2018 BF Traditional Knife

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In past years I have argued that the number of knives should be limited to around 200, and sales of one to a member. This gets shouted down every time, and leaves me feeling that if you have problems with multiple sales, flipping, etc. you're sweeping against the tide. I usually order 2-3 forum knives. I have all but one of those I've bought. I sold one of the Serpentine Jacks to a board member who missed out.

I greatly appreciate the effort being made on this project, and I think getting Buck into the game is great, although it's not my usual first choice as a traditional pattern. I've bought a lot of Buck knives over the years. I'd love to see a 110 with silver bolsters and SV30. Even better if they could do ebony scales...

On another note: I'm still looking for an NIB 2011 forum knife. I missed those when I was deployed OCONUS. I need one to fill the gap - I have every one since 2009 but that.
 
Sabercat said:
To thwart some flipping...I suggest engraving the purchaser's name on each knife prior to shipping it to them.:p
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Dadpool said:
The step in the production process where the pull strength is customized to each purchaser would probably be a good time to take care of that. :D:thumbsup::p
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WHAAATSTHIISS??
attempts to usurp my crown?:rolleyes::p:D
But enough frivolity.
Nothing makes the Porchenburg mob angrier than the loathsome practice of flipping. I mean seriously ,those scavengers do it on...porpoise.

;):oops:
 
I have never followed the forum knife process before. It seems like alot of hard work by a few individuals. It certainly wont go unappreciated. Hopefully i can be a part of this one. There have beens tons of great ideas so far. Personally i like the 110. I also liked the idea about engraving the knives. I know this adds a cost but buck offers this already for a fair price. It would help to reduce the flipping.
 
While my opinion carries no weight, the knives could be serial numbered, with the numbers recorded as to who they went to. You could at least then be able to identify the flippers, and remember them for future projects.

While I know that the Buck lockbacks are considered Traditional, it isn't what I think of when it comes to a Traditional pattern. While I won't say that I wouldn't buy one, as I've been fortunate enough to have each one since the 2011 offering, it wouldn't be a priority for me.
 
I had a lengthy conversation with Bill Howard at GEC this morning. First, let me say that he spoke highly of the Forum. He has met many of you at the Rendezvous, and you have represented us well. He described you as being among the very best knife people he knows. Second, it is clear to me that GEC is willing to be very accommodating to us. However, they are busier now, and their runs are larger in order to fill demand. This gives them less flexibility. Bill was aware of the interest of our members in unique and new patterns. Our ability to get something unique depends on how much time he has to work with. Their current production schedule runs into September, so there really is not much time left in 2018 from their point of view. We have in effect limited him to his last quarter.

The next pattern available to us is the #14 in either single clip or clip and secondary with end cap and a variety of handle materials in carbon steel. Bill asked me to make sure you understand that this will be a large run with several SFO's so it might be hard to design something truly unique, but they will do the best they can. There might be time left in 2018 for one more pattern which I could explore with Bill if GEC is the chosen manufacturer. He asked me to not reveal that pattern at this time.

So, there is the choice to be polled, either a GEC #14 as described above (or possibly a second pattern to de discussed later), OR a Buck 300 series, 500 series (to include the 55), or 110/112.

Please rest assured that the concerns about GEC somehow losing touch with us are not true. I am convinced that they will do anything they can to accommodate us. Going forward, the important thing for us to do is develop an organized system that would allow us to begin discussions with GEC early in the year. Bill specifically told me that he would then be able and willing to pinpoint a unique or even new pattern for us. That made perfect sense to me. Obviously, the more time we give him, the more magic he can work. He is also aware of the desire for more stainless, and that is a possibility. There is no doubt in my mind that GEC values us and our business and will work hard to please us. This year, we just have not had a good line of communication. I hope this helps.
 
I see a two birds with one stone opportunity... why don't we have Buck do the 2018 knife and then get the ball rolling for GEC to do the 2019 knife? Buck is ready and willing for 2018 and that will allow GEC to take their time in getting us worked in for the 2019 knife... may be a win-win and save us all a lot of gray hairs by not having to do this all over again next year!:D:thumbsup:

EDIT: Pending we have blessing to proceed with SK / Buck

- Kevin
 
I think veitsi_poika veitsi_poika may be on the right track 2018 we are hitting late start to roll the ball but have a solid option on the table that should be able to quickly accommodate our needs. While GEC is well loved here, and for good reason, They are more limited in their capacity and need more advanced notice. If we march forward with Buck for 2018 we can begin discussion of a 2019 GEC later this year to keep ahead of schedule and accommodate GEC's need for advanced notice.
 
veitsi_poika said:
I see a two birds with one stone opportunity... why don't we have Buck do the 2018 knife and then get the ball rolling for GEC to do the 2019 knife? Buck is ready and willing for 2018 and that will allow GEC to take their time in getting us worked in for the 2019 knife... may be a win-win and save us all a lot of gray hairs by not having to do this all over again next year!:D:thumbsup:

EDIT: Pending we have blessing to proceed with SK / Buck

- Kevin
Click to expand...

