2012 Bladeforums Knife - Chatting Thread

markpmc · Feb 29, 2012

FLymon said:
... I know Wharncliffe/Sheepsfoot main blades are enjoying the spotlight lately, but my guess is at least half of us would prefer that type blade ride in the "shotgun" position. ...

Agreed. I like the idea of the congress jack w/ a wharnie master and a pen or clip secondary. IMO at least one blade on a knife needs to have some belly.

But what do I know ....

IVANKERLEY · Feb 29, 2012

just checked the polls and the whaler is winning followed closely by a toenail

I just started on the Congressional Whale Illustration
gene

zippofan · Feb 29, 2012

Since my Scout itch was whetted by a new Weidmannsheil in stag this past weekend, I'll go for the Congress Jack...especially since I've been eyeing up GEC half Congress whittlers lately

Still wishing GEC would make a Scout...Queen/S&M did! I'd be the first on the list for one over at my favorite knife dealer!

meako · Mar 1, 2012

i'm somewhat confused by the poll /voting thread.
are we voting on scales in another thread ?
are the knives are pictured there to be the chosen ones?
if so how is a timely result going to be achieved from the colossal amount of extra choices many have made in that thread
regarding blade configurations,shields,scales and bolsters?
I have voted .I will get the chosen one.
If thats the poll any extra info is kind of...well... extra .

pertinux · Mar 1, 2012

FLymon said:
I hope we do a few vote threads to narrow it down to the (no more than three) most popular selections. While the Congress Jack seems to be the most popular single pattern, I wonder if it is over 30-35% of all the patterns (seriously) mentioned in that thread, or if it would get more votes than that if put up against say just a Stockman, or any knife with either a Spear or Clip main. I know Wharncliffe/Sheepsfoot main blades are enjoying the spotlight lately, but my guess is at least half of us would prefer that type blade ride in the "shotgun" position.

My .02 is that ultimately no pattern receiving less than 50% of the vote should win. If a pattern can pull 50% up against more than one other option that would be a strong statement, but I would hate to see a pattern most people voted against get the nod.

I'm revisiting your thoughts because, at least for now, both the congress jack and wharncliffe trapper are the strongest contenders, with each just under 30% of the vote. Should the current voting pattern hold, might there be some wisdom in having those two patterns (and/or another that perhaps has a late surge) square off, especially if one pattern comes out ahead by just a few percentage points?

Just curious, being new, watching the process unfold, and marveling that consensus has ever been reached in prior years.

~ P.

eisman · Mar 1, 2012

What blows my mind is that I can go online and buy any of the patterns mentioned in the poll (except the Congress Jack) and yet everybody seems to be in agreement we should get something "special". It's not that I don't like the other patterns, but they're available. I hoped we'd get to introduce a pattern that is not available, and yet could be. This would allow us to say we have something unique, and allow the MFR to add to their lineup of offerings. To me this adds to the disirability of doing business with us, and makes it easier to get the "custom" work done.

IVANKERLEY · Mar 1, 2012

beers for anybody that votes for anything that isnt a trapper!

just kidding, trappers dont do a thing for me and a wharnie trapper even less
whale congress!!!
gene

supratentorial · Mar 1, 2012

eisman said:
What blows my mind is that I can go online and buy any of the patterns mentioned in the poll (except the Congress Jack) and yet everybody seems to be in agreement we should get something "special". It's not that I don't like the other patterns, but they're available. I hoped we'd get to introduce a pattern that is not available, and yet could be. This would allow us to say we have something unique, and allow the MFR to add to their lineup of offerings. To me this adds to the disirability of doing business with us, and makes it easier to get the "custom" work done.

I agree with everything you said except I would argue that a single spring 2-blade sowbelly and the congress jack are the two uncommon patterns.

A 2-blade Wharncliffe trapper is available from Case (6207W) and a locking 1-blade is available from GEC (720110-lb), there are lots of choices of swaybacks from Case (TB62117) and the stockman was a pattern produced by Queen for the Case Classic series...

But a 2-blade sowbelly (double end premium jack) with a single spring is also not readily available... It is at least as uncommon as the congress jack and maybe even less common. I've done some digging and I could only find a few examples of a single spring 2-blade sowbelly or congress jack. Both patterns were made by Fight'n Rooster. Fight'n Rooster did a good job on the congress jack but chose some weird blade shapes for the sowbelly. There are other variations of the patterns that are readily available such as a half congress with one spring or a congress whittler with a split back or a congress with two springs or a sowbelly with two or more springs but I'd argue that those are different knives. If GEC makes this years knife, they could use one of their current patterns to produce a congress jack -- #61 or #62, for example. GEC would have to make a new pattern for the sowbelly.

I agree that it would be great to choose something that isn't readily available but this is a vote by popularity and not everyone may have the same opinion. That said... if any of the more readily available patterns are chosen, they are certainly great patterns and should be great knives to own.

