Pen in front or behind...?

[avoidspam]

As a lefty, I prefer them on the pile side.

Of course, the right side

Sam

 

[Jack Black]

As a lefty, I prefer them on the pile side.

I can see that!

or...

c) Pen in other pocket.

You are the master of lateral thinking Pete :thumbup:

 

[black mamba]

I am firmly in the "pen in front" camp for jacks, in other words mark side nicks on both. With secondary blade behind, I'd rather go with a pen configuration, so both blades could be opened normally with my right thumbnail. The blades need not sit high with pen in front either, just depends on the shape of the main blade and placement of the nicks.

 

[jkulysses]

I'm more a pen in front guy as I like the nail nicks to both be on the same side for some reason. I have many of each style though!

Jake

 

[Rockon75]

I was handling a vintage large Texas Jack two nights ago that I bought for a friend as a Christmas present. While "coon-fingering" said knife, I felt it awkward to have to flip the knife over to access the pen that is on the pile side. Now I know how all you lefties fell about 95% of all knives that are made for right handed people. Mark side prefered.

 

[jakemex]

... Missing! I prefer single blade knives.

 

[singin50]

I'm completely fine either way but do enjoy the pen on the pile side lately, simply because the #77 Washingtons
all have the pen behind the main. I'm a lefty and it is a bit handier.

Perry

 

[Markesharp]

Pileside.......I'm ambidextrous.

 

[paulhilborn]

Either or but if I HAD to choose one for convenience (for me)...both on Mark side.

 

[glassjaw]

I think I'm on the pen in front boat. But upon thinking about it, it's just because that is what I was use to. But when it comes down to it if it feels right, then it's right. The Washington jack just feels right with the pen behind. I don't know I think I just confused myself with that response.

Gabe

 

[pertinux]

For looks, I prefer the pen/secondary blade in front of the main, if both blades sport well-placed nail nicks.

See how nicely the nicks nestle on the knives with non-long-pull mains, compared to the alternative?

A close-up from a warmer season:

A pinnacle of nestled nicks, veritable waves of resonant form in blade shape, nick placement, and frame contours:

(The angle of this image belies how perfectly placed the nicks are; the nick on the main blade is in no way obscured by the spine of the fronting secondary.)

For use: place the pen blade behind the main, please.

Thank you.

-- To access a backside pen secondary, I hold the knife as usual, mark-side-up in my right hand. With my left thumb lightly bracing the front of the knife/main blade, I use the fingernail of my left middle finger to open the backside blade, pinching it between my middle finger and thumb as it clears the frame to fully open the blade. It's really the same motion/approach as opening the main, only with opposite different finger[nail]s.

Regarding the #77s vs #78s (Jack versions):

I'm going to pick GEC's #77 Yankee Jack and their #78 American Jack as an example because, as far as I can see there is very little difference between them besides the pen placement.

I jumped on the #78 when it came out and honestly thought it would be a massively popular pattern. It did OK but the #77 garnered a lot more interest, in part I'm sure because of the exciting SFO variants which proceeded it (clever GEC!). So that got me thinking, maybe it's the pen placement which many saw as a deal breaker with the #78 American Jack but bang on the money with the #77 Yankee jack!

I wouldn't discount the "exciting SFO variants" of the #77 for piquing interest, as you note above. But also, the subtle differences between the #77 and #78 Jacks do add up, in-hand.

As I noted in a previous thread:

... why is it that the 77s have all been so warmly received, when the 78 did not? I own only our forum knife, but aside from a few subtle variations the two patterns appear very similar.

For me?

Compared to a #15 Jack (a mostly-known quantifier, in whatever clothes), the #77 Jack is only yee bigger here and there, leading to a similarly-proportioned, mid-weight knife in a larger size.

Compared to a #77, the #78 is just a yee bigger here and there, but with a little more than one-step-up weight-- it's built tough and sturdy, with a snap to match. It's a hefty handful.

Comparing a #15 to a #78, which was the only "step up" at the time the #78s were released? The #78 is clearly a massive beastie.

Me, I love the #78s, especially in Tidioute clothes-- namely, a well-placed nail nick as per the above, so that I can leverage the blade open. They are snappers. However, given the expanse of cover material, I want(ed) a shield, which the Tidioute models do not have.

