Lost my grail knife: now hunting for a replacement.

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barny

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Jan 27, 2007
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I have been very inactive on the forum lately as I had found my "Nessmuk trio", a Svord Farmer's knife, the Swayback Jack, and a Imacasa spoonbill machete. However, several weeks ago I lost my "holy grail knife" a well loved Swayback jack. Chestnut bone worn smooth from 5 years of daily pocket time and two CV blades sporting a deep gray hue from rugged use. I was duck hunting with my Father and chocolate lab and it must have fallen out my pocket while sitting on the bank of the small duck pond. I have came to the conclusion that it could possibly be gone forever.

I have CV stockman with a leather punch and a CV backpocket NIB, but I cannot see myself carrying either. I tried to carry my Paw paw's Case barlow. Fear of losing that knife overwhelmed me and decided I should stop carrying it. Now I have a Victorinox executive on pocket duty, but it does not feel the same not having an elegant traditional pattern in my pocket.

However, not all is lost. I know have the opportunity to continue my quest for the new "grail knife". Quick searches thus far are pointing me towards a Case teardrop jack or GEC boy's knife. Suggestions are warmly welcomed as well.

What say you?

Thanks in advance,

Eric
 
You cant go wrong with GEC # 15 series. I have a few of them and like them very much.

I too have been looking at the Case teardrop. I dont have one, but I've been eyeballin a 2 blade glow in the dark one.
 
Lousy luck Eric. I'm currently carrying a 15 in stainless and it's really handy. The older 15's in carbon are really nice also. If you haven't considered them, take a look at the 14's. A little smaller but still quite useful and less costly and more easily available.
 
I don't own either but I would go with the GEC #15 over the Case Teardrop. Mainly because the Teardrop didn't do much for me when I handled a few at Grand Prairie Knives a couple months ago. Wasn't anything wrong with them, just didn't push my buttons.

If you decide to go with the Dark Red Bone Case Teardrop in CV, make sure you can see the actual knife you're buying either in a photo or in person. Case is not well known for their modern day "Dark Red" color. It often is several shades lighter than the stock photos. Even Pink sometimes.
 
Is it an option to get another chestnut sway back? Or you want specifically to try something new to try?
 
^^^^^^^this. You could look for the same make. Case doesn't just make a100 or so of a run. GEC has some remarkable swaybacks, don't know how many in stainless though. There may be something in the Queen or Schatt&Morgan lines. They are using some modern stainless more often. S&M gunstocks have 6 or more limited run type iterations going on, cpm-154 among them. What style are you looking for?(or pattern, how ever you want to phrase it)
Thanks,Neal
 
That's sucks, sorry to hear that! I am in the camp that says since you liked your swayback so much why not just get another one?
 
Ernie1980 said:
since you liked your swayback so much why not just get another one?
Click to expand...

Agreed. It is my understanding that these are once again being produced in chestnut jigged bone/CV. The Case website reads...

Inspired by Nature. "Rich chestnut handles give this elegant collection an heirloom quality. Ten knives all feature Case's original CV steel blades, with an all-new Folding Hunter pattern."
Expected Ship Date: Shipping Now

#7007 (TB62117 CV)
Sway Back Jack
Wharncliffe and Pen Blades
3 1/5 in / 8.13cm closed; 2.2 oz.
 
Or, you could try a SBJ in Bonestag for a kind of change, they look really smart.

GEC 15s are very versatile, coming in 3 blade types (Clip, Sheepfoot, Spear) and 2 steels carbon or a rather rare 440c plus a load of handle options.

Another option would be a GEC 83 lock back, actually slightly shorter than a 15 but offers plenty of long Drop Point (or Clip) blade, extremely good compact pocket friend that also happens to lock.

IMG_3987.jpg
 
All

Thank you all for the replies thus far. In regards to buying another SBJ, I guarantee I will. However, I think this would be a great opportunity to determine if the SBJ was really my grail knife. I have been looking at the GEC #14 Licht Creek Boy's knife. Very intriguing.
 
You cant go wrong with ether of those knives IMO I've just done a trade that has a Case Teardrop Jack comming my way and the knife I have as my Avatar Is a Northwoods Boardwalk Jack witch is done by GEC on the #15 frame. The Boardwalk Jack is my very favorite knife (at the moment lol)if you can find one you might want to give one of those a try as well. Good luck
 
There's an SBJ on the exchange right now, may be chestnut. Color blind,so I'm not sure, but it is a good value
Neal
 
Barny, If you don't mind hunting for a out of production knife, it was the Northfield 55 that cured my jones for the Case SBJ. The pull on mine is pretty hard ( about 8 ), I don't know if they are all like that though.
17269450586_a2ef398d51_c.jpg
 
barney, you are faced with a tough decision with so many wonderful suggestions presented here. I am very happy with the GEC 14 but I prefer the size of a 15 for edc. Since you enjoyed the swayback the GEC 55 is a great choice, though my preference for general use is a clip blade. Oh yeah, a 55 might be a little difficult to find. So my suggestion is a 15 in clip or spear but YMMV. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 
t.willy said:
You cant go wrong with ether of those knives IMO I've just done a trade that has a Case Teardrop Jack comming my way and the knife I have as my Avatar Is a Northwoods Boardwalk Jack witch is done by GEC on the #15 frame. The Boardwalk Jack is my very favorite knife (at the moment lol)if you can find one you might want to give one of those a try as well. Good luck
Click to expand...

I think its Broadway jack, which is done by GEC on the 15 frame.
 
All

I think I will go with the GEC #14 Lick Creek Boy's knife with a spearpoint blade. If all the hype behind GEC is true, I think I will be satisfied. However, if not, I can always get another Case XX.

Cheers!

Eric
 
Here are a few more choices.

a3f437aa0447a778955de9b05906bed2.jpg



Sorry, Rick, I didn't see I posted the same two as yours.
 
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