Forum Knife Updates and comments

[Barman1]

I think it's an optical illusion you're seeing Gary because the bolsters are not polished to the extent to hide the pivot pin. As a result, the pivot pin kind of jumps out at you as it's not hidden and surrounded by the larger bolster surface.

That's my take anyway.

Most likely a stainless pin.
Being harder than the nickel silver they are proud of the bolsters after polishing.

 

[jc57]

Pix please, John!!??

I suck at photography. No fancy light box or backgrounds like you kids have, and nothing but my cell phone ... I'll see what I can do.

 

[Half/Stop]

Mine is still showing the pre-shipment notice. What did we say the prize was for being the last one to receive our knives?

 

[jmh33]

Mine is still showing the pre-shipment notice. What did we say the prize was for being the last one to receive our knives?

What does the Poll results say!!!
John

 

[Henry Beige]

Mine was originally slated to arrive Thursday, but was delayed, I assume because the PO was closed Wednesday for GHW Bush funeral. It was in today’s mail, and I like it. The idea of darkening the elk has some appeal. I’ll carry it for a while before deciding.

 

[jc57]

Edited to remove old image attachment

 

[d.r.h.]

Arrived today .... so excited, took pics even before I had a chance to clean up some of the polishing compound!

 

[Bugdoc]

It's arrived!

It's wondrous!!

Thanks Steve!!!

 

[UnderDawgAl]

I want to see pics after one of y'all darkens the elk antler handles.

 

[Vaporstang]

I want to see pics after one of y'all darkens the elk antler handles.

Ramrodmb darkened one.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/forum-knife-updates-and-comments.1597329/page-78#post-18608415
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/forum-knife-updates-and-comments.1597329/page-79#post-18608563​

 

[Ramrodmb]

I want to see pics after one of y'all darkens the elk antler handles.

 

[gunstockjack]

Love what you did there Mark! Still waiting on my two...….

 

[bflying]

Wahoo, the post office is really burning through the workload. Like others, my notice for next week was delivered today. Before we opened the box, I told my son that he would have first choice. Both look pretty great on the surface, though one of the two is specifically amazing.

Box one (my son's choice), is a wonderful example of.....Dark and Knobby. Excellent f&f, smooth pulls (4 on clip, 5 on sheep), both blades sharp, etc. Could not ask for more. So as far as first glimpses go, would call this specimen spectacular.

Box two, ok color contrast but relatively flat (not Knobby). Pull strength 5 on sheep, but maybe only 3 on clip. Not real sharp (easy fix), and f&f is....meh. No major gaps, but both springs are sunk when closed. Probably would call this one a bit above average. I'm looking forward to following those who have (or will) darken the scales, and hopefully share a quick tutorial.

But, having said that.... I'm relatively pleased with the overall outcome. We are obviously a picky bunch (ok, maybe it's just me), but I would venture to guess that most enthusiast groups are similar. Our 2018 Forum knives will be enjoyed. Most likely my sons will be a shelf display with minimal useage (he's still in school). Mine will be carried on and off, while being a reminder of my friendships and time enjoyed in the forum, and on the Porch.

Thank you to all involved in this year's "EXPERIENCE". I've participated in the last four Traditional knives, and must say, this year's was the most enjoyable yet. Kudos everyone....SKBlades (& crew), Buck, and others unknown. Thanks again.

Now, should the 2019 process begin soon, or early next year? (In my mind there's a crazy little voice screaming.... "We need a poll, we need a poll".

 

[bflying]

Looking fabulous! Possible quick tutorial (video, YouTube)?

 

[btb01]

Boy, I don’t check this thread for a few days and all the sudden there are knives!

Tracking number says mine should be here Monday!

Please dont anger the mail god.
I just read in the local rag that aust post has sacked their contractor who delivers parcels in this vicinity...replacing them with a new one who is not up to it ....thousands of backlog parcels wait in wollongong warehouse ....2 weeks before xmas!!! Some may never be delivered. This has happened once before where the guy was helping himself to the goodies....in the style of Nooman!
Im hoping now that my parcel collection setup bypasses the involvement of these cretins. Touchwood.

Just drive your bus on over there and load it up with packages. Meako Claus to the rescue!

I got mine in today. It’s dark out now, so I’ll take pictures in the morning.

The good:

1. Scales are nice and thin, and evenly matched.
2. Great transitions from scale to booster.
3. Love the slanted bolsters.
4. Stamps and etches are all well done.
5. It’s so nice to have a traditional with CPM-154 blades.
6. Love the shapes of both blades.
7. I really like the size and weight of the knife.
8. The pull on the sheepsfoot is about a 4, but very crisp. I like it.

The bad:

1. I got unlucky on the covers. Mine are very light, with little contrast. I may try to improve the contrast with potassium permanganate.
2. The multiple gaps between the springs and liners are quite bad. Worse than even my worst Case or Queen.
3. The thickness behind the edge of both blades runs from about .038” to .040”. That instantly makes the knife a safe queen in my opinion.
4. The pull on the clip blade is about a 3, and not very crisp. Not terrible, but in no way impressive.
5. The long pulls are very wide and rounded looking. They are perfectly functional, but not aesthetically pleasing from a traditional perspective. Very modern looking, like the Lionsteel Roundhead pulls. But they look out of place on this particular folder.