... When confronted with so many wonderful (and ongoing!) patterns from which to choose, one must make decisions. I would love to own a #78-- a true workhorse, and I love me some strong pull-- but the #77 comes together for me as a pattern in a way the #78 doesn't, right down to the pen-behind-main.

I had the opportunity to compare my #77 with a #78 Jack head-to-head (and back-to-back) last week end, reinforcing my impression that the #78 packs more substance into its slightly larger frame-- it's a heavier knife, subtly but pervasively so. Whether or not that is a plus or a minus is definitely a matter of individual taste, of course.


Maybe the true difference is the lack of shields on the Tidioute #78s.

~ P.

 

[knarfeng]

I am firmly in the "pen in front" camp for jacks, in other words mark side nicks on both. With secondary blade behind, I'd rather go with a pen configuration, so both blades could be opened normally with my right thumbnail. The blades need not sit high with pen in front either, just depends on the shape of the main blade and placement of the nicks.

What Jeff said. And for the same reason.

 

[pmew]

I had a really long post typed out but it vanished into the void when BF suddenly turned to the dark side as it is prone to do from time to time. I'm tired and can't be doing with typing it all out again so I'll just say this;

Great thread Sam, I'm loving this discussion.

Jack's post, along with Will's and Sarah's had been quoted with comments highlighted and responded to - but you'll have to use your imagination. The long and the short of it was this; I only have peanuts with a pen behind main so have nothing other to compare, else-wise I would have typed out a more straight forward response. I shall have to hunt down one of those lovely 2011 *25s like those Sarah posted above so that I can have a series investigation.

Paul

 

[TLARbb]

My preference has always and still is for the pen behind the main. It does require opening from the opposite side, but I guess I have become accustom to doing it that way, so it doesn't bother me from that standpoint. I did finally acquire a Charlow with the pen behind the main. It is the only 2 blade Charlow I have kept. My others are single blade; I'd rather have a single blade knife than one where the pen is obscuring the pull on the main blade.

I know I'm kinda wacky, but that's who I am. I guess that's why I like this knife so much:

It doesn't have a pen though.

My "pen behind" Charlow. The only twin blade Charlow I have now.

Ed J

 

[Jack Black]

Nice photo essay P :thumbup:

The blades need not sit high with pen in front either, just depends on the shape of the main blade and placement of the nicks.

True :thumbup:

I shall have to hunt down one of those lovely 2011 *25s like those Sarah posted above so that I can have a series investigation.

Maybe when the little 'uns at college eh? :thumbup:

 

[GlennH]

I see the reasoning for the "pen in front" stance, but I am just used to all my knives having the main blade in front. I guess, to me, whichever blade is in front is, by definition, the main blade. Too big of a paradigm shift for me, I suppose.

 

[jujigatame]

I go with the pen in front all day long. Having the pen in back is something that could cause me not to buy a knife.

 

[TLARbb]

I go with the pen in front all day long. Having the pen in back is something that could cause me not to buy a knife.

I know exactly how you feel about it, Nate, as I am just as strong on the other side. I have sold some nice knives because they had the secondary in front of the primary blade and bought other single blade versions instead of the two blade. That's why they make some each way I suppose. I like all knives, but tend not to use those with the secondary in front. As I said previously, I admit to being wacky...

Ed J

 

[pertinux]

I had a really long post typed out but it vanished into the void when BF suddenly turned to the dark side as it is prone to do from time to time.

Drat!

I shall have to hunt down one of those lovely 2011 *25s like those Sarah posted above so that I can have a serious investigation.

Ah, the answer of a true knife nut: "I need more knives in order to make a determination."



If I'm giving a choice of two equivalent knives to purchase, my preferences will win out (for a user, deep-set nail nick, secondary behind main, smooth camber and not a half-stop, etc.; for a Looker, whatever the parakeet in me finds irresistable: "Squawk. Pretties!").

In real-life? I readily adapt to whatever knife I'm carrying, regardless of its layout.

~ P.

 

[jackknife]

I like the secondary pen blade behind the main, as in the peanut and some barlow's. I hate when the cases to the main blade nick has a pen knife in the way, and this will make me pass on buying the knife.