Congress pattern. Purpose w 4 blades?

[baxtrom]

Hi fellow blade enthusiasts,
Having recently purchased my first traditional American patterns (a Stockman and a trapper as per suggestions here), I am now looking at the Congress pattern which was also mentioned. What is the general consensus re this pattern (if any), and what would typically have been the motivation for having 4 blades? I imagine I could for example use my Lansky system to keep different angles of repeating blades, having general purpose and razor versions of the same blade
Thanx
Baxtrom

 

[ISKRA]

From what I remember (might not be 100 % right), it was popular with people who worked hard because if you broke one blade you still had 3 and if you broke another you still had 2 etc. You got a lot of bang for your buck. One has to remember that a lot of people didnt take particulary good care of their knives. To them they were just any old tool that was ridden hard and put away wet. Another confirmation to this logic might be the blades of the congress. Now forget Böker's carpenter congress and similar for a moment. The most common congress knife has two big sheepsfoot blades and two pen blades or something like that – there's a repetitive element to it. It's like having two knives in one. If you dull one or two blades you still can keep on working with the remaining ones. Same for if you break them.

 

[waynorth]

Created for the American market, they were often called "Tobacco knives" at one time. Bernie Levine has an interesting writeup on them in his book!!

 

[afishhunter]

Suggestion: Don't get an expensive example for your first one.
Get a Rough Ryder, or better yet price wise, an Imperial.
Reason: The reverse curveature compared to other patterns may feel weird to uncomfortable when you're using it.

That way you're not out a lot of green, if like me, you decide "Ummm ... Nope. This ain't for me."
You can always upgrade to a better knife, if you like the pattern.

I heard they got the name "Congress" because bored members of the House and Senate were allegedly using them to carve or whittle on the wooden arms of their chairs while listening to one of their co-horts give a long winded say nothing 5 hour or longer speach.

 

[baxtrom]

Suggestion: Don't get an expensive example for your first one.
Get a Rough Ryder, or better yet price wise, an Imperial.
Reason: The reverse curveature compared to other patterns may feel weird to uncomfortable when you're using it.

That way you're not out a lot of green, if like me, you decide "Ummm ... Nope. This ain't for me."
You can always upgrade to a better knife, if you like the pattern.

I heard they got the name "Congress" because bored members of the House and Senate were allegedly using them to carve or whittle on the wooden arms of their chairs while listening to one of their co-horts give a long winded say nothing 5 hour or longer speach.

That’s the plan, I’m looking at buying a few more RRs because I had a good first impression of my first two.

 

[baxtrom]

Suggestion: Don't get an expensive example for your first one.
Get a Rough Ryder, or better yet price wise, an Imperial.
Reason: The reverse curveature compared to other patterns may feel weird to uncomfortable when you're using it.

That way you're not out a lot of green, if like me, you decide "Ummm ... Nope. This ain't for me."
You can always upgrade to a better knife, if you like the pattern.

I heard they got the name "Congress" because bored members of the House and Senate were allegedly using them to carve or whittle on the wooden arms of their chairs while listening to one of their co-horts give a long winded say nothing 5 hour or longer speach.

So, ordered the RR Tobacco Road congress. Spear point, sheepsfoot and two pen blades. Ample scribbling power for boring future townhall meetings at work...

 

[eisman]

The Congress is an old pattern, traditionally from the South. Still, Abe Lincoln carried one...

My preference with the 4 blade ones is for all 4 blades to be different, which is a less common thing. I have a Camillus I treasure for just this reason, although I usually carry a 2 blade version.

The straight blades are ideal for cutting plug tobacco, the pen for mending quills and other fine work.