The Knife of 2015

[Jack Black]

As we approach the end of another year, I’ve been casting my mind back to the thread I posted at the end of 2014 - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1248497-The-Knife-of-2014. The Northfield Radio Jack is certainly still one of my most loved knives, but I like to vary my carry, and having managed to obtain an Arthur Wright Lambsfoot in ebony at the end of last year, I thought that this might be my knife of 2015.





Then, soon after, Stephen ‘Old & In The Way’, generously gifted me a knife he had specially commissioned for me from Todd Davison. It is a superbly-made knife, and much as I like the Arthur Wright Lambsfoot, the custom Davison cast a very long shadow. It is a knife to treasure, one I will hand on to my grandchildren, and a knife I never fail to enjoy carrying.





However, early in the New Year, Charlie Campagna sent me a drawing of a project he was working on, and it got me very excited indeed. It was a bold project, which I am very pleased not only came to fruition, but was very warmly received. Charlie’s scratted bone ‘Ancient Barlow’ has filled my pocket more frequently than any other knife in 2015. It’s my knife of the year, and one I know I will carry many more times in the years to come. Thanks Charlie









So, my friends, what was your knife of 2015?

 

[jmh33]

LT Wright Bushcrafter HC and a Helle Harding!! John:thumbup:

 

[mrknife]

It would have to be these for me.

a close tie is

for me, I have always had an interest in traditional knives. they were the first knives I had as a kid before I branched out. i remember a long time ago, I was searching google for single blade trappers because those were the knives Ive always wanted. In fact one of the reasons I made this bladeforums account was to ask about them and a few other knives back in I believe 2010. A lot of the single blade trapper google searches turned up HMT trapper pictures from user 2dead who I got to know earlier this year and he sold me a few of his knives. I have been hooked and walked up to the porch. I always loved end caps on my traditionals and spent a few hundred on slim trappers before I was encouraged by other members to try other things, so Bob made a generous offer and allowed me time to think about it for a little bit and at the same time there was one f/s in the for sale section and boom

now I havent got my hands on a TC barlow that I'd like, but this is smaller and also a favorite, special mod from Glenn! thanks again!

But to be honest, the knife of 2015 for me has to be that 48. A knife like that has been what ive searched for since i was a teenager and that was almost 9-10 years ago. Ive tried to make a single blade trapper from double blades but those were disasters. I now have a rosewood 48 that I got from Dickens, but wont try just yet. gotta get some Rough Riders for experiments. sorry that was really long winded! but its my whole journey back into traditionals

 

[Pomsbz]

My Queen Copperhead in CZ. Took two to get a good one and had to be extensively reground but it's the knife I'll be finishing the year off with. Love it.

 

[Old Hunter]

Jack, you had two very nice choices for "The One" of 2015. 2015 is the year I decided to actually use some of my limited run SFO knives; picked this one out of my collection earlier in the year and have carried it more frequently than any other EDC pocketknife (plenty of others get carried, but this one was tops in 2015). Glad you remembered to run a 2015 version of this thread. OH
Ps This is an unused photo of the knife, it now sports some patina and a little less blade etch.

 

[Jsega51]

Well Jack, those are three very strong contenders! No question, the one I seem to carry the most is the first of my Davisons to be directly made to my specs (others were bought from Todd's sales or 2nd-hand).

3-5/8" closed, canvas micarta, CPM-154, a clip blade and a few other little additons definitely made this my knife of 2015.

 

[wundergussy]

The New Day barlows in peachseed were my Knife of the Year. The jigging is spectacular, and all the ones I've had (five total; still have these three) just have phenomenal F&F. The soupbone was a pleasant surprise of a score, but if the only new knife I got this year had been a double peachseed New Day, it would have been a great year!

 

[Tdhurl1103]

2015 for me was my rookie year in collecting traditionals, so it isn't as thriller a year as yours. I think my pick for my knife of the year has to be based on a few factors; ease of acquisition/affordability, number of carry days, usefulness in everyday tasks, and the pattern's effectiveness at swaying me to get more. Taking these into account my knife of the year is my Camillus TL-29. I found it in a pawn shop for 10 dollars, It has been in my pocket almost everyday since I got it, but I have used it everyday even if I didn't carry it all day and the screw driver tons of times over the last few months. It has also led me to want other knives in that pattern.



I have a few knives I got this year that were/are slated as Xmas gifts, therefore they have been sitting in wait of that day so they can enter my rotation. Maybe one of those will kick out the Cam.

