Chasing Grails

[glocktenman]

I'd love to find a Great Eastern Cutlery "Purple Haze acrylic." The pattern is #252208. In 2008 only three made!

 

[meako]

among the many grails..

 

[PNWJimbo]

Wow glockten... that purple and gold with the 4 brass pins. Beautiful

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[Bigfattyt]

It is tough for me to list grails.

There are custom knives I love, that I will never own. Production knives that I love, that I will likely never own.

I had a J. Oeser XL Gunstock that I loved. I sold it in a moment of weakness (concern for finances, closing on a house, right before Christmas, with a hard deadline, and no spare cash). I was concerned that we would not have enough money to get presents for the boys, and that if some unexpected expense with the house came up, I would be in a tight spot), so I sold that knife, knowing it would sell immediately.

I'd like to get another Oeser.

Honestly, production GEC that I carry give me just as much enjoyment (part of that is not being concerned as much wirh the financial cost of loosing one, or heaven forbid, dropping it on the asphalt.....something I do way too frequently with my knives!). Finding an old, decent shape (tight, no gaps, no cracks) in ebony, or nice old bone would make my day. Something like a big old coke bottle, or a swell center jack, or such.

I wish that I could go back in time and re-do my original jump into traditionals. I bought a handful of GEC, but had no experience, as to what I would like. So I included a Queen/Pardue gunboat, and a Queen/Burke Grandad Barlow and a S&M grandad barlow. I would go back and add a Whaler and and maybe a 53 stockman or one of the other bigger patterns.

I have 23's, 73, 36 and TC and a Northfield 25. The 98 camp knife right now is a grail. I spend the money I planned on using for that on a snap decision, custom (cheap custom pair), that were not well described, and looked like a some one was drunk when grinding them. I'll regret not getting one of those.

My real issue is that toy money is very limited. I have not purchased a gun in 11 years, and usually only really buy new knives when I sell one. So for me, right now, grails are in the less expensive production category.

I wish I knew more about old traditional knives, and lived in a place where I could handle them, and pick out a few winners for reasonable money.

 

[Txjohn]

Scagel fruitport clip smooth ivory bone

 

[BigBiscuit]

I'm with Bigfattyt. I'll probably never own one, but a Case/Bose Norfolk would be right up high on the list. An Amber sawcut clip TC too, but I have come to the realization it's never going to happen.

 

[StoneBeard]

I've been really fortunate to pick up a few harder to find knives I was after from the generous members here on the porch. The one that seems to have remained elusive for over a year is the diamond radio Jack/ radio knife. All that being said I had never thought about it until reading through this thread but I guess that would make it a Grail.

 

[Relee1]

I'd love to find a Great Eastern Cutlery "Purple Haze acrylic." The pattern is #252208. In 2008 only three made!

View attachment 659652

That would be a grail for me too Glocktenman. Always wanted a Purple Haze. Another #25 that would be a grail for me is the elusive drop point bladed one. Probably never get one.

 

[KBA]

There is grail, something that I consider obtainable, and then there is HOLY GRAIL, just never going happen. These 3 may be my all time Holy Grail knives. Congrats to the owners. Beautiful knives guys. :thumbup::thumbup:

Baby Cattle Knife - 3 3/8" - Ken Erickson

Stag LC from Brent Cramer

Feelin those scissors! Can you make them lefty?

Am happy to share some overdue pics of this fine 3.5" lockback whittler. The lock is off the chart with precision.

Comes alive in bright light.

My fourth is a custom I will eventually start saving back up for. A version of my recent post in the Let's Talk GEC thread. So it is not yet unobtainable.

 

[Old Engineer]

Right now a Grail Knife for me would be : Taylors Eye Witness Barlow in Stag



Harry

 

[JR88FAN]

I am sure the seller enjoyed the bidding war, and I probably went too far, but this Ancient TC Barlow with scratted bone covers is my traditional grail.

This thread needs to be shut down and everyone participating, banned!

You guys are creating Grails for some of us!!

I am absolutely a huge fan of that TC sir!

 

[navihawk]

Anything old is grail for me. I can't imagine finding a Scagel. That would be the ultimate, and I'm sure there's many that would agree. Finding an old original Swiss Army knife or one of those commemorative ones would be cool.

 

[joeradza]

There is an underlying question to finding a grail, and that is: "at what price?"

Alan

 

[Frailer]

As a career soldier who has had a Swiss Army Knife in his pocket for most of his adult life, a birth year Victorinox Soldier has been on my wish list for a long time. While 1963 Soldiers aren't particularly easy to come by--and they tend to be quite expensive when they do pop up--I was very fortunate to find a Swiss collector who was willing to part with a spare for a reasonable price. According to the USPS it should be in my hands tomorrow:

 

[glennbad]

Some really interesting grails being shared. Seems to be a lot of GEC choices and customs are popular.

Nice stuff!

 

[mrknife]

It is tough to say. Like the watch forums I am part of, folks may have a rolex or a reverso or even a patek as their grail time piece. But the questions eventually boil down to, if you get it, what happens next? do you automatically stop buying or collecting? Some folks tend to respond, well that is the watch I want most at the moment if money and responsibilities were not an issue. Extrapolated to the knife world, I dont think there is any one knife Id buy and be content enough to stop buying for a while. There are knives I spent so much time hunting after, one in particular 2014 blade forums jack, some may even remember the frustration and disappoint I demonstrated by missing it on the for sale section by mere seconds! I suppose being on here everyday and taking part in discussion as well as joining other knife groups, I am inspired to seek new grails. Atm, it may be a one blade 54 inspired by a post I saw somewhere, but we will see after how this moose gets here. 2 54 big jacks have definitely been book marked so Glenn get ready for some mail in the near future. Some day when production knives no longer do it for me, I may make the leap to full custom instead of customized/modded.

 

[1 ADAM12]

As a career soldier who has had a Swiss Army Knife in his pocket for most of his adult life, a birth year Victorinox Soldier has been on my wish list for a long time. While 1963 Soldiers aren't particularly easy to come by--and they tend to be quite expensive when they do pop up--I was very fortunate to find a Swiss collector who was willing to part with a spare for a reasonable price. According to the USPS it should be in my hands tomorrow:

Congradulations, and thanks for your service..!

 

[Bigfattyt]

I'm with Bigfattyt. I'll probably never own one, but a Case/Bose Norfolk would be right up high on the list. An Amber sawcut clip TC too, but I have come to the realization it's never going to happen.

I have a spey Days Work Sawcut Brown I could send you. It isnt a clip point, or spear for that matter!

 

[Bigfattyt]

There is grail, something that I consider obtainable, and then there is HOLY GRAIL, just never going happen. These 3 may be my all time Holy Grail knives. Congrats to the owners. Beautiful knives guys. :thumbup::thumbup:










My fourth is a custom I will eventually start saving back up for. A version of my recent post in the Let's Talk GEC thread. So it is not yet unobtainable.

Both of the Ericksons would tickle me pink! The lock back whittler with tortoise scales and the ebony stockman are both stunning.

Perfect covers for each patternew.


The tortoise pops in the light. I'd bet, he put gold foil behind them.

 

[KBA]

I will say though that finding and obtaining a grail is an amazing feeling after a long hunt. Afterwards, you get to relax and enjoy the history and culture of the hobby in a different focus.

Another I would like to have.

Sami Lansipaltta





Oddly, I keep getting blocked from posting and could not submit my full post.