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    • Small Swell Center Jack

    Case Small Swell Center Jack Knives

    The Case Small Swell Center Jack packs two working blades into a 3-inch closed frame whose handle swells gently through the middle, filling your palm far better than its size suggests. Case builds it in Bradford, Pennsylvania as a traditional slip joint, pairing a clip blade for everyday cutting with a slim pen blade for fine work, finished with polished nickel silver bolsters and a nickel silver CASE inlay shield.

    Two builds define the pattern here. The 23694 wears smooth Natural Canvas Micarta with a CASE Bowtie shield over mirror-polished Tru-Sharp stainless blades (pattern 10225 1/2 SS), a tough, low-maintenance pocket knife built for daily use. The 77462 steps up to jigged Vintage Bone with a Coat of Arms shield and ladder-pattern Damascus blades (pattern V6225 1/2 DAM), a collector-grade small jack with carbon Damascus that rewards the owner who oils it.

    It's built for gentleman carriers who want a traditional two-blade knife that disappears in a dress pocket, and for collectors adding a Damascus Case jack to the case. At Knifeworks, you're buying from an authorized Case dealer, and every Small Swell Center Jack is covered by the Case Limited Lifetime Warranty.

    What is a swell center jack?A swell center jack is a traditional jack knife whose handle widens through the middle instead of running straight. That swell gives a small knife a fuller, more secure grip, and on a 3-inch frame like this one it is what makes two blades comfortable to use.

    Call 888-225-9775 — we carry the Case Small Swell Center Jack daily and can help you choose between Micarta and Damascus.

    Authorized Case DealerCase Limited Lifetime Warranty on every Small Swell Center Jack.
    Made in Bradford, PennsylvaniaHandcrafted in the USA by Case.
    Tru-Sharp SS or Ladder DamascusClip and pen blades in a 3-inch closed frame.
    Same or Next Business Day ShippingShips from Columbia, Louisiana. Questions? Call 888-225-9775.
    Compare Selected

    The Case Small Swell Center Jack Buyer's Guide (2026)

    What makes this small two-blade jack a classic, and how to choose between Tru-Sharp stainless with Micarta and ladder Damascus with Vintage Bone.

    The Small Swell Center Jack: A 3-Inch Two-Blade Classic+

    A jack knife is one of the oldest American pocket knife families, and the swell center variation is defined by its handle: instead of running straight, it widens through the middle. On the Case Small Swell Center Jack, that swell sits in a frame just 3 inches long closed, which is why such a small knife still feels secure in the hand when you bear down on a cut.

    Case builds every one in Bradford, Pennsylvania with two blades, polished nickel silver bolsters and a nickel silver CASE inlay shield. It is small enough for a dress-pants watch pocket or a suit coat, yet it gives you two distinct edges for two kinds of work.

    TipThe pattern number tells you the family. Both knives on this page share the 225 pattern: the 23694 is a 10225 1/2 SS and the 77462 is a V6225 1/2 DAM.
    Clip and Pen Blades: Two Edges, Two Jobs+
    BladeShapeBest For
    Clip BladeMain blade with a clipped spine that drops to a fine, controllable pointOpening mail and packages, trimming cord, food prep, general daily cutting
    Pen BladeShort, slim secondary bladeSplinters, cleaning nails, trimming threads, and detail work you want to keep off the main edge

    Carrying two blades means you can save the clip blade's edge for clean cuts and hand the dirty jobs, like scraping or cutting tape, to the pen blade. It is the same logic that has kept two-blade jacks in American pockets for generations.

    Choosing Your Steel: Tru-Sharp SS vs. Ladder Damascus+
    SteelLookMaintenanceFound On
    Tru-Sharp Stainless (SS)Mirror-polished, classic bright finishLow, strong corrosion resistance and easy touch-up23694 Natural Canvas Micarta
    Ladder-Pattern Damascus (DAM, carbon)Layered steel with a rung-like ladder pattern running the length of the bladeHigher, wipe dry and oil to protect the carbon layers77462 Vintage Bone

    Tru-Sharp is Case's surgical stainless, chosen for knives that get used and pocketed every day without fuss. Ladder Damascus is forge-welded layered steel, and its pattern makes every blade unique. Because the 77462's Damascus is carbon, it should be treated like any carbon blade: kept dry and given a light coat of oil.

    TipNever store a Damascus blade in a leather pouch or a damp pocket for long periods. A thin wipe of mineral oil keeps the ladder pattern crisp and the carbon layers rust-free.
    Slip Joint Action and Everyday Care+

    Both Small Swell Center Jacks are slip joints, so there is no Liner Lock or Frame Lock to release. Backspring tension holds each blade open and closed. That makes this a knife for controlled pocket chores rather than hard prying or stabbing.

    To keep the action smooth, put a drop of light oil at each blade pivot every few months, blow out pocket lint, and wipe the blades clean after cutting food or tape. On the Tru-Sharp 23694 that is all the care it needs; on the Damascus 77462, add a wipe of oil to the blade faces too.

