The congress

M

mdsmith

Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
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Hey guys. Most of the people I work with know me as the knife guy. I've touched up a few knives for some of the guys, and given some advice of which knife to purchase. Recently, one of the guys brought in a handful of old worn down, beat up congress knives. He said they were his dad's, and that I could have them. They were all in really bad shape. His dad grew up in the country, and always carried a congress, and kept on carrying it until the blades were pretty much non existant. I've never been a big fan of the pattern, and noticed it doesn't get mentioned around here much, but seeing how well they served this man got me interested in them, and the more I looked at them online, the more I realized that there are some really nice looking ones out there, especially the GECs. The one thing that surprised me about them is how long a lot of them are - 4". Anyway, enough rambling. For those of you who own congresse, how do you like them? Are they too big to carry comfortably? Do you find the blades useful?
 
It's one of my favorite patterns, though I prefer a two blade half congress for carry. Since they're thin with a single backspring, I find them almost unnoticeable in my pocket. That, and I really like a sheepsfoot blade. GEC makes a fine one, in both SS & carbon. I've got several full congress models with four blades but don't have any pics of them. Here's a few of my half congress models. I'd really like to find another small 3" Case 6269.

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I carry this one quite often.
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My favorite knife for whittling but I've never gotten into the habit of carrying them.
 
Far and a wide my favorite pattern............and the variety of sizes 2 1/2", 3". 3 1/4", 3 1/2"., 3 5/8", 3 7/8", 4" and 4 1/4" just for starters....and since you've mentioned Great Eastern - here's a few

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Northfield LVS Abalone, Genuine Stag and Black Buffalo

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Northfield Black Buffalo, Black Pearl Acrylic and Pearl Acrylic

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Tidoute Dead Skunk Acrylic, Spring Tulip Acrylic, Tomato Acrylic and Northfield Fools Gold
 
They are like little symmetrical works of art. I like that I can pull it out and always pull the blade I want since they are the same whichever way the knife is turned. (assuming the blades are the same both sides). I think they are OK size to carry, but I prefer the 3.5" ones right now.

I got a bunch of congresses. Here are the GECs from 2009.

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eswartz said:
They are like little symmetrical works of art. I like that I can pull it out and always pull the blade I want since they are the same whichever way the knife is turned. (assuming the blades are the same both sides). I think they are OK size to carry, but I prefer the 3.5" ones right now.

I got a bunch of congresses. Here are the GECs from 2009.

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Click to expand...

Thanks, I've been trying to compare the handle options, but you made it easy by putting them all in one picture. I've really been eyeing the yellow bone and the burnt stag, but that one 3rd from the bottom of the right hand side is agbsolutely awesome. Which handle is that? I'm thinking it's either smooth ivory bone, or primative bone.
 
I've carried a 4" Queen Congress for months at a time and have done the same with 3.5" but found the 4" frame is more to my liking. To me, second to a Stockman, the Congress is a great general work knife.
 
mdsmith said:
Thanks, I've been trying to compare the handle options, but you made it easy by putting them all in one picture. I've really been eyeing the yellow bone and the burnt stag, but that one 3rd from the bottom of the right hand side is agbsolutely awesome. Which handle is that? I'm thinking it's either smooth ivory bone, or primative bone.
Click to expand...

That one is primitive bone.
 
Back in the OLD DAYS, in this part of Appalachia,the big 4" Congress Knives were VERY popular. They were considered a man's work knife. I've spoken to many men in their 60's and 70's who have told me that their father or grandfather carried this pattern. And I've been shown a few of these. The large,4" Boker Tree Brand was the knife of choice. Usually Black Jigged Delrin,I've seen REAL Tortoise Shell also.
 
I think the Congress is a fantastically designed knife, I have never carried a full congress, until Jason gifted me a neat old Primble included in a knife sale... I do prefer however the half congress....such a cool knife, the congresses shown in this thread ( including Charlies link ) are just beautiful looking knives!
 
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I really like the Congress pattern as well and have more of them than most any other pattern. From Case, to S&M, IXL, even a 2 blade Bear & Son, and have that big 4" Boker, which may be my favorite.
 
Well, I own a Congress in Orange Smooth Bone. It´s made by RR. I like that knife. I fits always in my living-room, at the table. Normally I don´t carry it for EDC. The knife is really a nailbreaker, I´ve never seem something like such a nailbreaker. My wife would like to use it as an EDC to carry it in her bag. I think, I should give it to her. Would be her first traditional knife :D

I think, i don´t like that pattern for EDC, especially not that RR, maybe another one would change my mind...

Kind regards
Andi
 
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These are the GEC 530411 "Castro" Cuban. Primitive Bone,Crushed Seashell Perylic and Dead Skunk Acrylic handle materials. Two Wharncliffe Mains, two Sheepsfoot Secondarys, 1095 Carbon Steel. 4 1/8" closed. Nobody has shown these so far.
 
I discovered that I like the Half Congress pattern a short time ago. The two blades with a single spring makes a for a nice slim carry. I've only got these two so far. They measure right around 3.5" closed. I carry the Menefee quite a bit and really like the utility of the sheepfoot and pen blades.

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Gary, I'm with you on the half congress. Here is my elk stag handled GEC, the only one I carry.

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Well since Bob started with the Cuban Castro's I'll show a few more in different handle material.......and thank you Kevin.....

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Primitive Bone

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Natural Stag

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Red Stag

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Burnt Stag
 
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