2013 Forum knife?

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Stich2442 said:
I don't mean to be throwing a curve ball, but what about a nice scout pattern, for a lot of us it was the first knife given to us as a child. GEC already has the parts, could use the #54 frame, large spear blade swedge and long pull, cap-lifter/screwdriver, awl/punch, and if the can opener is not wanted a secondary blade either a small clip, pen or sheepsfoot, with nice bone scales and a bail. Something rugged and classy.
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Pete
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I actually called GEC just yesterday to see if they could/would make a custom knife like that. Mrs. Trish said they'd have to have a commitment of 100 knives before they would re-tool for a "custom." Since they have never made a can opener before, that qualifies it as a custom order. :(

FWIW I would *love* a classy scout pattern knife with a clip point blade, bottle opener, can opener, and whatever else. My second choice would be the sodbuster-style bullnose all classed up.
 
I really like the Congress Jack.

That being said, more than a few forumites had to bow out last year because of the price. I'd hate to see that happen again. A single-bladed knife would keep costs down as well as allow us to focus on aesthetic touches, steel type, etc. A single-bladed lambsfoot would be hot if we can find a manufacturer crazy enough to make it.

Just a few observations from last year that people should take into account:
Case - Minimum order of 500 knives.
Queen - didn't return our phone calls and e-mails
Canal Street - made it clear through prohibitive up-tool pricing and the gist of their e-mails that they weren't interested
GEC - seems to be the most flexible of the traditional pocket knife companies.

Whatever we decide on this year, I recommend that we go to GEC first (A: because they're the most likely to make the knife; B: continued service for the excellent job they did for us these last two years) and save ourselves alot of time and frustration.

All of this, of course, relies on Spark's willingness to go through this again. But, like knafeng said, I believe our knife caused him a heck of a lot less hassle than the Kershaw.
 
I am on board with a scout/camp type pattern. I like the congress jack, but the scout type pattern takes the cake. Nice jigged bone scales? I think we would venture far over our limit though. Go with 1095 or O1. Main spear point blade, cap lifter/screw driver, I don't recall if I've ever used the can opener on any of my scout knives or SAKs, but I think you need to put it on. Punch blade, maybe a pen blade also but definitely a punch blade. I think that GEC might have a problem with spring strength on other implements, but I would like to see the quotes from other makers. I know that Case has made scout knives, with the recent BSA scout jr. I know that Bear and Sons has been producting a line of scout knives for Remington. I think that this is something that GEC, Canal Street and Queen would not only be able to do, but would enjoy producing. However, it will be costly, I imagine. Great choice Pete.
 
I like that Yukon alot.

But a Congress Jack if done right. Yeah!

And Just to throw this out there. How about a Scagel type...either a Dogwood
or Fruitport with a Whartncliffe blade??
 
I like Scouts (and have about 50) but when done as a run like we're looking at you're going to push $200/ea.

I really like the idea of a slim "fancy" knife and tortoise shell would be very different. Very classic.

I still hold we should look at something out of the ordinary; patterns you can buy at Wal-Mart have much less exclusivity. And as we saw with last years pattern, we can help bring back less frequently seen patterns to the market.

I'd rather pay $100 for a knife that I'd have to get custom made otherwise to own than pay $100 just to get a standard pattern with a BF stamp on it.
 
Congress Jack, congress Jack, congress Jack... Peanut

And looking at past form knives looks like a nice exotic wood has not been used yet. That would be my personal preference. Like a snakewood, cocobolo, Ebony wood.
 
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Stich2442 said:
I don't mean to be throwing a curve ball, but what about a nice scout pattern, for a lot of us it was the first knife given to us as a child. GEC already has the parts, could use the #54 frame, large spear blade swedge and long pull, cap-lifter/screwdriver, awl/punch, and if the can opener is not wanted a secondary blade either a small clip, pen or sheepsfoot, with nice bone scales and a bail. Something rugged and classy.
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I would be on board with this if the can opener were to be replaced with folding scissors.

The world does not need another homage to a tool whose primary purpose has come and gone. Folding scissors are infinitely more useful and more versatile in today's world. There needs to be somebody on this planet other than Victorinox who is willing to drive a traditional pattern forward to keep it relevant in this century. Better yet if they have a legitimate tie to the US camper knives of old.

My recommendation would be to talk to Case. They are already taking tiny steps forward with their Peanut with bail and scissors.
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Given a choice between a Case camper and a GEC camper, I would choose the Case, just for the sake on history of the pattern. I also think it would be awesome if this forum prodded Case to update the traditional camper pattern to become something that would actually sell to people other than collectors.

Add the scissors.
 
I voted congress jack last year and will do so again, but I think my attraction to the congress jack is the wharni primary.

So ....
I'm okay just about any model including a Northfield whittler w/ a wharni primary.
Second choice is a hunter IF we could serpentine the frame to accommodate a trailing point primary.
 
pinnah said:
I would be on board with this if the can opener were to be replaced with folding scissors.

The world does not need another homage to a tool whose primary purpose has come and gone. Folding scissors are infinitely more useful and more versatile in today's world. There needs to be somebody on this planet other than Victorinox who is willing to drive a traditional pattern forward to keep it relevant in this century. Better yet if they have a legitimate tie to the US camper knives of old.
My recommendation would be to talk to Case. They are already taking tiny steps forward with their Peanut with bail and scissors.
Given a choice between a Case camper and a GEC camper, I would choose the Case, just for the sake on history of the pattern. I also think it would be awesome if this forum prodded Case to update the traditional camper pattern to become something that would actually sell to people other than collectors.
Add the scissors.
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while i like the idea of the scout knife or scissors option...
Case is 500 minimum unless theyve changed from previous years and i doubt they'd do the stamp, etc.
the 2 bladed trapper from last year struggled to stay hoverin round $120 mark so a 4 bladed anything would stand to reason be even pricier,
personally the thing that makes the BFC special is its stamped as such rather than etched, printed etc. our last 3 years will stand the test of time because of it, cant be sanded off etc. somebody in 60 years will furiously research what the heck bladeforums was and what these dots means hmmmm...
just my two cents
regards
gene
 
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I am pretty flexible about pattern choice but I really do think that we should be looking at something that comes in under $100-00 including CONUS shipping. For me the money is not an issue but for many folks it is.

One of the great things about traditionals is their history of affordability. A working man could afford an excellent pocket knife for a very reasonable sum........We should try to emulate that here.

I feel that our forum knife should be available to as many as possible and once you break the $100-00 threshold you reduce affordability.

A single bladed pattern with stainless blade would be great........:)

Steven
 
Now that I think about it more I agree with the sentiment that keeping the cost down is a good idea. Part of the reason I like this place so much is that it is very accessible to any and all who have an inclination towards traditional pocket knives, no matter what the budget. If that means making a really sweet single blade with some adventurous handle or steel options then so be it, I think we can collectively come up with something very cool and still relatively affordable for the majority of the folks here on this forum
 
If we can get a good Sodbuster with unique scales for $75 delivered (or less), I think that the QTY sold will be much higher than any $100+ knife.

We need something affordable for the greatest amount of BFC members.
 
CWL said:
If we can get a good Sodbuster with unique scales for $75 delivered (or less), I think that the QTY sold will be much higher than any $100+ knife.

We need something affordable for the greatest amount of BFC members.
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Throw in some D2 or a nice stainless steel an I'd be all over this!
 
O1 Bocote Sodbuster.....mmmmmmm, yummy!

But I'm not against the idea of the Congress Jack either.
 
O1 or D2 Sodbuster with wood scales sounds good :thumbup:
 
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