2018 BF Traditional Knife

[NJBillK]

I love flat grinds, when they are full (or near) height. A flat saber grind, is nice looking, but doesn't cut an apple or wood the same... I find that they wedge fairly quickly on a blade it a short height.

 

[NJBillK]

Ok folks, I have heard back from the Manly contact and this was his message:

Good Morning Bill,

I heard back from the shop. We are very interested, as you probably know we've done already 3 forum knifes.

We can make a custom/forum made modified Manly Wasp without pocket clip. We will use CPM154 steel that we will source from Niagara Specialty Metals. For the scales we can use 3d milled G10 or smooth polished G10, we are also looking into micarta and ironwood as an option.

Slip joint folder with CPM154, G10 (possibly micarta), custom laser engraving including forum logo and serial number, 500pcs - $75
I will confirm the cost for Ironwood as well, but I believe we should be in the same price range.

What would be the time frame for the order? We would like to know how much time do we have to design a knife, make prototypes and plan for 500pcs production run.
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I am waiting to hear back from him on the usage of Ironwood and Micarta. They do use the materials on other knives.

I will be asking about their more traditional patterns as well.

 

[traumkommode]

Awesome! Especially if they can do a micarta or ironwood.

Ok folks, I have heard back from the Manly contact and this was his message:

Good Morning Bill,

I heard back from the shop. We are very interested, as you probably know we've done already 3 forum knifes.

We can make a custom/forum made modified Manly Wasp without pocket clip. We will use CPM154 steel that we will source from Niagara Specialty Metals. For the scales we can use 3d milled G10 or smooth polished G10, we are also looking into micarta and ironwood as an option.

Slip joint folder with CPM154, G10 (possibly micarta), custom laser engraving including forum logo and serial number, 500pcs - $75
I will confirm the cost for Ironwood as well, but I believe we should be in the same price range.

What would be the time frame for the order? We would like to know how much time do we have to design a knife, make prototypes and plan for 500pcs production run.
------
I am waiting to hear back from him on the usage of Ironwood and Micarta. They do use the materials on other knives.

I will be asking about their more traditional patterns as well.

 

[SV-97]

I am reading this thread with interest. I do wonder why GEC isn't more accommodating to Bladeforums members given the amount of support they receive from us, and the undeniable success of the previous forum knives. Seems like a win-win situation for that company.

While GEC's idionsyncracies are part of it's charm, sometimes it does seem obtuse.

I did express concern about the choice of a TC Barlow for the forum knife last year (devaluing both traditions) and I would hate for those concerns to be proven correct.

I would be semi-interested in Buck (depending on the pattern) but I wonder if any small manufacturer who wants to get into the market and produce good cutlery would participate? It seems like a good opportunity for us forum members to put money into the type of knife manufacturing businesses that we want to see succeed.

Trestle Pine knives may be an option, but I can't think of too many others - English cutlers could be worth investigation.

Never had a trestle pine but they always seem to be terribly ground

 

[SV-97]

Oh and another manufacturer: Enigma Knives; but they're really small batch usually so I don't know if they'd do it/be able to do it.

 

[Jack Black]

Jack, I would totally understand if you didn’t want to take on a project like this, but I would be all in for this as next years forum knife. This is an international forum after all. Is it too early to talk about next years knife?

BTW, I actually just received a package from the Famous Sheffield Shop. I’ll try to get pictures up soon. Even with international shipping, one knife was well below the $100 mark. These are very nice and a great price point as well!

I might be next year, but obviously it would depend on the membership here. I'd want to have an idea of what people fancied, and numbers involved, before approaching them

Hope you got something nice! Looking forward to seeing your treasure

I will be asking about their more traditional patterns as well.

Please, this is the Traditional forum afterall

500 may be an unrealistic figure this year, and why would we want the number to be that high, when there's nothing like that number of people who ever post here? With forum knife threads, we always get a lot of folks, who've never posted here before, coming in, who are not necessarily after a forum knife. It sounds harsh, but in terms of the pattern, steel, etc their opinions really don't mean a lot to me

Personally, I'd still like to see a traditional knife pattern with carbon steel blade/s

Does anyone have an opinion regarding Hess Knives, and if they could do something for us?

 

[Jack Black]

Oh and another manufacturer: Enigma Knives; but they're really small batch usually so I don't know if they'd do it/be able to do it.

I've not heard of them before, are they a Polish manufacturer? The style of the blades on their website remind me of Gerlach knives - though a lot fancier

 

[SV-97]

I've not heard of them before, are they a Polish manufacturer? The style of the blades on their website remind me of Gerlach knives - though a lot fancier

Yep they're Polish. I own two of their knives and they're great; really thinly ground(may be the thinnest I ever had) with great steels(K490, US2000MC) and really strong backsprings. Also Titanium liners on everything. There are some finish flaws (like tiny gaps on the backspring) but with the low cost of about 100-120€ for the materials used etc. they're a stellar value imo. The edge on the photo is 14dps, goes to visualize the grind.

 

[r8shell]

I might be next year, but obviously it would depend on the membership here. I'd want to have an idea of what people fancied, and numbers involved, before approaching them

Hope you got something nice! Looking forward to seeing your treasure



Please, this is the Traditional forum afterall

500 may be an unrealistic figure this year, and why would we want the number to be that high, when there's nothing like that number of people who ever post here? With forum knife threads, we always get a lot of folks, who've never posted here before, coming in, who are not necessarily after a forum knife. It sounds harsh, but in terms of the pattern, steel, etc their opinions really don't mean a lot to me

Personally, I'd still like to see a traditional knife pattern with carbon steel blade/s

Does anyone have an opinion regarding Hess Knives, and if they could do something for us?

