Custom Knife Order, Which Would You Choose?

justsomedude

justsomedude

Gold Member
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May 23, 2011
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Hi Y'all,

I'm working on an order with Ryuichi Kawamura and am having a heck of a time deciding which pattern I want. I will get both eventually but since it will probably be a few more years before I can afford another I need to make the right choice now.

I am choosing between a Jess Horn Tribute pattern and a Cattle Knife, below are images. I'd like to know which of the two you would choose and why. I'm not asking you to choose for me, I'm just curious as to what you folks would like and why.

cattleknife_stag_009.jpg


jh_sf_stag_011.jpg


Thanks!
 
I like the cattle knife . I think stag suits that pattern better than the Horn. Horn still really nice though
 
They're very different patterns and I think it's a matter of personal preference. Although I appreciate Jess Horn's work and Ryu's knife is a beautiful tribute, the cattle knife would be the one that I'd pick. I like having the multiple blade types, especially a sheepfoot and either a clip or spear. And that cattle knife has all three. And I admire the skill that goes into a custom multi-blade knife. A lot of folks that are more familiar with modern folders prefer single blade traditional knives. Ryu does beautiful work and I think you'll be happy with whatever pattern you choose.
 
I've recently picked up two Ryu's a Bullet and a premium trapper. You cant go wrong with any Ryu. That being said, i'd go Cattle knife. I'm a huge fan of the look of that one. Plus three blades is a sweet deal.
 
Jess Horn, he was a great maker and designer. Why not the cattle? Don't need no more than 1 blade, and if it locks, that makes the knife more useful to me.
 
This thread has me shaking my head. It reminds me of the 1911forum, where prospective Wilson owners ask for input on how to spec their $3k+ pistols. I would've assumed you developed very definite ideas about what you want in a knife long before you even think of commissioning a custom.

:confused:
 
kamagong said:
This thread has me shaking my head. It reminds me of the 1911forum, where prospective Wilson owners ask for input on how to spec their $3k+ pistols. I would've assumed you developed very definite ideas about what you want in a knife long before you even think of commissioning a custom.

:confused:
Click to expand...

Perhaps you misunderstood his post.

justsomedude said:
Hi Y'all,

I'm working on an order with Ryuichi Kawamura and am having a heck of a time deciding which pattern I want. I will get both eventually but since it will probably be a few more years before I can afford another I need to make the right choice now.

I am choosing between a Jess Horn Tribute pattern and a Cattle Knife, below are images. I'd like to know which of the two you would choose and why. I'm not asking you to choose for me, I'm just curious as to what you folks would like and why.

(Images Removed)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Although I respect Jess Horn and his accomplishments very much, I just personally do not care for the lockback mechanism on his knives that I have handled. So this would not be a difficult call for me - I would go for the cattle knife.
 
I've got quite a few single blades, I'm itching for a Case Bose cattle knife right now, so I'd go with the cattle knife.
 
The Virginian said:
Although I respect Jess Horn and his accomplishments very much, I just personally do not care for the lockback mechanism on his knives that I have handled. So this would not be a difficult call for me - I would go for the cattle knife.
Click to expand...

Could you elaborate on this, you've piqued my curiosity?

I do feel a bit silly not being able to make up my mind, but it's not that I don't know exactly what I want in a knife. I know exactly what I want and it's a long list! There isn't one perfect knife for me but several so I have to choose which one I want now.

I already decided to have him make me a Cattle Knife, mainly because I also have an order in elsewhere for a single blade locking knife
 
justsomedude said:
Could you elaborate on this, you've piqued my curiosity?

I do feel a bit silly not being able to make up my mind, but it's not that I don't know exactly what I want in a knife. I know exactly what I want and it's a long list! There isn't one perfect knife for me but several so I have to choose which one I want now.

I already decided to have him make me a Cattle Knife, mainly because I also have an order in elsewhere for a single blade locking knife
Click to expand...

1) I find the bar spring release mechanism to be generally uncomfortable to use.

2) I do not like the location of the bar spring release mechanism at the back of the knife as in most of the Jess Horn knives I have seen, and the Tribute in your picture.

3) I do not like the complete cutout of the scales around the bar spring release mechanism. To me, that is a crude "solution." I would prefer something like the picture below (although I still do not like where the release is located).

orig.jpg



Nothing at all "wrong" with Jess Horn knives by any means. These things are all about my own peculiarities, not the knives themselves. I guess that I am not a real big fan of lockbacks in general, and these are just not for me.
 
I prefer the cattle knife, a very fine example. I just don't like the single blade design .

Mike
 
Last edited:
kamagong said:
This thread has me shaking my head. It reminds me of the 1911forum, where prospective Wilson owners ask for input on how to spec their $3k+ pistols. I would've assumed you developed very definite ideas about what you want in a knife long before you even think of commissioning a custom.

:confused:
Click to expand...

I have a J. Oeser xl gunstock. It was made to my order. It was almost a two blade Grandad Barlow. It came down to the wire, and he had already drawn up the grandad Barlow pattern.

Guess what, I kind of regret not going with the grandad Barlow.


My first sons name came down to the wire. The nurses told us they needed to put something on the birth certificate soon!


Decision making is hard!



Here, I would go for the cattle knife. No contest.


I simply love cattle knife patterns!
 
Don't tell me you're referring to that piece with the big-bellied spear main and wharny secondary, with ivory micarta and burlap micarta bolsters that always seems to be teasing me? That thing is awesome!
 
I would go with the Jess Horn....I like the 3 blades ...covers every type of option.Ahhhh,one thing you forgot to mention,is your choice going to be for edc??
IF,you are just going to put it in your collection & not carry & use...then I would go for the cattle knife.
Jim
 
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