2018 BF Traditional Knife

[gunstockjack]

I'm out of it as Charlie was the guarantor; I just shuffled the paperwork, fielded emails and shipped the knives. I can't afford the financial risk on my own, but maybe another GEC dealer with better financing and a presence on this forum will step up with a GEC offering, as I feel that the Buck stockman, although technically a traditional pattern, just is not built in the traditional manner and is really a very modern pattern.

 

[r8shell]

We had that scenario last year, a knife they were already making just different covers which was pretty bland looking for a Forum knife IMHO.
I thought the whole idea of a Forum knife was to have something unique ?

Right. So instead we want to go with a Buck 301 with different steel...

 

[rdave]

I think the proper procedure is for us to ask GEC. We are seeking their service, and they have always responded with good knives at minimal cost to us. They are under pressure to produce a lot of knives from a small company, but I know they would squeeze us in if asked.

Agree. GEC is a must IMO and needs to be approached to produce the 2018 BF knife. Also, I would nominate Charlie, who is well connected and knowledgeable, to again be the leadership and make the call for us...can we get an AMEN here?

 

[afishhunter]

Eh ... Buck or GEC or ??? it will likely be a knife they already have in production or are planning to put into production in the short term.
I doubt GEC would be willing to take their Sunfish tooling, for example, out of storage, if that were what pattern we wanted for the forum knife.
(Sorry, I don't know their pattern numbers.)

 

[22-rimfire]

If Charlie did it, the money would likely have to be handled differently.... essentially more money upfront and sooner.

Different furniture and blades on a pattern they plan on making anyway is the way I would approach this.

 

[afishhunter]

Agree. GEC is a must IMO and needs to be approached to produce the 2018 BF knife. Also, I would nominate Charlie, who is well connected and knowledgeable, to again be the leadership and make the call for us...can we get an AMEN here?

Charlie said he is not interested in doing it this year.
He is understandably burned out doing the forum knife.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have no idea what kind of margins usually are set on the pre-paid orders by folks like Charlie or Collector Knives. Let's say that the order is for 500 knives; add $10 a knife which is $5,000.

There could be a poll set up for perspective buyers to agree or disagree. If the vote is negative, no 2018 traditional forum knife.

 

[rdave]

I think the proper procedure is for us to ask GEC. We are seeking their service, and they have always responded with good knives at minimal cost to us. They are under pressure to produce a lot of knives from a small company, but I know they would squeeze us in if asked.

Hello Charlie, if in fact you are "burned out" on BF annual productions - you are the first choice of course - who would you suggest has the relationship with GEC to carry this project forward?

 

[PirateSeulb]

I get how GEC is viewed as the superior product and would be desired by many but personally I like the idea of a Buck as a change up is nice and Buck has some nice options for materials even with its more limited pattern selection.

 

[rdave]

I'm out of it as Charlie was the guarantor; I just shuffled the paperwork, fielded emails and shipped the knives. I can't afford the financial risk on my own, but maybe another GEC dealer with better financing and a presence on this forum will step up with a GEC offering, as I feel that the Buck stockman, although technically a traditional pattern, just is not built in the traditional manner and is really a very modern pattern.

Too bad Barry, but understandable. I think Mike CK Knifeswapper has exceptional qualities and is tireless with details and must have an excellent relationship with GEC. But there is not any reason for a dealer to be at any risk or have to fund a project that doesn't fly - it is really up to us members to show up and pay our own way etc.

 

[22-rimfire]

The problem is that there is considerable work prior to even getting to the ordering stage. As you may recall, everyone seemed to expect drawings of the proposed knife and so forth before committing to buy. There would have to be some trust involved and the financial risk shifted considerably.

 

[rdave]

The problem is that there is considerable work prior to even getting to the ordering stage. As you may recall, everyone seemed to expect drawings of the proposed knife and so forth before committing to buy. There would have to be some trust involved and the financial risk shifted considerably.

OK. Got it. But I would guess a production drawing is part of the knife building process.
My question is, would a Buck made knife create enough demand among BF members? It seems as though GEC has a following.

 

[oldtymer]

Right. So instead we want to go with a Buck 301 with different steel...

We have had several GEC knives, a couple from CSC, Queen but never one from Buck- We could within reason have a choice of steels ,covers etc.
It definitely wouldn't be like last years "Here it is ,take it or leave it" offer from GEC.
Cudos to SK & Buck for wanting to be involved. Until the last couple pages it was crickets about a GEC offering that was supposedly being discussed
and still no mention of what was being discussed.

 

[veitsi_poika]

I have no idea what kind of margins usually are set on the pre-paid orders by folks like Charlie or Collector Knives. Let's say that the order is for 500 knives; add $10 a knife which is $5,000.

There could be a poll set up for perspective buyers to agree or disagree. If the vote is negative, no 2018 traditional forum knife.

The CliffsNotes version of the 46 page summary didn't cover the "margins" discussion... please see Page 43, unless I'm misunderstanding your definition of margins.

I think a lot of folks mentioned they would full pre-pay or at least 50%.

 

[draggat]

I really wish I had the actual time to be more involved in making a project like this happen, but I have too many obligations at home and not enough free time. It seems that in order to bring GEC to the plate something like this needs to happen.....

