Chasing Grails

[glennbad]

I really enjoy reading threads about members who are able to track down and acquire their grail knives. The stories behind why the knife is special to them is what intrigues me. Whether it's a knife that belonged to someone, or one that sparks a memory, the chase is half the fun.

I always loved the Kershaw 1050, always thought it was a great looking knife, and have always wanted one. I could never afford one when I was younger. Of course, now I suppose I could just search one out online and get one, but that might ruin the allure and the magic of it.







Another on of my grails is the Schrade 2OT. I recall Augie's great thread, and others on the porch that have shared their 2OT's. Heck, it even influenced and spawned Charlie's awesome Washington Jack! A somewhat rare knife from Schrade, they were not made in the numbers of other Schrade patterns, so that probably fed the legend and desirability. I have a few examples, although they are quite less that mint. I even wanted to see if I could make one. It's not really a Schrade clone, as I used a Camillus spear blade, but I still like the way it came out. Here's a few pics of my Schrades, my Washington Jack, and my 2OT clone...









I'd love if you guys and gals could share your grails, whether you found them already, or are still on the hunt. Even if you've shown them already, please feel free to share them again. If you have a story behind the knife, that would be great also.

 

[Ernie1980]

No story behind this Grail (pic borrowed from the Internet) just a benchmark of knife perfection that is out of my price range!

 

[mrknife]

the clip washington jack! very nice :thumbup:

 

[fishcakes]

Im not sure it exists, but id love a peanut in 1095 with long pull and swedge. And a wharncliffe secondary.(although a flathead screwdriver as the secondary would be pretty awesome, if a but unrealistic)

 

[KBA]

Here's the back story.

My first one: Yes, I was made fun of
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1208899-My-Grail-735109-Is-Home

My last one: I may be the only one who has all 4.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-A-Thank-You-to-Will-Power!!?highlight=735109





Since learning the Tidioute 735109 was produced on the day my wife and I started dating it had been my grail. Now that I have all 4, I cant say I really have a grail knife. There are certainly a lot that I would love to have, or have back, but Im happy to have found my grails. Thank you again to Will Power who made it happen. I still owe you one good sir!! (But I need your address...hint hint)

Then again, I always am on the look out for the 72 in Red stag serialized #10. I had a chance at it once, just didn't have the funds. Anyone want to pm/email with info on it.

 

[paulhilborn]

Glenn, just a BEAUTIFUL clone!!! I love the pursuit in acquiring a Grail. I sometimes wonder if that's more fun than acquiring? I didn't just say that did I???

The 2OT is one of my Grails...obtained a near perfect specimen and got more joy passing it along to another friend and collector...I think I posted it in Augies thread?

A loveless City Knife was a 7yr quest...with help from Tim and Dean the quest was completed...gotta love the fellow members here:thumbup:

Another was a NYKC Hammer brand that the #85 forum knife was a dead ringer for (sans the cap lifter blade). That too went to a dear friend here..

I'll go back in my imageshack and see if I can bring the pictures over to my post here

Brett, GREAT post and I've enjoyed your storied pursuit of those very special knives:thumbup:

 

[Wurrwulf]

I'm not sure quite why this is my current "grail" knife. Maybe it's because I've never seen one other than this image on GECs website. I can't even seem to nail down how many were made or if it was available in other handle materials. There have been so many variants of the 15. This one just seems to have slipped through the cracks.

 

[PNWJimbo]

I have been on a hunt for the 38 whittler for a while now... something about that 3 blade, 2 spring construction just has me in a tizzy. One day someone will Want to sell me one...

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[pmek5]

I have been on a hunt for the 38 whittler for a while now... something about that 3 blade, 2 spring construction just has me in a tizzy. One day someone will Want to sell me one...

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I'm with you on that. The 38 pattern is amazing. The Blood Red Jigged bone three blade is a definite grail.
I have an Orchard Gem which is a two blade, but just love the size & feel of this pattern.

 

[PNWJimbo]

I also own a 38 farmers jack, the Beavertail with Brazilian rosewood. Love it, but it's no whittler

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[black mamba]

I've been working on a complete collection of the GEC #53 Cuban stockmen for about 7 years now. In 2007, 2008 and 2011, they made a total of 52 different offerings: 22 Tidioutes, 23 Northfields, and 7 stainless GECs. Many of them were made in very low numbers, so there have been quite a few grails among them for me. To date, I have been fortunate enough to acquire 48 of the 52 different Cubans.

The one I wanted as badly as any other was this Tidioute branded knife in caribou stag from 2008. They only made 10 of them, and it's the only caribou stag handled pattern I've ever seen, by any maker.

