Please help me with finding the best carry knife

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Whit301

Joined
Mar 30, 2010
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Hello all, I am wanting to buy a full time carry pocket knife. I know the sky is endless on choices but this is what I was considering. I was considering the Case pocket worn Swayback gents at first then ran across the Case pocket worn medium stockman. Are these good choices or would I be better suited to add some money for a different model or brand? If I had a budget of 100 to 150 max I would like to make sure it would be a one time purchase so blade and overall quality is very important and I realize my budget in today's world may be unrealistic. If the Swayback or Stockman would be a good choice am I better off paying for the TB Swayback? Thank you for your advice. Just having trouble pulling the trigger when wanting to make a good decision.
 
Well if I had $100-150, I would spend it on a GEC Northfield knife in stag. It is hard to beat a Northfield in today's market. Pick a pattern that speaks to you and go with it. If you are a knife nut, it wont be your last knife but it will last you a lifetime.
 
I agree, a GEC Northfield spanks anything else anywhere near that price range unless you wanna go for a custom and spend MUCH MORE ($300-$500+). The quality, fit and finish of Northfields is simply outstanding.

There are many models, so just find the one you like and I guarantee you'll not be disappointed. When you start to zero in on one feel free to ask any questions and we'll all have more than enough answers for you. :)
 
arizonaranchman said:
I agree, a GEC Northfield spanks anything else anywhere near that price range unless you wanna go for a custom and spend MUCH MORE ($300-$500+). The quality, fit and finish of Northfields is simply outstanding.

There are many models, so just find the one you like and I guarantee you'll not be disappointed. When you start to zero in on one feel free to ask any questions and we'll all have more than enough answers for you. :)
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I agree with the posts above. Like everyone mentioned GEC produces a great high quality knife. They have some patterns it can be overwhelming and it seems like new ones are always appearing. A few you might find interesting are the 33 conductor - smaller two or three bladed knife (3 3/8" closed) but slim and very pocket friendly, the 68 White Owl which is 3.5" closed and two bladed (also very slim for pocket carry), and the ever popular 15 Boy's knife which can often be found in single bladed or double bladed version in many blade configurations. But, check out others as well - I don't believe you will be disappointed in any of their offerings. Let us know what you pick up and post some pics!
 
jone said:
I agree with the posts above. Like everyone mentioned GEC produces a great high quality knife. They have some patterns it can be overwhelming and it seems like new ones are always appearing. A few you might find interesting are the 33 conductor - smaller two or three bladed knife (3 3/8" closed) but slim and very pocket friendly, the 68 White Owl which is 3.5" closed and two bladed (also very slim for pocket carry), and the ever popular 15 Boy's knife which can often be found in single bladed or double bladed version in many blade configurations. But, check out others as well - I don't believe you will be disappointed in any of their offerings. Let us know what you pick up and post some pics!
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Or even the new release #66 Slim Jacks.
 
A little more info from the OP would be very helpful:

a) what size or closed length do you prefer?
b) do you want stainless or carbon steel, which can darken with use?
c) what handle material, stag, bone, horn, wood, or synthetic?
 
I carry a Tom's Choice Barlow in saw cut red bone by GEC 100% of the time. Perfect size, perfect blade setup, yup, it's the Goldilocks of my meager knife collection. Just right.

But I agree, we need more info from you to make a good suggestion. I think $150 gets you A LOT of knife in today's traditional market.
 
I do not think you would be sorry if you bought the Case swayback. Thy are nice knives and would serve you well.
 
medicevans said:
I carry a Tom's Choice Barlow in saw cut red bone by GEC 100% of the time. Perfect size, perfect blade setup, yup, it's the Goldilocks of my meager knife collection. Just right.

But I agree, we need more info from you to make a good suggestion. I think $150 gets you A LOT of knife in today's traditional market.
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Thank you so much for all of the informative replies! I should have gave more info, my fault! I put a question on a different form on a different subject and was almost called stupid for it. Nothing like that here, thank you! I do like the edge of a carbon blade and love damascus but its usually out of my price range. So I guess I'm open on the blade if a stainless blade is good quality for sharpening and holding an edge. I do like stag, bone etc. I did love the red bone look and the pocket worn aspect of the Case. Thank you! I'm not familiar with GEC so you have already helped me there! As far as size, I carry a peanut from Frost right now so anything close would be familiar or even a medium peanut size. I'm sorry to not be more specific, I guess I'm pretty open right now. I did really like the pocket worn red bone look on the Case though. Thanks so much for the help and suggestions!
 
I think you should take a look at GEC's 66 jack. Serpentine frame, medium size, two blades in a jack setup, very nice knife.

