Swayback Jack

M

mdsmith

Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
1,495
I know these are old news to most of you, but I just received my chestnut bone Case swayback jack, and all I can say is..... WOW !!! I can't believe the fit and finish on this thing. It is absolutely flawless. This is the best money I've spent on a knife in a long time. But, all of the praise that this knife get begs the question. If Case can make a regular production knife at this high of a level of craftsmanship, why don't they do it on all of their knives? What makes this one so special?
 
I just have a couple of thoughts on the reasons and I agree with you on bang for the buck.

The fact that Tony worked with Case on the pattern sure did not hurt. :D

I think they really went with new tooling on this pattern and might just be taking the hand finishing a little further.

I really enjoy mine. Carried it today.
 
The Case knives with Tony Bose's name on them all seem to be of a higher level of craftsmanship, refinement, and quality control. I say this based on my own SBJ and 2004 Muskrat, and second-hand reports from others on other TB Case knives. Of course, there's also a corresponding price increase on all these knives as well. A standard SBJ is about $60-70 (street), significantly higher than other 2 blade jacks like a peanut or mini trapper.

Case certainly could make their other knives with the same levels of quality, but they'd cost more, and that could/would potentially turn away a lot of their customer base, the majority of which aren't nitpicky knifenuts like we are.
 
mdsmith said:
I know these are old news to most of you, but I just received my chestnut bone Case swayback jack, and all I can say is..... WOW !!! I can't believe the fit and finish on this thing. It is absolutely flawless. This is the best money I've spent on a knife in a long time. But, all of the praise that this knife get begs the question. If Case can make a regular production knife at this high of a level of craftsmanship, why don't they do it on all of their knives? What makes this one so special?
Click to expand...

Ordered the same one yesterday. Only so much I could resist. Hope mine is as nice! :thumbup:
 
I need to get one myself. I gave one away, sort of a pay it forward deal. I do not regret doing that, but I miss that knife. I will get another.
 
I got two fillings and then felt sorry for myself. Worked for me. :cool:
 
Mine cost under 60 USD including international postage. Remarkable value, this pattern doesn't compromise on looks or fit at all. The stainless one in Bermuda Green is just as good in this dept too. Must be new dies and tooling, mind you, a recent Texas Jack in stainless shows the same high level of finish-better than my carbon Texas by a long way in quality (blades centred, straight no droop, no gaps, no blade play fine walk&talk)
 
Planterz - I hear ya about the price difference. I guess my feeling is that if I'm going to dish out 40-50 bucks for a knife, I'd be willing to add another 10 or 20 to it to get something with the f&f of this swayback.

LKJW - I'm sure you're going to love it. I haven't heard any complaints about this particular knife from anyone who has owned it.

Duncan - I'm a little hesitant to take any pics of it due to the fact that my only camera is my blackberry, and the pictures it takes certainly won't do this knife justice. I'll see what I can do though.
 
Just a pic of mine (for those who are not sick of seeing it) from a year or so ago.

CTBSJ.jpg
 
mdsmith said:
I know these are old news to most of you, but I just received my chestnut bone Case swayback jack, and all I can say is..... WOW !!! I can't believe the fit and finish on this thing. It is absolutely flawless. This is the best money I've spent on a knife in a long time. But, all of the praise that this knife get begs the question. If Case can make a regular production knife at this high of a level of craftsmanship, why don't they do it on all of their knives? What makes this one so special?
Click to expand...

I felt the same way when I finally got one. I also wondered what took me so long to get one :D

Here is a pic of mine.
IMG_0622.jpg
 
Here's one that has been "pimped out" by Tony. Blued blades (which has worn off a bit), bigger swedges, rounded off a little more around the outsides of the handle. They are great carrying knives and I like the CV.

boseswayback045.jpg
 
Oh alright...I'll post some previously seen pics. :)

The "pimped" swayback had the blades thinned out....etched and of course..the sexy swedges added. Thanks Kerry. :D

DSCN0589.jpg


DSCN0587.jpg


DSCN0590.jpg


DSCN0591.jpg


DSCN0592.jpg


DSCN0593.jpg
 
That one looks great too. What exactly is etching? I assume it's the even grey color on the blades, but what exactly do they do it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top