Congress pattern knife recommendations?

[ApocSurvivor713]

I'll just say it, Congress pattern knives are the sexiest traditional knives I've ever seen. You can keep your Peanuts, Sodbusters, Stockmen, Trappers, or whatever else there is. I'll stick to the Congress. Only problem is, I don't have one yet. What I do have is $80 in Amazon gift cards. Naturally, I've been doing some looking around. I can't afford GEC (some day...) and I only have that much money in Amazon cash, so it really does need to be available on Amazon. Sadly, I haven't seen a whole lot of variety of them. The couple I have seen are Boker brand, and look very nice. I was looking particularly at [this red one], from Boker's Tree Brand, I think. I'm a bit thrown off by the low price. Is it a good buy, or should I get the more expensive [Beer Barrel Congress]? Or is there a third option I should take? Thanks in advance!

-Apoc

 

[Stich2442]

I'm a congress fan, it's become one of my favorite utility knives, my preference is for the 4 different blade patterns. Boker makes a fine congress, I have 3 Boker congress knives this large stag is my favorite.

Pete

 

[Hammer67]

I tend to gravitate toward one and two blade jacks, but I agree that Congress patterns are pretty cool. And I've been impressed with just about every German-made Boker I've purchased. They're generally a darn good knife for the price. Though I tend more toward the half-Congress - I just don't have much need for 4 different blades on a knife:

 

[r8shell]

I have never been disappointed with any of the Bokers I own.
I'd recommend for your first one, get a German made 'Tree Brand', and avoid the 'Magnum' line.

As to your choices, it depends on what kind of steel you want.
The first and cheaper knife is in stainless steel, and the more expensive beer barrel congress is carbon steel.
If you like carbon, look at the Boker Carver's Congress Whittler.

 

[Modoc ED]

CV 4 1/8" Case 6488 Congress. The year of manufacture for this knife is 1972 (8-dot). Case still makes them. Very nice knives.

 

[knarfeng]

The beer barrel line of Bokers is said to be very well made. And made in Germany.

The lower priced Bokers are mostly imported from Asia.

OK to post pictures, but not links to sales pages & prices.

 

[ApocSurvivor713]

Thank you! Sorry about the prices. I'll edit them out immediately.
EDIT: Looks like it's already done!

 

[Woodrow F Call]

If you haven't, look at the 2013 Bladeforums knife. See the sticky up at the top of this sub-forum. Congress Jack!

 

[bdev]

Since you're limited to Amazon, I would go with the Boker Beer Barrel Congress. This model is made in Germany. I would stay away from the less expensive imported Bokers. They maybe OK for the price but you know you're getting quality when you buy a German Boker.
I have a Boker Congress in Grand Canyon Bone.


Image credited to Collectorknives.net

 

[fatcorgi]

for a broader context, when looking at Böker knives and wondering what makes up the price difference: Böker is one of the few Solingen cutlers to survive the 20th century competing against a larger world market. Its model is to have several different quality lines, the highest, are the knives still made in Germany, these are closest to the traditional Solingen quality, there is a mid-price range, made mostly in Spain, and then a budget price range made in Asia, still good quality, but proportionate to the lower price.

More on topic, I like the congress knives too, I've never had a german made boker, but they have a good reputation. I'm waiting for an original Bertram half-congress to show up somewhere so I can pounce on that.

 

[WIL TERRY]

YESSIRREEE....THE Congress is sort of the high prancing class act of the traditional pocketknives. Been collecting 'em for years now, along with 4-blade Stockman pocketknives. My current favorite is a HEN&ROOSTER 6-blade congress that was made by Boker. Whenever I see a 2-blade congress I always get the feeling someone is getting screwed outta two perfectly good blades. Still gotta buy one though to go into the accumulation.

 

[MarkPinTx]

Oddly, the German makers kept Congress knives in their lineup while the American makers werr dying off in the 80s-00s. Arguably Boker and Olbertz (Eye, Bulldog, Henckels) are better at the distinctly American pattern until recently.