I think the 500 number was chosen because there would be TC collectors interested in last year's knife. We needed that many so that the regular members would have a chance!
As I said, I'm likely to buy whatever the knife is this year, but I'm not sure about the characterization that Buck is being more willing to work with us than GEC is. Buck is offering knives that are currently in production with choices of special cover materials. How is that different?

Still pushing for a #14 or #18 PunchNut! in Gold Sparkles.

 

[Jack Black]

Could A.G. Russell do anything for us?

 

[cbr1000]

I'd prefer GEC but the lack of specifics makes it difficult to post comments in their favor.

 

[greentrout]

I think the 500 number was chosen because there would be TC collectors interested in last year's knife. We needed that many so that the regular members would have a chance!
As I said, I'm likely to buy whatever the knife is this year, but I'm not sure about the characterization that Buck is being more willing to work with us than GEC is. Buck is offering knives that are currently in production with choices of special cover materials. How is that different?

Still pushing for a #14 or #18 PunchNut! in Gold Sparkles.

The difference with Buck is they would be allowing us to essentially get a 303/301 from their custom shop, which hasn't been available to anyone else really that I am aware of. They are accommodating the board by essentially giving us the freedom to decide what we want based off what they have, instead of saying here is your knife choose the handle material.

Last year was the first year I was eligible to get in on a forum knife and I passed because it just didn't speak to me. I would be interested in a knife from whomever. I just reached out to Buck because there was no indication at the time a knife would happen and it seemed there was a lot of interest in a stockman pattern in some sort of stainless steel. I love the idea of a fixed blade as well, but I understand that would limit a lot of those who may be interested. Ultimately we can not please everyone. I sincerely hope that the annual, traditional knife does not stop.

 

[NJBillK]

Unfortunately, the designer (who's name is on the knife, and profits from them) is only a gold member on here, not a vendor not a craftsman. Though he does sell his knives directly to us via the exchange.
So I do not know how this would work logistically.

Oh and another manufacturer: Enigma Knives; but they're really small batch usually so I don't know if they'd do it/be able to do it.

 

[Jack Black]

it seemed there was a lot of interest in a stockman pattern in some sort of stainless steel.

Re-reading the first few pages of this thread, there's interest in ALL SORTS of patterns! Like always!

 

[Camillus]

Perhaps we should look at the 44 gunstock closer - perhaps with a single blade to differentiate it? If these aren’t being run for a few months there would be time to sort out details.

Another option may be the trusty 71 sodbuster. This pattern seems to be run by GEC between other runs, which suggests they set up to produce it fairly often. I don’t think its been run in wood before although it were made in wood, such as desert ironwood or ebony, it would be similar to the Osage Orange bullbuster they ran a few years back. Perhaps GEC would make a lockback version? A lockback 71 in desert ironwood, that would be quite tempting.

 

[sXePhenomenal]

The difference with Buck is they would be allowing us to essentially get a 303/301 from their custom shop, which hasn't been available to anyone else really that I am aware of. They are accommodating the board by essentially giving us the freedom to decide what we want based off what they have, instead of saying here is your knife choose the handle material.

Last year was the first year I was eligible to get in on a forum knife and I passed because it just didn't speak to me. I would be interested in a knife from whomever. I just reached out to Buck because there was no indication at the time a knife would happen and it seemed there was a lot of interest in a stockman pattern in some sort of stainless steel. I love the idea of a fixed blade as well, but I understand that would limit a lot of those who may be interested. Ultimately we can not please everyone. I sincerely hope that the annual, traditional knife does not stop.

The buck does sound sweet getting to choose from their custom shop offerings

 

[greentrout]

Re-reading the first few pages of this thread, there's interest in ALL SORTS of patterns! Like always!

Very True, sir!

 

[Chui]

Yep they're Polish. I own two of their knives and they're great; really thinly ground(may be the thinnest I ever had) with great steels(K490, US2000MC) and really strong backsprings. Also Titanium liners on everything. There are some finish flaws (like tiny gaps on the backspring) but with the low cost of about 100-120€ for the materials used etc. they're a stellar value imo. The edge on the photo is 14dps, goes to visualize the grind.

- yes, favourably received in UK too.

Good package/presentation...

 

[Jack Black]

Another option may be the trusty 71 sodbuster. This pattern seems to be run by GEC between other runs, which suggests they set up to produce it fairly often. I don’t think its been run in wood before although it were made in wood, such as desert ironwood or ebony, it would be similar to the Osage Orange bullbuster they ran a few years back. Perhaps GEC would make a lockback version? A lockback 71 in desert ironwood, that would be quite tempting.

How about something like this on the #71 frame?

 

[Jack Black]

Yep they're Polish. I own two of their knives and they're great; really thinly ground(may be the thinnest I ever had) with great steels(K490, US2000MC) and really strong backsprings. Also Titanium liners on everything. There are some finish flaws (like tiny gaps on the backspring) but with the low cost of about 100-120€ for the materials used etc. they're a stellar value imo. The edge on the photo is 14dps, goes to visualize the grind.

- yes, favourably received in UK too.

Good package/presentation...


View attachment 885573

Thanks for the heads-up on these Nice-looking knives - all currently sold out though

In the early 90's, a friend of mine used to import Gerlach knives, and sell them at £1 each!



(Only pic I have to hand - sorry)