2018 BF Traditional Knife

[1066vik]

1066vik
We never decided on a knife before contacting the manufacturer.
We voted after GEC and the late CSC told us what pattern(s) they would make and what materials they had available for it.
We voted on which choices they gave us that we wanted.
Neither GEC nor the late CSC were willing to take tooling out of storage for a knife they were not making a run of.

As I understand it*, Buck is willing to do the SK Blade Forums SFO (Presuming Spark gives his OK for a 2018 Blade Forums knife) in any of the traditional and lock backs, or fixed blade they make that we want.

*I may be mistaken in my understanding.

yes, but this was all after a lot of discussion about what basic pattern we wanted -- and on at least of them, we were the first of a given pattern for GEC.
after making ours, they started producing that frame with other features.

 

[skblades]

As I understand it*, Buck is willing to do the SK Blade Forums SFO (Presuming Spark gives his OK for a 2018 Blade Forums knife) in any of the traditional and lock backs, or fixed blade they make that we want.

You are not mistaken. Any knife that Buck has that fits the traditional prerequisites is an option.

 

[NJBillK]

You are not mistaken. Any knife that Buck has that fits the traditional prerequisites is an option.

With the 300 series having three straight blades running on three springs, would it be possible to get full (or near full) length blades for the secondaries?

This will fill the handle better, make the secondaries on the 303 as large as the current 301 secondaries, and give three full bladed options. The 301 secondaries would make for a solid knife that would just about set the bar for a "go to" traditional work knife. Not that it isn't a good platform, but it is an easy way to get heads and shoulders above the competition. Three full stainless blades? I would buy multiple.

(Iirc) The only pattern that I have seen with opposing blades that were still full was the Queen whittler sowbelly. Unfortunately, they used 420hc and I am not a fan of that alloy, so I did not buy one.

 

[Pomsbz]

Personally I'd be far happier with a true custom solution from Buck with choices made by the forum rather than an off the shelf model from GEC, dependant on whatever they are currently doing anyway and with perhaps a different scale option.

 

[Will Power]

Leslie Tomville Thanks, and you talk a lot of sense with clarity. If you can get GEC to answer yea or nay to whether they are interested in offering a Forum Knife and WHAT the pattern and steel will be then that's excellent. If they've got a concrete proposal then a 'Big Beast' dealer might facilitate it.

If in the meantime, the Buck proposals get the OK from Spark to use the BF stamp etc etc, excellent.

All we need then is to have a direct poll GEC or Buck to decide.

Then we proceed in one way or another. But if we keep dithering like old maids at the dance, will GEC ask us or not?? "We must wait until they're ready and we owe it to them"....well the prophecy that there will be no Forum Knife might become self-fulfilling

 

[Will Power]

I'd also like to add that all the Forum Knives I've had 08,10,11,13,14,15,16,17 have all been paid for via Paypal plus Intl Shipping (which costs a good bit more and the 25% import tax) before I received any knife or indeed before it was made. Any extras were then available to others or late comers after the knives had been sent out. This I think is pre-payment but very fair and understandable. Nor is the 100 USD set in stone, the 13 cost 130 and like I say, with Intl costs it's always way over that sum for any overseas buyers-and there are many.

 

[meako]

Meako, the voice of madness in a rational world.

Somebody has to do it.

Angry mobs dont just work themselves into a lather yknow​

Now! Townsfolk of Porchenberg!
To the old polling station!
YAAAAaaarrrrrrrrr

 

[3-1-1]

A Buck 301 or 303 with 20cv ffg blades would really be something unique in our realm here. I know we all like the tang stamp. I do too. But having it on a medallion / shield would be nearly as good.

 

[3-1-1]

I wonder if Buck could commit to making the springs just a bit firmer than on standard production

 

[Jack Black]

Just wanted to say something in terms of Charlie and Barry In 2014, when the traditional forum knife project looked to be in peril, those guys stepped in to help out. this was supposed to be for that year alone. They've more than fulfilled their obligations, so how about giving them some respect, and leaving them out of this from now on, some of the talk of Charlie being "burned out" is downright insulting? He's a member here, and a friend to many of us, he's not just here to sort out forum knives every year, that was supposed to be a project for all of us who frequent The Porch. The traditional forum knife is supposed to be about a lot more than people, (many of whom, I have to say, I am not familiar with), getting a new knife

 

[Leslie Tomville]

Jack, your points are all well taken. I reached out to Charlie last nice. He was very kind and gracious. He brought me up to speed on the discussions he has had with GEC. If it is okay with everyone, I would like to confirm the details with him and GEC, and then report back to all of you within the next few days.

Hopefully, SKblades will be able to speak with Spark during this same time period. We then should have enough information to make the decision of which manufacturer the majority prefers.

