Knife for Father-in-law

[jaredrg]

My father-in-law helped quite a bit in the remodeling of our house. He would never take money and he knows that I would help him in any way that I could. That being said I would like to buy him a knife and have it shipped to his house.
I know he is currently using a 3 blade Schrade/Old Timer/Uncle Henry? but it isn't necessarily what he prefers. He had a 2 blade Case that he really liked much better but lost. If my memory serves me right it was larger than a peanut but not a trapper, with 1 "regular" blade and 1 shorter blade (maybe wharncliffe shape).
This knife would be used daily (he's in maintenance). Although he uses a knife probably more than alot of "knife guys" he really doesn't know much about brands/steels/etc. I want something that holds an edge and easy to sharpen, but it doesn't have to be the latest whatever (if that's even common in the traditional world) and a handle material that will hold up to anything. US made.
The obvious choice would attempt to replace the Case he lost, but I was hoping to get some suggestions from the knowledgeable forum community. Thank you in advance.

 

[kamagong]

If he's partial to Case, get him another. Do you know if his lost knife was a jack or pen configuration?

 

[jaredrg]

Jack, 99% sure. Going mostly off memory because I didn't want to ask too many questions.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Sounds like maybe it was medium Jack which is a little larger than the peanut


Or a personal favorite of mine the Texas Jack which is a little larger than the medium Jack.

Now the pen blade does not actually look as pictured in this stock photo from Case's website, so I modified mine into a clip point because I found it ugly.


I'll bet he'd love a Texas Jack, and their peach seed jigged Amber bone is a real winner if you ask me.

 

[jaredrg]

I believe the Texas Jack is it. Was just looking at it before checking back on the forum. Not that it isn't a beautiful handle, but are any others offered?

 

[Pinemoon]

Might also have been a Case mini trapper. Search that. Some include a wharncliffe blade.

 

[jaredrg]

I think the Texas Jack is going to be it. Before bringing the question to the forum I was thinking of getting a Benchmade Proper. But would that just be an example of getting someone something you would want vs something you think they'd rather have? If I get a Case I will most likely get the Texas Jack and another Case. Also, does anyone have experience with the black canvas laminate gunstock? What would be application differences between the Texas Jack vs Gunstock?

Also, thoughts on the GEC #44 Green Linen Micarta?

 

[Bigfattyt]

The proper is not going to be ground as thin.

I prefer GEC's carbon steel to Case's carbon steel. And their grinds and fit and finish as well.

SMKW has a gunstock jack in green linnen micarta for $93.

That handle material is very very durable!

They have oilfield Jack's (86 pattern) for $106 in multiple handle materials, including micarta

And Eureka Jack's, and stockyard whittlers, etc.

There are quite a few online dealers!

 

[pjsjr]

I have grown to like the canoe and churchill patterns. They are slim and pocket friendly. You might consider one of them in addition to the Texas Jack. The Dixie Possum Skinner with two blades falls into this group as well as others, I'm sure.

 

[Pinemoon]

.

Also, thoughts on the GEC #44 Green Linen Micarta?

The GEC #44 is a very fine knife. I have one in stag and it's one of my best Traditionals. The snap on these is strong. That might be a good thing, or might not be depending on your father-in-law's hands. Any arthritis?

Also, the 44 only comes in carbon steel so it'll require a little TLC.

 

[JohnDF]

Can't go wrong with a Case CV Texas jack.
The GEC #44 Gunstock is a super nice knife for a little more $$$.
The Proper, more of a modern take that didn't quite go exactly right.
If it's a modern-ized traditional you're looking for, check out the Lionsteel Barlows.

 

[urbantrapper]

Im just gonna chime in from an ergo standpoint. As a gentleman ages, sometimes it may be prudent to consider arthritis and fingernail strength. Maybe looking for something that pinches open might be a nice change of pace and something that can age gracefully alongside him. Ill let the porch members make suggestions if this piques your interest. Good luck

 

[hornetguy]

The GEC 44 is a very nice jack type knife... I have one in ebony, and it carries very well. Being a gunstock pattern, it might not be the most ergonomic for "heavy" cutting, but for normal day to day stuff, it's great.

 

[Stropping Young Lad]

GEC is overall higher quality than current Case offerings in my opinion. The 44 is an excellent pattern and micarta is absolutely bomb-proof.

GECs are typically 1095 carbon steel though, so they require a little more maintenance.

 

[kvaughn]

Im just gonna chime in from an ergo standpoint. As a gentleman ages, sometimes it may be prudent to consider arthritis and fingernail strength. Maybe looking for something that pinches open might be a nice change of pace and something that can age gracefully alongside him. Ill let the porch members make suggestions if this piques your interest. Good luck

I've gotten pretty good at putting EZ open notches on some of my knives where it's possible due to just this. --KV

 

[SVTFreak]

Since you said you think his 2 blade had a wharncliff and he’s carrying a 3 blade now, the commonality between them is they both have both a curved edge and a straight edge. I would concentrate my search there. Either a case wharncliff trapper of a gec 48 improved trapper if carbon is ok. Or a lionsteel warhorse from ck knives. Those would be my thought from what little you’ve said.

 

[Onearmbladenut]

A CASE XX Tribal lock folder is a great choice. A CASE XX Trapper-lock Kickstart is a wonderful fidget knife. A great Eastern Cutlery #86 Oil Field Jack knife Northfield in Autumn Gold jigged bone and Tortoise shell acrylic shell can still be found. GEC will be releasing #23 Jumbo Trappers next month through April.

 

[jaredrg]

Just an update incase anyone was standing in the shower thinking "I wonder what the guy with Gus as an avatar wound up getting his father-in-law". I got the Case Texas Jack and gave it to him today. He really loved it. Funny thing is sometime between now and then he found his old Case which was actually a trapper. In any case (no pun intended) he needed a new knife as the blades on his yellow handled trapper were probably <1/4 in. wide. He wrote me a text a little later saying he'd taken it out of his pocket 10 times already and it was the first new knife he'd gotten in years. Thank you all for the suggestions.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Just an update incase anyone was standing in the shower thinking "I wonder what the guy with Gus as an avatar wound up getting his father-in-law". I got the Case Texas Jack and gave it to him today. He really loved it. Funny thing is sometime between now and then he found his old Case which was actually a trapper. In any case (no pun intended) he needed a new knife as the blades on his yellow handled trapper were probably <1/4 in. wide. He wrote me a text a little later saying he'd taken it out of his pocket 10 times already and it was the first new knife he'd gotten in years. Thank you all for the suggestions.

Can't go wrong there, sure glad he loves it.

I've had trouble in the past buying knives for my uncle, buying him good knives that I loved myself that didn't turn out to be the right fit for him.
That is until I learned he liked smaller two blade folders, the last knife I got him was a Buck 309 ( may have been their Chinese version ) that I knew would be right up his alley.
Don't see him often enough to know what he's actually carrying though.

 

[JohnDF]

Just an update incase anyone was standing in the shower thinking "I wonder what the guy with Gus as an avatar wound up getting his father-in-law". I got the Case Texas Jack and gave it to him today. He really loved it. Funny thing is sometime between now and then he found his old Case which was actually a trapper. In any case (no pun intended) he needed a new knife as the blades on his yellow handled trapper were probably <1/4 in. wide. He wrote me a text a little later saying he'd taken it out of his pocket 10 times already and it was the first new knife he'd gotten in years. Thank you all for the suggestions.

I'm glad he found his old knife and is liking the new one.