That perfect knife

Argh! Don't make me pick just one!
OK, OK, I'm going with my John Lloyd Stag Shadow, the one I find in my pocket the most.
Why? I'll enumerate!
1. One fine looking knife that awes me every time I see it. Super Sambar stag, my favorite handle material. It's simplicity is one of its most appealing traits.
2. 3 7/8" closed, slim enough to sit easy in my pocket (although it's usually in a pouch).
3. Nice thin 2 7/8" CPM-154 blade that takes a screaming edge, holds it a long time and cuts like the dickens.
4. W&T, F&F very nice but not perfect (which for the price I paid, I don't mind at all). If it was perfect, and I'd spent a fortune on it, I might have trouble carrying and using it.
5. Nice rounded frame, close to sunk joints and a perfect fit in my hand.
6. Pull is just right, a 5 I'd estimate. I can pinch it open but with the nick closer to the blade tip it opens easily and that's my preferred way to open it.
7. I bought this on the exchange almost 2 years ago, and I'm as tickled with it as I was the day it arrived!
Oh yeah. Pics or it didn't happen!
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Peregrin said:
Argh! Don't make me pick just one!
OK, OK, I'm going with my John Lloyd Stag Shadow, the one I find in my pocket the most.
Why? I'll enumerate!
1. One fine looking knife that awes me every time I see it. Super Sambar stag, my favorite handle material. It's simplicity is one of its most appealing traits.
2. 3 7/8" closed, slim enough to sit easy in my pocket (although it's usually in a pouch).
3. Nice thin 2 7/8" CPM-154 blade that takes a screaming edge, holds it a long time and cuts like the dickens.
4. W&T, F&F very nice but not perfect (which for the price I paid, I don't mind at all). If it was perfect, and I'd spent a fortune on it, I might have trouble carrying and using it.
5. Nice rounded frame, close to sunk joints and a perfect fit in my hand.
6. Pull is just right, a 5 I'd estimate. I can pinch it open but with the nick closer to the blade tip it opens easily and that's my preferred way to open it.
7. I bought this on the exchange almost 2 years ago, and I'm as tickled with it as I was the day it arrived!
Click to expand...

When you tire of that knife Gary feel free to send it my way. ;)
 
This is not only the most perfect knife I own, but also in my favorite pattern, the large stockman (4¼" closed). Made in the early '90s when Queen was at the peak of their game, and in gorgeous Winterbottom bone and stainless steel. Rapier pen third instead of the usual spey blade, a big effective sheepfoot for hard use, and a beautiful long pull cut swedge clip main are all made perfect by their very firm pulls and not merely gator, but crocodile snap! Closing any blade sounds like hitting a flag pole with a hammer, and there's no blade rap. Parallel slant threaded bolsters complete the awesome package. This sits on the side table next to my man-cave easy chair for on demand CE and CF-ing.

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This one has some blade rap on the tip of the main, but it's a very minor complaint and will be remedied in time so it doesn't really effect this knife overall.

This knife is wonderful and I've become quite attached while carrying it every day since it's arrival, on black friday. Strong snap, butter smooth and tight blades. That bone which is oh so well matched and beautiful and still solid with no hint of movement. The nickel silver linings and pins with the jimping on the back for that little classy touch. The sunken joints and svelte lines; this knife is very comfortable to hold for a three blader. It's just a total package of excellence. I have another one exactly like this, in minty condition, but I have become attached to this one that I can actually carry and use (carefully, I may add, this ain't no beater). Sometimes it's nice to have the best of both worlds.

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There's nothing to change on any of these knives.
I described this pattern years ago just never found the one. Oilfield Jack.
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This is every thing a stockman should be with out the useless to me spey blade. Stockyard Whittler.
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If I need or want a newer steel then these two are as perfect as it gets. Lionsteel Shuffler and Bestman.
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OK - here's another one - Not certain why this one calls out to me and don't no about perfection, but this is a good one - similar in shape to the 92 but a bit bigger - jigging and bone are awesome...what do you think about this beauty JohnDF?
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I have to chime in on this one. Thanks to the knowledgeable folks here at bf I ordered a douk douk back in July. After putting a satisfying edge on it and attaching a fob to clip to my belt loop it's been in my pocket almost every day since then. I've even gone so far as to pick up a couple of gecs off the exchange and despite being awesome they haven't knocked the king off the hill. I do tree work for a living and it's nice to have something ride so flat in my pocket with a climbing saddle on and it handles rough work like no other knife I've owned. Plus if I dull it up it takes a matter if seconds to get it back to work on any convenient rough surface. I've been wondering if anyone else had a rough time not carrying a particular knife for a while myself.
 
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Wild Willie said:
I have to chime in on this one. Thanks to the knowledgeable folks here at bf I ordered a douk douk back in July. After putting a satisfying edge on it and attaching a fob to clip to my belt loop it's been in my pocket almost every day since then. I've even gone so far as to pick up a couple of gecs off the exchange and despite being awesome they haven't knocked the king off the hill. I do tree work for a living and it's nice to have something ride so flat in my pocket with a climbing saddle on and it handles rough work like no other knife I've owned. Plus if I dull it up it takes a matter if seconds to get it back to work on any convenient rough surface.
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View attachment 1250469my fat fingers malfunctioned before I could post a photo. Here it is in all of it's full and unexciting glory. And I apologize for my crappy pics. All I have is my phone and an unartistic eye
 
I have had a lot of very nice knives, quite a few maybe “better” than this one, but none more perfect for me. The last few months I have spent considerable time evaluating the knives I carry and came to a somewhat thought provoking conclusion. The knives I liked best were not getting the pocket time they deserved as I simply had too many in the rotation. Case in point, this #73 was getting carried about a week every 2 months. Been in my pocket 3 weeks straight now and about 6 of the last 8. Does all I need a knife to do, has great snap, thin blade and edge, decent stag and I am really looking forward to seeing it age gracefully. I still have a couple other close favorites that get some time on occasion, but as of right now this is the one.EB08AF57-3E96-42C8-B8E5-C1002FAE976D.jpeg
 
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Wild Willie said:
I have to chime in on this one. Thanks to the knowledgeable folks here at bf I ordered a douk douk back in July. After putting a satisfying edge on it and attaching a fob to clip to my belt loop it's been in my pocket almost every day since then. I've even gone so far as to pick up a couple of gecs off the exchange and despite being awesome they haven't knocked the king off the hill. I do tree work for a living and it's nice to have something ride so flat in my pocket with a climbing saddle on and it handles rough work like no other knife I've owned. Plus if I dull it up it takes a matter if seconds to get it back to work on any convenient rough surface. I've been wondering if anyone else had a rough time not carrying a particular knife for a while myself.
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You mean this knife? Mr. Indestructible!
 
Certainly not perfect, but probably the closest I'll get.

I don't remember exactly when I got this, prior to 2015 I think. This photo is from Fall 2016 and it's been a pretty constant companion since it arrived

If I had to seel them all, this would be the one I would keep.

 
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