Let's Congress

[Stich2442]

The congress pattern seems to get overlooked, I've found a few threads but instead of reviving a old one, I thought I would start a new one and include the old links.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/968522-Congress-Pocket-knives
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...p-quot-Let-s-see-your-Congress-Pattern-Knives
I bought my first congress 13 years ago, the J.A. Henckels ( made by Boker), at the time I was a chef, and the pocket knives I carried were a SAK, and either a Laguiole or a Opinel. The congress was my first true multi-bladed knife ( to use whittling ) I grew up using scout style knives, and later on SAK's, and had a preference for single bladed knives. The congress had me long for a stockman, which I eventually bought and carried for many years working in the trades, I then branched out trying the moose, jacks etc. adding more stockmans to my accumulated collection of tools. These days I find myself carrying the large Boker congress , I find the 4 different blades take care of everything, when I carried the stockman daily I mostly used the sheepsfoot, so around the beginning of the year I purchased the Large Boker with 4 different blades, and found it to be a superb utility tool, quick cuts the sheepsfoot, the spear when more belly is needed, the coping for fine detail work, and the pen is my muck, scraping blade. It offers great utility and the shape of handle rides comfortably in the pocket. I guess I'm just surprised its not seen as a work knife, for me it's my go to knife when doing carpentry and maintenance ( my opinel gets used also for such task ) They all seem to have great fit & finish, better than most of my stockman knives, I might just be lucky.

Anyone else find the the congress as useful as I do? Anyone edc a congress?
Post pics if you like them, if you hate them post why etc.
I just want to see the many variations on the theme, 4 blade, 6 blade or greater, half congress, congress jacks, congress whittlers.

Pete

 

[Gevonovich]

Don't forget this thread....http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ble-Congress?highlight=the+venerable+congress

I carry this one quite a bit. I really like the blade selection on this one. I have many congress patterns and the pattern is a favorite of mine.

 

[Stich2442]

Sorry pal I didn't mean to leave your link out, every time you post that knife I think of Abe.

Pete

Ps feel free to post any links I missed

 

[Thunder47]

My favorite pattern ever since 1969 when I stared a modest collection. All brands, both 2 a 4 blades, and in bone, stag, pearl, etc, etc. Thanks for the thread.

 

[Gevonovich]

No worries my friend ...its old but had some nice pics.

Here is another old beat up one...I love

 

[mrjefe2u]

A GEC #61 with square bolsters, wharncliffe and pen blades is probably in the near future.

 

[markpmc]

This GEC #61 congress was my first genuine stag. It gets carried during travel weeks paired w/ either a #53/#74 in my bag. Sorry for the poor pic, it's deserves better.

 

[Humppa]

I have had a RR Small Congress in Orange Smooth Bone for some years now, but it never found its way in my pocket. (Somehow )

Well, some time ago, I got two Böker Congresses, made in Solingen by our forum member C_Becker, here is the thread about the two 4-bladed-knives

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1092560-It´s-Congress-Day-in-good-ol-Bavaria

They are great knives and I carry them sometimes, though I don´t whittle, I really like the choice between the different bladeshapes. And Böker did a great job on the steel. Two wonderful knives.

I definitelly need to get a pic of my three Congress knives.

Thanks for the thread, Pete!

 

[bdev]

Not one of my favorite patterns but I do have one. A GEC 61 two blade, 440C, wearing American Elk. I just received this one in a trade from a forum member.




WAIT.....just remembered I also have a Boker 4 blade that I bought from Mike @ Collectorknives.net.

 

[ddml]

 

[akadave2]

 

[zippofan]

I do love a nice Congress, and your Boker half Congress led to my incoming Eye Brand, Pete

I have them from 2 3/4" up to just under 4", with the middle being my favorite size.

Little ones, Schatt & Morgan 4 blade in abalone, Eye Brand 2 blade in blue acrylic:

A little bigger, Case small Congress in mammoth ivory (one of my favorite work carries)

Case medium Congress in deep canyon bone:

Some bigger ones, GEC 4 blade and Courthouse Whittler:

And some German, Boker and H&R:

One of these days I'd like to pick up an older Bulldog in stag, but right now I'm really looking forward to that incoming Eye Brand.

Cheers,
Griff

 

[timberweasel]

GEC Northfield #61 Congress in Greenbriar jigged bone

-Brett

 

[Kisatchie]

I am a fan of the pattern...but it can be a bit too much (4 blade models) in the pocket.

Boker Tree Brand Classic 5474

 

[galactorrhea]

This seems like a good place to ask something I've been wondering about (I'm still much a neophyte when it comes to traditionals!):

What exactly is the point of the Congress patterns which have two pairs of the same blades (e.g., two sheepsfoot and two pen blades of the same size)? Is it just in case one goes dull during a day's work?

 

[pipedreams308]

I love 'em!

 

[Peregrin]

Here's a couple Half Congress'

 

[Ed T]

Nice thread. I have been a fan for some time. I have a Bulldog brand congress knife that is in my rotation. It sits on the counter and gets scooped up periodically when I leave my sodbuster of gunstock in the bedroom on my nightstand. Nice knives everyone.

 

[bakerg2g]

I carry and use this 4" CASE Congress (6488) I really like this one because all 4 blades are different. Makes more
sense to me to have 4 different blade shapes than just 2! Much more useful..imho! Never thought I would carry a big Congress! But
it's really a great old pattern..imho

Jason

 

[Ed T]

So, as fate would have it, shortly after my last post, my son, Luke, asked me to shave his feather to draw with. Good picture opportunity!