Please help me with a decision

4

4yanks

Joined
Dec 6, 2008
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I have been given permission by the LOML to purchase a new knife. With so many outstanding offerings it's hard to choose just one. So I would like to ask the members of this board to help me make a decision. I carry a multi-tool and automatic tactical knife at work. This knife wood be for around the home and outdoor recreation. I am also an amateur furniture maker so it will also get some shop work. Size is not a legal issue in my small North Carolina town. Here is my "short list."

Schatt & Morgan Horticulturist
Schatt & Morgan English Jack with sheepsfoot blade
Schatt & Morgan Whittler in Harvest Bone
Great Eastern Northfield Jack in 2nd Cut Rams Horn
CASE XX Crandall Large Saddlehorn in Greenbone

Any comments positive or negative are welcome. Thanks.

Willie
 
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They all sound nice and patterns are somewhat distinct. However, since you mention use in a shop, of all of those I would likely go with the GEC Jack for the carbon steel as it has (pardon the pun) an edge over the other steels in edge retention. I had to look up 2nd cut rams horn as I had honestly never heard of it (2nd cut stag yes but not ram's horn) and I was able to see the model you mentioned. Looks pretty nice actually!

Good luck on your quest and choice and welcome to traditional forum!
 
I've owned a Schatt & Morgan Horticulturist for a few months now. In my opinion, I wouldn't recommend it for hard work; it seems like a gent's knife. The springs are somewhat weak IMO. I'd recommend something else for the purposes you want a knife for, but feel free to try it out and prove me wrong. I haven't really put it through its paces, simply because it seems so fragile and pretty.

I just noticed that there is a version with a clip and sheepsfoot blade, which may have stronger springs. My version has a spear point and pen blade.
 
7rip13a said:
I've owned a Schatt & Morgan Horticulturist for a few months now. In my opinion, I wouldn't recommend it for hard work; it seems like a gent's knife. The springs are somewhat weak IMO. I'd recommend something else for the purposes you want a knife for, but feel free to try it out and prove me wrong. I haven't really put it through its paces, simply because it seems so fragile and pretty.
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That has been my experience with the same knife, plus mine has a lot of blade play. I bought it because I love the way it looks. I generally carry it to my office where I use it to open envelopes and small packages, it does fine with that.

For what's on 4yanks' list of tasks, I would get the GEC or the Case.
 
I myself would go with the S&M English Jack, but if you would prefer a somewhat a smaller knife, I would suggest the Great Eastern Northfield Jack in 2nd Cut Rams Horn.
IMHO the S&M 420HC should be good enough for most of the cutting chores specified.
Best wishes and don't forget to thank the LOYL!
 
Schatt whittler or Jack, that is just me. I have not purchased a GEC as of yet. I own a lot of Case, but do not get too excited about the Saddle horn,,,,yet.
 
4yanks said:
This knife wood be for around the home and outdoor recreation. I am also an amateur furniture maker so it will also get some shop work.
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Given the potential for wood work, I'd definitely consider something in carbon steel. This Case amber bone large stockman is too big for my tastes, but it might be up your alley. Also, I reckon down around your neck of the woods, the Case congress (with CV steel) has probably produced a mountain of wood shavings. Good luck with your search and let us know what you choose - and how it works out.
 
Welcome to our niche!

That S&M English Jack is a large knife, in fact it's a behemoth! Big Sheepfoot and secondary pen, looks nice but I think it could be somewhat clumsy for woodworking etc.

The S&M Horti that I have has a main clip and 2nd sheep blade, looks nice but it's got blade wobble and as the others have said, it's more an office knife than workman-like tool.

I suggest an S&M Harness Jack in carbon. Greenbone and very good snap, the punch blade can come in surprisingly useful too. About 3 and 5 eighths" so wont bust the pocket. GEC also make a Harness Jack I believe and this would be bigger.

Any CASE Medium Stockman in carbon or stainless is a peerless work horse around the factory,office or garden,anywhere!
 
If you plan to use the knife in the shop, I'd definitely go with something in 1095 (like GEC makes), Case CV or a tool steel like D2 (such as Queen makes).

I've had a couple of Queen-made S&Ms in 420HC. F&F was on par with the best production knives, but the steel felt lacking and I gave them away.

JMHO
 
Since the last several suggestions lengthened the short list, let's make it even longer!:D

For a strong yet elegant user knife I would suggest the largest Moore Maker stockman (#5304 - STOCKMAN):

http://catalog.mooremaker.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=392436

It is advertised as 4 1/2" but in fact is only 4 3/8" closed. Made by Queen, strong, good for both outdoors and around the shop. It will be stronger and/or more versatile than most of the already mentioned knives.
It has 1095 blade steels, 56 RHC. I prefer the smooth yellow bone handles but it is available in jigged bone too. It has the best sheepfoot blade on a recent production stockman and the slim Turkish clip bade is very elegant too.
Unlike the Case large stockman, it is not hollow ground.
You can get it cheaper than full retail at several places.
 
I just received the Northfield Jack you speak of, and it's a beautifully crafted knife: the ram's horn is distinctive and has a translucent cast; stout springs on both blades. Plan on spending some time getting the edges the way you want them, however (this doesn't bother me at all, by the way). The pen blade is fine for whittling/carving, but I would consider the main blade a bit too long for that use (it's fine for general cutting). With this last comment in mind, I'm surprised you're not considering the GEC Congress pattern.
 
Thanks for all the comments. I am leaning toward the GEC Jack. I have not been bitten by the stockman bug yet. I won't actually be using the knife for woodworking. I have hundreds of old carbon steel tools (and some new) for that. It will do more general shop chores. I will be making a decision today. Thanks.
 
I ordered the GEC Jack in Second Cut Ram's Horn. Now the waiting starts. I'm going to be out of the country for about a week. Hopefully it will arrive by the time I return. I'll try to post some pictures when it does. Thanks for the help.
 
Nice return present:thumbup:

We look forward to hearing and seeing more, thanks.
 
When I arrived home last night this was waiting for me. It's not my photo. But it is my knife. Credit for the photo to River Raisin Knife Company. Jim was nice to deal with and fast shipping.

GECJackRH.jpg
 
That's a very nice knife! Second cut ram's horn is I guess just a bit less "bumpy". I would have gone with a Congress, but I'm pretty biased toward Congresses right now.

We look forward to more pics later!
 
That is nice. I gotta get something in ram's horn. I do like that translucent look.
 
Is Ram's Horn a stable material or is it like Buffalo, rather fragile and prone to drying back?
I have a RAT5 that I don't much use with Ram's Horn and it seems tough.
Nice picture there, River Raisin does some excellent photography.
 
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