All About Pocket Knives

I just bought my first jack knife and I like to collect more. Can you help with the names and pattern numbers. Mine is a GEC 78 in cranberry red jigged bone.

American Jack

Pictures please. We truly love pictures. Here's how to post 'em. ---> viewtopic.php?f=98&t=50258

I'm a Jack Knife fan as well. Not so much the sub-3" variety but 3¼" and up (mostly) light my fire. I'm prejudiced more towards the serpentine frame.

An older picture of my small medium jack collection. I've added a couple since then.

Welcome to AAPK! You've picked one of the most popular knife patterns of all time so you'll have plenty of options to choose from if you want to collect jack knives. There's a great search feature on this site so if you want to research this pattern just open the "Quick links" (up there ^ on the left), click "Search" in the drop-down menu, type "jack" into the search field, hit submit, and stand back cuz you'll get a lot of hits!

Ken

::Damn Jerry that looks like something straight out of the Marine Manual, you know dress right dress and all that good stuff! I'd show all my accumulation but I'm not that organized as you! Nice bunch of Knives! And welcome to AAPK American Jack, I'm sure you find this an interesting site Terry

to AAPK!

I prefer jack knives too and often carry a trapper or gunstock. I've liked the look and feel in hand of these patterns since I was a kid.

Terry that's the product of an unoccupied mind and a quick, easy task.

AmericanJack --- I'm sorry, I got side tracked (which gets easier all the time these days -- "Oh look. There goes a chicken.") and didn't really address your original post (OP).

As far as brands, EVERYONE makes jack knives. Probably the most ubiquitous base pattern you will find aside from the stockman pattern. There are bunches of sub-patterns in the jack knife family. There's sizes all the way from sub-3" up to the 4½" English Jack and beyond. Made in all those sizes are serpentine jacks, gunstock jacks, English jacks, Wharncliffe jacks, equal-end jacks, trappers, cigar jacks, tear-drop jacks and on and on. They're all jack knives because they have two blades, both swung from the same end. I suggest you may want to start out with one of each and at some point in time, one particular pattern and or size and or brand will rise above all the others. Maybe you will find two or three patterns or brands or sizes getting most of your attention. Buy what you like. If you tire of them quickly, you can always sell them later (I can't but you might be able to. ) Various patterns, various sizes, various brands, various handle materials. Something is bound to strike a chord with you. Good luck and most of all, enjoy.

Try scrolling through an eBay search on "jack knives". There's over 1700 to look at today. ---> http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=ro ... e&_sacat=0

I love jack knives but my favorite are the old classics with Ebony handles like this old HSB.

Is this helpful?

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/pat ... ican-jack/

AJ, I too got side tracked, getting back to your post------I like trappers but have many other jack knives also. You picked a good one to start with, Great Eastern is a great USA company and makes a quality knife. I have included a photo of a few of my trappers, top one is a Scout GEC, next down on the left is a stag Casexx, then a newer yellow handle case, then a Western Boulder,Colo. then a Browning mini trapper. On the right side is a Queen, followed down by another jig bone delrin Queen, another queen, and a full size Browning. The patterns and handle material are really almost endless, collect what ever you like and enjoy it. Terry

gsmith7158 wrote:I love jack knives but my favorite are the old classics with Ebony handles like this old HSB.

Be still, my heart!

Thanks everyone ! I didn't expect to get all this information from everbody about Jack Knives. I have to save up for my next knife. I don't know which to buy, but I be looking at all the information that was sent.


Thanks Again

tongueriver wrote:

gsmith7158 wrote:I love jack knives but my favorite are the old classics with Ebony handles like this old HSB.

Be still, my heart!

Thanks Cal I slipped up on that one early one morning and got it for $16.

I typically lean more toward stockman and Congress knives. But when it comes to Jack knives I like the big boys. The 99 1/2 pattern CASE, 6217 CASE Loomfixer, Carl Schlieper copperheads, and trappers (preferably Queen #19 pattern).

jerryd6818 wrote:As far as brands, EVERYONE makes jack knives. Probably the most ubiquitous base pattern you will find aside from the stockman pattern. There are bunches of sub-patterns in the jack knife family. There's sizes all the way from sub-3" up to the 4½" English Jack and beyond. Made in all those sizes are serpentine jacks, gunstock jacks, English jacks, Wharncliffe jacks, equal-end jacks, trappers, cigar jacks, tear-drop jacks and on and on.

