If I were asked which Satin Jack is a better fighting knife, I would likely agree - I feel the slimmer SJ is a better fighting knife. The slimmer SJ is a little quicker, more nimble and more suited for stabbing (if that is your thing).

The Satin Jack Tac however, has an awesome blade shape for field use and I definately feel the SJTAC is better suited for field use than the slimmer SJ. Too me, the SJTAC is a very versatile blade. I am not generally a person who believes one knives can do it all, but the SJTAC is in my opinion about the closest I have seen. - ..... Why I couldn't let it go!
The "TAC" handle designation implies the SJTAC is largely a fighter, but I would argue it is a better field knife first with a secondary use as a fighter. A handle doesn't do much to make a knife a fighter on it's own. And as I have mentioned, there are some tweeks I would (will) make to the handle. I don't have an older SJ, but from what I can see and comparing it to my Desert Jack, I would prefer a taller handle.
For a fighter, the slim handle is fine, but for field use the slim handle doesn't fit quite right to me. I don't feel the grip is as solid as I prefer. The slimmer handle wants to roll around too much.

I don't really have much use for a fighter..... But, I still have quite a few in my collection <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Generally, my criteria for a knife (whether I use it or collect it) is based on if I consider the knife a knife that I could use, would like to use and if the knife is really good at what I want to use a knife for.

I like the slimmer Satin Jack, but I have many knives that I consider more usable for my preferences. I personally prefer the SJTAC.
I like the blade shape on the SJTAC a lot. It is actually one of my favorite blade shapes for a knife with about a 6" - 7" blade. The SJTAC's blade is 6.375".
I like the convex grind on the SJTAC - A WHOLE lot!
The handle on the SJTAC is just O.K., but I can make it pretty good. I don't think I can make it great, but it will be good enough.
The top two reasons are why I kept this SJTAC. I haven't had much luck justifying buying Busse's. I have purchase about 6 or so, but I only have 2 (my other is an AD - I like my AD, but it is sure expensive for a 3.5" blade!!! - we'll see if I keep it????).


* For the record, the pictures I posted are not my knives. I just tend to save many pictures to my files when I come across good pictures. I have an old cheap camera and I am not very good at taking pictures. So, when I want to post a picture, I feel forum members would rather see nice pictures of given knives even if they are not mine vs. crappy pictures of my knives.


But, if you must see mine.... here is a crappy pick of mine (from a few months ago). I originally purchased two. I sold the top one because I couldn't and can't justify keeping the knives at that price and value - (Except in the case of the SJTAC, I will probably keep it for sure.).
I kept the stripped one:



I still have some grinding and polishing to do to finish my SJTAC the way I want it. I will get it done some day.
The convex shape obviously was done with a CNC machine (I don't own an AK, but I am pretty sure the AK was convexed with CNC as well).
The CNC marks on the convex are VERY tough to sand out. I started this project months ago and I just haven't had a chance to get back to finishing up some of my blades. (....many more waiting to be made Satin happy!)

I "might" have justified paying for the SJTACLE had I known the CG was going to be such a mess to fix under the coating, but I missed the window of opportunity and the LE versions of INFI tend to be WAY more than CG.

The good thing about stripping it yourself is you save money. In the case of the SJTAC vs. the SJTACLE, I think it was over $100 difference. WAY too much to justify the price increase (too me).

I will generally be happy to pay an extra $30 - $40 depending on size though.
Because some knives can be a bear to get looking nice. Some are quite easy. You never know which ones are going to be nice or rough under the coatings. - unfortunately, the SJTAC was pretty rough. (* I wish they would make them at least consistently "decent" under the coatings!)

The other good thing about stripping a knife yourself is you are less concerned about using it and more prone to using it. Once you strip the knife and sand/polish it, you can recreate the same finish if you want after you use it.

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