Grail knives (I got mine..for now?)

[Slip joint fan]

Evening folks. I've been a long lurkers and recent poster, getting back into knives after a hiatus away. My love of knives was started by my dad, a long time ago, but he was and still is a one knife at a time kinda guy. I started the same way, with a trapper first then to a demure peanut. Both still hold a place in my heart. But in 2008, I got a Case congress (posted before) that introduced me to the joys of multi bladed pocketknife bliss. I came to love the congress, and got a few. I expanded into copperheads, stockmans, and then found another joy, the split back whittler. About 2010- I thought my grail knife was obtained, in getting a Case Classics stag whittler with a wharncliffe blade. I was smitten, it had happened. I carried it a long time. Then there was a hiatus involved due to some family issues I had with the now ex. I sold most my modest collection and got out of having hardly a knife or two. After about 2 years, with the divorce recently finalled, I got back towards getting a few users. I found blade forums, read many things and lurked a long time. It seemed a good place to mosey up and sit a spell. So I have, Still read more than post, but do think...this is a great community. Fast forward a while, and I turned to thinking, I wish I could combine my two favorites, a whittler and congress pattern. Enter the GEC 61. I've been looking a long time for one, and recently, found on the auction site. And thus, I have my grail knife again. Stag, smooth, well put together. Oh my. I'm not much on stag, but this one spoke to me, just different enough to be about right on.

Let me say this place is cathartic, thanks for allowing me to post, and to show off my new piece. Between this and the father's day gifts from my little ones (Boker green bone congress and Yellow case sodbuster) I'm sitting pretty in new knives.:thumbup:

To make this more inclusive, let's see some of your grail knives!

SJF

 

[wlfryjr]

SJF,I have one like it in primitive bone. They are beautiful knives. Enjoy and welcome.

 

[arizonaranchman]

Very nice Congress SJF! I like that one alot, very elegant and sleek.

Gosh I have a few knives that are very close to being The One, that elusive grail that drives us on in this endless quest. I don't have very many and intentionally avoid accumulating too many as I like to use and carry them, not just have a bunch.

To me some near-perfect folders in my little stable are the 92 Eureka Jack, the spear/cap lifter Radio Jack and most recently now I've developed an appreciation and fascination with the Stockman pattern (my #66 Calf Roper in particular), which is a very new and unexpected love affair.

A year ago when my interest in traditionals was rekindled after so many years, i was a die-hard single blade fan, beginning with the #55 which I still adore. That was followed by a few more singles, but suddenly now when I stop and examine what I'm carrying most often, I'm realizing they're nearly all 2-blade anymore - and just recently even a 3-blade Stockman?!

As time goes on and I experiment with various patterns my tastes have refined and adjusted as I learn what I need and what I like. Never would I have imagined I'd turn into a multi-blade fan, but alas I have! Even this Stockman has now suddenly burst into the scene for me and has really intrigued me.

66 Calf Roper in Blood bone

92 Eureka Jack in Autumn Gold

15 Diamond Radio Jack in Blood Red

 

[mike Berkovitch]

As for now 2 grail knives had found their way to me

Oeser half congress

Case Bose WT

Mike

 

[The Mastiff]

I've been trying to find a good condition Schrade USA LB 07 in 1095, not Schrade + (440A). UH maybe? I'll take whatever frame the blade is on. I know they are around but all I see come up are stainless Schrade +. It's gotten under my skin. The more I fail at something the more determined I get to find one.

Joe

 

[meako]

I hankered after this for almost a year before the funds became available .I silently beseeched every god I've ever heard of not to let it get sold..
It was a massive effort on the part of my weak and feeble will power gland to save up for this . I had to get some wedgies in during that time to tide me over as well.Carved Pumpkin 36 Sunfish

.
This rope cut blue bone has been on my hit list since the early days around 8 years ago -not this particular pattern but the blue rope cut bone.I haven't seen many come up for sale so had to pounce.
This one is like new.Shrade + USA

 

[pmew]

Pete, this is where you step up with that green bone beauty!

SJF,
A beautiful knife that! But not a #61, it's a gorgeous #62

This I am positive of this because my #61 is one of my favourites. In fact, if I was told "they're all going but you can keep one.." It would be this.


Welcome to the porch!

Paul

 

[2Dead]

 

[black mamba]

This one was something of a grail for me, a Wharncliffe Saddlehorn Trapper. I've never seen another one.

