2013 Forum Knife Motivation Thread (PIC HEAVY!!!)

Well I for one am quite looking forward to receiving mine. I think it's going to be a very elegant and unique knife. I've got more clip and spear point mains than I know what to do with. I like the shape and feel of the GEC Congress and Half Congress knives and having one that's a jack pattern with that full length sheepsfoot just adds that much more variety to the mix.
 
jc57 said:
Well I for one am quite looking forward to receiving mine. I think it's going to be a very elegant and unique knife. I've got more clip and spear point mains than I know what to do with. I like the shape and feel of the GEC Congress and Half Congress knives and having one that's a jack pattern with that full length sheepsfoot just adds that much more variety to the mix.
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Couldn't agree with you more! The pattern is unique and special in a lot of ways. The congress pattern was my first love in traditionals which quickly grew into an interest in barlows and jacks, so it just makes too much sense for my taste. Initially, I was a little less enthusiastic about a sheepsfoot blade but I just received one of the new TC barlows with smooth ivory bone covers and a sheepsfoot main blade and I gotta say the sheepsfoot looks real nice with ivory color scales... I think this years knife is going to be a real stunner!
 
Jack Black said:
Why, with the buying power we have collectively, it isn't less expensive is beyond me.
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In past years, there was a lot of volunteer labor taking orders, tracking the money, packing the knives, and shipping the packages. The fellas who worked on the knife project those years can attest to how much time and effort it required. And, if something went south, someone had to be responsible to eat the cost.

What was once done for free now has to be paid for, because it is no longer performed by volunteer labor. So it isn't entirely the manufacturing cost of the knife. We are paying for all the ancillary operations, along with the overhead costs that every company with a brick and mortar presence has. Spark has a brick and mortar operation and its associated overhead.
 
Are the covers original to the knife?
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Yes, they are. I have 4 FnR this pattern, two pearl (TN & CPT's), one Stag, and this. That's in over 5 years looking.

What I really like about this years knife is that a very hard to find pattern is going to be much more accessible. As far as I can tell it's been over 25 years since a mfr produced a run in this pattern.
 
I am one of those "on the fence" members. I was really excited about last year's knife, but a Congress Jack just pattern and size doesn't do it for me. I don't collect knives and if I bought one, it would probably stay in its tube until I die. Last year, I would have purchased several just to make the project happen, but this year.... not so much.
 
Jack Black said:
.........., and I certainly didn't care for the price....
................. Why, with the buying power we have collectively, it isn't less expensive is beyond me............
...........the volunteers that have worked so hard deserve our thanks............
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I am not trolling, and am not knocking anyone

I am expressing a real concern about the price of the knife, that is unfortunately too expensive for me
A bulk presold wholesale purchase from a manufacturer normally signifies a serious percentage reduction
Once thru a web supplier then a percentage goes to the supplier, where the order is presold and prepaid, and will be sent with in the manufacture's selling terms of 30 +10
And that percentage is profit after covering the cost of ordering and shipping

Yet our community knives somehow seems to illicit a series of different conditions, which then creates a higher priced knife
 
I don't think GEC is holding the group over a barrel but they are also not under any obligation to do us any favors beyond their normal practices, whatever those may be, for special orders. If other manufacturers had put their hat into the ring and we had competing bids than perhaps we might see a different price. But when no one else takes part there isn't really an alternative aside from just scrapping the project altogether.
 
I'm looking forward to getting mine, but I am biting my lip thinking about the version which will pop up shortly after for about $30 less.

Still, this will be a BladeForums knife that I had a small hand in and I can be proud of that. :)
 
I think we've had enough discussion about the pricing. The price is what it is. If you want one, order one. If not don't.
All the speculation in the world isn't going to affect the price.
I'll be surprised if this isn't the last traditional forum knife. I hope I'm surprised.
You have to have a thick skin to step up and run this process.
 
As promised, my last FnR Irish Jack to get some of ya'll off that fence. I'm not one for covers made of plastic but the celluloid on this knife is really nice IMHO. Hope ya like it!

