2016 BladeForums Traditional Knife - Poll #1 - Main Blade Shape

[jprime84]

Okay everyone! It's that time to put your mouse-click where your mouth is, and submit your vote for the main blade shape on the 2016 forum knife.
Charlie has asked me to assist with some of the logistics in getting these threads published, formatted, and managed. This poll is 100% CC official and approved! :thumbup:

Charlie has asked for comments and discussion to be welcome, but centered around the topic of the main blade design and features. At this stage, the poll is officially for the overall blade shape: spear or clip point. Charlie has indicated that he will provide some additional details later, and I will update this posting with those details at that time.

Please refrain from casting your votes if you have no interest in this year's knife, and you do not plan to purchase one once available.

As a reminder - the knife in discussion is most likely a 3 and 3/4" equal end knife, most likely with a single spring, main blade on one end, and a punch/awl on the opposite end.
Here is his latest post with real traditional reference photos to be considered when making your choices:

Here are the closest knives/images I can find to what Bill and I have come up with that represent a do-able knife for 2016, given the collected comments in this thread, and what is on the schedule for GEC.
We can have lined, rounded bolsters like these, and as an alternative, we can specify a clip blade.
I'd like to see an old-timey bar shield like this one in the pics, but the shield is optional also.
Jigged bone seems called for for a knife like this, IMO, but we can negotiate that also.

Please comment, and let us know if we are on the right track.

Just to level the playing field a bit, clip blades definitely have their place in Equal End knives, adding interest as well as usefulness. These Schrade Cut Co and older Case examples look pretty good to me!

Here is an early draft drawing from Charlie!

Here is the GEC rough draft of the proposed Forum knife. Of course it has the optional Clip blade, but GEC has given us the choice of a Spear. For your viewing pleasure.

The plan is to run this poll for 1 week and then tally the results.

Thank you for participating! :thumbup:

edit: Pardon the typo in the poll question. It seems this is something even the mods cannot change. You are in fact voting on blade "shape" and not blade "shaoe"!

 

[supratentorial]

It's nice of you to spear head this project, jprime84!

My vote is for the spear blade since it's the best fit for the equal end handle shape. I think this is the best design when considering the ergonomics of using the punch since the spine of the closed blade will stick out less. Also, a spear blade matches the blades on the original knives.

 

[Shaggy]

I voted spear. I feel the spear shape works better aesthetically with the rounded form of the equal end, and there have been quite a few past forum knives with clip blades already.

 

[Kohai999]

I have a harness jack with a clip point, and simply won't purchase one if it has a spear point.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Ryouchijtx]

My question would be if it'd be a long pull spear. If so I vote spear.

 

[abbydaddy]

I voted Spear because I've long been partial to spearpoints on camp knives, and I still think of this as my half camp knife. But I would be totally fine with a clip point as well.

I'm going to buy either way.

But my ideal for this knife would actually be a drop point with lots of belly since we are getting a good point on the punch.

 

[Old Engineer]

Long Pull with Matchstrike Spear with the same punch as the 77 Washington Harness Jack.


Harry

 

[Palmetto1155]

Im in for whatever, but really like the idea of


"Long Pull with Matchstrike Spear with the same punch as the 77 Washington Harness Jack."

 

[oldways]

Voted spear but will buy either way.

 

[Stand Straight]

I like both equally well as for aesthetics in general, but voted clip because it seems most of the slip joints I've acquired lately have been spears. I would like a change.

 

[Jack Black]

As a forum knife, there's very little I like about this pattern. Harness knives are regularly available, and we had a single spring design last year. For me, a Spear fits the pattern, a Clip doesn't.

 

[Peregrin]

I like the knife shown in Charlie's post so, I voted spear.

 

[BearBug]

I prefer clips, but I agree that a spear might fit this with a nice low profile, hopefully pull at a 6. I saw a 85 punch on the exchange recently that had two grooves in it. Very classy looking and more unusual, not sure if Charlie commissioned it or not. I like the long pull match strike idea, perhaps match strike punch as well?

 

[onejim]

Long pull swedged spear please.

Jim

 

[gunstockjack]

Spear blade with long matchstrike nail nick and swedge.

 

[arizcowboy]

My preference is clip point but will accept the spear point with no regrets.

 

[Jack Black]

It might be worth stating plainly in the thread title that this is a poll for the 2016 TRADITIONAL forum knife :thumbup:

 

[MrBitters]

Voted clip; it seems like GEC has produced (and I've purchased) a glut of spears lately and am lacking in clips.

In addition, I feel like the forum knife tries to be something more original, not commonly available or generally produced. Spear / punch knives are already out there and available in the market.
A clip / punch would be something to make the forum knife more unique and a prize to own.

 

[Jack Black]

The 2015 forum knife had a Clip, as did the 2014, as did the 2012. The last forum knife with a Spear was in 2011 :thumbup:

 

[philllll]

Spear!