All in all, I’m not blown away. Natural covers are luck of the draw, so no biggie there. The spring gaps are more cosmetic than anything, so I’ll grudgingly forgive. We all knew that the pulls on the Buck blades were a concern, and they’re about what we expected. Weak but not dangerously so. But the thickness behind the edges is an unacceptable mistake. Overall, the aesthetics are not good enough to make it a nice safe queen, and the thickness of the grind makes it even less valuable as a user.

Sorry, but I’m just not feeling this one.

Buzz, I appreciate your honest evaluation. Thanks for sharing.

Well done for bringing this one in @skblades , you've accomplished a mammoth task

Dear Complaints Department,
I thought it was supposed to be Elk .I will accept Mammoth but please don't let this happen again.
Yours sincerely
Etc.

Jack, I was going to make an elk/mammoth joke, but I see Meako beat me to it.

So have more than half of the Porchenbergers received their knives? It's almost time to start a new poll to decide when to start a poll about what next years knife should be.

Yes!!! More polls!!!

I feel like I hit the Elk jackpot! Full disclosure- I did do some work to it.
Even without the beautiful Elk scales, my 2018 forum knife is a great knife. No gaps to speak of, blades are centered, after a little oil and working the sheepfoot a few dozen times, both blades have a pleasing walk and talk and good snap. I'd call it a 5. Stronger pull than my other Buck knives, which is fantastic!! The flat grinds are very even and mine come in around .025 BTE on both. Long pulls are crisp and even and give good purchase. Mine is not the sharpest... but I can fix that.
All in all, I think @skblades did a fantastic job of sorting out our wants and desires and conveying them to Buck. Buck did a stellar job of nailing almost all of them.
A sincere thank you to @skblades, @hengem and Buck knives, as well as the anonymous donor of the 'porch' insert.
Homerun!

Now that’s a beauty Mark!

No posting or delivery notice yet, just the "pre-delivery message" a while back.
I might capture the "Last Man" prize!!

Charlie, those Idahoans might’ve caught wind of the sorts of characters you’ve been fraternizing with over in Titusville. I hope your package doesn’t accidentally “fall behind the desk”!

 

[colubrid]

Received my 2 today. One has a loose clip (side to side play) and the other knifes main clip is shorter than the other.

Not happy.

 

[PirateSeulb]

I got mine today and carried it around all day definitely a well made knife and overall a good looking knife. I do feel that mine came a little dull even for factory sharp but workable edge for now. I am not sure if this knife is for me though but going to give it some time before I make the final judgment. I would have preferred smoother elk or a different material all together plus I am not much for the size of the stockman in general.

 

[mitch4ging]

Wahoo, the post office is really burning through the workload. Like others, my notice for next week was delivered today. Before we opened the box, I told my son that he would have first choice. Both look pretty great on the surface, though one of the two is specifically amazing.

Box one (my son's choice), is a wonderful example of.....Dark and Knobby. Excellent f&f, smooth pulls (4 on clip, 5 on sheep), both blades sharp, etc. Could not ask for more. So as far as first glimpses go, would call this specimen spectacular.

Box two, ok color contrast but relatively flat (not Knobby). Pull strength 5 on sheep, but maybe only 3 on clip. Not real sharp (easy fix), and f&f is....meh. No major gaps, but both springs are sunk when closed. Probably would call this one a bit above average. I'm looking forward to following those who have (or will) darken the scales, and hopefully share a quick tutorial.

But, having said that.... I'm relatively pleased with the overall outcome. We are obviously a picky bunch (ok, maybe it's just me), but I would venture to guess that most enthusiast groups are similar. Our 2018 Forum knives will be enjoyed. Most likely my sons will be a shelf display with minimal useage (he's still in school). Mine will be carried on and off, while being a reminder of my friendships and time enjoyed in the forum, and on the Porch.

Thank you to all involved in this year's "EXPERIENCE". I've participated in the last four Traditional knives, and must say, this year's was the most enjoyable yet. Kudos everyone....SKBlades (& crew), Buck, and others unknown. Thanks again.

Now, should the 2019 process begin soon, or early next year? (In my mind there's a crazy little voice screaming.... "We need a poll, we need a poll".

Nice, but.....who gets the slip?

 

[bflying]

Nice, but.....who gets the slip?

Gave the slip to the boy for now. Pretty sure he'll be carrying it around the house, and over the holidays. But with the promise that he would give me time to make custom slips with me. With all the video games that need his neverending attention, sometimes I need to be creative to finagle father-son time. So it may as well be fun with leather time.

 

[Fanglekai]

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone involved. This year's forum knife turned out really great. I'm very pleased with both of mine and I'm going to have a hard time kicking the user out of my pocket.