Hi, my second post...
I just have caught the bug of collecting knives again, and don't have much of a budget at present. I've been reading everything here about slipjoints and Bernard's forum, and I really enjoy it.
I became captivated by Cripple Creeks from McGreg's pictures and the fact they are TN made, etc. (I mean the Cargill made ones). I had imagined that this would be the perfect next buy for me until Bernard shattered the illusion:
The dullness doesn't bother me - what really burst my bubble was that the fit and finish were sloppy. i want a knife that if I look closer I can see the little things that add up to the quality over a good production knife - that the springs and liners and blades are all relatively seamless, the very nice walk and talk that are just right, etc.
I've read enough to respect Bernard's opinion, and i also realize that not all Cripple Creek's would be the same, but if I hear him say this it makes me stop and listen. I was hoping that the "handmade" or semi-production, whatever you would term Cargill's Cripple Creeks, would in fact be a knife that had superb fit and finish compared to the good production knives. I've also been watching a banana trapper on e-bay that in fact has an issue with the scale fit to the bolster, so I see what he is talking about.
The question is: do you have any other suggestions for knives that pass this test of quality from the functional aspect? I am interested only in fairly traditional slipjonts, so no Sebenzas or what have you. My benchmark for quality would be a Queen in terms of stoutness and fit, etc., since I don't think I have personally handled a better knife (and I've never handled a Cripple Creek or custom). I haven't handled the Canal Streets, but they seem in the same league. I wouldn't want to pay $ 150 - $ 200 for any knife that didn't outshine the quality of a Queen I could buy for $60 - $80 (remembering that I am talking about the little things that add up to time spent on the details, not just how well it will cut or last). I am not interested in re-selling or investing, or really anything that has interest because it is rare to a collector. I use knives a lot for light use around the office and home, etc. As for the idea to just buy a Queen, I already did, and now I am just enjoying seeing if I can find the next step up in quality in the $200 or so price range.
I have a Case stockman in my pocket right now that is a perfectly fine using knife, but I know enough to know that the snap is not that crisp, and the Case logo is not perfectly centered in the shield, the blades don't have a very good fit to the springs when opened, etc. (thought the fit of the Durlin to the bolsters is quite good and the springs and liners all fit very well). All very minor things, but the type of small differences that add up to the difference between very good quality and good quality, and wanting to pass it down to the next generation.
I wonder if a custom slipjoint from one of the newer makers (because they seem to be a little more inexpensive for the time being) like Ken Erickson or TA Davison may be more what I am after. In that regard, the question is, can you really tell and get the feel that these knives are made by hand and have that much more craftsmanship than a Queen?
An analogy in watches would be that if you buy a good Swiss maker, you really can envision passing it down 2-3 generations as a good, well-working object that can stand the test of time. I have one on my wrist right now that has been there almost every day for the last 20 years and still works and looks like the day I bought it.
P.S. I am a little hampered by the fact that I live in Holland, and can't get too often to a place where I can handle knives, so I am doing this kind of in the dark. If I could go to a knife show and handle a lot of knives, I wouldn't need to ask this probably, but it sure is fun to be able to read and study up on knives this far away from home.
I realize this is a very subjective question, but I am wondering if there are others out there like me who are looking for the same sort of thing. I would appreciate any thoughts you all wish to share on this.
I just have caught the bug of collecting knives again, and don't have much of a budget at present. I've been reading everything here about slipjoints and Bernard's forum, and I really enjoy it.
I became captivated by Cripple Creeks from McGreg's pictures and the fact they are TN made, etc. (I mean the Cargill made ones). I had imagined that this would be the perfect next buy for me until Bernard shattered the illusion:
Welcome!
Yup, Cripple Creeks are dull. Or to be precise, blunt. Bob blanked out the blades with a plasma cutter, and the rest of the production set-up was equally inappropriate.
They were not made to use, only to collect. Pretty, as long as you don't look too closely at the sloppy fit and finish. I actually carried one for a while, because I'd mislaid my reg'lar knife while I was visiting him, and he gave it to me. Luckily my reg'lar turned up.
BRL...
The dullness doesn't bother me - what really burst my bubble was that the fit and finish were sloppy. i want a knife that if I look closer I can see the little things that add up to the quality over a good production knife - that the springs and liners and blades are all relatively seamless, the very nice walk and talk that are just right, etc.
I've read enough to respect Bernard's opinion, and i also realize that not all Cripple Creek's would be the same, but if I hear him say this it makes me stop and listen. I was hoping that the "handmade" or semi-production, whatever you would term Cargill's Cripple Creeks, would in fact be a knife that had superb fit and finish compared to the good production knives. I've also been watching a banana trapper on e-bay that in fact has an issue with the scale fit to the bolster, so I see what he is talking about.
The question is: do you have any other suggestions for knives that pass this test of quality from the functional aspect? I am interested only in fairly traditional slipjonts, so no Sebenzas or what have you. My benchmark for quality would be a Queen in terms of stoutness and fit, etc., since I don't think I have personally handled a better knife (and I've never handled a Cripple Creek or custom). I haven't handled the Canal Streets, but they seem in the same league. I wouldn't want to pay $ 150 - $ 200 for any knife that didn't outshine the quality of a Queen I could buy for $60 - $80 (remembering that I am talking about the little things that add up to time spent on the details, not just how well it will cut or last). I am not interested in re-selling or investing, or really anything that has interest because it is rare to a collector. I use knives a lot for light use around the office and home, etc. As for the idea to just buy a Queen, I already did, and now I am just enjoying seeing if I can find the next step up in quality in the $200 or so price range.
I have a Case stockman in my pocket right now that is a perfectly fine using knife, but I know enough to know that the snap is not that crisp, and the Case logo is not perfectly centered in the shield, the blades don't have a very good fit to the springs when opened, etc. (thought the fit of the Durlin to the bolsters is quite good and the springs and liners all fit very well). All very minor things, but the type of small differences that add up to the difference between very good quality and good quality, and wanting to pass it down to the next generation.
I wonder if a custom slipjoint from one of the newer makers (because they seem to be a little more inexpensive for the time being) like Ken Erickson or TA Davison may be more what I am after. In that regard, the question is, can you really tell and get the feel that these knives are made by hand and have that much more craftsmanship than a Queen?
An analogy in watches would be that if you buy a good Swiss maker, you really can envision passing it down 2-3 generations as a good, well-working object that can stand the test of time. I have one on my wrist right now that has been there almost every day for the last 20 years and still works and looks like the day I bought it.
P.S. I am a little hampered by the fact that I live in Holland, and can't get too often to a place where I can handle knives, so I am doing this kind of in the dark. If I could go to a knife show and handle a lot of knives, I wouldn't need to ask this probably, but it sure is fun to be able to read and study up on knives this far away from home.
I realize this is a very subjective question, but I am wondering if there are others out there like me who are looking for the same sort of thing. I would appreciate any thoughts you all wish to share on this.
