A 2016 Forum Knife. An apology, and The Crossroads!

Heh! Nice to see those knives again - they go back a way for me!
I bought the best Mammoth, Stag and Pearl available at the time - a small fortune at the time - and sent it to Bill! Bill told me there were no guarantees! If the Pearl cracked I'd (of course) have to replace it!! Gulp!
But Bill is the Master!!
 
Those knives are incredible! Also, I think the double groove punch might be my favorite punch design aesthetically.
 
Thanks for the compliments guys....I was lucky to score these and the 4 other HJ1's in the jig boned variety Charlie mentioned earlier. I was lucky to score around 11 to 13 different rare knives from a dealer in California that was having health problems and decided to unload his stock he got straight from Charlie years ago.....was expensive but I am proud to own this collection. Knowtracks is after the pearl handled HJ1 and it is my favorite with the fossil 2nd. I believe he owns 2 or 3 of the orginial 7's that were made also. I understand Tony Bose owns the Ebony one. I have a bad habit of scoring Charlies knives and cleaning and oily them up for storage and forgetting to take pics before hand....my bad. My collection is way out of control.....lol.
 
Dr-Mabuse said:
Those knives are incredible! Also, I think the double groove punch might be my favorite punch design aesthetically.
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The double groove punch is the best I have ever used for punching perfect holes. There is likely a space issue for a single spring thus the pointy punch. To be honest I would rather the #15 punch which is the secondbest punch for cutting holes and thin enough to fit the frame, I think ;-)

Best regards

Robin
 
NJBillK said:
Check out page 7 of this thread...
I have tried to say this already, but it wasn't taken too warmly.

Apparently "tradition for the sake of tradition" is how some things go... Everything was new once, even a 100 year old pattern had an introduction. Just because something is old, traditional, vintage, antique, et al, doesn't mean that a new (or modified) line can't be created for a special event.

What defines a Traditional, spring mechanism, handle materials, pin stock, a lanyard hole on a sodbuster, stainless steel, or only blade/handle combination, or is it none of (or a combination of) above?

An electricians knife was not known back when a sodbuster was first made, but it is acceptable as a "Traditional pattern" now with synthetic scales, stainless steel and all...
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That said, I will be buying one regardless, though I did vote.
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Great post
cchu518 said:
Can you good folks enlighten me as to how you typically use tje awl blade on a pattern like this during regular edc carry?
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Hey! I found the awl on the Alox Victorinoxs to be one of the most useful all around tools in edc. Scoring, puncturing (safer than blade), hole making, poking and holding food and other things you don't want to handle, even prying (when necessary and no better tool around, it's better than the blade).

I still haven't seen or participated in the poll thread. Almost exclusively use tapatalk on my phone.
 
I've never tried a knife with an awl before, always wondered what folks do with those little buggers. I'm intrigued by it now!
 
ALLHSS said:
Great post

Hey! I found the awl on the Alox Victorinoxs to be one of the most useful all around tools in edc. Scoring, puncturing (safer than blade), hole making, poking and holding food and other things you don't want to handle, even prying (when necessary and no better tool around, it's better than the blade).
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Thank you.

cchu518 said:
I've never tried a knife with an awl before, always wondered what folks do with those little buggers. I'm intrigued by it now!
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I am a Big fan of them, if they follow both of the following rules;
- They are designed by usage, ei function over form.
- They are used by the person carrying the knife.
(The former will likely lead to the latter.)

I have 2 alox Saks that see regular pocket time, a pioneer for the pruner blade and awl/reamer, and a Swissbianco First Mate for the saw and sacking needle.

Depending on my intended usage (hiking, camping, fishing, etc) I will carry one of the other. Both the awl/reamer and Sacking needle have seen usage via pack repairs while hiking, camp shelter repair, knotwork, leather sheath repair, and other various craft/repair based situations.
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That being said, I don't want to carry both, and the last time a SAK had an awl/reamer And a sacking needle on one knife was back in the last '70s and I haven't been able to locate one (in overy 2 years of looking).
- My only option is what I am in the process of now.
I cannibalized my pioneer for the pruner and cap lifter and I am going to be putting them into my First Mate with a screw based construction and .005 washers.

In regards to the GEC, I will Very likely pick one up. I don't see why I wouldn't. In fact, those that I haven't purchased and have had my hands on afterwards have caused me to kick myself.
 
I've actually avoided knives with punches, but after seeing all of this, I'm definitely in for this year's forum knife. I haven't had one since I carried my SAK as a kid. All I really remember about that knife is that I abused the heck out of it. I still have the remains, but it's just for memories now.

How well does a punch work at opening clamshell packaging? That's usually what my secondary blade is dedicated to.
 
I recently acquired my first gec/carbon blade from bralexander (thank you) a 72 Wharnie, that I don't dislike or just like but actually love!

I think I might have to get this forum knife after passing on the last few just for that awl feature. I like the main blade shape alot besides!
 
Njbillk-i doubt i need to say it ,but please post some pics once you're done with the sak. i've been looking at those swissbiancos on a large auction site, and the sailors needle/awl that they have are quite interesting; having a knife with both would really be a worthy project, or piece to own. as for the rest of you :), STAY AWAY FROM MY NICE POINTY AWL GOSH-DARN-IT-BY-GOLLY-GEE-WHIZ, or i'll break out the really harsh words. :grumpy: :rolleyes: :)
thanks, Neal
 
"STAY AWAY FROM MY NICE POINTY AWL GOSH-DARN-IT-BY-GOLLY-GEE-WHIZ, or i'll break out the really harsh words.
thanks, Neal "

Naaaa:D
 
draggat said:
How well does a punch work at opening clamshell packaging? That's usually what my secondary blade is dedicated to.
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With the awl having a rather steep chisel grind, it will tend to bite and wander to the cutting side.
-For clamshells I prefer a Pruner blade. You can get the tip to press through by "rocking/leveraging it in and the recurve holds the plastic.

That being said, I would much prefer a Pruner over an awl for a general purpose knife combination. Especially a Clip/Pruner combo!
Belly: check!
Recurve: check!
Straight edge: check 2x!
Nice sharp utility point: check 2x!

On top of that, both can be thin enough to excel at their respective tasks.
The clip will be a Fantastic slicer, and the heel wouldn't have to worry about flexing or breaking when choking up for close work.
The pruner would be great for detail oriented cuts, leather, fabrics and other soft material (pallet wrap) is where it shines. It works well for detail and inside cuts in wood for whittling. The blade hasn't been seen (iirc) on a bladeforums knife. Due to the nature of the kick being Just longer than the point, it can be buried far for comfort while using the main.
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neal: it is still a bit out as I still have to acquire things like the pivot barrels and such. But I will be doing a thread on it when it (eventually) is completed.
 
Pipeman said:
"STAY AWAY FROM MY NICE POINTY AWL GOSH-DARN-IT-BY-GOLLY-GEE-WHIZ, or i'll break out the really harsh words.
thanks, Neal "

Naaaa:D
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This is Traditional, those better be the really harsh words. ;):D
 
You know something? When I first discovered the traditional section of bf and began looking at all of the knives I thought some of you folks were mighty frugal or sentimental at least. I was wondering why you guys were carrying blades that had been used up all the way down to the nub, lol. Turned out to be the awl all this time.
 
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cchu518 said:
You know something? When I first discovered the traditional section of bf and began looking at all of the knives I thought some of you folks were mighty frugal or sentimental at least. I was wondering during why you guys were carrying blades that had been used up all the way down to the nub, lol. Turned out to be the awl all this time.
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Well...I do carry a few knives that probably started life as a spear/pen combo. After 50 years or so of sharpening they are now closer to wharncliffe/awl. Some knives just get better with age. :)
 
That just makes you a modder! 😁

PS I've definitely seem some knives that have had a good, really good life in use!
 
r8shell said:
Well...I do carry a few knives that probably started life as a spear/pen combo. After 50 years or so of sharpening they are now closer to wharncliffe/awl. Some knives just get better with age. :)
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Just a harness jack, I keeps sayin'. :D
 
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