The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
It's indeed a siegle. His stamp is on the other side. Looks to be about ¼" and I'm assuming 5160. It's an older one, maybe that's why it looks a little different. Out of curiosity I checked my email and turns out I've owned it for just over 10 years now. Been more than pleased with it.
Crag the Brewer
, Here’s a “just right Bolo”. Out of all the choppers I’ve had - this one is the best ( for me anyway ).
Thats a buck 124, not a 120 “the general”Rick, sorry for the delay.
In my humble opinion, the 120 doesn't compare to the 107, and vice versa. The blade stock on the 120 comes-in just under 3/16ths of an inch. The 107 is true to its 1/4-inch specs. The 120 has Buck's quintessential hollow grind, while the 107 has a deep saber grind. Both feel blocky in the hand: the 120 because of crazy-thick scales and a damn-near complete lack of any kinda' handle contouring, and the 107 because of a bit of a wonky handle design. In terms of weight, the 107 feels heftier in the hand, but not by as much as someone might presume. I think both knives will easily handle just about any reasonable "camp" task you throw at 'em. The Buck will come out on top with some, while the 107 will dominate others.
As far as what you're "missing"? I really can't answer that. I actually hate recommending anything to anyone: restaurants, vehicles, guns, knives, etc. We're all so very different that it would be inevitable that many folks would not like something that I truly love. It's interesting, however, that you mentioned the TBT-1. There were many factors (*another story for another time) that led to me acquiring my first 107, but one of them was that I wanted the reliability and durability of my TBT-1, just in a more "conventional" design.
I know that I'm longwinded, but wanted to mention a couple other things...
-I wear medium sized gloves, and my fingers are absolutely built in my image: short, fat, and pear-shaped. Over the years, I've been able to adapt to the handle on the 107 and actually quite like it, now. However, no matter how much I use it, I just can't seem to get used to the handle on the 120. I keep thinking that I may have one of the Makers here give it a little contouring, and probably will at some point.
-Whatever the grind angle is on the 107, it has some kind of "black magic"/"Jedi Knight" mojo when it comes to batoning. I own a sh!+load of knives and have never found another that batons like the Steel Eagles. Like 'em or hate 'em, many of the YouTube knife guys have felt compelled to mention the same thing, from Aaron at "Gideon's Tactical", to the "DBK" guys, to Christian at "Preparedmind101". I think C.J. Buck tried to harness some of that magic with the 108 "Compadre" Froe. And, while he got really close, he still didn't hit the mark.
-I've spent years purchasing blades that looked very similar "on paper" to the 107. (*physical specs) Every. Single. One. of them has handled and performed differently, not only in comparison to the 107 but also in comparison to one-another. For me, I guess the Steel Eagles just have some kinda' spell over me.
Anyhow, my apologies for the long post. Happy hunting.
The 120 "Frontiersman" and 107E "Steel Eagle"...
All similar, all different...
That ML would look good with a Dalibor hatchet too. How have you used the ML knife and have you enjoyed it? Appreciate your thoughts.
I don’t mind the blocky handle on the 124, better to be too big than too small. You can always remove material. The older 124’s are more svelte. I thought I would have a preference but I like them all.
Oh definitely, my left hand gets pretty chewed up by flakes. Have to dig shards out pretty frequently too. I should probably wear a glove or something, but it cuts down on my ability to feel what I'm doing.
It sure does. My edged tool hobbies make me worry about what would happen if my kitchen were ever sprayed with luminol.
.......but its thin and your keep your dexterity and feeling....
I'll have to look into it. Big knap in coming up at the Letchworth stone tool show. I even took a day off from both jobs for that. Not needing to plug a leak might just be the advantage I need in the speed knapping competition.They .make cut resistant tape your can use that works well.......Forget the name though
Thanks. I didn't finish last this past year, so I was happy. Especially given that I was up against some of the best in the area and a German fella by the name of Marquardt Lund, another big name in the experimental archeology field. He was there as a guest speaker, and is a phenomenal knapper.
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I bought it based on the pictures, and thought it was strange that the card was wrong...