Pattern recognition: Canoe

quattromori

quattromori

Joined
May 7, 2011
Messages
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Recently, I started a new thing in my "knife life". Since you guys got my interest very high on American traditionals, I decided to try out a few two-bladed patterns that I like, and see how it goes, and what works best for me. My goal is to find out what American multiblade to put in my 'count of 5', and I thought there would be no better way to discover it than trying them out...and enjoying the journey :)
Obviously, I want to share this with you, so there will be a few posts about this "pattern recognition" thing (named after a wonderful SF book). This is the first one.
My first pick was the Canoe pattern. It was a casual pick (I saw one in a store here, and at a decent price - both things did surprise me alot - and picked one as a gift for a friend...and a second one for myself). It's a Buck 389 Canoe (in 420 steel). Surely not a high end knife, but it's just a test dummy for me, so no big deal. I want to share some thoughts about this pattern, and see what you guys think.
First of all, looks. I like how the Canoe looks like, its shape. Even if it's not small (seems like most Canoe's on the market are slightly above 3,5"), it does look compact (a smaller size - like the Case baby butterbean - would probably be even better). I was never fond of very slender knives (otherwise I would go for a classic Laguiole and look no further), I prefer slightly wider handles, they just fit my hand better. So does the Canoe.
My Canoe has the classic configuration: two blades (spear and pen) and two springs. I'm not a big fan of these blade shapes, but in general they do their job fine (after all, there's a reason why SAK's have the same blade configuration). The backspring is a bit too hard on the pen blade (I like very mild springs), but maybe time will make it smoother. I've been carrying this knife for a few days, and I can't say I dislike it (I'm trying not to focus too much on this particular knife, but on the pattern). Being a single bladed knife guy, I'm trying to get used to dedicating the two blades for different tasks (pen for dirty/tough tasks, spear for general use).
What I have found is that the handle shape, being symmetrical, allows the same hold and grip for both blades, and the slight 'curve' of the handle close to the heel of the blade acts like a sort of 'guard', which is not bad.
The blade/handle length ratio is a bit low (due to the 'opposite end' configuration) but it hasn't been much of an issue so far. Plenty of blade length for my tasks.
The blades have nicks on opposite sides (I assume all Canoe's are built like this), which allows me to open them the same way I have always opened my knives (handle in right hand, left thumb on the nick and blade opening "upwards") with no other blade in the middle. This thing gives me a sense of "confidence" towards the knife, since the "other" blade (the one I'm not opening) sits back, and comes unnoticed, and I don't have to switch hand or change my normal opening movement.
I have to say I would have preferred to have a small wharncliff/sheepsfoot blade instead of the pen blade
It seems like this pattern doesn't really get much love (compared to others) here. Factories apparently prefer to produce more knives in other patterns, and usually don't have many Canoe's in their lineup. I assume this is due to the fact that most users don't really love it, and I'm curious to know why. I suspect that most users prefer a clip point blade, while others are just used to having 3 or 4 blades, but I'm just guessing, so I'm willing to know what you think about this. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Pics coming soon. :)
Fausto
:cool:
 
good read, thanks for posting.

a suggestion...maybe throw a one liner in there about the history of the canoe, and what it's shape was designed for. as you switch designs, include the same. not really for the regulars here, mind you, as they already know....but for random searches that land them on these posts. would be a nice addition for others who come by to start getting into traditionals....just a thought. thanks.
 
I wish I knew more about the history of the pattern, but, honestly, I don't.
Actually, I'm willing to do some research online and find out something more about it, just for curiosity, so I may post what I find out.
I'm also sure that many of the "regulars" here could tell and teach me alot about this pattern (and other patterns as well). It's part of the idea of these threads.
Fausto
:cool:
 
The Canoe is one of my favorite patterns - very comfortable in the pocket, big beefy main blade, well-sized pen secondary, and good handle ergonomics for a slipjoint. And William Gibson is one of my favorite authors (note screen name :D )
 
I like the concept of the canoe better than I like the canoe itself. The swelled bolsters make it very pocket friendly, but the spear point ranks high on my list of least favorite blade shapes. The only blades I've ever had close on my fingers in use have been spearpoints, and I carry a pair of parallel crescent scars on my right index finger to remind me of what I shouldn't do with them. Some canoes are single spring, which makes them a little thinner in the pocket at the minor expense of crinked blades.
 
Visually, the handle shape of the canoe pattern has always looked very comfortable for the hand and pocket. As others have echoed however, I've never been real crazy about spear blades. Seems like too many of them come with very blunt/rounded/thick tips. I prefer clip blades first, as a main blade. A pen is OK as a secondary blade, although a well-executed wharncliffe blade could be nice, too.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Visually, the handle shape of the canoe pattern has always looked very comfortable for the hand and pocket. As others have echoed however, I've never been real crazy about spear blades. Seems like too many of them come with very blunt/rounded/thick tips. I prefer clip blades first, as a main blade. A pen is OK as a secondary blade, although a well-executed wharncliffe blade could be nice, too.
Click to expand...

I like spear blades (a lot) but can't relate at all to the canoe frame. Something about it just leaves me cold. No doubt it's pocket friendly and a good pattern based upon its popularity, it's just not for me.
 
I like the Canoe handle shape, and having the raised bolsters is a well thought-out design element IMHO, and I heard or read somewhere that this was to keep the blade tang from wearing holes in your pocket?

I have one Canoe, a Rough Rider MOP; I also have two other similar patterns: a Case Gunboat (basically a large three-bladed Canoe), and a Benchmade NRA Stockman. Both are pretty cool designs.

