New interest in traditionals

[jomarti]

I've been enjoying new knife hobby for 6 months or so and recently became hugely fascinated by traditionals in part due to nostalgia as I used to whittle as a preteen ( some 55-60 yars ago).

I plan to take whittling up again and so have been shopping congress pattern knives and reading until near blind all here that pertains to that type. Basically I'm trying to get a handle ( no pun intended) on what brands offer good quality and value, what is considered excellent quality in production knives and what to avoid and likely to disappoint, realizing these are subjective calls.

I've shopped Bokers, Queen, GEC congress patterns and like them all though the Bokers are confusing- Looks like they've made some changes in sourcing as well as choice in materials and though I'd like a Boker Congress in carbon steel the price variation creates some doubts as to German produced authenticity- not to cast any aspersions on anyone.

So, I'd welcome opinions and comments to add to my learning and understanding on shopping traditionals if anyone would care to discuss 4 blade congress patterns, w/Wharncliffe blades in carbon steel and pros and cons of brands.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Kissing Cranes Congress in yellow Delrin, and made in Solingen, Germany, 100%. Getting harder to come by these all German made folders....

 

[Stich2442]

Welcome if congress interest you check this thread out http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1102196-Let-s-Congress

Bokers there are plenty of new old stock out there, look for Solingen on the shield, the ones with Germany on shield are assembled in Germany with parts produced in China, the only Boker 100% German made congress that is in the currant production is the Boker Carvers congress, maybe there is another, I'm not sure if they are still making the canyon bone or the beer barrel?

This is my favorite congress

Pete

 

[SAK Guy]

Here's a carbon steel, German made one. Boker 5474.

 

[jomarti]

Guys,

Appreciate the responses, particularly the pics. Thanks to google I've been shopping, managed to order a couple yesterday, a Boker Congress Carver and a GEC Tidioute Bocate Congress, both due in a few days. The anticipation- tough.

Now to find some white pine...

Again, thanks for the info, it's been helpful.

 

[MarkPinTx]

I saw on the Boker steel thread that they run their 1095, presumably their carbon, at 59RC. That would make a pretty glorious whittling knife I should think.

Well belay that. Their C75, which seems more likely for a German carbon steel, is 57-58. Not bad.

Either way, careful not to torque/twist your edges while whittling or you'll have a half-moon chunk out of the edge.

Also wasnt familiar with that Congress Carver pattern. Looks like it has a spey. I was mucking around whittling with a trapper and forced myself to use the spey and found the bellied tip to be kind of interesting for sort of scooping cuts.

 

[jkulysses]

Guys,

Appreciate the responses, particularly the pics. Thanks to google I've been shopping, managed to order a couple yesterday, a Boker Congress Carver and a GEC Tidioute Bocate Congress, both due in a few days. The anticipation- tough.

Now to find some white pine...

Again, thanks for the info, it's been helpful.

Congrats and I think you will enjoy them both. I'm a GEC fan but also love a good German made Boker.

 

[pmew]

I have to join in here, my favourite congress, this carbon steel boker was bought right here on the exchange.

 

[Beard&Owl]

Welcome fellow Texan! The congress pattern is great for whittling but you really should check out the whittler pattern. Here's my favorite Case's for whittling and a few old projects. The congress is a great pattern for whittling especially when paired with some knives with clip blades. Good luck!

 

[jomarti]

I saw on the Boker steel thread that they run their 1095, presumably their carbon, at 59RC. That would make a pretty glorious whittling knife I should think.

Well belay that. Their C75, which seems more likely for a German carbon steel, is 57-58. Not bad.

Either way, careful not to torque/twist your edges while whittling or you'll have a half-moon chunk out of the edge.

Also wasnt familiar with that Congress Carver pattern. Looks like it has a spey. I was mucking around whittling with a trapper and forced myself to use the spey and found the bellied tip to be kind of interesting for sort of scooping cuts.

Whoops..My error, I ordered a Boker Congress Whittler, not a Carver as originally stated.

Interesting about scooping cuts- I can understand a gouge doing this but I'll have to do some youtube or similar checking to see how this works with a flat bladed knife. Still waiting on delivery and the clock is ticking s-l-o-w-l-y.

 

[stargawker]

Rough Rider pocket knives are great value and very sharp, I use a lock back canoe format as a whittler but they offer congress versions as well.

 

[Bob6794]

If you ever want to test a pattern out without investing much money latter on and have a decent knife in the process take a look at Rough Riders, in fact their Rough Rider Canoe is my favorite EDC.

Enjoy your new hobby .

 

[jomarti]

Interesting the mention of Rough Rider knives. The low cost led me to believe I might not like these but trying out a pattern as a prelude to purchasing a higher cost model makes good sense. My past experience of an excess of knife snobbery in poo- pooing the Rat 1 and then really liking it as an EDC should have been a lesson- I'll take another look.

If I'm not getting out of my pew in mentioning that non-traditional Rat 1 I'd really like finding a traditional with that quality and value. Might be the Rough Rider series offers that combination. I'll shop these and appreciate the suggestion. Sometimes it's surprising what one gets for not too much spent.