2018 BF Traditional Knife

[Ramrodmb]

Just out of interest, in terms of the financing, isn't it the case that members pay for the knives they order in advance of production?

No. In the past, they are paid for AFTER they are done and ready for shipping.

 

[abbydaddy]

So the realistic options, as we currently know them are:

1. Buck 301 in S30V, S3gVN, CPM-154, CPM20CV, or their 420HC
2. Buck 303 in S30V, S3gVN, CPM-154, CPM20CV, or their 420HC
3. GEC 15 in 1095
4. GEC 44 Gunstock in 1095
5. GEC 46 Whaler in 1095 knife

Wow. I'm all four Buck. I need another 1095 knife like I need a hole in the head. I also have 2 or 3 #15's on already preorder, and last year's forum knife was a #15. The Gunstock isn't really my kind of knife, and the Whaler is just .......... weird.

As someone else said, I believe the 46 ship has sailed <giggles at pun>.

But boy oh boy would I be over the moon for a 440C whaler! But as you may have noticed, I have been pining for a whaler since I started participating on this forum. I wish I could have bought a 440 whaler since I want mine to stay pretty, so the whaler that I reserved is going to end up being a safe queen. A 440C whaler would be a whaler I could actually use and carry. I know lots of people on this forum really love their 1095, but I really have never warmed to patina. I like a good stainless, and 440C is definitely one of my absolute favorites.

Ah, that was a nice trip down fantasy lane.

 

[Jack Black]

I do fear that a 500 knife run could be a real challenge for a forum knife.

Personally I wonder how on earth the numbers ever got that high. This knife used to be a 'Club Knife', from what folks have said, last year's knife was being ordered by people who aren't even BF members

No. In the past, they are paid for AFTER they are done and ready for shipping.

Really, I kind of lost track the past couple of years, but I thought that in the past, we all paid our money, that got held (by Spark in the past), then half the money was paid to the company when production was due to start, and the rest on completion, with members then getting the knives they had paid for months earlier?

 

[Ramrodmb]

Personally I wonder how on earth the numbers ever got that high. This knife used to be a 'Club Knife', from what folks have said, last year's knife was being ordered by people who aren't even BF members



Really, I kind of lost track the past couple of years, but I thought that in the past, we all paid our money, that got held (by Spark in the past), then half the money was paid to the company when production was due to start, and the rest on completion, with members then getting the knives they had paid for months earlier?

I guess I should clarify that with - the last 3 years, I have not paid anything until they are done and ready to ship. I can't remember any farther back

 

[draggat]

As someone else said, I believe the 46 ship has sailed <giggles at pun>.

But boy oh boy would I be over the moon for a 440C whaler! But as you may have noticed, I have been pining for a whaler since I started participating on this forum. I wish I could have bought a 440 whaler since I want mine to stay pretty, so the whaler that I reserved is going to end up being a safe queen. A 440C whaler would be a whaler I could actually use and carry. I know lots of people on this forum really love their 1095, but I really have never warmed to patina. I like a good stainless, and 440C is definitely one of my absolute favorites.

Ah, that was a nice trip down fantasy lane.

I’m usually not a patina fan either. Flitz is your friend. I know most people probably consider it sacrilege, but I polish my daily carries on the regular. I like SHINY!

 

[abbydaddy]

Just out of interest, in terms of the financing, isn't it the case that members pay for the knives they order in advance of production?

That has not been the case in the past (while I have been on the porch), though I would certainly be willing to prepay (provided the maker was a known entity, like GEC or Buck, and the dealer was someone pretty established, like gunstockjack or @skblades). I think that requiring a pre-order would probably significantly lower the numbers made for a given year. If that is what it takes to get a knife made, I would embrace it, but there would almost certainly be some complaining. Because there is no complaining the rest of the time

 

[Jack Black]

I guess I should clarify that with - the last 3 years, I have not paid anything until they are done and ready to ship. I can't remember any farther back

Yes, it used to be different, I'm not sure about the past couple of years

 

[traumkommode]

I just looked at the 2016 GEC production totals (2017 numbers not yet posted). There were 346 Drovers made. I've looked at the numbers for a lot of other SFOs/club knives, and those numbers are a lot smaller. I agree with Jack Black and think the "we need 500 knives to commission an SFO" sentiment is overkill. OKCA only did 53 knives on the #98 pattern for their club knife. I see a lot of SFOs with 50 pieces or less made.

