First Quality Traditional

dgebler

dgebler

Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
265
So, I have been collecting knives for a few years now and my interest is shifting towards traditionals but I don't have alot of knowledge in this area. I am looking to pickup my first high quality traditional and I have the following criteria:
1. I really like the sheepsfoot main blade, specifically something with a long pull if possible.
2. It must be a slipjoint, not locking.
3. I would like something in a carbon steel
4. I prefer natural handle materials (really craving mammoth, but stag or bone or even a nice looking wood would work)

I am looking for recommendations and/or some comments on relative quality of Northwoods vs GEC vs Queen city.
My frontrunners are now: Northwoods English Jack, Italian Jigged Bone
Queen City cutlery 2 blade congress, jigged bone
GEC #53 tidoute 4 blade castro, ebony.
GEC Courthouse whittler, snakewood or primative bone.

Comments, advice, opinions???
 
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GEC and Northwoods are top quality. You can't go wrong with either.

There are a few courthouse whittlers for sale on the forum right now, FYI.
 
Yea...I saw those courthouse whittlers and added this to my list...looks pretty enticing.
 
This looks pretty sweet too, not sure I like the wharn quite as much as the sheep/lambsfoot but pretty nice looking overall package here...
Great Eastern Cutlery Viper Wharncliffe Jack Tidioute Stag Bone
 
Here's a thread for your further reading :)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/946075-Sheepsfoots-and-wharncliffes!-Oh-my!

Further thoughts...
On the #53 Cuban Castro, you'll really have to like wharncliffe and sheepsfoot blades as you get 2 of each. I'd rather buy (and did) a #53 Furtaker Trapper or Muskrat if you want a full length sheepscliffe (it really is in between the two), a regular #53 Cuban Stockman (I find the one sheepsfoot blade enough and use the 3 muskrat clip a lot on mine) or even a Tuna Valley 4 blade Stockman which is a cross of the Furtaker and Stockman but only in 440C.

The Courthouse Whittler I had was high quality and a very nice knife but I never carried it so I let it go.

I don't have one but have you looked at the #92 Talon? If I were to recommend one knife now, I'd say take a look at the #48 Improved Trapper with full length clip and wharncliffe blades.

Have you looked at the Northwoods Norfolk? I don't have one but it looks like a nice smaller sized pen knife with a wharncliffe main. I heard they had relatively weak pulls though (for a GEC made knife)
 
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So, I went another direction and decided to go for the GEC #15 Radio Jack (or what is now called the crown lifter) for my first high quality traditional. (Nothwithstanding my opinel #9 carbon which I have on me today.)
Any of you guys have experinece with this model...Did I make a good choice? I think my next purchase will be the #47 Viper for the wharncliffe blade I've been craving...unless that is I score a wicket TC sheepsfoot!
 
Jack Black said:
It's a lovely knife, but not sure why it was listed as a Lambsfoot, when it's a Sheepsfoot :confused:
Click to expand...

I thought that a bit odd too! I somehow thought there was another blade style on a 15 that had slipped through the cracks!
 
Now that you have something functional to carry let's see about your Grail Knife, here are your criteria;

1. I really like the sheepsfoot main blade, specifically something with a long pull if possible. - CHECK
2. It must be a slipjoint, not locking. - CHECK
3. I would like something in a carbon steel - CHECK
4. I prefer natural handle materials (really craving mammoth, but stag or bone or even a nice looking wood would work) - CHECK

Look around for the GEC #15 Boys Knife "Scout" or a GEC/SFO #15 Real Sheepsfoot "Charlow". The fun is in the quest! OH

Tidioute_15_EO_Boys_Knife.JPG


IMG_13681.JPG
 
Those are beauties...and i concur i "need" a 15 (preferably a tc) with that awesome sheepsfoot! The quest is on...
 
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