    Handle Materials: Natural Canvas Micarta vs. Vintage Bone+
    MaterialLook & FeelDurabilityModel
    Natural Canvas MicartaSmooth, warm canvas-and-resin laminate that develops a grippy, leathery texture as you carry itExcellent; shrugs off moisture and hand oils23694
    Vintage BoneJigged bone with an aged, collector-style colorGood; keep away from extreme heat and dryness77462

    Micarta is the practical choice for a knife that rides in your pocket every day. Vintage Bone is the traditional choice, and on the 77462 it pairs with ladder Damascus to make a small jack that looks right in a display case or on a desk.

    Shields and Bolsters: CASE Bowtie vs. Coat of Arms+

    Both knives carry highly polished nickel silver bolsters at the ends of the handle, which protect the handle material and add weight where the blades pivot. The shield is where they differ. The 23694 uses Case's Bowtie nickel silver CASE inlay shield, a clean, modern Case mark on smooth Micarta. The 77462 uses a Coat of Arms nickel silver CASE inlay shield, a more ornate shield that suits its Vintage Bone and Damascus build.

    TipIf you are buying a gift, the shield is often what the recipient notices first. The Coat of Arms 77462 reads as a keepsake; the Bowtie 23694 reads as a knife meant to be used every day.
    Small Swell Center Jack Specs at a Glance+
    Spec23694 Natural Canvas Micarta77462 Vintage Bone
    Pattern10225 1/2 SSV6225 1/2 DAM
    BladesClip + PenClip + Pen
    Blade SteelTru-Sharp Surgical StainlessLadder-Pattern Damascus (carbon)
    Blade FinishMirror-polishedDamascus
    HandleSmooth Natural Canvas MicartaJigged Vintage Bone
    ShieldCASE Bowtie, nickel silver inlayCoat of Arms, nickel silver CASE inlay
    BolstersPolished nickel silverPolished nickel silver
    Closed Length3 in3 in
    ActionSlip jointSlip joint
    WarrantyCase Limited Lifetime WarrantyCase Limited Lifetime Warranty
    Price$67.99$229.99

    Case Small Swell Center Jack: Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers from the Knifeworks team in Columbia, Louisiana on the Case Small Swell Center Jack.

    What is the Case Small Swell Center Jack?+

    It's a traditional two-blade Case slip joint with a clip blade and a pen blade in a 3-inch closed frame, built in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Its handle swells through the middle for a fuller grip, and it is finished with polished nickel silver bolsters and a nickel silver CASE inlay shield.

    What does "swell center" mean on a pocket knife?+

    A swell center handle widens through the middle instead of running straight from end to end. The swell fills the palm, so a small knife like this 3-inch jack gives a more secure, comfortable grip than a straight-sided handle of the same length.

    What blades does the Small Swell Center Jack have?+

    Two blades: a clip blade for everyday cutting and a slim pen blade for fine detail work. Both are held open and closed by slip joint backspring tension.

    What's the difference between the 23694 and the 77462?+

    The 23694 (pattern 10225 1/2 SS) has smooth Natural Canvas Micarta, a CASE Bowtie shield and mirror-polished Tru-Sharp stainless blades, built for daily carry. The 77462 (pattern V6225 1/2 DAM) has jigged Vintage Bone, a Coat of Arms shield and ladder-pattern carbon Damascus blades, built as a collector piece.

    Is Damascus steel a good choice for a pocket knife?+

    Yes, if you are willing to care for it. The ladder-pattern Damascus on the 77462 takes a fine edge and makes every blade unique, but because it is carbon Damascus it needs to be wiped dry after use and given a light coat of oil to prevent rust. If you want a no-fuss daily knife, the Tru-Sharp stainless 23694 is the easier choice.

    What do the Case pattern numbers 10225 1/2 SS and V6225 1/2 DAM mean?+

    Case pattern numbers start with the handle material and the blade count. On the 10225 1/2 SS, 10 is the Micarta handle, 2 is two blades and SS is Tru-Sharp stainless. On the V6225 1/2 DAM, V6 marks the Vintage Bone handle, 2 is two blades and DAM is Damascus. The shared 225 identifies this swell center jack pattern.

    Does the Small Swell Center Jack lock?+

    No. It is a slip joint, so there is no Liner Lock or Frame Lock. Backspring tension holds each blade open and closed, which makes it a knife for controlled cutting chores rather than prying or heavy use.

    What warranty comes with the Case Small Swell Center Jack?+

    Every Case Small Swell Center Jack is covered by the Case Limited Lifetime Warranty. Knifeworks is an authorized Case dealer, ships same or next business day from Columbia, Louisiana, and answers questions at 888-225-9775.

    Authorized Case Dealer · Made in Bradford, PA · Tru-Sharp SS · Ladder Damascus

    Two Blades, Three Inches, a Lifetime in Your Pocket

    From the everyday Natural Canvas Micarta 23694 to the Vintage Bone and Damascus 77462, every Small Swell Center Jack is covered by the Case Limited Lifetime Warranty. Call 888-225-9775 — we carry these knives daily and ship same or next business day from Columbia, Louisiana.

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