I seem to remember a medium dogleg jack (a peanut is a small dogleg jack) that GEC makes, but I can't remember for sure right now. Maybe someone else can remind me.
 
Whit301 said:
Thank you so much for all of the informative replies! I should have gave more info, my fault! I put a question on a different form on a different subject and was almost called stupid for it. Nothing like that here, thank you! I do like the edge of a carbon blade and love damascus but its usually out of my price range. So I guess I'm open on the blade if a stainless blade is good quality for sharpening and holding an edge. I do like stag, bone etc. I did love the red bone look and the pocket worn aspect of the Case. Thank you! I'm not familiar with GEC so you have already helped me there! As far as size, I carry a peanut from Frost right now so anything close would be familiar or even a medium peanut size. I'm sorry to not be more specific, I guess I'm pretty open right now. I did really like the pocket worn red bone look on the Case though. Thanks so much for the help and suggestions!
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You did not say so, but judging by the knives you carry and are looking at, you like stainless blades? That might change some of the suggestions.
 
Case's Pocket Worn Old Red is a nice line of knives from them. Just because you are willing to spend $100 to $150 doesn't mean you have to spend all of that on a single knife.

A lot of people are quite fond of their Case Sway Back Jacks and Sway Back Gents (single-blade). They are a well-made smaller jack knife (3 1/5" long) and the Case steels are easy to sharpen. If you prefer carbon steel, then the Chestnut Bone handled version of the Sway Back Jack (2 blades) is your option there.

Great Eastern makes some very nice knives. If you are looking to move up a notch in overall quality, then GEC is the place to look. Just keep in mind that they constantly come out with new patterns and blade combos and don't have a standard production line, so if there is a particular GEC knife style that strikes your fancy, you may have a harder time finding it unless it is within a fairly short time of the release date.

GEC's precision fit and finish means the knives are not quite as smoothed and rounded here and there compared to Case. Edges and corners of backsprings may feel sharp, as well as the corners on tangs and swedges. This can also extend to the nail nick slots, and in combination with their somewhat stiffer springs can sometimes result in nail-breaker (more like nail cutter) openers. Most of my GEC knives don't have this issue, but I have one that'll tear a nail every time.

If you are not in a big hurry, GEC has another round of their very popular #15 knives coming out soon - 1 and 2-blade jack knives that are 3 1/2" closed and very pocketable. Depending on number of blades and the trim line (Tidioute versus Northfield), they tend to run in the $80-ish price range, versus $60-ish for the Case Sway Back knives.

I own both Case and GEC knives (along with others) and both brands have their own charms and personalities. If you are a bit more price conscious, some of the mainstream Case patterns (Small Texas Jack, Medium Stockman patterns, Mini Trappers, etc) can be easily found in the $40-ish or below range.

And for sheer utility I find it hard to beat a Victorinox Alox-handled knife like the Cadet or Pioneer, or any of the Buck 30x series. I've been carrying my Victorinox Cadet and Buck 303 with me this week, both knives were under $30 each.
 
The #33 Conductor is one of my favorite carry knives. It is slim and light but with a 2 1/2" main blade and at least 1 secondary blade (2 for the whittler) while only being 3 3/8" closed. There are a few in 440C models with American Elk, Burnt Stag, and bone still available while the 2 blade 1095 ones are hard to find now. All the 3 blade whittlers so far are 1095.

Edit to add: Case made a swell center whittler in the past that you may be able to find in that old red bone. Queen also makes/made a whittler in D2 similar to the #33.

Maybe look at the Queen Trapper jacks in D2? One of my favorite and will within your budget. These are 3 1/2" closed but will be wider than the GEC #33.
 
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Whit301 said:
As far as size, I carry a peanut from Frost right now so anything close would be familiar or even a medium peanut size.
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I'm quite new to traditional knives and I've enjoyed the Great Eastern knives I've bought. They are made nicely, but still have a hand made quality to them in that there are small variations and the use of many natural materials. I initially limited myself to the 440C (stainless) models which are sold as "Great Eastern" brand and marked Cyclops on the blades. Since then, I've bought more 1095 (non-stainless) models which are sold as "Northfield" or "Tidioute" and marked as TIW on the blades. The GEC knives are numbered by the frame shape/size and there are often multiple knifes models made with each frame (with different blades, handle configurations, etc.).

