2013 BF Traditional knife poll - congress type and size

2013 BF Traditional knife poll - congress type and size

  • Congress jack: 3"-3.5"

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Congress jack: 3.5"

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Congress jack: 3.5"-4"

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Half congress: 3"-3.5"

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Half congress: 3.5"

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Half congress: 3.5"-4"

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
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CoffeeCat2112

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Well, it's been a busy week here in the first 2013 knife poll! While the sodbuster kept up with the congresses on that first evening, the congresses have since pulled away to have more votes than the next several patterns combined. Dave, Frank, Gary and I have discussed it, and in the interest of moving things along so that we can all actually have these knives in our pockets, we will be posting several polls at once - one will be to choose "half" or jack pattern and size range, one for cover type, and one for steel type. Bear in mind that the size, steel, and cover polls will not set the details, but rather the general direction, since we won't know exactly what can be offered with these options until we send out for bids. For example, something like "purple horsecut jigged micarta" won't be an option because we don't know if anyone can provide it. However, "micarta" can get us in the right direction as far as bidding it out to manufacturers goes. Same thing with the size and steel.

For some good examples, please take a look at posts 75 and 76 here.

Two things two keep in mind about this poll:
  • Size at this point is just a ballpark figure. We won't know for sure until we talk to manufacturers and see what they can easily tool up for.
  • The blades will be different based on the pattern. Both patterns will have some version of wharncliffe/sheepsfoot main blade and a pen secondary. The jack will have a longer main blade and the half will have a smaller main because of the single spring and second blade arrangement.
Please be sure to vote in all polls, if you have a preference. We will sticky them so they're easy to find.

We would like to thank everyone who has chipped in with votes and ideas so far. I think it will be pretty neat to have a knife with a little bit of all of us in it!

This poll will stay open until March 3.
 
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You're doin' a great job guys, this might be the year I actually get the knife I wanted from the start, lookin' forward to tonight's polls.
 
I voted 3 1/2". A little smaller would be ok in my book also. :thumbup:
 
I don't own any Congress knives. I think of 4-blade when the name comes up, and that's it.
Can someone explain the difference between a Congress Jack and a Half Congress?

Is a Half Congress simply two blades in the same shape?
Is a Congress Jack a one blade version?
 
Guyon said:
I don't own any Congress knives. I think of 4-blade when the name comes up, and that's it.
Can someone explain the difference between a Congress Jack and a Half Congress?

Is a Half Congress simply two blades in the same shape?
Is a Congress Jack a one blade version?
Click to expand...

Congress Jack will have two back springs and both blades are on the same end. Half Congress will have one spring with one blade on each end.
 
Guyon said:
I don't own any Congress knives. I think of 4-blade when the name comes up, and that's it.
Can someone explain the difference between a Congress Jack and a Half Congress?

Is a Half Congress simply two blades in the same shape?
Is a Congress Jack a one blade version?
Click to expand...

Here are some highlights from Blaine's first post in this thread:
bwperdue said:
For some good examples, please take a look at posts 75 and 76 here.

  • The blades will be different based on the pattern. Both patterns will have some version of wharncliffe/sheepsfoot main blade and a pen secondary. The jack will have a longer main blade and the half will have a smaller main because of the single spring and second blade arrangement.
Click to expand...

(The link leads to one post, and one subsequent, that show examples of the two options-- though it hardly seems fair using a Kawamura for demonstration purposes(!).)

:)

~ P.
 
I like the 3.5-4" range, closer to 4" as I use my carry knives for food preparation, and a slim blade such as a Wharncliffe/lambs foot etc is great for larger fruit like grapefruit. A more slender frame carries surprisingly well, and the Jack pattern would maximize blade length, and that is my choice for pattern as a result. Thin blade steel for a pure slicer would make this a great combo in my opinion.

For reference, my Executive Whittler @ 4" compared to a Boker Congress (close handle length size but great difference in blade length.
D52F73B3-D046-4736-8E37-675E30C4B00F-5685-000007B9F3B25731.jpg


Comparing the congress blade configuration with a trapper (similar spring:blade restrictions)
6E66A0BB-500E-41F7-8864-418166976D5F-5685-000007B9B1A337FA.jpg


0F5E62C4-208B-47D6-9F0C-724F91E39607-5685-000007B993D2A97E.jpg


Comparing thickness between a two spring like the Congress Jack and one similar to the half congress in a a courthouse Whittler (the Whittler is an example of a knife that I wish blade length was optimized a bit more, which is a big factor in my choice for the congress jack)
641E6B7E-204A-4606-8D27-FBE472064895-5685-000007B93FED5262.jpg
 
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pertinux said:
Here are some highlights from Blaine's first post in this thread:


(The link leads to one post, and one subsequent, that show examples of the two options-- though it hardly seems fair using a Kawamura for demonstration purposes(!).)

:)

~ P.
Click to expand...

Ooo, yes. Important point. Jack will have longer blades.
 
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