 

[Jack Black]

That has not been the case in the past (while I have been on the porch), though I would certainly be willing to prepay (provided the maker was a known entity, like GEC or Buck, and the dealer was someone pretty established, like gunstockjack or @skblades). I think that requiring a pre-order would probably significantly lower the numbers made for a given year. If that is what it takes to get a knife made, I would embrace it, but there would almost certainly be some complaining. Because there is no complaining the rest of the time

Ah, you came in late though mate! Things all went a bit crazy with the forum knife about 2014, it used to be a very different process I kind of liked the days when you paid for a knife in the summer, then got it (hopefully) just in time for Christmas

 

[greentrout]

@skblades would be better to answer those questions related to Buck, as I believe he has plenty of experience working with them. I went with 500 as that was the amount on last year's knife.

 

[Jack Black]

I just looked at the 2016 GEC production totals (2017 numbers not yet posted). There were 346 Drovers made. I've looked at the numbers for a lot of other SFOs/club knives, and those numbers are a lot smaller. I agree with Jack Black and think the "we need 500 knives to commission an SFO" sentiment is overkill. OKCA only did 53 knives on the #98 pattern for their club knife. I see a lot of SFOs with 50 pieces or less made.

Someone like Ted @T. Erdelyi would know the production numbers for previous BF Traditional knives I think

Edit - Ted's post on the history of the annual BF Traditional knife: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...tional-forums-annual-knife-2006-2017.1324820/

First Traditional forum knife was in 2006, a Ring-Opener Penknife, and 43 were made by Canal Street!

There used to be a BF Forum Knife too

 

[oldtymer]

Heard. But Bill Howard is a 440C grinch these days, and working with GEC seems to be like a bit of a good old boy's club. Case opted out. Queen's gone. Lionsteel has their own forum, too. And stockmans are traditional.

I think a Buck 303 with SS & some nice wood covers would make a great forum knife. GEC doesn't seem to want to work with us unless it is to their advantage.
I have enough 1095 & really am not a big fan of micarta so I say Give Buck a chance, they won't disappoint us.

 

[wintermute]

Wow, step away from the computer a minute and ten pages already!

There were 500 2017 BF knives made.

This year's pattern, if one happens, will be from GEC and will be a pattern they are currently (somewhat) producing due to manufacturing costs associated with small orders.

I don't know what or if this will happen this year, but I would guess 'probably' and that CC already has some plan in mind and may have already discussed options with Bill Howard.

DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS. NOTHING IS WRITTEN IN STONE, especially w/ GEC!

The GEC #62 pattern is VERY similar to the OP's Remington pattern, and GEC hasn't made a two-blade version of this knife (with a Northfield bowtie shield, hint, hint) in a long time. Just sayin'

 

[Sacto]

I feel like in years past there have been “proposals” for a forum knife from more than one company and a vote was taken for which one to move forward with and specifics were voted on at that point. Although I could be remembering wrong.

It sounds like a Buck forum knife might be possible. We don’t know at this point if anyone is willing to do a GEC forum knife, but if they are, we also don’t know what pattern would be available. Would it be possible to have an option from each company and let the forum pick one, or is that too much leg work for a knife that may not get made?

 

[gunstockjack]

I just looked at the 2016 GEC production totals (2017 numbers not yet posted). There were 346 Drovers made. I've looked at the numbers for a lot of other SFOs/club knives, and those numbers are a lot smaller. I agree with Jack Black and think the "we need 500 knives to commission an SFO" sentiment is overkill. OKCA only did 53 knives on the #98 pattern for their club knife. I see a lot of SFOs with 50 pieces or less made.