 

[Hammer67]

Very nice, Jeff! I don't think I've seen a Wharnie Saddlehorn like that one before either.

The stars aligned for me this past week, and two 'grail' knives that have been on my list for some time suddenly appeared, coinciding uncomfortably with the present state of my bank account wagging a stern finger at me about buying even one more knife right now. So I bought them both anyway. I'll work extra hard next week.

Pics to come...

 

[Gevonovich]

I would certainly say that Northfield is a grail. Its just gorgeous, SJF.

Henry Sears & Son ( gifted to me by Mike Berkovitch )

 

[Slip joint fan]

Gents, thanks for the kind comments and welcomes. I cannot hope to contain the drool on my laptop looking at these knives. Correct, it is a 62. I had it wrong in my mind thanks for the correction. The stag is fantastic on this blade. I've put it up for now to use my other father's day gifts. They're sentimental, for sure. Those wharncliffe jacks are just gorgeous to look at fellows. Since we're speaking grail knives, here was my other one. Case Classics wharncliffe whittler. Can you tell I have a thing for wharncliffe blades?

Regards, SJF

 

[koldgold]

This rope cut blue bone has been on my hit list since the early days around 8 years ago -not this particular pattern but the blue rope cut bone.I haven't seen many come up for sale so had to pounce.
This one is like new.Shrade + USA

I love those unfinished blue rope-cut bone Schrades, I have only ever seen one finished set.
Schrade had them in the pipeline, to be sold in mid 2004.
The finished knives have a nice shield and 100th Anniversary blade etch...
This is my ACB 80. Your knife is an ACB 296 ..Ken.

 

[hartlogan]

Very nice, Jeff! I don't think I've seen a Wharnie Saddlehorn like that one before either.

The stars aligned for me this past week, and two 'grail' knives that have been on my list for some time suddenly appeared, coinciding uncomfortably with the present state of my bank account wagging a stern finger at me about buying even one more knife right now. So I bought them both anyway. I'll work extra hard next week.

Pics to come...

hahaha sounds like something I would do. Can't wait to see pictures.

 

[avoidspam]

I always admire this one

For me I'll wait to see if GEC bring out the #48 with pen (a close(ish) second!).

 

[avoidspam]

As a grail knife I work with a lot this is mine

It's a Fiddleback Forge Hiking Buddy. A little unusual as it's convex ground 3/32 steel (tricky I imagine). For me, to hit the grail spot it has to be a really good user and looker (hence my admiration for Trands knife because I can see how good a user it would be). If I could carry this all the time legally over here I would!

I have some lovely folders but haven't quite found my grail yet...., a Dogleg is on its way by Jared Oeser. That might change things..., might!

Sam

 

[knarfeng]

Along about last December I was putting together the want list for my next knife, based on what I had learned from the others I've bought.

►Closed Length:__3 5/8" optimal. Open to 3 3/4" offerings.
►blades number__2 or 3
►blade shapes___Must have sheepsfoot and pen, 3rd would be a fat clip.
►blade alloy_____must be something with carbides. 440C, 154CM, D2, etc.
►Pattern________Something like an equal end or a Cattle knife.
►spring strength_Medium to light.
►covers_________Open to suggestion.

Then one night I was perusing the revamped Queen web site. And found what I was seeking.

Queen Railsplitter.
3 5/8" closed lenght
A robust coping blade, which is a good enough sheepsfoot replacement.
A nice pen blade.
A robust clip.
D2
Close enough to an equal end to scratch my itch.
Amber stag bone covers. I do have a thing for Queen Amber stag bone.

Here is the pattern after my own heart. It may well turn out to be the vorpal blade I have been seeking all these years:

 

[arizonaranchman]

That fits your criteria to a "T"

Glad you finally found it Frank...

I can tell you the Stockman has really got a hold on me - a very unexpected development considering how I not so long ago couldn't ever imagine myself carrying a pocket knife with more than 2 blades.

 

[Slip joint fan]

Azranchman, left you a VM...
As for those blood red bone pieces you have, I've got it on my short list. they're gorgeous.
Knarfeng, that rail splitter looks fantastic- enough that my short list is now getting long.
What gorgeous knives all.
I'm learning my grail knives will change along the way it appears, and the best part of the journey is trying them out.

Regards all, SJF

 

[Hammer67]

I consider all of my TC Barlows to be 'grail' knives.

and the Marbles 'Sport 99' that I just acquired is definitely a 'grail' knife for me.