The best case scenario would be to have two viable options, one from Buck, and one from GEC. However, it is possible we will only have one option, thereby eliminating the need to even make that decision.

 

[leghog]

....I know we all like the tang stamp. I do too. But having it on a medallion / shield would be nearly as good.

It's not then a tang stamp.

 

[Jack Black]

Jack, your points are all well taken. I reached out to Charlie last nice. He was very kind and gracious. He brought me up to speed on the discussions he has had with GEC. If it is okay with everyone, I would like to confirm the details with him and GEC, and then report back to all of you within the next few days.

Hopefully, SKblades will be able to speak with Spark during this same time period. We then should have enough information to make the decision of which manufacturer the majority prefers.

The best case scenario would be to have two viable options, one from Buck, and one from GEC.

Thanks for the update Leslie

 

[B.F.U]

Jack, your points are all well taken. I reached out to Charlie last nice. He was very kind and gracious. He brought me up to speed on the discussions he has had with GEC. If it is okay with everyone, I would like to confirm the details with him and GEC, and then report back to all of you within the next few days.

Hopefully, SKblades will be able to speak with Spark during this same time period. We then should have enough information to make the decision of which manufacturer the majority prefers.

The best case scenario would be to have two viable options, one from Buck, and one from GEC. However, it is possible we will only have one option, thereby eliminating the need to even make that decision.

That sounds great. Thank you for stepping up to it. Hopefully at this point we can stop pestering Charlie in this thread.

I'm interested in either. I'm actually more interested in a Buck, but I'm 100% out of its a 301 with the spey tip proud of the frame.

 

[NJBillK]

That sounds great. Thank you for stepping up to it. Hopefully at this point we can stop pestering Charlie in this thread.

I'm interested in either. I'm actually more interested in a Buck, but I'm 100% out of its a 301 with the spey tip proud of the frame.

There have been plenty of GECs with proud tips. I personally have owned three (3) GEC knives that had proud tips. Two 71s, and a 48. Would this stop me from buying those models? Not. At. All.

I look at it as an oversight for that particular knife, not indicative of an issue with the pattern.

 

[1066vik]

just to throw a spanner into the works -- Buck makes a decent looking canoe as well.........


and I greatly appreciate ANYONE willing to take this task on -- it's a lot of work and a lot of headaches.

 

[Buzzbait]

I wonder if Buck could commit to making the springs just a bit firmer than on standard production

I’d also wonder if a stronger pull is a possibility. I’m not nail breaker pull kind of guy, but I have a few Buck-manufactured slipjoints with blades that can’t even close on their own. This issue is my only reservation regarding Buck.

I’m definitely more excited by the prospect of a Buck than a GEC. I can get yet another carbon steel GEC any time I want. Getting a Buck stockman is a high end stainless steel is something far more unusual and infinitely more desirable to me.

 

[supratentorial]

With the 300 series having three straight blades running on three springs, would it be possible to get full (or near full) length blades for the secondaries?

This would require new dies/tooling for each of the new blades. I don't think it's realistic for many reasons, including Buck is reducing the number of 300 patterns made in the USA. But if they did agree to new dies and tooling just for our little order, it would substantially increase the cost.

just to throw a spanner into the works -- Buck makes a decent looking canoe as well.........


and I greatly appreciate ANYONE willing to take this task on -- it's a lot of work and a lot of headaches.

Buck's only canoe is made in China.

That sounds great. Thank you for stepping up to it. Hopefully at this point we can stop pestering Charlie in this thread.

I'm interested in either. I'm actually more interested in a Buck, but I'm 100% out of its a 301 with the spey tip proud of the frame.

Could drop the spey blade and spring. Just clip blade and sheepfoot. Would be cool. 300Bucks had been wanting them to make a 301 without the spey.

 

[cbr1000]

Just wanted to say something in terms of Charlie and Barry In 2014, when the traditional forum knife project looked to be in peril, those guys stepped in to help out. this was supposed to be for that year alone. They've more than fulfilled their obligations, so how about giving them some respect, and leaving them out of this from now on, some of the talk of Charlie being "burned out" is downright insulting? He's a member here, and a friend to many of us, he's not just here to sort out forum knives every year, that was supposed to be a project for all of us who frequent The Porch. The traditional forum knife is supposed to be about a lot more than people, (many of whom, I have to say, I am not familiar with), getting a new knife

Respectfully pointing out that Charlie's first post in this thread said he was "burned out on the subject". That's possibly why you see people talking about that. Another way you could look at post of people saying he's burned out is that it's positive (not insulting) in that people are trying to convey his wishes?

 

[1066vik]

Buck's only canoe is made in China.

drat.