The Barlow gets lumped in with "on and on"?

Tony loves the Barlows! I do as well... wait a second... My knives are scattered all over the place. Makes it hard to grab a picture. I'll just say this. I have not seen a knife that I didn't like or want to own. Even those ugly ratty old used up POS knives have an appeal to me Welcome to AAPK! This is a good place to get the knife collecting bug. Its a highly contagious virus that..... Oh no I see that you already have it! AK

Here's a few of mine, they run the gauntlet of size, type and quality. You can pick them up on the cheap if you are like me "TIGHTWAD" the most expensive knife jere cost $26.91, I didn't include any barlows and electrician (TL-29) although they fit the criteria imo.these were in my pocket and didn't make the group picture.

americanjack wrote:Thanks everyone ! I didn't expect to get all this information from everbody about Jack Knives. I have to save up for my next knife. I don't know which to buy, but I be looking at all the information that was sent.


Thanks Again

Get what you like. As a couple of guys stated, you don't have to spend a lot of money to scratch the itch. Yeah, it's nice to have some Great Easterns and some Schatt & Morgans (I wouldn't know about the customs. Can't afford 'em) but you will get just as much enjoyment from a Camillus, Imperial or an old Colonial that's in decent condition. I'm not trying to impress anyone except me. I don't really give a flip what others think of my accumulation as long as I like 'em.

jerryd6818 wrote:

americanjack wrote:Thanks everyone ! I didn't expect to get all this information from everbody about Jack Knives. I have to save up for my next knife. I don't know which to buy, but I be looking at all the information that was sent.


Thanks Again

Get what you like. As a couple of guys stated, you don't have to spend a lot of money to scratch the itch. Yeah, it's nice to have some Great Easterns and some Schatt & Morgans (I wouldn't know about the customs. Can't afford 'em) but you will get just as much enjoyment from a Camillus, Imperial or an old Colonial that's in decent condition. I'm not trying to impress anyone except me. I don't really give a flip what others think of my accumulation as long as I like 'em.

I agree. Especially that last line.

bighomer wrote:I didn't include any barlows and electrician (TL-29) although they fit the criteria imo.

bighomer wrote:Here's a few of mine, they run the gauntlet of size, type and quality. You can pick them up on the cheap if you are like me "TIGHTWAD" the most expensive knife jere cost $26.91, I didn't include any barlows and electrician (TL-29) although they fit the criteria imo.20170508_185634.jpgthese were in my pocket and didn't make the group picture.

I see a western folding hunter in that pile! And a Queen too. Nice pile of jack knkves.

If you want a cool Jack knife, this is it...

_______
Mike

Howdy American Jack, I'll say welcome to AAPK, also! You must have hit the right button talkin' about jack knives! What a bunch of fine knives have popped up.
I think sometimes folks call any pocket knife a "jack knife" and that's okay with me. Readin' this got me to thinking about my favorite pattern, the trapper and I never refer to them as jack knives, even thought they fit the 2 blades on the same end description.
I wish you well in your pursuit of jack knives!
Treefarmer

Jack knives are just the best for EDC. Case makes a variety of them to give you a great collection.

Not to heavy in the pocket, but it is there enough to let you know it did not fall out

Pretty construction

Just the right size blade to do most jobs ( unless you really have to trim something small or
cut something large and heavy)

If you get it in stag, that is another plus!

My most recent purchase: Case Medium Texas Jack

Bob

rea1eye wrote:Jack knives are just the best for EDC. Case makes a variety of them to give you a great collection.

Not to heavy in the pocket, but it is there enough to let you know it did not fall out

Pretty construction

Just the right size blade to do most jobs ( unless you really have to trim something small or
cut something large and heavy)

If you get it in stag, that is another plus!

My most recent purchase: Case Medium Texas Jack

Bob

Wow Bob I like that one. How about a few more photos from the other side open?

_________
Mike

I like the unequal end jacks and copperheads just because: