2019 Bladeforums Traditional Forum Knife Poll

Which manufacturer would you prefer make the 2019 Forum Knife?

  • Total voters
    388
Status
Not open for further replies.
Inevitably, and rightly, some people don't take to their Forum Knives and will want to sell them on. Let's face it bluntly, how many of us really like multiple patterns? Not a lot I'd say.....So, complaints are often just lack of interest in the finished product. When or if there are serious QC problems, that's a different matter.

The only problem with these kind of threads is that they're never in the right :D People get whacked for starting them too early or other people go on about it's now far too late to do anything we should've started earlier...;) Can't win:eek:

The forum Knife is always a potential minefield in the organization of it, how to get the money question secured, how to distribute it, what are the real choices open to us and then which one is to be selected? However, I've always been pleased with what I've bought , two of them -the current one and the 14 I prize a lot and would not want to let them go. I've found it to be an interesting event actually, exchange of ideas, hopes (fears:D) and despite bickerings it's a very worthwhile project that advances our hobby. If it can come to fruition this year then it will be another boon. Let's hope for the best :cool:
 
Just to throw this out there:

I talked with Andy Hess just the other day and mentioned that his name was being tossed around for this project, and that is the first he had heard of it; someone may want to ask him whether or not he is interested before voting him in.
 
I think at this point we are voting on our ranking of preferred possibilities and then research into the viability of each. Personally as much as I love the knives Lionsteel has put out I feel their options are currently too limited and wouldn't be that interested in an offering from them. I believe Hess was put forth for a fixed blade which I would personally be most interested in. GEC is good but I and expecting it would end up with a carbon blade at which point I would likely be done so they are getting my vote at this time. Sheffield I am rather indifferent toward and Buck has shown they can deliver so I would be interested in something else by them.
 
Not exactly voting him in Barry but I could not find out how to contact them through a website. Just raising the possibility and then hoping he may want to fit us in, but it looks a long shot. Pity, as a fixed makes a nice change and it is part of the Forum's name, Traditional Folders & Fixed Blades.
 
Will Power said:
Inevitably, and rightly, some people don't take to their Forum Knives... I've found it to be an interesting event actually, exchange of ideas, hopes (fears:D) and despite bickerings it's a very worthwhile project that advances our hobby. If it can come to fruition this year then it will be another boon. Let's hope for the best :cool:
Click to expand...
Well said, Will Power, I agree and also hope that is as entertaining as last year's. Preston
 
gunstockjack said:
Just to throw this out there:

I talked with Andy Hess just the other day and mentioned that his name was being tossed around for this project, and that is the first he had heard of it; someone may want to ask him whether or not he is interested before voting him in.
Click to expand...

You’ve been vocal in the forum knife threads and you talked to him...you couldn’t have asked if he was interested? I’m sure the mentioning of it spurred some discussion between you two, what did he happen to say about it?
 
gunstockjack said:
Just to throw this out there:

I talked with Andy Hess just the other day and mentioned that his name was being tossed around for this project, and that is the first he had heard of it; someone may want to ask him whether or not he is interested before voting him in.
Click to expand...

I think this goes to part of the problem with the public/private aspect of the forum knife at this point. Those behind the scenes have done things in certain ways that not everyone knows about, but publicly folks have different opinions about where to start and which steps goes where in the process.

I posted this poll in response to a dealer who thought it best to identify a maker/manufacturer so that any potential dealer who works with that manufacturer could volunteer to contact the maker/manufacturer. You're advice is the opposite: see if the makers/manufacturers are willing, then seek out a dealer.

I don't see either option as bad, but it is unclear (to me at least) how things are supposed to work.

I think one of the causes for the confusion last year and this year is that the folks who had done the forum knives for all the years weren't able or willing to do it again, and, as there wasn't any official passing of the torch, it was something of a confused mess until a new volunteer was able to get with the experienced and authorized folks.

It seems to me that finding a dealer to volunteer is first priority. I'm not saying that it is anyone in particular's job to do that, either. Again, maybe that's something the experienced folks need to handle.
 
