2019 Forum Knife : Poll - Slab Type

[Pàdruig]

Wow, I didn't think wood was going to make it! What a nail biter!

I think I would have been happy with either option and part of me is going to be remorseful in regards to what "could have been" when it comes to the jigged bone possibilities but I stuck to my guns and the Smooth Wood option pulled ahead in the very end. I am very much looking forward to what options we will have to choose from.

(Could prove to be every bit as polarizing as the wood v. bone poll...)

Before the poll on wood choices opens, I would really like to know what woods GEC can offer and what it can’t.

I know that Mike and Charlie have already expressed a strong preference for Ebony or Blackwood, which would undoubtably look good, but I would prefer a medium or dark brown.

The main reason for my preference is that Ebony is a fairly common cover from GEC. It’s already seen on a lot of their knives.

Leaving Ebony and Blackwood aside, I think that the ‘best’ overall wood offered by GEC is a close race between Cocobolo and Desert Ironwood. I especially like light brown cocobolo. However they are also both very common.

My preference on this knife is something a little less ornate, and less common, but still a beautiful wood. That would suit the aesthetic of a heavy duty blade.

Of the woods that are currently offered by GEC, Jobillo and Rosewood would be good choices. Both are classic user hardwoods with chatoyance. My hope is for something in that category. Fingers crossed!

Jobillo

Rosewood

Although my original vision when it came to this knife contained Black Ebony or Blackwood with a stellar shield, I am totally on board with what you are suggesting. Though I am a big fan of Desert Ironwood, I am going to advocate for something else. The last thing I want is a knife that is as special as this one to disappear in my growing pile of Desert Ironwood knives... I guess the same could be said for Ebony I suppose...

If GEC could promise that the Ebony we got was going to be as black as can be, it would have my vote til the end but sadly, I don't think they can do that, despite my last few GEC Ebony knives being remarkably black.

Regardless, I am eager to see what will be available to us.

 

[tmd_87]

Ebony, Osage, iron wood, cocobolo and a rosewood will probably be what can be offered. That's a lot of the same we have seen the couple years. Hopefully we see something different. Maybe a burl or something not used a whole lot recently.

 

[Camillus]

Good point - the burl on the recent 85s would probably take 1st place on my list of nicest woods GEC has used - mainly because it seemed consistently nice across all knives.

 

[cbr1000]

Thanks for posting. Hopefully it's a contender to consider. Interesting history, unique, but used within the past few years. Throwing a curve ball here, but if GEC could char these like the charred beer barrel oak beer scouts it would probably be super cool.. charred oil suckered rod wood

 

[sunknife]

That oil sucker rod wood would be my first choice, love the rustic looks of it.
Or maybe bloodwood with a bomb shield to make it more formal looking.
Steel/iron pins and liners would be icing on the cake too.

 

[TX Traditional]

If this next poll is ebony vs. ironwood or ebony vs. snakewood or some other nice choice, it would be a race. However, if it’s ebony vs. 4 or 5 options, I think ebony runs away with it clean which is a shame because we have the opportunity to make something so much more unique.

 

[Prester John]

How about a compromise? One side with a shield, and one side without.

I've got a few like that, and I like them.

 

[r8shell]

If GEC could promise that the Ebony we got was going to be as black as can be, it would have my vote til the end but sadly, I don't think they can do that, despite my last few GEC Ebony knives being remarkably black.

Regardless, I am eager to see what will be available to us.

I'm starting to think we should stay away from ebony. The "none more black" stuff is getting harder to source, and while I like the streaky brown stuff too, I'm afraid there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth if we go that route.
Oil sucker rod sounds great.

 

[black mamba]

If you want to do away with flipping, put a BFC shield on the mark side, and . . .
the buyer's initials stamped into the shield on the pile side.

 

[cigarrodog]

@RayseM “Please (nearly) anything but another ebony lambs foot.”

Was this a Freudian slip?

 

[robbobus]

Ancient kauri or bog oak both make good choices. Bog oak is quite dark as well.

 

[PirateSeulb]

There is obviously Russian interference in favor of smooth wood. Don't let the communist win. Vote jigged bone.

Don't listen to liberal propaganda make BF great again vote wood.

 

[Prester John]

Woohoo! I was on the winning side of a vote this year! (Last year I was on the winning side of all but one vote, it's okay if I don't get my way this year, but I'm still happy)

Since my participation here is really about participating in the process and not about getting my way, I tried to avoid agitating too hard for smooth wood. But I am very happy it won. On this particular knife, I would even prefer wood to horn!

If jigged bone had won I would have been firmly in the sawcut camp since I have not been happy with my limited GEC jigged bone experiences. Jigged bone is such a subjective thing, what looks great to one eye looks terrible to another. With smooth wood I feel like there is less subjective variability in whether or not people think it looks good. I feel like most people agree on whether or not a given piece of wood is nice looking.

