Sway Back Size Comparison

prisoner6

prisoner6

Joined
Aug 7, 2003
Messages
470
As with many others it seems I am bitten with the bug for a Sway Back. Given I have a birthday on the horizon I may just treat myself.

I am really bad with sizes, I need to see things to get their feel.

Can anyone compare sizes for me of a Case Sway Back Gent and a GEC 47 Viper? Or show them by comparison with something else so I can get a feel?

I'm looking for pocketable, but not tiny. Not huge, just a good serviceable size for me.

Thanks!
 
I don't have either, but am familiar with both.

Both are pocketable, but if you are more of a peanut guy, the Case is what you want. If you like a Sodbuster Junior size then maybe the 47.

While the Viper is a great looking knife, in the swayback, I'd probably opt for the Case. I used to not think that, but I've grown to like peanuts.
 
The GEC Viper is about 3 7/8" closed. The Case Sway Backs are about 3 1/5" closed. I don't own a Viper. I do own a Case Sway Back Jack but the only pics I have of it are solo shots with nothing to compare it to. However, I do have other knives in the same size range as the Viper and can say that the difference will be noticeable. I personally find the sweet-spot for daily carry, size-wise, to be in between those two.

If you like a smaller knife, go with the Case. It's certainly bigger than a Peanut and the shape of the handle makes it feel more substantial than say a Case Pen knife.

If you like a bigger knife for more frequent use where the larger handle works well, then maybe the Viper is the right choice. Depends a lot on how big of knife you want to carry, size of your hands, and your intended usage.


Edit: I see while I was typing this that Sitflyer posted a pic. Worth more than all of my words :)
 
The case is tiny IMHO. I hated it because it was so small. Went with a Viper and love it. Very pocketable
 
Thank you all. I think Sitflyer's photo gives me what I need. Is that Victorinox a Soldier/Pioneer or Cadet?
 
The only thing I can add is, with my Case I have the jack, I don't think the gent would work for me Personally, but the added girth of the extra blade makes the jack feel much more substantial to my hand. There are lots of factors which determine what is comfortable in hand, and what is comfortable in pocket, that differ widely from person to person...
 
prisoner6. my SAK is (I think) the farmer...saw, awl, cap lifter, can opener, main blade.
 
sitflyer said:
prisoner6. my SAK is (I think) the farmer...saw, awl, cap lifter, can opener, main blade.
Click to expand...

Okay, that would make it the bigger size, and I've carried one of those. I agree with your coments on size, it is clearly a personal thing. To my eye the Viper looks much more appealing, and if I know about what size I can work with that.

I appreciate your help. I see you are also in North Carolina. Stay warm today and see what tomorrow brings, it could be warm again.
 
The Case is the perfect watch pocket size. The Viper is too big for that pocket. That's my personal sizing system :p
 
There really needs to be a 3.5" SBJ. The Case is small, the GEC is a handful. I guess there's the GEC houndstooth, but that's swaying the wrong way and although pretty in its own right, just doesn't have the aesthetics of the SBJ.
 
Planterz said:
There really needs to be a 3.5" SBJ. The Case is small, the GEC is a handful. I guess there's the GEC houndstooth, but that's swaying the wrong way and although pretty in its own right, just doesn't have the aesthetics of the SBJ.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
Planterz said:
There really needs to be a 3.5" SBJ. The Case is small, the GEC is a handful. I guess there's the GEC houndstooth, but that's swaying the wrong way and although pretty in its own right, just doesn't have the aesthetics of the SBJ.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Given a choice between the size of the Case swayback and the Viper, I definitely prefer the Viper. But any swayback between 3.5" and 3.75" gets my vote.
 
Planterz said:
There really needs to be a 3.5" SBJ. The Case is small, the GEC is a handful. I guess there's the GEC houndstooth, but that's swaying the wrong way and although pretty in its own right, just doesn't have the aesthetics of the SBJ.
Click to expand...

Good point.

The pictures really show the massive difference between a 3.2" knife and a 3.8" it doesn't sound much but it is when you take into account the extra width/weight etc.

Was thinking about one of those Vipers but glad I didn't manage to get one after all, it looks too hefty for my pocket. Nice looking pattern no doubt about it.
 
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