Jack Black said:
Thanks guys, the practical side of things are not the reason for my withdrawing though. Sheffield cutlers aren't always the easiest to deal with, but I've been dealing with them nearly 30 years, and think it would have been relatively easy to deal with them again, and sort out a high-quality knife at a good price. I'm just another poster here though, and the idea of a Sheffield knife clearly isn't welcomed by everyone. In my opinion, the chances of sorting out a Sheffield-made knife from across The Pond are just about zero, but good luck to anyone who wants to try. I'm not going to get into the 'politics' of the forum knife, so I'd be grateful if people respected my reasons for withdrawing. I'd rather not have to comment further. The choice of where the forum knife will be made isn't mine, and I suspect it will either be made in the USA, or not made at all :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
uuuuuggggggggghhhhhhhhh. Reluctantly respecting your decision.
 
My hope is to at least have the last dot ground off our 10 dot tang stamps. At least we’d have completed a decade of knives with our mark on the tangs. To me that says we accomplished something.

For the last few years the rumors of the previous knife bein’ the last knife have persisted and every subsequent knife has been a gift. I fear that we’re coming up to the demise of the BFC Traditional Forum’s annual knife.

I hope we continue but if not, at least I know I have them all and was part of the process from day one.

Many people think the 2006 CSC Ring Turner was the first forum knife but actually the 2005 Schrade collectors club aka Uncle Henry ‘s Lost Souls.

Just found the pic from the 2005 Schrade Forum knife, probably one of the last SFOs, (i don't recall if we bought them and they were engraved our if Schrade did them for us either way it was a piece of history that came with a lot of neat gimmies :) ) they did. Kinda funny that they closed the door in 2004 and we got these in 2005.

I put this here to share with everyone outside of the Schrade Collectors forum, this was my first forum related knife and unfortunately Schrade closed their doors not too soon after this.

I loved the extras that came with this knife, and the fact that there were only 30 or so made makes it even more special to me.

This was the first Forum Knife I'd ever gotten here at BFC and it came with all the little goodies in the top pic, Engraved Schrade 3rd Generation SS627 Canoe(?), Schrade 100 year anniversary money clip, Imperial Schrade Keyring, Schrade Whittlin' Club pin, Beaded USA Patch(?), 2 large brass/bronze Duck Stamps and assorted certificates of authenticity along with Phil Scarborough Jr.'s card, the man who I believe put the whole package together.

Anyone still have theirs or better pics of the set, please post 'em.

028-5.jpg


022-3.jpg


It was a whole package and only 38 were made IIRC. There never was another Schrade made for the club but it’s what evolved into what is today’s annual Traditional Forum’s knife.

For the folks that don’t know the entire history of the annual knife, here’s the entire collection to help make your decisions.

xL8UuMI.jpg
 
Not that it matters at this point, but what I recommended was just a write-in poll (which probably wasn't even possible). Then starting at the top of that dealer list to see where the specifics fell. I am sure everyone has a different idea; but those ideas usually suck the life out of a process in due time. For my part, I wouldn't expect Andy to touch such a large order at his current capacity.

Every maker I have spit-balled the idea with so far has mentioned that someone else has already called them - which really makes discussions awkward.
 
Without getting into particulars, which are sparse at best right now, there are some inquiries being made and as soon as there is something concrete to report it'll be posted.

I know this thread was intended to spark some interest and get some input from the community by one of the members. That's cool. This is how it typically starts almost every year. The poll may not be accurate, as far as it's offerings, but it is testing how the wind is blowing and that's a good thing. It absolutely does not mean that any of the choices offered will be available to us in choosing what we'd like. Many factors, totally outside our control, weigh into the final offerings. No representation was made by anyone in the know.

The first thing that has to happen is finding a dealer or dealers willing to put in the time and willing to deal with the aggravation, with minimal compensation. That's being looked into. Bless those champions, past and present! This is how it's been set up and will be how it's run until someone way above my position changes it.

Discuss the knives, the process is what it is and carping about it here won't change a thing.

Stay tuned.

Keeping @knarfeng in the loop.
 
knifeswapper said:
Not that it matters at this point, but what I recommended was just a write-in poll (which probably wasn't even possible). Then starting at the top of that dealer list to see where the specifics fell. I am sure everyone has a different idea; but those ideas usually suck the life out of a process in due time. For my part, I wouldn't expect Andy to touch such a large order at his current capacity.

