Congress in session

fasteddie

fasteddie

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Feb 22, 2002
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Finally got around to scanning my collection of congress pattern knives. Hope you like it.

Top row, L to R, Richard Rogers, Joel Chamblin, Gene Shadley (3.25in), Case XX 60452 circa 1950(?)
Bottom Row, L to R, Reese Bose (#3, 3in), Reese Bose (#7, 3.5in), Ryuchi Kawamura (his very first 4 blade congress)
 

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My lousy scans don't do them justice. Still need a few more to finish the collection for now... Terry Davis, Tony Bose, Dan Burke. And Rick Browne and Bill Ruple, if they ever decide to make this pattern.
 
A very nice collection! I like the R. Bose knives a lot, and the grinds on the Kawamura blades look really sweet. Thanks for sharing.
 
Two observations. First, Ryu put the kicks (the part that controls the depth of the closed blade) on the backsprings, not on the blades, like all the others do.

Second, I think that if you took a group of trappers or stockman or other more common pattern from all these makers they would have a lot of similarities. With the congress pattern, every maker has a very different interpretation...even from the side as shown in my scans. And with 4 blades to arrange, every maker also has a different way for the blades to fall in the closed position. I wasn't able to stand them on end to scan that, so you'll have to take my word for it for now.
 
ED....great collection. Glad you finally took that pic.

My favorites...Bose 3.5, Shadley and Rogers. Really like the blade choices on the Shadley.

JT
 
Ed,
Thanks for putting those up for us to see. Fantastic collection of a great pattern.
 
After seeing this thread, Ryuchi Kawamura emailed me and had this to say:
"Every maker's congress shape of handle and blade are different! It is very interesting to me. Joel Chamblin & my congress blade position is European classic, other makers congress blade position is same as CASE blade position."

For those of you who don't know Ryu's work, it's fantastic. He's sure to be one of the top traditional makers in the years to come.
 
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