In praise of the Case Sway Back Jack & Gentleman

[5K Qs]

Thanks for breathing new life into this thread, Frank. I certainly agree with your assessment of the swayback jack. I was first attracted to the knife simply because it looked good to me, since I had acquired a chestnut bone Sodbuster Jr that I really liked and thought the swayback in chestnut would be a good pairing. Paul Hilborn generously gifted me his (see post 18 above) a couple of months ago, claiming that he never carried it anymore; thanks a million, Paul!
I had no idea how good, in all the ways Frank described, this knife really was until it arrived and I had the pleasure of using it. It's been in my watch pocket ever since it arrived on a frigid day in February. Couple of photos to "update" those Paul posted a year ago (the knife may look much worse than a year ago, but that's probably because my pics are definitely worse than Paul's ).

- GT

 

[Markesharp]

Nice SBJ GT! :thumbup:

I re-handled my Burnt Barn Board in Ivory and rattailed the bolsters

 

[Peregrin]

Nice SBJ GT! :thumbup:

I re-handled my Burnt Barn Board in Ivory and rattailed the bolsters

Talk about nice! Excellent job on that, Mark!

 

[Flyboy70]

Nice SBJ GT! :thumbup:

I re-handled my Burnt Barn Board in Ivory and rattailed the bolsters

This is where the board needs a drooling Homer Simpson emoticon or emoji or whatever those things are called.

 

[tcake]

Nice SBJ GT! :thumbup:

I re-handled my Burnt Barn Board in Ivory and rattailed the bolsters

Daaaamn this is gorgeous!
I love my SBJ, so small but so useful and different that it pairs great with any other knife I own.

 

[5K Qs]

Nice SBJ GT! :thumbup:

I re-handled my Burnt Barn Board in Ivory and rattailed the bolsters

...

That SBG is incredible, Mark!! Man, you're doing some first-rate mods these days. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

- GT

 

[coolio]

My new GAW winner, thanks to Invoice (Neil)!! Not the best photo, but it's a beauty:

 

[nugun55]

Chestnut CV

 

[Flint Hills]

The more I use mine, the more I like it. It's one of the most well made knives I own, and I have some that were much more expensive.

 

[onejim]

The pressure was too great....the prize too tempting.

A Chestnut CV SBJ is in the mail.

I blame all of you and your beautiful SBJs.

Jim

 

[Peregrin]

The pressure was too great....the prize too tempting.

A Chestnut CV SBJ is in the mail.

I blame all of you and your beautiful SBJs.

Jim

Glad to help!

 

[Jsega51]

Man those fluted bolsters really set this one off! I've debated on the sway back because I do love the look but I'm not a huge wharncliffe fan.

Can someone please post a picture of the Jack and the Gent looking down on them so I can see the difference in thickness? I'll be buying one I'm sure!

 

[LastRodeo]

I added a peanut for scale.

 

[USACelt]

I'm jealous of all the beautiful knives so far posted. All I have is a Pacific Blue.

 

[onejim]

Glad to help!

I've wanted one for several years actually. Just never seemed to get one. Then the last year I've spent getting to know GEC.......so have put it off more.

Then I noticed this thread.........and I got the itch. And you know how that goes.

Jim

 

[FW JSB]

Are all the current Sway Backs being made to this level of fit and finish? I see a few SS versions out there, but can't tell from the photos if they are the same as you guys have posted here.

 

[onejim]

The pressure was too great....the prize too tempting.

A Chestnut CV SBJ is in the mail.

I blame all of you and your beautiful SBJs.

Jim

Well it showed up the other day. I'm too busy to post pictures now, but may be able to in the next couple of days.

I've come to expect poor dye jobs lately from Case....and this one is far better than most I've touched lately. The edges are lighter, but even.....so I'm happy! The coloring on the front and back of the scales looks great. If the edges bother me too much I may do a little tea/coffee spa treatment which has warmed several other knives right up.

The back springs are flush in all three positions........which is a FIRST I've experienced in any of my slip joints. And there are no gaps.....well possible a very minor hair line if you look very hard.

Amazing knife except for the blade centering. Both blades are horribly off center. The pen is even rubbing the liners.

I'm going to send it into Case to see if they can fix the centering....but outside of that I'm very happy with the knife.

I cant wait to send it off and get it back. It's begging to be carried and used.........even with the off center blades.

Please keep the pictures rolling to tide me over!

Jim

 

[RexRazorX]

This thread is reminding me I need to carry this knife more often. This is certainly the nicest Case knife I own and the one that got me seeking out better quality knives.

 

[grins000]

nice one! what is the scale material?

man, I love that one, been eyeing them for a while

 

[Chief]

Factory or custom, I'm a fan.