Attention 2019 Forum Knife : Poll - Smooth Wood

Smooth Wood

  • African Blackwood

    Votes: 152 41.1%

  • Bocote

    Votes: 6 1.6%

  • Bloodwood

    Votes: 30 8.1%

  • Ebony

    Votes: 6 1.6%

  • Kingwood

    Votes: 2 0.5%

  • Jobillo

    Votes: 5 1.4%

  • Desert Ironwood

    Votes: 149 40.3%

  • Osage Orange

    Votes: 17 4.6%

  • Cocobolo

    Votes: 2 0.5%

  • Che Chen

    Votes: 1 0.3%
  • Total voters
    370
  • Poll closed .
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H2O2HI said:
Clem Ironwood, Pig farmer (3 1/2)

Mabel, Mabel, those horrible black slabbers are at it again
They ate all my carrots and cabbage
Here they come rootin and snortin and makin such noise its not funny
Festus Bladeforum that moron thinks his black pigs harmless as bunnies

My beautiful Ironwood pigs innocent and pure they have that there chatoyance
They melt all hearts with their cuteness and beauty
Sherrif Makepeace he is so smart he says those blackies are all outlaws
They are black or dirty? ap-ar-ent-ly
He says hose em down get rid of the stink clean up their paws

My handsome Ironwood pigs, we all agree
They are beloved by all - cocobolo pigs I’d mate them with my pigs almost same color
Abner Bloodwood bankrupt an all should come to my farm
With all of his red sows, weed be the biggest pig farm in county
The vote would be big after all the pig counting!
Click to expand...


While debate and discussion is fine, rudeness, insulting posts, or inflammatory messages disguised as poetry should not be posted.

Your poetry is truly unacceptable behavior; it is insulting as well as calumnious.

- Del
 
Blackwood has a classic look, no doubt, and would make a handsome knife. But it's also a threatened species. I think of the Porch as not just a friendly place, but a conscientious one. Not merely a group of individuals who support those that they share a hobby with, but a community with a sense of responsibility. I've seen amazing examples of human compassion on this message board, in selfless giveaways and gifts, and an undeniable good nature that is rare to find online. I hope that the Porch's compassion can encompass thoughts about biodiversity too.

A vote for Ironwood is a vote for sustainability. It's also an amazing handle material. Let's not contribute to cutting down trees that have a high chance of going extinct.

I hope this sentiment doesn't rub anyone the wrong way. I'm not trying to say you're a bad person if you vote for AB, or that it's not your choice to make. I'm just trying to explain how I think it's important to be thoughtful about our decisions' consequences.

To reiterate, this following info is from www.wood-database.com. CITES and the IUCN are some of the world's authorities on endangered species:

"African Blackwood
African blackwood is listed on CITES appendix II under the genus-wide restriction on all Dalbergia species—which also includes finished products made of the wood. It's also reported by the IUCN as being near threatened. Technically it doesn't meet the Red List criteria of a vulnerable or endangered species, but is close to qualifying and/or may qualify in the near future."

"Desert Ironwood
This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, Desert Ironwood (known as palo fierro in Spanish) is considered a protected species in Mexico due to overexploitation and diminishing natural habitat."
 
H2O2HI said:
Ah yes Tradition, Tradition as stated in Fiddler on the Roof. I agree the black woods are very traditional. But they are not American woods.
Both Ironwood and Osage Orange are American woods.
Osage Orange originated and only grew in the Red River Valley. It is the most American of all Woods.
Ironwood grew only in the Sonora Desert which extends up into CA and AZ. The American source is not listed endangered. It is tough for a work knife. Ideal for this application.
When I take a knife in hand, the provenance is important to me. More important than aesthetics. I don’t know why but it is. IMO
Click to expand...

What about the Porch members who aren't American?
 
tmd_87 said:
Last year we wanted character and everyone to have a "special" knife. This year we want to all have the same knife. Man I am confused!
Click to expand...

You bring up a good point but I still might surprise you with my answer.

I was a strong advocate for using Elk on last year's knife. I LOVE elk. I love watching them, hunting them, and eating them. Considering that the elk antler that Buck sources is from close where I reside in the PNW, it made it all the more special to me. Even so, I was keen on getting the dark and knobby Elk antler that we all voted on and were assured that we would get. I received the furthest thing from dark and knobby without getting it polished that one could get. My disappointment was deep...

Now, I was able to arrange a trade for something closer to what I envisioned and so I am certainly happier. But my point is:

Uniqueness is wonderful so long as the recipient appreciates it. Otherwise one risks getting 500 knives with only 5-10% being truly eye catching and exceptional. Of all the elk knives from last year that I have seen, only a handful lived up to my expectations. I understand Ironwood will be a different animal but the fact still remains that there will be a rather extreme amount of variety as evidenced by past GEC Ironwood runs.

I will be happy with Ironwood should it win, don't get me wrong, but my original vision for this knife was a black wood of sorts and that is what I am rooting for. Also, I really can't get past the brushed, unpolished finish that it will come with. Some folks like the modern appeal of matte finishes but I don't feel like they belong on a traditional slipjoint. It is almost akin to a uniformly applied, manufactured pocket-worn finish and I care not for it.
 