Of course, I have had so-so luck on the looks of my wood scales, but I like the feel of smooth wood a whole lot. And for me, more importantly than looks for this particular knife, wood feels like a working knife scale to me. That of course is pure opinion.



Some of the polls, particularly the elk v. rams horn, as previously mentioned. I was on the elk side there, and I am still happy I won, but rams horn would have been sweet on last year's knife. Some people find the politicking and back and forth sniping stressful, but I personally find it exciting. It is the emotional investment in the process that makes the knives worth buying to me, regardless of outcome.

I think non-grooved bolsters won over grooved by two votes. I could have tied it up!

 

[black mamba]

Redwood burl looks very classy.

 

[Signalprick]

I like what I see when I Google black walnut burl.

 

[Dr-Mabuse]

Before the poll on wood choices opens, I would really like to know what woods GEC can offer and what it can’t.

I know that Mike and Charlie have already expressed a strong preference for Ebony or Blackwood, which would undoubtably look good, but I would prefer a medium or dark brown.

The main reason for my preference is that Ebony is a fairly common cover from GEC. It’s already seen on a lot of their knives.

Leaving Ebony and Blackwood aside, I think that the ‘best’ overall wood offered by GEC is a close race between Cocobolo and Desert Ironwood. I especially like light brown cocobolo. However they are also both very common.

My preference on this knife is something a little less ornate, and less common, but still a beautiful wood. That would suit the aesthetic of a heavy duty blade.

Of the woods that are currently offered by GEC, Jobillo and Rosewood would be good choices. Both are classic user hardwoods with chatoyance. My hope is for something in that category. Fingers crossed!

Jobillo

Rosewood

I'm with you, I'd be over the moon if we got any of those. My preference tends towards Desert Ironwood as it's a personal favorite, nearly always quite dramatic and holds up beautifully. It hasn't been super common compared to say ebony, AB or Coco. Barring DI I'd be perfectly happy with Jobillo or Rosewood.

 

[Pàdruig]

I'm starting to think we should stay away from ebony. The "none more black" stuff is getting harder to source, and while I like the streaky brown stuff too, I'm afraid there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth if we go that route.
Oil sucker rod sounds great.

You are absolutely right. With the numbers that will likely be buying this knife, I don't see how GEC could guarantee a full run of black Ebony. The good thing is, there are certainly a good many excellent alternatives to choose from.

Ebony, Osage, iron wood, cocobolo and a rosewood will probably be what can be offered. That's a lot of the same we have seen the couple years. Hopefully we see something different. Maybe a burl or something not used a whole lot recently.

Good point - the burl on the recent 85s would probably take 1st place on my list of nicest woods GEC has used - mainly because it seemed consistently nice across all knives.

That Maple Burl on the recent 85s is particularly exquisite. I kick myself every day I think about not jumping on one.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Here's a few pics as a reference to give you a better idea of the previous handle choices made over the last 13 years.

2006 Canal Street Cutlery, 2 blade Pen, Stag covers

2007 Canal Street Cutlery, 3 blade Canittler, Wolly Mammoth Covers

2008 Northwoods Cutlery, 3 blade small Stockman, Burnt Stag covers

2009 Queen/Schatt Morgan Cutlery, 2 blade Barlow, Stag covers

2010 Queen Cutlery, 2 blade Moose, Ebony covers

2011 GEC Cutlery, 2 blade Swell End EO Jack, Jigged bone covers

2012 GEC Cutlery, 2 blade Trapper, Jigged bone covers

2013 GEC Cutlery 2 blade Congress Jack, White Linen Micarta covers

2014 GEC 1 blade Stag Jack, Stag covers

2015 Canal Street Cutlery, 2 blade Serpentine Jack, Bocote covers

2016 GEC Cutlery, 2 blade Equal End Punch Jack, Jigged Bone Covers

2017 GEC Cutlery, 1 blade TC Barlow, Natural Canvas Micarta covers. (Thanks Mark )

2018 Buck 2 blade Jack Elk Antler covers

Hopefully this'll give you an idea of what we've done in the past and it'll give you a reference to go ahead and help make your choices at the polls.

Not that there's too many more polls to go, after 13 years the process is movin' ahead just beautifully but you know me, any excuse to post more pics. LOL As luck would have it I just happened to take these this morning.

 

[Prester John]

@RayseM “Please (nearly) anything but another ebony lambs foot.”

Was this a Freudian slip?

And is it reverse psychology, à la Brer Rabbit? ("Please don't throw me in that briar patch!")

 

[btb01]

If this next poll is ebony vs. ironwood or ebony vs. snakewood or some other nice choice, it would be a race. However, if it’s ebony vs. 4 or 5 options, I think ebony runs away with it clean which is a shame because we have the opportunity to make something so much more unique.

I'm afraid this is exactly what will happen, but I hope I'm wrong and we choose a wood with some character!

It might all come down to how many people's nephews and sons vote in that poll...