"Stabber Jack" in stag

ken erickson

ken erickson

Joined
Aug 27, 2004
Messages
2,701
10 months ago or so Mike Robuck had sent me a few knives to look at. One was a stabber jack marked Conn. Cutlery Co. A very cool knife that I decided to put my spin on. This rendition(going to the Badger Show, not for sale) is pretty true to the Conn. Cutlery version with some changes. No match strike pull on mine along with being covered in stag.

One of the intriguing aspects of these stabber jacks is the heavy saber ground blade. If you look at the Conn. Cutlery Co. version you will see the lack of a kick. The back portion of the sharpened blade rests on the backspring acting as a kick, but also dulling that portion of the blade and leaving a cut mark on the spring. When I built my version I could not get over that aspect and decided to make mine with a kick. I think I still captured the flavor of the kickless blade of the Conn. Cutler version while avoiding the pitfalls.

3 3/4 closed
CPM-154
Stag covers
416 integral bolsters/frame


Thanks for looking and feel free to post pictures of your stabber jack!

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I like the integral bolsters, like on the original Barlows. I'd call that an improvement. My NY Knife Co, like your Conn, has separate bolsters, though oversized.
Mine also has a substantial kick.
Great workmanship- I can appreciate it because I just re-bolstered a shell-handled Barlow.
 
I think you nailed it Ken.
The 'kick' you added is unobtrusive, and as always, I love the swedges.
 
Very nice Ken, subtle work on the kick too, a beauty as always :thumbup:
 
russde said:
I think you nailed it Ken.
The 'kick' you added is unobtrusive, and as always, I love the swedges.
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Agreed!

Had you not mentioned the kick, I probably would have missed it. Very subtle alteration that provides function without interrupting or in any way distracting from form. :thumbup:

That knife's a beast, however. I s'pose given its description, that's a compliment? ;)

Nicely done once again, Ken.

For my edification, if you don't mind? What do you call the shape of the handle? Swell center? Sloppy Soda? (Heh.)

(This is where Blues and Modoc ED insistently "suggest," GO READ YOUR BOOK. [;)] But I thought I'd ask.)

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
For my edification, if you don't mind? What do you call the shape of the handle? Swell center? Sloppy Soda? (Heh.)

(This is where Blues and Modoc ED insistently "suggest," GO READ YOUR BOOK. [;)] But I thought I'd ask.)

~ P.
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Thanks for comments, very much appreciated.

Sarah,
This pattern is commonly referred to as a Coke bottle, or perhaps :eek: more correctly swell center.

The knife while only being 3 3/4 in closed length comes in at 2 7/8 oz. The knife is stout with a pull to match. While smooth, and not a thumbnail buster, the weight of pull is heavy. Appropriate for the pattern. I think one of the interesting things about these knives is the straightness of the blade in relationship to the frame. If you look at many jacks the blade when open will have a slight downward attitude. I am not sure of the marketing strategy when these knives were coined "stabber" but it does make sense to me that the point of the blade is very much in-line with the frame.
 
ken erickson said:
Sarah,
This pattern is commonly referred to as a Coke bottle, or perhaps :eek: more correctly swell center.
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Thanks, Ken. That was my first guess-- hence the "sloppy soda." (Most coke bottle knives I've now seen have very gentle curves, indeed. I like that!) :)

But, I've seen similar shapes simply called "swell center" of late. Hence my question.

Thanks for the further details regarding the blade's pull, weight, etc. :thumbup: I do like what you describe as "the straightness of the blade in relationship to the frame," particularly as compared to those with more downward-tilting blades. For entirely aesthetic, non-stabber-y reasons!

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
T(Most coke bottle knives I've now seen have very gentle curves, indeed. I like that!) :)
~ P.
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That is a interesting observation on your part Sarah. When I made my first couple of swell center's years ago I tended to make the curves too pronounced, and the center point were the curves met way too abrupt. After studying as many old knives as I could I learned to tone it down, way down.
 
Looks very good ken. The stag you are using looks amazing. I'd be honored to have the chance to carry one of your knives one day :)
 
Nice Job Ken, I love the heavy grind on the blade, I too would have gone past the Conn. Cutlery not having a kick, very interesting.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
It took me a minute to figure out what you were doing. Pretty cool. :D
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Please do not feel bad, I am approaching that age were I often times take minutes to figure out what I am doing! ;):

John, thanks again for supplying the stag. It is nice to go into that box and know I can usually find something that will work for a given pattern.
 
Exceptional as usual, Ken. A real gem of a Stabber. The blade shape is superb

Many of the examples I have seen have a secondary blade and I have found I really like the smaller blade. I bet your already contemplating a dual.
 
Real nice one Ken! Great job of including the "non-kick"!
Since you invited us, I'll post this one, with a question to all.
If it has a pen blade, is it still a Stabber Jack?
Empire
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Looks great Ken. Did a great job still giving it that "Kickless" look /feel while
adding a kick to it.. Saber grinds are on point! I love saber ground blades, just adds
that "look" to the knife... Congrats!

Jason
 
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