I agree. Sounds like we're too late for GEC to offer much this year.
 
veitsi_poika said:
I see a two birds with one stone opportunity... why don't we have Buck do the 2018 knife and then get the ball rolling for GEC to do the 2019 knife? Buck is ready and willing for 2018 and that will allow GEC to take their time in getting us worked in for the 2019 knife... may be a win-win and save us all a lot of gray hairs by not having to do this all over again next year!:D:thumbsup:

EDIT: Pending we have blessing to proceed with SK / Buck

- Kevin
Click to expand...
I think this is a very sensible idea.
 
Thank you, Leslie.
It's nice to have options. I sure wouldn't mind a #14 with a clip/coping blade combo. :)
veitsi_poika said:
I see a two birds with one stone opportunity... why don't we have Buck do the 2018 knife and then get the ball rolling for GEC to do the 2019 knife? Buck is ready and willing for 2018 and that will allow GEC to take their time in getting us worked in for the 2019 knife... may be a win-win and save us all a lot of gray hairs by not having to do this all over again next year!:D:thumbsup:

EDIT: Pending we have blessing to proceed with SK / Buck

- Kevin
Click to expand...
That's not a bad idea. :thumbsup:
 
Leslie, thanks for establishing contact, much appreciated.

It's a pity he can't yet reveal that new pattern but I do understand the uncertainties & variables so he can't commit. A Forum Knife being delivered or produced next year would not really be very motivating. Myself, I don't really want a 14 either as part of a big run, and it's a very small knife in the hand.

So I think it would be a very good idea to 'book' a place for next year's Forum Knife with GEC now especially if this new unseen pattern is unusual and want worthy :D We could then perhaps order special bone or details etc? I realise it's quite late in the year's schedule for them- so much for all these people who start a chorus of disapproval everytime somebody moots the idea of a Forum Knife in Dec or Jan "It's to early bla bla" Take note, forward planning is needed:rolleyes:

So I feel that the Buck Stockman route is the best choice for 2018 provided they get the all clear, we could perhaps start polls on scales and details very soon?

Actually, it may have worked out very well after all:)
 
What about a #14 sleeveboard pen knife, which would be AWESOME. I'll bet those other #14 SFOs are jacks, so we'd have something unique. Especially if Bill can pull of stainless steel on it. Clip main and coping secondary, kinda like a miniature version of the 79.

*Edit - reread and saw the carbon steel requirement for this year. Hopefully if we get it together we can get a stainless sowbelly from GEC next year.
 
I agree with others that the Buck 2018 sounds like the best move to keep the forum knife tradition alive and well. And at the same time, start stoking the fire to make sure 2019 is in the planning phase. That way, GEC may be able to make/deliver the 2019 knife in springtime or early summer.

I also like the idea of having a Buck knife mixed in with the others, to fully represent all the various US manufacturers that were available during the run of this tradition.
 
Leslie Tomville said:
I had a lengthy conversation with Bill Howard at GEC this morning. First, let me say that he spoke highly of the Forum. He has met many of you at the Rendezvous, and you have represented us well. He described you as being among the very best knife people he knows. Second, it is clear to me that GEC is willing to be very accommodating to us. However, they are busier now, and their runs are larger in order to fill demand. This gives them less flexibility. Bill was aware of the interest of our members in unique and new patterns. Our ability to get something unique depends on how much time he has to work with. Their current production schedule runs into September, so there really is not much time left in 2018 from their point of view. We have in effect limited him to his last quarter.

The next pattern available to us is the #14 in either single clip or clip and secondary with end cap and a variety of handle materials in carbon steel. Bill asked me to make sure you understand that this will be a large run with several SFO's so it might be hard to design something truly unique, but they will do the best they can. There might be time left in 2018 for one more pattern which I could explore with Bill if GEC is the chosen manufacturer. He asked me to not reveal that pattern at this time.

So, there is the choice to be polled, either a GEC #14 as described above (or possibly a second pattern to de discussed later), OR a Buck 300 series, 500 series (to include the 55), or 110/112.

Please rest assured that the concerns about GEC somehow losing touch with us are not true. I am convinced that they will do anything they can to accommodate us. Going forward, the important thing for us to do is develop an organized system that would allow us to begin discussions with GEC early in the year. Bill specifically told me that he would then be able and willing to pinpoint a unique or even new pattern for us. That made perfect sense to me. Obviously, the more time we give him, the more magic he can work. He is also aware of the desire for more stainless, and that is a possibility. There is no doubt in my mind that GEC values us and our business and will work hard to please us. This year, we just have not had a good line of communication. I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to say thanks for putting in the legwork Leslie, well done my friend :thumbsup:
 
IF we do go with Buck this year, that would seem to mean a stainless knife. In which case, I'd hope we have a carbon-steel knife next year. There may be some vocal advocacy for stainless in this thread, but just look at the knives the people who post here carry, almost all of them are carbon :thumbsup:

In terms of Buck, even though I probably wouldn't get a chance to carry it much, I regard the 110 as iconic ;)

Personally, I like GEC's #14 frame, and the Sleeveboard Penknife is a nice idea. The only thing that puts me off is GEC's seeming inability to crink their blades and avoid blade-rub, but maybe I'm misinformed about that :thumbsup:
 
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