Who knows next year might be the year of the Sodbuster for me.

 

[Jack Black]

Great posts gents, and some lovely choices We certainly have had a wealth of goodies between us this year :thumbup:

 

[Kohai999]

For custom knives have a lot to choose from, those might be a Kirby Lambert Interceptor re-worked by Kirby into titanium bolsters and carbon fiber scales, or a Steve Rapp Chute with Karalian Birch scales...but for Traditional knives, probably this Canal Street Cutlery Stockman.

It's a personal favorite pattern(the stockman that is, although I prefer them larger)...it has nickel silver bolsters and stainless liners, black micarta covers.

....and since Canal Street Cutlery has ceased operations, it will be a reminder of my many conversations with Wally Gardiner over the years.

While the 2015 BFC knife was well done and am certainly proud to own....this stockman is ALL ME!!!

Happy Holidays and Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[knowtracks]

It is interesting to me that you considered an Ancient to be your knife of the year Jack! Great minds think alike!!
Both of these knives have not left my pocket since I received them..... actually all 3 have been with me constantly It's a good thing they still make watch pockets on jeans!!! :thumbup:

Dave

 

[Pipeman]

These

 

[22-rimfire]

My favorite traditional knife for 2015 was the Blackjack 124 fixed blade in a smooth sanbar stag or the two-blade Madison Barlow that I received in a GAW from KSF early in the year. The Madison is one of my favorite knives.

 

[Mike Robuck]

We live in a good era for great knives, and this thread is proof of that. I really like the Davisons and the barlows. Pipeman, those are sweet!

I started the year with this knife, which was a grail knife for me collecting-wise:

This one has been in my pocket ever since I got it:

Got this Wilbert last week:

 

[nugun55]

Mine has been the ebony Beer Scout. I find it to be a very useful companion. Oddly, it's the screw driver I seem to use the most. I love it.

 

[Jack Black]

It is interesting to me that you considered an Ancient to be your knife of the year Jack!

Yes indeed Dave, even before they were much more than just an idea, I'd sometimes find myself not being able to sleep for thinking about them, and spent long hours scouring my books trying to find a name for the blade shape! I think they exceeded my expectations though Well done to Charlie and GEC :thumbup:

We live in a good era for great knives, and this thread is proof of that. I really like the Davisons and the barlows. Pipeman, those are sweet!

I started the year with this knife, which was a grail knife for me collecting-wise:

This one has been in my pocket ever since I got it:

Got this Wilbert last week:

True Mike, and those are three most excellent examples :thumbup:

 

[Augie]

Good thread Jack. I've been lucky over the past year, these 2 rise to the top as my 2015 favorites.

First is a 2015 Rendezvous knife, funny thing about this knife is I don't really care much for acrylics but every time I look at this knife it brings back great memories and friends made this past summer.

The other one is a Case damascus Barlow, always wanted one of these and this year I found not 1 but 2, just something about the way these Barlows look that really do it for me.

 

[sitflyer]

The Knife of 2015,

I must say there are some very fine knives shown already in this thread! This past year, more days than not the Powderhorn rode in my pocket, again...but for me the one knife that really hit me was the Ludwig Groten, copperhead? sent my way from the Isle of Lewis, a gift accompanying an acquisition in the exchange. Paul said when sending the knife my way, that he imagined that I could get some use from it, what with my not small hands, and not having any blade length restrictions where I reside. You see, Paul had been gifted this blade by Hummpa, but was unable to put it to proper use because of legal status...so for me, the Ludwig Groten, in most soothing ebony covers, has passed through two forum friends hands into mine. It is never far from me, resting on the table next to my laptop, when not in pocket, the Powderhorn and it have sorted out some type of agreement between them

Nice to see you re-visit this topic again Jack! Well done :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Good thread Jack. I've been lucky over the past year...

Thanks my friend, you've shown us some great knives this year :thumbup:

Nice to see you re-visit this topic again Jack! Well done :thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks Duane, that's a real nice story :thumbup:

 

[waynorth]

Thanks for starting this "sequel" thread, Jack.
Another tradition in the making!!:thumbup:
It is great to see everyone's favorite knives, and hear a little about why they like them!
Carrying a knife creates a bond, sometimes not completely explainable, but always valid!
I will have to warm up my creaky old scanner, and see if it will roll a few more times!