Question about slip joint pattern name & intended project

[fast14riot]

I have a junky old single spring half-congress by Sabre of Japan and the pen blade is broken off at the tang. I really like this handle shape with the lone sheepsfoot blade. I am thinking about using it as a pattern to make one properly with only a sheepsfoot blade, but don't know what I would call it. Would it be a 1/4 congress? Equal end sway back? This knife really is handy because with the tall sheepsfoot blade I can open it with a pinch grip or using the nail nic.

So what would be the correct name for this knife pattern?


-Xander

 

[zerogee]

Congress jack - though historically, a congress jack has normally had two blades at one end - a large sheepsfoot and a pen of some sort -- but a single blade congress jack should be dandy too.

Here's an old Boker Improved Cutlery congress jack (3 1/2" closed) - not mine I'm sad to say (note that the backspring pin is moved back away from the center point - it's a jack after all, might as well give the springs some more room to work and allow a bit more room for the blades down in the body of the pattern):

 

[fast14riot]

That is a cool little knife! So it would be a congress jack. I was also thinking of moving the spring pivot pin back to lower the blade just a touch and allow for a longer blade while keeping the tip in the handle. I love that with the wharncliff and fine tip pen blade! My biggest pet peave is pen blades with such a short blunt spear point you can hardly use them for fine detail work.

When I get this knife going I will be sure to post pics as I go along.


-Xander

 

[zerogee]

Here's the pile side - shows the swedging on the main blade better:

Interesting to me is that these photos show something of the finesse the really old congress patterns had -- in particular, the curved blade backs (they wouldn't have considered the main blade to be a flavor of wharncliffe back then). This is normally impossible to see in photos or scans. This curve starts from the run-up -- it allows the blade to sit closer to the body when closed and look more graceful, but in particular - it allows a smooth continuation of the concave congress back curve to the blade tang and blade back when open - where it becomes a smooth convex recurve. Love the subtly curved shield too. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

[fast14riot]

Zero, thanks for the pics. Those really help with design conceptualization (is that even a word?). Interesting to note, like you point out the graceful long curve of the blade spine, yet the spring side of the body looks almost straight. I have seen a few older congress patterns that were straight backed, but had more of a traditional sheepsfoot blade with a straight spine. This knife you posted is really quite refined and very elegant in design. The more I look at it I start to notice little things that don't stand out because they are just perfectly in place.

Here is my knife I intend to remake in better materials. It really is a pile of junk, but the pattern with a single blade makes for a nice thin, handy, comfortable little knife.

The main things I am looking to remedy would be blade shape. I think after moving the spring pivot back .25" it will allow a little longer blade to sit with the tip inside the handle. I am going to try M-2 for the blade, I have some .034" 416 SS for the liners, I may make the spring from 1080 because I don't think the M-2 will work well for that. I just have to pick up some pin stock to match whatever I decide to use for bolsters. Should be a fun little project.


-Xander