Find out if one of us regular members can work out a few details with GEC, ie; what the pattern options are, how much and what kind of customization is available, etc. I could be wrong, but I imagine a basic drawing of a proposed knife should be free. @waynorth should be able to answer this question.

From there, I suppose it would go to a poll to choose what the final knife would be. Then we could figure out the cost.

In order to reduce financial burden on the person placing the order, I would suggest that everyone be required to pre pay in full, including the shipping cost. If not enough members elect to prepay, everyone will be refunded and that’s the end of it. Otherwise it would go into production, etc. I feel there are enough honest members that we could place this kind of trust in.

I don’t see why multiple people couldn’t be involved in the logistics. Anyone who has free time that would like to step up and offer to help? It could even be a committee of members. Maybe gunstockjack would be willing to come on board to handle shipping again?

Just a thought.

 

[sitflyer]

The year is far from over, we have just entered the second quarter of 2018...lots of time left. I am excited about the possibility of a Buck stockman, and would hope for a 301 pattern. Buck has been selling these knives for the better part of a half century... how many working mans pockets have had a Buck 300 series knife riding along with it's owner on a daily basis? Lot's of them I would be just as pleased to see what a GEC offering were to be. With the greatly diminished amount of makers willing to do short runs available to us, our options have been paired down considerably. This years thread feels very different to me than the ones from years past, excepting last year, as I was absent from this community on a hiatus. I fear the days that we decide what we want via polling and then finding who will build it are gone, the options just aren't available anymore except perhaps for one company, GEC, and that is if they are willing to accommodate us into their production schedule. But they are running full tilt and selling every knife they make, I hope that we can at least reach some consensus and have something to mark the year. We still have some time left to get there...

 

[Travman]

At the risk of misinterpreting, I'll take a crack at it. I've followed the thread from the beginning. Here's how I see things at the moment:

• skblades has offered to spearhead a Buck traditional, and has approached Spark about coming to an arrangement for using the BladeForums name (which would enable it to be the official Traditional subforum knife)
  • The 301 or 303 Stockman is the leading candidate, perhaps including a wooden box, and in premium stainless
  • If an arrangement around the name can't be reached, there may be a Buck SFO for a 301/303, but it would not bear the BF tang stamp
• waynorth is likely not spearheading the forum knife this year, as he is feeling a bit burned out
• GEC is amenable to producing this year's knife, but someone willing to shoulder the logistical burden and financial risk would need to step forward
• A couple other manufacturers have been contacted, but there doesn't seem to be nearly as much traction around them as there is for a Buck or GEC offering

For a much more humorous and engaging summary, just search this thread for posts by meako.

Thanks for summary. I fell off after the first few days. The Buck 301 can be admired as a hardworking and practical stockman. I have no problem carrying and using one. I respect it for what it is. However...

Are we seriously considering a Buck 301? The blade forum knife should be attractive, but there is nothing particularly beautiful about this knife which typically comes with plastic handles. Clip point blades are naturally attractive, but somehow none of the clip points used on the 301 have ever had any style. The shields used have never been attractive. The springs are on the weak side. Upgraded steel is interesting, but it doesn’t make a knife attractive to look at or hold.

This is not an attractive blade.

So what are we doing? Let’s just enjoy the Buck 301 for what it is. But for a forum knife let’s look to the past and strive for something as desirable as the 2011 or 2014 knife. Let’s put some emotion into this knife.

 

[akaMatt]

We have had several GEC knives, a couple from CSC, Queen but never one from Buck- We could within reason have a choice of steels ,covers etc.
It definitely wouldn't be like last years "Here it is ,take it or leave it" offer from GEC.
Cudos to SK & Buck for wanting to be involved. Until the last couple pages it was crickets about a GEC offering that was supposedly being discussed
and still no mention of what was being discussed.

Doesn't sound like there was any GEC knife ever being discussed (with GEC), as the speculation was that Charlie was in discussions about it, which clearly he was not.

 

[rdave]

W

Thanks for summary. I fell off after the first few days. The Buck 301 can be admired as a hardworking and practical stockman. I have no problem carrying and using one. I respect it for what it is. However...

Are we seriously considering a Buck 301? The blade forum knife should be attractive, but there is nothing particularly beautiful about this knife which typically comes with plastic handles. Clip point blades are naturally attractive, but somehow none of the clip points used on the 301 have ever had any style. The shields used have never been attractive. The springs are on the weak side. Upgraded steel is interesting, but it doesn’t make a knife attractive to look at or hold.

This is not an attractive blade.View attachment 891965

So what are we doing? Let’s just enjoy the Buck 301 for what it is. But for a forum knife let’s look to the past and strive for something as desirable as the 2011 or 2014 knife. Let’s put some emotion into this knife.

Well said. Will a Buck knife create enough demand among BF members to place an order with them?

 

[22-rimfire]

It really depends on Spark when you get down to it. Blade Forums is a business activity. Using the name carries responsibility. I can't see making a traditional forum knife without the BF name and year. If this whole deal requires that it be a total volunteer effort by anyone other than Spark, I would say.... no knife this year. I know that I wouldn't do it for free as I suspect there will be costs that are not accounted for. You need a pad to cover things.

I suspect these are the realities. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Now, if someone was willing to do it, I would be more than willing to volunteer my time for packing, shipping and so forth. I think I've said about all I can say and I'll check back in at page 60 or so to see where things are.