WvHiker · Mar 1, 2012

I like the congress jack and voted for it since toothpick didn't make the cut. Acrylic would be a nice way to make it a little different than previous years.

mike Berkovitch · Mar 1, 2012

eisman said:
What blows my mind is that I can go online and buy any of the patterns mentioned in the poll (except the Congress Jack) and yet everybody seems to be in agreement we should get something "special". It's not that I don't like the other patterns, but they're available. I hoped we'd get to introduce a pattern that is not available, and yet could be. This would allow us to say we have something unique, and allow the MFR to add to their lineup of offerings. To me this adds to the disirability of doing business with us, and makes it easier to get the "custom" work done.

This is completely true. Since the single spring sawbelly does stay a little behind on the poll, the Congress Jack is the better opportunity to get a near custom knife especially if done with extended spring on the pen blade.
So WAKE UP Congress Jack people and vote for it

:thumbup:

Mike

wintermute · Mar 1, 2012

meako said:
i'm somewhat confused by the poll /voting thread.
are we voting on scales in another thread ?
are the knives are pictured there to be the chosen ones?
if so how is a timely result going to be achieved from the colossal amount of extra choices many have made in that thread
regarding blade configurations,shields,scales and bolsters?
I have voted .I will get the chosen one.
If thats the poll any extra info is kind of...well... extra .

We'll be voting on scale materials after this poll closes, since scale material is always a very turbulent subject and opinions on which material is best are very strong and pattern-oriented. The knives pictured are just to give you an idea of the pattern. it will be up to the manufacturer to make the final interpretation based on our (working through the committee and Spark) input.

THe reason why there are so many choices in this thread is because do to a number of unavoidable reasons, this process was started about 2 months late this year. We're trying to make up for lost time and ensure that the 2012 knife does not slip and become the 2013 knife.

pertinux said:
Should the current voting pattern hold, might there be some wisdom in having those two patterns (and/or another that perhaps has a late surge) square off, especially if one pattern comes out ahead by just a few percentage points?

Again, time constraints. If we polled on every feature of the knife, and each poll was given a week to resolve itself to be fair, it would take a year just to run through the polls.

This is a pretty hairy process. We try to make as many people happy as possible. But with 200 enthusiasts/fanatics/addicts answering the poll so far, all with very strong opinions on every feature of the knife, some people will be disappointed. Unfortunately, there's nothing to be done for that.

wintermute · Mar 1, 2012

mike Berkovitch said:
This is completely true. Since the single spring sawbelly does stay a little behind on the poll, the Congress Jack is the better opportunity to get a near custom knife especially if done with extended spring on the pen blade.
So WAKE UP Congress Jack people and vote for it :thumbup:

Mike

I've heard rumblings that Gene (Ivankerley) has started a write-in campaign on the whaler pattern, and has been unravelling all the toilet paper in his house to practice sketching that pattern on the TP tubes.

IVANKERLEY · Mar 1, 2012

wintermute said:
I've heard rumblings that Gene (Ivankerley) has started a write-in campaign on the whaler pattern, and has been unravelling all the toilet paper in his house to practice sketching that pattern on the TP tubes.

ha! how'd you know that? and yes i am a unapologetic fan of the whaler (even though i dont have one yet!)
and yes i am not above using dirty tricks, etc. to ensure a whaler victory!!!
onward and outward
gene

eisman · Mar 1, 2012

Why does this picture of a trapper whaling on congress come to mind?

IVANKERLEY · Mar 1, 2012

eisman said:
Why does this picture of a trapper whaling on congress come to mind?

HA, HA

gene

Josh Carrasquillo · Mar 1, 2012

If someone can direct me to an available production swayback gent in a decent steel (not true sharp) than I will happily concede that these are readily available.

supratentorial · Mar 1, 2012

Josh Carrasquillo said:
If someone can direct me to an available production swayback gent in a decent steel (not true sharp) than I will happily concede that these are readily available.

Recommendation of vendors isn't allowed in the Traditional subforum but the chrome vanadium 2-blade swayback jack is widely available. Search "TB62117 CV". I think the 1-blade gent is only available in SS. If you want chrome vanadium, you might give the 2-blade a try. I had a 1-blade but sold it because I preferred the two blades. IMO it's more comfortable in the hand.

Josh Carrasquillo · Mar 1, 2012

Sorry I was a little unclear, I don't need to know a site that sells a single blade swayback, I just want to know a manufacturer. As far as I know the only company that makes a swayback at all is Case and they only offer the gent in their true sharp. If this is the only production swayback gent, then I think the desire for a well built knife with a better steel is completely reasonable.

eisman · Mar 1, 2012

Actually the point is moot. The vote is for a Swayback Jack, not a Gent.

Josh Carrasquillo · Mar 1, 2012

actually the point is not moot. While the voting thread states swayback jack, the instructions for voting state "The Swayback Jack - it's like Wharncliffe Trapper, but backwards.Please specify shield, size, one- or two-bladed (list second blade preference), bareheaded or two-bolster." So a gent is a possibility.