Both the Pemberton & the Magnum are in the same size range as a Peanut & are very nice. I think they use the same blades.
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/16-pemberton/
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/22-magnum/

The Conductor & the Calf Roper slim are both available as 2 blade single spring knives which offer a larger clip blade and a smaller pen blade in a small knife.
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/33-2/
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/66-equal-end-serpentine/
 
GEC #48 special factory order knife with African Blackwood scales. 3 and 7/8" closed. It's a trapper pattern with a clip and a wharncliffe blade. Tons of blade in a slim, fairly lightweight knife. Last I checked it was under $100 from collectorknives.net.

Here's mine:
P1000574.JPG
 
"Help me find the best carry knife"

What and save you the countless dollars, hours, and tears we've all spent searching ourselves?

Just kidding. To be honest it depends. If you really just want one knife to carry and don't think your gonna get sucked into accumulating a bunch of knives that catch your eye or interest for whatever reason I might go with a GEC or some thing on the higher end with 2 -3 blades. I love stockmans and 2 blade jacks. But if your not looking to spend all 150 and jut want the use you'd do very well with a good SAK (alox or otherwise) and maybe an opinel 6, 7, or 8.

I personally started out accumulating cheap but quality Traditionals like opinels, saks, douk douks, and used but not abused Cases. Over the relatively short time I've been collecting I've pieces together a modest collection of knives that give me pleasure but non of them have been over $50 (most under $20). That's partly because I got bit by bug to hunt for knives and deals on them and if I upped my price per knife budget I fear things would just get out of hand and I'd start buying $80 knives the way I buy $15 knives, which is too often. Your mileage may vary.
 
Have fun on your quest to find the "one" . :)

Staying with Case, I'll mention their tiny trapper and baby bean.

And any of the #15 frame GEC's - I really prefer the Boy's Radios, especially the SFO Radio Jacks.

The #6 GEC Pembertons are really well made smaller pocket knives.

And you may want to look at the Special being made for this Traditional forum part of Blade Forums.

PS: how could I have forgotten to mention the Swiss Army knives? From small to larger, they are always great to have.
 
Whit301 said:
Hello all, I am wanting to buy a full time carry pocket knife. I know the sky is endless on choices but this is what I was considering. I was considering the Case pocket worn Swayback gents at first then ran across the Case pocket worn medium stockman. Are these good choices or would I be better suited to add some money for a different model or brand? If I had a budget of 100 to 150 max I would like to make sure it would be a one time purchase so blade and overall quality is very important and I realize my budget in today's world may be unrealistic. If the Swayback or Stockman would be a good choice am I better off paying for the TB Swayback? Thank you for your advice. Just having trouble pulling the trigger when wanting to make a good decision.
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You could carry a $15 Opinel for the rest of your life and be just fine.

Paraphrasing Pirsig, "quality" is that which produces peace of mind for you.

Much of what we do when we buy things like knives (or pens, or bikes or cars or whatever) is we try to shield ourselves from fear. Mostly it is the fear of not being good enough or smart enough or "discriminating" enough (honestly, if I hear one more add for anything pitched as being for "discriminating" buyers I'm going to put a bullet through my car radio).

There are 2 places where fear is going to rear its head: steel and fit and finish.

In general, traditional knives use easy to sharpen mid grade steels. They're fine, really and many of us prefer them over harder to sharpen super steels. Most well known traditional makers don't use junk. It's hard to find real super steels in production traditionals. There are differences as there are in coffee and beer. Four basic types: fine grain carbon (e.g. 1095), fine grain stainless (420hc, Aus8, 12C27), course grain stainless (440C), course grain semi-stainless (D2). There are others but thats a sampling.

In terms of fit and finish, generally you are buying craftsmanship for the sake of craftsmanship. It generally doesn't translate into noticeable performance differences (but it may) but for some people, it means a lot. This is highly personal. It's the decision between a Lexus and a Toyota. You and you alone can decide this.

There's a massive number of styles of traditionals. Each has their charm and finding the one that suits you is like finding shoes and underwear that suit you. Usually these threads devolve into "I like X" responses, which really won't help you find what works for you.

My suggestion is to avoid a big purchase and, instead, buy a few $20 and under patterns to try out. They are easy to find used and some companies like Rough Rider will get near that price point (they don't suck, actually).

Once you've found a basic pattern that works for you, then you can think about finding just the right version of that style of knife and you can sink big bucks into something with a lot more confidence.

I'm not alone in saying this but I've purchased a bunch of knives thinking, "This is the one" and after 3 months of carrying it and living with it finding out that it's not. After a lot of trial and error, I actually have found my single most commonly carried knife. It feels the most natural in my hand, does everything that I want and makes me happy when I use it but it's taken a LOT of experimenting to find it.

I'd tell you what it is but for you, it doesn't matter. You might well hate my choice in beer, my choice in shoes and my choice in knife.
 
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