DelOro said:
While debate and discussion is fine, rudeness, insulting posts, or inflammatory messages disguised as poetry should not be posted.

Your poetry is truly unacceptable behavior; it is insulting as well as calumnious.

- Del
Click to expand...
Del,
Don't blame me, blame Clem Ironwood. He has a lot of troubles on top his head.
No sense of humor in Mudville.
Joseph
 
Spencergarden said:
Blackwood has a classic look, no doubt, and would make a handsome knife. But it's also a threatened species. I think of the Porch as not just a friendly place, but a conscientious one. Not merely a group of individuals who support those that they share a hobby with, but a community with a sense of responsibility. I've seen amazing examples of human compassion on this message board, in selfless giveaways and gifts, and an undeniable good nature that is rare to find online. I hope that the Porch's compassion can encompass thoughts about biodiversity too.

A vote for Ironwood is a vote for sustainability. It's also an amazing handle material. Let's not contribute to cutting down trees that have a high chance of going extinct.

I hope this sentiment doesn't rub anyone the wrong way. I'm not trying to say you're a bad person if you vote for AB, or that it's not your choice to make. I'm just trying to explain how I think it's important to be thoughtful about our decisions' consequences.

To reiterate, this following info is from www.wood-database.com. CITES and the IUCN are some of the world's authorities on endangered species:

"African Blackwood
African blackwood is listed on CITES appendix II under the genus-wide restriction on all Dalbergia species—which also includes finished products made of the wood. It's also reported by the IUCN as being near threatened. Technically it doesn't meet the Red List criteria of a vulnerable or endangered species, but is close to qualifying and/or may qualify in the near future."

"Desert Ironwood
This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, Desert Ironwood (known as palo fierro in Spanish) is considered a protected species in Mexico due to overexploitation and diminishing natural habitat."
Click to expand...
So, will Ironwood be next? Will it be on the list sometime in the future and will that affect your vote? Better go micarta or plastic as you have also voiced your disdain on anything coming from a "dead animal".
 
Ramrodmb said:
So, will Ironwood be next? Will it be on the list sometime in the future and will that affect your vote? Better go micarta or plastic as you have also voiced your disdain on anything coming from a "dead animal".
Click to expand...
I can't predict the future, but I will use the most current info and recommendations at that time. I hope Ironwood isn't ever similarly in danger.
 
Pàdruig said:
You bring up a good point but I still might surprise you with my answer.

I was a strong advocate for using Elk on last year's knife. I LOVE elk. I love watching them, hunting them, and eating them. Considering that the elk antler that Buck sources is from close where I reside in the PNW, it made it all the more special to me. Even so, I was keen on getting the dark and knobby Elk antler that we all voted on and were assured that we would get. I received the furthest thing from dark and knobby without getting it polished that one could get. My disappointment was deep...

Now, I was able to arrange a trade for something closer to what I envisioned and so I am certainly happier. But my point is:

Uniqueness is wonderful so long as the recipient appreciates it. Otherwise one risks getting 500 knives with only 5-10% being truly eye catching and exceptional. Of all the elk knives from last year that I have seen, only a handful lived up to my expectations. I understand Ironwood will be a different animal but the fact still remains that there will be a rather extreme amount of variety as evidenced by past GEC Ironwood runs.

I will be happy with Ironwood should it win, don't get me wrong, but my original vision for this knife was a black wood of sorts and that is what I am rooting for. Also, I really can't get past the brushed, unpolished finish that it will come with. Some folks like the modern appeal of matte finishes but I don't feel like they belong on a traditional slipjoint. It is almost akin to a uniformly applied, manufactured pocket-worn finish and I care not for it.
Click to expand...
IF Ironwood wins and that's a huge IF. I feel they are the heavy underdog here....but I and others would not be disappointing in a "bad" ironwood. A bad ironwood will still has streaks of yellow, goldish brownish and red. Your knife will be different from everyone elses no grain alike.
 
Spencergarden said:
I hope this sentiment doesn't rub anyone the wrong way. I'm not trying to say you're a bad person if you vote for AB, or that it's not your choice to make. I'm just trying to explain how I think it's important to be thoughtful about our decisions' consequences.
Click to expand...
Your sentiment would in absolutely no way "rub me the wrong way" >>>>>> IF <<<<<< You would express it clearly and courteously (as you have) and afterwards LET IT GO (which you have not). To say it once is your God given right. To say it repeatedly is VIRTUE SIGNALING.
 
AB would no doubt produce a beautiful knife and one that is traditional in looks. However there are lots of black wood GEC's out there for the having and probably plenty of them in the pipeline.

Desert Ironwood is fantastic....when I can hand select which knife is mine. I totally get the worry of not getting what you want, especially after last years forum knife.

Soooooo.....is it too late to recruit everyone to the Osage camp? :D:D:D
 
i dont think African blackwood is in real jeopardy.

i favor ironwood, but a little internet sleuthing will show that major efforts are underway to preserve and replant the Mpingo tree (aka African Blackwood).

dont reject AB because its on a list somewhere, reject it because you prefer desert ironwood.
 
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