BladeForums 2024 Traditional Knife

Rookie82 said:
I used to have a pretty large NKCA knife collection. That 2012 club knife had skeletons made by GEC, and then sent to Painted Pony in Georgia run by Michael Prater. Michael creates the handle material there in his shop, he called it Sunshine Mica Pearl. He applied the handles, put in the round National Knife Collectors Shields, and did the bolster engraving himself. Also the laser blade etch.

I agree it's not the most attractive set of options when all combined together, but Michael did it all for free to donate his time/money to the NKCA to keep it going (which ended up going out of business in 2014.)
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Thanks for the info, Carl - I knew about the Michael Prater / Painted Pony connection but didn't know the details - and certainly didn't know that he performed the engraving and etch himself 😮! Knowing this, is easier to understand why the covers were glued on in favor of pinned - I imagine pinning that quantity of knives would've added astronomical time and effort!

I stumbled across some story about how, seemingly some time back, Case brought a lawsuit against him seeking royalties for knives he modified - or something equally bizarre. Seemed like a bad look for big Case going after such a small operation, but maybe I've got the facts wrong?

The knife is a perfect example of one whose design aesthetic isn't necessarily my cup of tea, but which I love, cherish, and wouldn't part with because of the intangibles - the connection to GEC, NKCA, PP, and whoever "064" was. I'm in it for the story - and the history.

I'd never photographed or shown this knife before, she just doesn't seem to be drawn to the limelight - but at the time I purchased her, I couldn't resist. I could tell she'd already had an interesting journey! I oughta stop by the GEC "Next Five Years" thread and show her off a bit.

Thanks again!
 
lithicus said:
BUT... guess what? There never was a 3 blade 81 stockman.
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There was one back in 2013, but it's certainly been a while. :)

LjXFMml.jpg
 
Kiteman72 said:
It looks exactly like the mockup we were presented with.

If you ordered expecting something different, well I can't figure why anyone would do such a thing. Especially at the price?

I'm going to enjoy mine when it comes! I frankly don't care what anyone else does with theirs.

I just hope there's lots more bellyaching about getting exactly what we were told we were getting. :rolleyes:
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I like it, but even those who don’t can’t really deny it looks just like the render.
 
JW225 said:
There was one back in 2013, but it's certainly been a while. :)

LjXFMml.jpg
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waynorth said:
View attachment 2694449View attachment 2694450
This 3-Blade (top in the pics) is from 2013!! An 81 !!!!
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birdsbeaks said:
L lithicus can correct me if I'm wrong, but I took the above statement to mean that no 3-blade 81 stockmen were announced, which was the gentleman's hope, for this most recent run of 81s - not that there hadn't ever been a 3-blade 81 stockman.

That's how I read it anyway. 🤷
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Gorgeous knives, waynorth waynorth ! But yes, birdsbeaks birdsbeaks got it right 🤩

I am well aware of the 81 stockman from years prior. I'm sorry if that wasn't clear. The point of my original comment was that, for me personally, I would prefer the slightly smaller 81 stockman to the 91 stockman. But, I'm unwilling to pay secondary market prices for the previous year's runs. If I was going secondary market I'd probably get a 66 calf roper anyway. But, I couldn't find a GEC stockman on the secondary market for less than $300-$350... And, preorders on the 91 were closing. Did I try to take the gamble and bank on the announcement of a 2024 3 blade 81 stockman? Even if they were announced, what are the odds I'd get one on the drop from a dealer who isn't price gouging? 😵‍💫 Or, do I instead go for the guaranteed stress-free preorder of the slightly larger blade forums 91 stockman?

I'm not made of money. But, I put what I had on the blade forums 91 stockman. And despite my own grievances with this knife's alleged design / execution, I'm still glad I did and can't wait to see it in hand. We never did get a 2024 3 blade 81 stockman announcement to my dismay. So, that would've been a bad bet regardless 😝 Is this 91 the perfect stockman for me? No. I would prefer it much smaller (3.5-3.75 inch range), with a different shield, better jigging, and darker dye. But, it'll cut. And, I'm sure it'll walk and talk. I'll take that over no stockman any day.

If anyone has seen a trend in my pictures from the past, it's because the stockman is my all time favorite pattern. This will be my first stockman ever from GEC. I'm thankful for Spark getting this together. I'm thankful I haven't ripped all of my hair out stressing on "drops". I'm thankful for the extra money in my wallet that wouldn't be there if I obtained an older GEC stockman on the secondary market. I'm thankful I'll finally have a stockman made by one of the best manufacturers in existence today (even if I'm not a huge fan of their warranty and customer service 🫠). Am I coping? I don't know. You be the judge 🤣
 
I'm at least 91% sure that this stockman made by GEC is going to be the most epic BF forums knife ever. look at the positive signs fellas, 1- bone handles, 2- over 4 inches closed length, 3-carbon steel blades, 4-made in the usa by GEC. not sure what else I can ask for.
 
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birdsbeaks said:
Wanna have a contest, hot shot? 😂
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I appreciate your comments and stories in threads I'm perusing. If I wanted everyone, myself included, to stick to a 280 character limit, I would've signed up for twitter or X or whatever the hot shots are calling it these days 😉 I came here precisely for the stories, full length discussions, and the plethora of information about pocket knives. It actually frustrates me how many knife makers only do business on tiktok, facebook, instagram, snapchat, or whatever it is. Maybe I'm just old school 🤷‍♂️ I haven't used social media since facebook required a university email address, and I'm not starting anytime soon 😂 But, I digress... lol
 
lithicus said:
I appreciate your comments and stories in threads I'm perusing. If I wanted everyone, myself included, to stick to a 280 character limit, I would've signed up for twitter or X or whatever the hot shots are calling it these days 😉 I came here precisely for the stories, full length discussions, and the plethora of information about pocket knives. It actually frustrates me how many knife makers only do business on tiktok, facebook, instagram, snapchat, or whatever it is. Maybe I'm just old school 🤷‍♂️ I haven't used social media since facebook required a university email address 😂 But, I digress... lol
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I couldn't agree more - sometimes I feel like I'm pushing the patience of dear reader (as well as the forum's character-per-post limits...) and in such times, I tell myself "Some people didn't like Hank Williams either!" and "Pushing the boundaries is one of the noblest pursuits a person can engage in!"

In all seriousness, it's the provenance that really turns me on about knives - and I feel like this is mirrored in other disciplines dedicated to the appreciation of antiquities. An example: a finely crafted English double rifle is a beauty to behold, but - a finely crafted English double rifle with a gouge on its stock from a lion's claw, and the attendant story to tell, is another animal entirely.

I may not always, or even frequently, know who owned an old knife before I did (as in the case of "Mr. 064") - but to me, that just opens a whole nother door of possibilities - and richness.

That might make it sound like I'm not interested in new knives, but I am. In those cases, I think about the person, perhaps far off in the future, who someday might look at one of my knives and wonder who I was and what I did. I call that "immortality."
 
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