- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 11,013
"Good things come to those who wait" - as I quipped not so long ago. I retrieved a parcel from my mailbox earlier this morning and after I had opened it up and given the knife a quick onceover, I set it aside while I attended to a few work items and let my thoughts coalesce a little with regards to the knife.
This year, overall, has been an interesting one, albeit discouraging. With the events of last year spilling over into this one, I've noted that us humans are on far shorter fuses than we used to be. All the frustrations, anger, and tragedy (in many cases) have served to make us less kind, more disrespectful, and relatively callous to one another. You see the results of this when you hear of the latest road rage incident, or the frequent bouts of violence, or the constant streaming of urban unrest, or the unfortunate tragedy of lives lost - young and old.
You might be wondering what this has to do with a knife - I don't blame you. I'm getting to that. I've been involved in every forum knife discussion since I signed up here - 2017 being the first year that I had any input on. The discussions have always been spirited, passionate, and at some times, a bit rowdy. However, I have never seen things get so ugly as they have this year. Perhaps it is because of GEC and its continuously burgeoning popularity, or maybe it is because we've never had more folks interested in traditional pocket knives, or it might be the throngs of perceived "outsiders", plaguing our little corner with their greed. I would say it is probably a little bit of all three, with a bit of societal angst sprinkled in, among other things.
This year's forum knife feels like an apogee of sorts - the pinnacle of our little corner's passions. In short, it is a masterpiece. Despite all of the bumps along the road (and I'd be lying if I said there weren't many), we managed to produce a spectacular knife for the Porch. I feel that the Porch has never been more contentious, yet we have never produced a knife as fine as this (obviously, my opinion) - is it just a coincidence or did we manage to truly construct a gem out of all of the heat?
There are murmurings of this being the end of the line - if it is, then we have managed to go out with a bang. In the immortal words of Peter Jackson's Theoden, King of Rohan, "If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end, as to be worthy of remembrance". (Yes, I am a bit of a nerd)
Traditions are wonderful - until they evolve to a point of unpleasantness. This year was mightily unpleasant but somehow we turned out a stellar knife. Stellar knives aside and all, I'd rather not repeat the unpleasantness - there are far greater woes in this world, I'd rather not have them attached to my life's simple pleasures. Regardless, I think we should all be proud of this knife. It is a thing of beauty that should serve to bring us together rather than continue to divide us - I truly hope that will be the case going forward.
Here is the Spring Street Barlow, our 2021 BladeForums Knife. A unique bolster and never-done-before Sawcut Hemlock Bone, built on the #86 pattern. It is a sizable, yet lightweight and slim knife - it will be an immense pleasure to carry and use every day. The action is superb, the fit and finish is excellent by GEC standards, and the blade is thinly ground with an excellent factory edge - GEC is on the top of their game and it excites me to think about their future.
Many thanks to you all, particularly those who contributed to the many discussions. And a huge thank you to the mods for putting up with us (I hope you will not have to endure this again) and many thanks to Charlie and Barry for volunteering (I hope you won't find yourselves in this position again) and special thanks to Meako - your contributions are a delight as usual (sorry, mate, too many thoughts running around the noggin and forgot to include you in the first draft).
I suppose it is time for a pic or two. Lighting wasn't the best today but I made do with what I had.
Here it joins the rest of my 86s - it fits right in.
And here it joins the previous forum knives I have.
This year, overall, has been an interesting one, albeit discouraging. With the events of last year spilling over into this one, I've noted that us humans are on far shorter fuses than we used to be. All the frustrations, anger, and tragedy (in many cases) have served to make us less kind, more disrespectful, and relatively callous to one another. You see the results of this when you hear of the latest road rage incident, or the frequent bouts of violence, or the constant streaming of urban unrest, or the unfortunate tragedy of lives lost - young and old.
You might be wondering what this has to do with a knife - I don't blame you. I'm getting to that. I've been involved in every forum knife discussion since I signed up here - 2017 being the first year that I had any input on. The discussions have always been spirited, passionate, and at some times, a bit rowdy. However, I have never seen things get so ugly as they have this year. Perhaps it is because of GEC and its continuously burgeoning popularity, or maybe it is because we've never had more folks interested in traditional pocket knives, or it might be the throngs of perceived "outsiders", plaguing our little corner with their greed. I would say it is probably a little bit of all three, with a bit of societal angst sprinkled in, among other things.
This year's forum knife feels like an apogee of sorts - the pinnacle of our little corner's passions. In short, it is a masterpiece. Despite all of the bumps along the road (and I'd be lying if I said there weren't many), we managed to produce a spectacular knife for the Porch. I feel that the Porch has never been more contentious, yet we have never produced a knife as fine as this (obviously, my opinion) - is it just a coincidence or did we manage to truly construct a gem out of all of the heat?
There are murmurings of this being the end of the line - if it is, then we have managed to go out with a bang. In the immortal words of Peter Jackson's Theoden, King of Rohan, "If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end, as to be worthy of remembrance". (Yes, I am a bit of a nerd)
Traditions are wonderful - until they evolve to a point of unpleasantness. This year was mightily unpleasant but somehow we turned out a stellar knife. Stellar knives aside and all, I'd rather not repeat the unpleasantness - there are far greater woes in this world, I'd rather not have them attached to my life's simple pleasures. Regardless, I think we should all be proud of this knife. It is a thing of beauty that should serve to bring us together rather than continue to divide us - I truly hope that will be the case going forward.
Here is the Spring Street Barlow, our 2021 BladeForums Knife. A unique bolster and never-done-before Sawcut Hemlock Bone, built on the #86 pattern. It is a sizable, yet lightweight and slim knife - it will be an immense pleasure to carry and use every day. The action is superb, the fit and finish is excellent by GEC standards, and the blade is thinly ground with an excellent factory edge - GEC is on the top of their game and it excites me to think about their future.
Many thanks to you all, particularly those who contributed to the many discussions. And a huge thank you to the mods for putting up with us (I hope you will not have to endure this again) and many thanks to Charlie and Barry for volunteering (I hope you won't find yourselves in this position again) and special thanks to Meako - your contributions are a delight as usual (sorry, mate, too many thoughts running around the noggin and forgot to include you in the first draft).
I suppose it is time for a pic or two. Lighting wasn't the best today but I made do with what I had.
Here it joins the rest of my 86s - it fits right in.
And here it joins the previous forum knives I have.
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