 

[meako]

A GRRRRaill?
There can be only one ,Highlander!

chairright-Mostly the next one I order or win off the bay are my grails.
However. If I saw a piece of dog pooh for sale that had Schrade rope cut blue bone handles stuck on it I would probably start salivating and gibbering like a demented baboon .
Hey Glenn this is a quintessential porch thread.:thumbup::thumbup:
Brett that photo exudes enthusiasm-the look of joy on your face is infectious and made feel strangely happier.
Cheers.

 

[pmew]

Well, I'm not really a fan of the term 'Grail knife' but nonetheless I'll play too

For anyone who knows me; 25s are my thing. But there isn't a single 25 that I want more than all others, it's the slow collecting that I really enjoy. Although, I have as yet never been able to get my most on an elusive drop point. I find forgotten gems on the exchange or during the course of pm's and email conversations with fellow forumites I get offered the wee jewels in trade deals or sale offers. I have been gathering over time, this method itself is part of the enjoyment and if someone simply handed me the whole GEC 25 back catalogue, well I wouldn't turn it down obviously but it would take away from the process which is the fun part for me.

As for a single pattern that I've not yet been able to afford to obtain or had the opportunity and would really like to;

image borrowed from Rick

image borrowed from Primble

I think this old revived by Bose pattern quite beautiful. The Case Bose Norfolk. And in particular either of the jigged bone versions which are breathtaking. Slightly odd, unconventional, unsymmetrical, and unusual. Perfect.




- Paul

 

[Augie]

Glenn, great idea for a thread and great job on your 2OT clone.

The Schrade 2OT was one of my grail knives and took me quite awhile to find, it was worth the hunt.

Any vintage jack knife or Barlow in high condition, 50 years old or older are also high on my grail list, this Case Tested and Case XX are examples, the XX is fairly common in unused condition, the Tested very hard to find.

I would love to find a 100 year old Jack in mint condition with blade etch, they are out there and I have seen some beautiful examples from other members here on the porch, I've come close, a Challenge and a New York Knife Co but both have some issues, still wonderful examples of vintage Jacks.

 

[Stropping Young Lad]

I've got a few...

A GEC 57 Whittler was just fulfilled by my wife. Now I feel like I'm catching a splitback fever...

I missed out on a Northfield 2 blade trapper in burnt stag with double nail nicks about a year ago. I haven't forgiven myself yet.

A 76 Outlaw Jack in primative bone is up there for me, too.

 

[philllll]

I'm not sure quite why this is my current "grail" knife. Maybe it's because I've never seen one other than this image on GECs website. I can't even seem to nail down how many were made or if it was available in other handle materials. There have been so many variants of the 15. This one just seems to have slipped through the cracks.

It was a short run for collectorknives. I forget exactly how many were made but I think it was less than 10. Micarta was the only cover option.

 

[philllll]

The best grails IMO are the ones you didn't know were grails until they fall into your lap.

Like this Shapleigh

 

[JK Knives]

Mine was a black micarta handle Buck 112. About two years ago my wife and I were in an antique mall in Crown Point Indiana, and she spotted what we thought was a dark wood handle square bolster 112 in a case, which I knew was an old one, for $18, so she bought it for me. Got it outside in good light and realized it was black micarta. Best deal I've ever found.

 

[neal70]

Just wanted to post for Glenbad, I've seen an olde set of those kershaws, the fixed and folding together in a single sheath. It was marked kershaw on the sheath but someone could have made it post facto, IDK. It was when a large sporting goods retailer came in and bought out most of the locally owned gun shops and their stock. Waaay outta my price range then and now, but it was a looker. I guess I have a few "grails" by Dozier, but folders are wide open, just because money's always tight for us, and my wife thinks I had enough 10 knives ago. Ha! As if , he says, looking around quickly.
Thanks Neal

 

[glennbad]

Great replies so far, thanks!


I guess most every knife I get is like a grail for me. Let me explain...Many years ago, when I was a stupid teenager, I owned a large handful of folders and fixed blades. Some really decent examples, although I can't remember them all, I think there was a really nice Russell Canadian belt knife and a Remington scout knife of some type. Some were from my dad, some I had just come upon on my own. I kept them in a paper bag in my room. Like many teenagers, my room was a mess. This one time, my mother was pestering me to clean my room, so being a typical teenager, I blew up and rooted out my room. You guessed it, somewhere along the way, I threw out all my knives. I think since that time, I have been relentlessly chasing knives in an effort to make up for stupidly throwing those ones away back then. It seems like no matter how many I have, it's just never enough. Honestly, I could EDC a different knife every day for a year and never carry the same knife.

Maybe I have a problem...