnut Swayback Jack or the Sky Blue Elephant's toe.

I donno why but both of these knives just speak to me. I will probably end up getting both at some point but right now I need help deciding which I should get first.

Right now the Swayback Jack is slightly ahead of the elephants toe mainly because it is a bit smaller knife. I plan on carrying one of these in addition to a Spyderco Military and I think the Swayback Jack would fill the role for smaller cutting tasks better. I don't have any experience with how fatty the elephants toe will be but I have no qualms about carrying a large, heavy knife.

Oh ya and which ever knife I get will probably be coming with me on deployment in the next 6 months or so. I plan on giving it a nice workout.:D
swaybackjack.jpg


elephanttoe.jpg
 
Swayback...for me the choice would be easy. Slimmer knife. Cool design. Very functional. So that's my .02. Just as useful and not so bulky. Both designs are cool though. And I have neither. So take that for what it's worth.

Where is your deployment?
 
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The swayback, that warcliff blade will be good for digging out splinters....

300Bucks
 
I have a few Toenails and a couple of Swaybacks, and I'd say the Toenail is more like a substitute for a Military and the Swayback is more of a supplement to one. The Elephant Toenail is a pretty massive knife, although it is pretty flat and carries easily. The Swayback is much smaller, almost too small for my hands.
 
Swayback Jack. Which I own. GREAT little knife.

The blade shapes on the elephants toe aren't my favorite, and they're both pretty much the same, in different sizes. no good for me.

meanwhile, the wharncliffe is my favorite for most EDC chores, and the overall sexy look of the SBJ profile helps.
 
I personally don't understand the appeal of the elephant toenail pattern, but different strokes for different folks I guess. The Sway Back Jack is high on my list of knives to get.

Keep in mind that the chestnut bone SBJ is only available in CV (chrome vanadium) steel, which isn't stainless. Nothing wrong with that, just different. It'll hold an edge better and be easier to sharpen than the Tru-Sharp stainless, but it'll rust if you don't take care of it. Even if you take care of it, it'll discolor and lose its shine, and develop a patina (which protects it from rust). If that's not what you're looking for, then go with a stainless steel model.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I think I have decided on the Swayback. There are so many glowing reviews for this knife I can't resist. I will get both knives eventually but the elephants toe is just too fatty to carry in addition to a Military. Additionally, I love the patina a well used carbon steel knife gets. I can't wait to put the knife to some good use.

BTW I am going to be going to Afghanistan in the next year and I will be bringing the Swayback with me. I will be sure to post a report when I get back.
 
The swayback will be a good addition. Thanks for your service BTW, and welcome to traditionals. Stick around a while.
 
Hi Licepuppet. I started out with slipjoints because at the time there were no tactical style knives. But for the past 20 years it has been tactical styled folders full steam ahead.

Even though, I have always carried a slipjoint folder, and I still do, and I actually rely on it as my everyday knife. The tactital styled knife stays in my right front pocket for 99% of the day!

With new companies springing up, and with a revival of some of the older patterns, slipjoints have really gained in popularity with a younger generation. Not sure if the knife I plan to mention is a old pattern, or a new pattern, but if I were a betting man, I'm actually not because I am not going to lose money I could buy a knife with!, I would say it's a new pattern;

The knife is a Case Humpback Whittler. I have the one in black G-10 and it has been a real worker. It also has a solid feel due to the 3 backspring design. Tha same pattern is also used for the Humpback stockman, which is a tad lighter due to a two spring construction.

So if the Swayback hasn't gotten your "cherry" let, take a look at the above two. I'm including a pic of the Whittler model;


CA6239.jpg
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Dude...get the swayback. in my opinion, it's the best production knife Case has made in a long, long time.
 
Its interesting how ones tastes mature over the years. I started out on tacticals and now my interest has shifted towards traditionals. I am a particular Spyderco fan and I admire their ingenuity and usefulness however the natural materials in traditional style knives have a character all their own.
 
If you can, try to handle both knives. Really, they are as different as night and day. Each has its good points. As a supplement to carrying a military, your instinct towards the swayback is probably a good one. However, as Yablanowitz said, it is a smaller knife. The ET could be a stand alone choice.

Have fun with the choice.
 
I have helped traditional virgins as well as some untraditional virgins in my day but realized this thread was about pocket knives. Hmm.. I guess I misunderstood the thread title.

Well then I would recomend the swayback.:p
 
First of all welcome to the world of traditionals. The swayback is a perfect companion to a tactical knife in my opinion and I mean perfect. I must give the standard warning here, if you take the first step into traditionals it is a slippery slope you may not ever step out again (that's a very good thing BTW).;)
 
I agree that you should try to handle both as maybe the Toenail will call to you. For me, it'd be the Swayback Jack.

Of course, 2 things come to mind.
1. The Elephant toe is much bigger than the SBJ.
2. That particular SBJ has CV steel vs the other knife having SS (If that's an issue to you).
 
Really, as a compliment to your Military, I'd recommend the sway back jack. It really is a fine knife and Case has done a great job on them. Of all the production knives I've purchased over the years, the SBJ is the one that I feel is my best ever (production) knife purchase. I don't think you can go wrong with it. Being toward the smaller size, you might have misgivings at first, but in use, they melt away into the background.

If you are attracted to it, you definetly owe it to yourself to own one. - Ed
 
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