~Chris
 
I own a Canoe. It´s made by Carl Schlieper Eyebrand Knives. It has really very nice staghandles. I like that knife. I never use it for working (because of the stag :yawn: ). So sometimes it fits my pocket on sunday, when we are invited for drinking coffee at our parents.

Kind regards
Andi
 
I love my Case Canoe, the shape is so smooth in the hand and pocket. Like said, those raised bolsters cover both ends of the blades, no sharp edges are exposed.
I usually carry a fixed blade as welll, a drop point, so the blades in my canoe are left very sharp. I use the canoe for more delicate and fine work. I don't dislike the spear point, but it does work. If a pocket knife was my only blade, I might need a clip point sometimes, maybe I'd carry a stockman?
 
Canoe is an authentic pattern, no question. It has a lively following but I've never fancied it much as it's a bit 'over bolstered' for my taste. I generally prefer Barehead patterns (maker Jeff Mutz does make an interesting single blade Barehead Canoe, that attracts me) and I like Spear particularly when fat and with longpull. Single spring Canoe makes the most sense from a weight in the pocket aspect.
 
Blues said:
I like spear blades (a lot) but can't relate at all to the canoe frame. Something about it just leaves me cold. No doubt it's pocket friendly and a good pattern based upon its popularity, it's just not for me.
Click to expand...

I haven't written spearpoints off entirely yet, and it looks as if Buck's implementation is an improvement (sort of a high sabre grind, with what appears to be a more acute tip). And it sounds strange, as 'comforable' as the handle looks, I sort of have the same reaction to the 'aesthetics' of it. Not sure if it's due to the large(ish) bolsters, or the shape in general. Sometimes I wonder if it seems too symmetrical? I'm often struck the same way by the shape of congress patterns. Both of these tend to leave me on the fence, as to whether I like 'em or not.

I have an older Kabar canoe in stag. Guess I'll dig it out and re-visit what I like (or don't) about it.
 
I really like them. They offer a good grip with the raised bolsters and the symmetry is pleasing to my eye. Most people seem to find a spearpoint even less intimidating than a clip point slipjoint, which certainly proved important in certain situations. They are pretty hard to get in Europe for a reasonable price, though all American traditionals suffer from that problem I suppose.
 
Thanks for your feedbacks. It seems I was right in thinking that the main "flaw" of the Canoe pattern is the choice of blades. Just like David, I would rather have a wharncliff as secondary blade; even if I'm used to pointier blades (which would lead to a clip point as main blade), I would have no issue with the spear if the secondary blade was a wharnie.
I don't know how many of you agree on this, but my guess is that, basically, the Canoe has two almost identical blades (in shape, if not in size), and that's a con for most users. Probably I don't care about it much cause I was always used to single blades, so I'm not that picky about that.
I have to say that, considering it's a spear point, my Canoe's main blade has enough point actually (tomorrow I will be able to post pics), surely more than other spear blades I've seen.
As Elliott wrote in his post, some reactions are very istinctive and there's not much you can do about it. Somehow, I was expecting more people to get in and answer that they don't like Canoes at all. I would bet that a very very low percentage of traditional knife users carry a canoe as their most used pattern.
So far, I like mine, so I'll give it a little more pocket time, and see how it goes. After all, it's just a trial period...
Fausto
:cool:
 
Wintermute,
your screen name left me with no doubts about your tastes in SF :)
Gobbo,
I'm afraid all American patterns are pretty hard to find on this side of the ocean, and they always come pricier. :(
Actually, my idea was to start my "pattern recognition" thing from another pattern (the swayback jack) but then I saw the Canoe in a store, and it left me so surprised that I took it as a sign of fate and got one. :)
Fausto
:cool:
 
Fausto,

I mentioned that I was 'on the fence' about the aesthetics of the canoe. The thing that's really mind-boggling to me is, I've been on that fence for the better part of 20 years, at least. Usually, it doesn't take anywhere near as long for me to decide if I like it or not. To some extent, I'm beginning to warm up to the pattern, thanks in no small part to all the new innovations in knives these days. A lot more variety in styles, materials & manufacturing techniques now. It seemed like for a long time, one 'canoe' knife looked pretty much like all the others. The newer blade grind on the Buck example is something I hadn't really seen much of before, if at all, on that pattern.

I may yet pick one of the newer ones up.
 
David, if I'm not awfully wrong, my Buck has the grind you are talking about. Tomorrow I'll post a few pics, so maybe I will convince you to get one.
My Canoe came cheap, but has no real flaws (apart from the hard spring on the pen blade), came relatively sharp (not as sharp as other knives, but not dull for sure either), and for me it's a good opportunity to try out the pattern.
Fausto
:cool:
 
I have a few friends that love them. A couple that pretty much exclusively collect them. You gotta love the pocket friendliness of the pattern. I can not think of another multiblade that would carry as easy (do they make a two bladed coperhead these days? :D), but for some reason, I just have never had a thing for them, and it is just my taste or lack of it. ;)
 
I have only owned two Canoes and I never really warmed up to the pattern either. One is a Rough Rider which I still have and the other was the Buck Canoe with wood handles which I gave to a forum member because I thought he might like it. I'm not sure what he thinks of it.

I do have a Case Gunboat Canoe which I like much better but it is a larger knife with three blades.

It's kind of strange that I don't care much for the Canoe pattern because I like most equal ended knives.

Between the Rough Rider and the Buck, I liked the Buck the best.

If I was to carry a Canoe, I would have to give the Queen version a try. Something about that model is more asthetically appealing to me.
 
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