This is a bit deceiving; in the case of the 'Drover', Charlie also added a large number of sfos in ebony in this pattern; also, it was a new pattern (we were lucky to get) upon which a later run was produced on the same frame. As to the OKCA knives, there were 50 serialized and another 50 non serialized, and again they were produced along with a factory run with only the covers/shield/etch and box label different. The 500 number is what GEC would require for a genuine sfo on a unique frame, and actually, I think he needs at least a thousand on a pattern to make a run feasible.

I don't know how Buck works, but I assume it would just be a standard frame/pattern with different covers and possibly a premium blade steel. Personally, make mine a 112 barehead with S30V drop point blade and elk covers with a carved likeness of Spark on the mark side. OK, maybe a feather or something....

 

[NJBillK]

For reference.

A family shot of yellow Buck knives/
In order:
309
303
301
302
The 302 and 301 are the same length. The 302 is a single bladed 301.

Hey guys, I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes by going out and doing some research but I have heard back from Buck. They are willing to do a knife for us if the board and Spark is ok with it.

First off, thanks for reaching out for us. If we did go this route, below is my preferred build.

- 301 stockman

- Handle material:
Black micarta with brass jewelry
Natural micarta with nickel silver

- Blade steel: S35VN, CPM-154, CPM20CV

- Flat grind

- long pull groove

- I am indifferent to the Blade stamp being the dots and/or the Forum Logo on the blade or shield.

 

[draggat]

This is a bit deceiving; in the case of the 'Drover', Charlie also added a large number of sfos in ebony in this pattern; also, it was a new pattern (we were lucky to get) upon which a later run was produced on the same frame. As to the OKCA knives, there were 50 serialized and another 50 non serialized, and again they were produced along with a factory run with only the covers/shield/etch and box label different. The 500 number is what GEC would require for a genuine sfo on a unique frame, and actually, I think he needs at least a thousand on a pattern to make a run feasible.

I don't know how Buck works, but I assume it would just be a standard frame/pattern with different covers and possibly a premium blade steel. Personally, make mine a 112 barehead with S30V drop point blade and elk covers with a carved likeness of Spark on the mark side. OK, maybe a feather or something....

Barry, what if you commissioned a Coffin Jack SFO and then we tack on another 500 for the forum knife?

Just kidding. Well, sort of.

 

[traumkommode]

This is a bit deceiving; in the case of the 'Drover', Charlie also added a large number of sfos in ebony in this pattern; also, it was a new pattern (we were lucky to get) upon which a later run was produced on the same frame. As to the OKCA knives, there were 50 serialized and another 50 non serialized, and again they were produced along with a factory run with only the covers/shield/etch and box label different. The 500 number is what GEC would require for a genuine sfo on a unique frame, and actually, I think he needs at least a thousand on a pattern to make a run feasible.

I don't know how Buck works, but I assume it would just be a standard frame/pattern with different covers and possibly a premium blade steel. Personally, make mine a 112 barehead with S30V drop point blade and elk covers with a carved likeness of Spark on the mark side. OK, maybe a feather or something....

That's illuminating. And I think then it makes sense to look at options that don't require such a large run, something that's already in the works or a pre-existing pattern.

Barry, can you or @knifeswapper or @waynorth or someone shed some light on the GEC stainless issue? There's a lot of speculation, I know that Bill Howard made a statement about dropping O1 when he decided it wasn't different enough from 1095 to warrant the hassle, but the reason I'm so pro-Buck for this knife right now is I want some stainless steel, and that 440C holds an edge way longer than 1095. I'm wondering if Bill has said anything about 440C to you all the same way he did about O1.

 

[Dadpool]

I don't know how Buck works, but I assume it would just be a standard frame/pattern with different covers and possibly a premium blade steel.

I don't know either, so grain of salt and all that, but for me the connection to the forum, as expressed by something on the knife itself, is part of what makes the Porch knife special.

That doesn't have to be a tang stamp, and I suspect not everyone feels the same way re: needing an element of personalization, but I do love the tang stamp.

 

[sitflyer]

Just when you thought Forum Knife Road couldn't have another bend!

Cue the drivel'ie soap opera music...and so go...the days of our knives LOL.