Every maker I have spit-balled the idea with so far has mentioned that someone else has already called them - which really makes discussions awkward.
Click to expand...

I'm going to agree with Mike here. Anyone making calls regarding a manufacturers interest in a BladeForums knife, that doesn't have the authority to make that call, should refrain. It just makes the process more difficult.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
My hope is to at least have the last dot ground off our 10 dot tang stamps. At least we’d have completed a decade of knives with our mark on the tangs. To me that says we accomplished something.

For the last few years the rumors of the previous knife bein’ the last knife have persisted and every subsequent knife has been a gift. I fear that we’re coming up to the demise of the BFC Traditional Forum’s annual knife.

I hope we continue but if not, at least I know I have them all and was part of the process from day one.

Many people think the 2006 CSC Ring Turner was the first forum knife but actually the 2005 Schrade collectors club aka Uncle Henry ‘s Lost Souls.

Just found the pic from the 2005 Schrade Forum knife, probably one of the last SFOs, (i don't recall if we bought them and they were engraved our if Schrade did them for us either way it was a piece of history that came with a lot of neat gimmies :) ) they did. Kinda funny that they closed the door in 2004 and we got these in 2005.

I put this here to share with everyone outside of the Schrade Collectors forum, this was my first forum related knife and unfortunately Schrade closed their doors not too soon after this.

I loved the extras that came with this knife, and the fact that there were only 30 or so made makes it even more special to me.

This was the first Forum Knife I'd ever gotten here at BFC and it came with all the little goodies in the top pic, Engraved Schrade 3rd Generation SS627 Canoe(?), Schrade 100 year anniversary money clip, Imperial Schrade Keyring, Schrade Whittlin' Club pin, Beaded USA Patch(?), 2 large brass/bronze Duck Stamps and assorted certificates of authenticity along with Phil Scarborough Jr.'s card, the man who I believe put the whole package together.

Anyone still have theirs or better pics of the set, please post 'em.

028-5.jpg


022-3.jpg


It was a whole package and only 38 were made IIRC. There never was another Schrade made for the club but it’s what evolved into what is today’s annual Traditional Forum’s knife.

For the folks that don’t know the entire history of the annual knife, here’s the entire collection to help make your decisions.

xL8UuMI.jpg
Click to expand...
Pretty cool. Thanks for posting.
 
Peregrin said:
Without getting into particulars, which are sparse at best right now, there are some inquiries being made and as soon as there is something concrete to report it'll be posted.

I know this thread was intended to spark some interest and get some input from the community by one of the members. That's cool. This is how it typically starts almost every year. The poll may not be accurate, as far as it's offerings, but it is testing how the wind is blowing and that's a good thing. It absolutely does not mean that any of the choices offered will be available to us in choosing what we'd like. Many factors, totally outside our control, weigh into the final offerings. No representation was made by anyone in the know.

The first thing that has to happen is finding a dealer or dealers willing to put in the time and willing to deal with the aggravation, with minimal compensation. That's being looked into. Bless those champions, past and present! This is how it's been set up and will be how it's run until someone way above my position changes it.

Discuss the knives, the process is what it is and carping about it here won't change a thing.

Stay tuned.

Keeping @knarfeng in the loop.
Click to expand...
Well said Gary... a lot of people don't realize that you and Frank both purchase the annual BF Traditional knives too and have equal enthusiasm for the final products (links below). I'm glad to see optimism in your post and it would be great to see everyone follow suit :) It's a long process but now at least the ball is rolling and @meako can keep us updated at each mile marker along the way :D

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/forum-knife-updates-and-comments.1597329/page-73#post-18605987

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/forum-knife-updates-and-comments.1597329/page-80#post-18609263
 
I have been an active member for only a couple of years, I have been perhaps too outspoken. For that I apologize to my fellow members.
However, if the group holds an election for a Forum knife, they must expect politics to always erupt. And in love, politics and war there really are no rules. Chaos will prevail!
As a freshman, I would suggest that the process could operate like the Forum 2016 (Drover) knife. As I remember, a couple of influential persons came to an agreement, made the decision and announced it. Everyone seemed happy with the outcome.
At times, democracy can be very stressful.

Viva #86!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top