Have you ever bought a new pattern on a whim?

[NJBillK]

How's it going folks?

Like the title says, Have you ever bought a pattern on a whim?
If so, what was the pattern?
How did it work out?
Why did you buy it/What drew you to it?
Do you still have it?
What is Next?

I haven't tried all that many patterns (sodbuster, whittler, trapper, saddlehorn, Opinel, Svord Mini), so most of the ones I pick up tend to be based on a whim or what I think will fit my hand.

So far, the 71 fit me the best, but I liked the Stockman blade layout the best. This leads me to an 82 Dixie, 76 Western Outlaw, or a Sowbelly as likely being next on my hit list.

How about you folks?

 

[totkst1]

I picked up a 14 lick creek boys knife with spear/pen combo. Mainly size and spear main drew me in to it and it rides in my pocket almost half the week. Up next is yet to be determined as I haven't seen one that jumped out at me enough to pull the trigger on it but when I see it I will most definitely let you know what it is lol.

 

[NJBillK]

Glad to hear that it worked out for you. I will be looking forward to an update!
Thanks for chiming in.

 

[kamagong]

Sure. Recently too. I much prefer single blade slipjoints, but a couple of months ago I picked up a whittler. Not because I have any real use for it, but because I like knives and wanted to check out the tapered spring construction. Glad I did too. It's a marvel of craftsmanship.

 

[joeradza]

I've bought numerous patterns that I wasn't sure of but they were nice stag examples.
A real good example is a 25 with a sheepsfoot blade and an easy open notch. Both of those attributes I avoided like the plague. I took a shot because it was cheap (relatively) and of course now it's a favorite. For a small knife the sheepsfoot blade is very practical and the eo notch is convenient without detracting from its looks.

 

[mrknife]

that would be the 14, and the 35. for the longest time I thought id never buy a 14, ended up 4 of em then a 5 one in a TC second. never used them, gifted a few and sold the rest back. the 35 was the previous years forum knife and I had both forms. let them both go cause I prefer single blades.

 

[jc57]

Like the title says,
1. Have you ever bought a pattern on a whim?
2. If so, what was the pattern?
3. How did it work out?
4. Why did you buy it/What drew you to it?
5. Do you still have it?
6. What is Next?

Numbered to make sure I answer the entire questionnaire.

1. Not sure about whims versus "ooh, shiny...pretty" versus careful well-thought-out planning, but during my accumulation phase I was trying out a lot of patterns, so probably yes for a fair number of patterns.

2. I'll pick one - GEC #12 Toothpick was one where there was one offered at a good deal on the Exchange and I thought it might be an interesting pattern, even though not very popular in general.

3. Great. The #12 is tied for #1 in my GEC collection with the #77 for most knives in the same pattern (3 each). My most often carried GEC is a #12 Powderhorn Jack, though that wasn't that first one that I bought on the whim, but a followup purchase after I decided I really liked the pattern.

4. Just thought it looked interesting and the price was right.

5. Yes. I still have nearly every traditional I have ever purchased/received, except for 4 or 5 given as gifts to various forum friends here and elsewhere.

6. Nothing else planned.

 

[5K Qs]

Almost every new pattern I've bought was essentially bought on a whim, although almost every pattern receives a recommendation from at least one BF member, and I paid some attention to what I could read and see here. When I was a kid, I had a scout knife, my dad and brothers had clip/pen jacks, and a grandpa had a toothpick. Every other pattern was essentially new to me when I became re-interested in pocket knives about 3.5 years ago. I started by following the oft-repeated advice on The Porch to buy Rough Riders to inexpensively see what patterns I'd like. Turns out I like almost everything! But I like some patterns better than others. I like single-bladed knives OK, but prefer multiple blades. My favorite patterns turned out to be scout knives (like my first knife) and SAKs, canoes, and stockmans (especially sowbelly models). And sometimes it takes a while for me to appreciate a pattern. Early on, I bought a set of 12 different patterns in a RR amber jigged bone "set". It included a muskrat pattern that I didn't really care for (kind of big for my tastes at the time, and two identical ugly skinny clip point blades); I eventually gave it away. Someone later gifted me a muskrat (it's the though that counts, right? ), and just recently I've realized how well those narrow muskrat clips can slice!

- GT

 

[black mamba]

I've "whimmed" just about every pattern out there, it's why I have so many knives! And after all that, I pretty much carry a Cadet and a large stockman every day. I do freelance a little on the weekends. Probably the most surprising pattern to me was the Eureka jack. I had never even heard of it before GEC released theirs in 2013, and now I have theirs and a couple from Fight'n Rooster. It's my favorite for a medium sized two-blade jack.

 

[YellowSwiss]

Funny...I was just thinking about this. I was never really attracted to Wharncliffe blades but picked up a Case Swayback at a "can't pass it up" price, and I LOVE it. Now I am buying wharnies like crazy! Glad I took a chance.

 

[Atiger]

Two patterns come to mind.
I picked up a doctor's knife because I liked the notion that the flat butt was supposedly used for pill crushing and the paddle blade for stirring potions and counting pills. I chose a Case because they offered the Damascus blades which are quite intriguing.
Overall, I like the pattern. It's small so it's primarily a formal occasion knife. I also picked up a larger Schatt & Morgan version for EDC but to me, it's more of a novelty pattern so I only carry the S&M occasionally.

The second pattern was was probably the most unusual. There was just something irresistible about the proportions of this Case Melon Tester and I just had to have one. Definitely a specialty item though and I don't test many melons so I only need one of these.

 

[NJBillK]

I was thinking about grabbing a Melon Tester to use as an easily portable food prep or fillet when travelling.
I am still in the air about it, since I wouldn't use it very often. But if I find one for a song, I might have to jump on it.

Good to see everyone's choices and how they turned out.

 

[W.M.B.]

Most of my knives were a whim. Most of what I use a knife for any "norma" sized traditional style knife would work for so I can't really say that I pick my patterns for function, at least not one over another. They are just what caught my fancy

 

[jc57]

I was thinking about grabbing a Melon Tester to use as an easily portable food prep or fillet when travelling.

I am holding out for a GEC #65 Ben Hogan single-blade spear point in stainless steel for that same purpose, though I think it is unlikely one will ever be produced. Until then, a Case Slimline Trapper fills that niche.