Fight n Rooster - Celluloid (Carmel Swirl?)

Rooster_Irish_cell1.jpg


Rooster_Irish_cell2.jpg
 
Price aside, my understanding is that the knife has not been ordered yet.
Since Spark has converted this Forum Knife project into a commercial enterprise, perhaps he should get on it before all momentum is lost, and people start asking for their money back!
 
Look -I can tolerate teeny weeny gaps in knives but not a gap year in forum knives.
I'm going to ruffle a few feathers I know and I apologise in advance but I think the whole polling process for this year was over the top with far too many options and details to choose from.
I believe this can be directly linked to the number of people who voted for something specific and when it didn't eventuate to their taste stepped off.Thats OK. Thats democracy and thats a good thing but now we are feeling the "tsunami" effect of having 5-6 choices of every aspect/feature of this knife for a limited run of what? 140 pieces.
I feel as though that process may have performed better for the end result if it had been a bit tighter.
Offer maybe 6 complete options and see which one flys best. You're either in or out right from the start.
Also (now that I've dropped me paddle in the poo) the "don't vote unless your committed" idea seems to have failed.
I'm frankly a bit down that all this hard work and motivation and keenness has propped at this hurdle.
cheers
ps Peregrin -don't forget you have to also be deaf to the ramblings of the purple rams horn brigade... oh hang on that was me.
 
Well, I think the pattern we ended up with is a good looker, and functional - even though we spared the Purple Rams from hornlessness!
It's not my first choice, but it is a cool choice!
But where are they??
If they are well made, they will sell. And I'll bet they will be very well made indeed!
 
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I'm looking forward to this knife (rather impatiently) hopefully this thread can generate enough buzz to either gain more participants or be the final swing of the axe so we can hold these things in our hands.
 
Last year I wanted the congress jack over the trapper because of the relative rarity of the pattern. But when the trapper ended up the final choice I decided to get one and I'm really glad I did because it's fantastic knife.

This year I didn't participate in the polling and voting. Can't give a real reason why, I just didn't. It turns out the congress jack is this years choice and for as much as I wanted one last year I'm not taking part on the forum knife this year. Again, I can't pinpoint why but that doesn't really matter.

What does matter is that many people have already stepped up and said "I will buy this knife." For their sake this matter should not be left to linger and possibly perish. Take what there is and place the order. Let them have their congress jacks. I think it will be a great knife and those who committed deserve to have it.
 
jujigatame said:
Last year I wanted the congress jack over the trapper because of the relative rarity of the pattern. But when the trapper ended up the final choice I decided to get one and I'm really glad I did because it's fantastic knife.

This year I didn't participate in the polling and voting. Can't give a real reason why, I just didn't. It turns out the congress jack is this years choice and for as much as I wanted one last year I'm not taking part on the forum knife this year. Again, I can't pinpoint why but that doesn't really matter.

What does matter is that many people have already stepped up and said "I will buy this knife." For their sake this matter should not be left to linger and possibly perish. Take what there is and place the order. Let them have their congress jacks. I think it will be a great knife and those who committed deserve to have it.
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wow, I was exactly the same feeling about this year and last years choices, and bought last years but not this years. interesting haha...
 
jujigatame said:
What does matter is that many people have already stepped up and said "I will buy this knife." For their sake this matter should not be left to linger and possibly perish. Take what there is and place the order. Let them have their congress jacks. I think it will be a great knife and those who committed deserve to have it.
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Frustrated for you folks, hope you get your knife, and soon.

I very much agree with Charlie's comments also.

And I feel very sorry for the volunteers who have worked on this.

I also kind of feel sorry for GEC, who must be watching this affair with some frustration themselves.

Once again, hope you get the knife you paid for. Hope the order is put in soon.

Jack
 
Jack Black, those are my thoughts too. It must be boring to say the least for the volunteers and GEC.

Things take some time, but I don't think moaning will do anything else than frustrate all parts involved.
 
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