Least favorite pattern?

cpirtle

Leathercrafter
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 28, 2001
Messages
4,623
I'm not one for bashing, but there are some patterns of slips that I just can't get into. So, we've got a thread on your favorite patterns, what are your least favorite patterns, and why?


For me it's:

Congress - reason, uncomfortable for me to carry and use.
Stockman - reason, don't know - just never warmed up to the pattern.
 
I'm with you on the Congress... I've bought a couple, hoping I'd warm to the arched handle and short blades, but never have.

Another one that I can't seem to fathom is the traditional two-blade trapper. When using the main clip blade, the nice comfortbale handle shape is marred by the spine of that long clip blade, that invariably rides too high. Also, the two blades are too similar in functionality, to me; I prefer a one-blade slim trapper or copperhead, or something like the Schrade Buzzsaw Trapper, where the second blade is replaced with something else useful like a saw for wood or bone.
 
The Case Seahorse whittler. I just think it's ugly. IIRC, it's a recently contrived pattern. Can anyone confirm or refute that? On the other hand, it might actually be useful for whittling if Case offered it in CV (maybe they did at some point, anyone know?).

I'm also not fond of the moose pattern for some of the same reasons Gryfin doesn't like traditional trappers.
 
It takes all kinds, eh? Personally I really like the seahorse whittlers, but haven't bought one yet as I'd prefer it in CV too. Does anyone know if it's available in carbon - I had a look earlier, but Case don't say? :(
I don't like anything with a fish descaler / hook disgorger on it. As I don't go fishing, it seems a waste of time on my knife.
Keith, the pattern was introduced by case in 2002, although Rogers & Unwin of Sheffield were producing one that looks almost identical in the mid 1800's.
My source of info is Rod Neep's Case Seahorse pages. Rod is a big collector of seahorse pattern knives over here.
 
Stockman if we are talking about the most common pattern. As for finding CV Case, this is a real PITA for me too as their site is something close to useless. The easiest way, but I'm not sure if its the most accurate is to just look at the Amber bone series, most of them seem to be CV. I also typed in Case CV in Google and came up with a couple of stores that list them all together, whether this list is exhaustive though I have no idea.
 
I have to vote for the congress. I could never develope any feeling for that pattern. It seems kind of redundent to have a similar stack of blades at each end of the knife.

Maybe because I grew up on scout and barlow knives I just go with them.
 
freezergeezer said:
It takes all kinds, eh? Personally I really like the seahorse whittlers, but haven't bought one yet as I'd prefer it in CV too. Does anyone know if it's available in carbon ... ?
I have one, but it's not by Case. It's a Bulldog seahorse whittler, lil' under 4" long closed, with nice bone stag, and hammer-forged Soligen carbon steel.

IMG_4261.jpg
 
freezergeezer said:
It takes all kinds, eh? Personally I really like the seahorse whittlers, but haven't bought one yet as I'd prefer it in CV too. Does anyone know if it's available in carbon - I had a look earlier, but Case don't say? :(
QUOTE]

I've never seen them in CV, but they make them in ATS-34 (for a lot more $ than the regular SS model).
 
KeithAM said:
The Case Seahorse whittler. I just think it's ugly. IIRC, it's a recently contrived pattern. Can anyone confirm or refute that?

I don't know it for a fact, but I believe it has been around for a while. I don't think it was called a seahorse whittler however.

If you go here and scroll down you can many different patterns from an old catalog. The Wharncliffe looks like what Case would call a seahorse whittler.
 
I know its practical and millions of them have been sold and used over the years, but I can't generate any love for the "electrician-pattern" pocketknives. Kinda strange, considering I like SAKs and campers and they have the same spear point blades. I think its the long screwdriver blade that throws me off, just doesn't look right. They work ok, but look funny.
 
I don't like texas toothpicks. The long slender blade just seems a bit too fragile to me, even though I have not snapped one, yet.
 
I've never seen them in CV, but they make them in ATS-34 (for a lot more $ than the regular SS model).[/QUOTE]

Yeah, having done some more looking around Mr. Neep's site, I found that after my last post, but it was past bed time by then :yawn: . However, he thinks that was a limited production run? I'll have to google around I think! ;)
 
IIRC it was the "Olive Green" bone series that was done in ATS-34. You could custom order one from Gary Crowder and have it in 6 weeks for the same or less money. List on them from Case was somewhere around $350 :eek:

(we could have a whole new thread on Case's practice of gouging their loyal customer base with their ATS-34 knives...)
 
Gryffin said:
I have one, but it's not by Case. It's a Bulldog seahorse whittler, lil' under 4" long closed, with nice bone stag, and hammer-forged Soligen carbon steel.

IMG_4261.jpg

Hi Gryffin
I've just got one of the next smaller Bulldog Seahorses. No idea if it's Carbon or stainless steel, but very impressed with the quality. :thumbup:
So are these drawer queens or users? I want to use this one, but I'd better not if it's worth dosh. Also, struggling a bit with the idea of messing up the etching! :foot:
 
freezergeezer said:
So are these drawer queens or users? I want to use this one, but I'd better not if it's worth dosh. Also, struggling a bit with the idea of messing up the etching!
Well, the one in the photos spent much of last week in my pocket as my EDC slippie. If you look closely at the photos, you'll see a couple dings in the edge, and some wear on the bottom of the etching from sharpening... yeah, I use mine!
 
Keith, the pattern is actually not new at all. There were a few manufacturers making them at one time. Case was making a variant of this knife, almost identical, about 80+ years ago.

My "least" favorite would be the peanut.
 
I can't wrap my mind around congresses or the Seahorse. Neither fits my hand right, though I've never yet tried a large congress (say, 4" or more).
 
4 blade congress is my favorite pattern. The equal end swell center does nothing for me. The other one that does nothing for me is the saddlehorn. Don't tell Tony. Used to hate coffin jacks, but I've grown to like them. And no matter what frame you stick it in, I can't stand spey blades. Useless to me.
 
Back
Top