The Venerable Congress

[Gevonovich]

I ...like most of you am always on the hunt for a new pattern. I found a new one this weekend. The Venerable Congress. It's my first so I did a little research on it and it seems its a very old pattern although I did not find much information on it.
I have always thought it would make a good whittler. It does quite well for it diminutive size. This particular one is a Hen and Rooster made at the Bertram Cutlery in Germany. It was well used and an interesting color but its really growing on me.
I wondered how many of you have an affinity for the pattern and why. If anyone knows any interesting history behind the pattern I would love to hear about it. Here are a few pictures of my first Congress. Please post pictures of yours.

 

[Peregrin]

I discovered that I like the pattern not too long ago. I picked up these two Half Congress'.

Rick Menefee's interpretation and a 1970s Case. I carry the Menefee often.

You might already know this; Abraham Lincoln had a six blade congress in his pocket at the Ford Theatre, the night he was assassinated.

I'd like to know more about the pattern myself.

I like that Hen and Rooster you have. Bertram made excellent knives back in the day.

 

[Gevonovich]

Your Menefee is a jewel. Looks like Nat Micarta scales. I also like the 70s Case and I think my H&R is from the 80's

 

[markv]

i am almost exclusively hung on Congrii, Congrii is plural for congress, so says Chris Kirk

anywho, i prefer Congress pattern slippys
what's not to like, four blades, several blade shapes to choose from with a primary Sheep's foot all good.

don't know what else i could add.

Hen & Rooster
Boker
Case
Bulldog
Rough Rider
Henckels
GEC
Fightn' Bull
Queen
Schatt & Morgan
Schrade Imperial
Pine Knot
Chief
Bullfrog
Bad Dog
USA Pride


to name a few

just remembered the Coleman tang stamp congress, made by Stewart Taylor, a really fine congress in Stag, Blue bone or black linen micarta, real nice knives

buzz

 

[Rick]

I'm not sure when the Congress first appeared--probably in the early 1900s--but it was a very popular 'Tobacco Knife' in the American Old South that was often used to cut "chaw" (chewing tobacco) plugs. I've always had an affinity for the half-Congress pattern where both blades share a single spring.

Like the Swayback Jack, the Congress was intended to be used with the concave back of the handle laid across your fingers while squeezing the blade in a pull cut toward your thumb; something best done very carefully until you get a feel for it.

GEC makes my favorite current production Congress knives. Their rounded bolster two-blade #62 is extremely slim and pocket-friendly, and their #61 four-banger has the best blade seating I've seen in a production Congress: no blade or liner rubs whatsoever; a real jewel box of a knife.

Gevonovich: I love the split pea background. Goes great with that bone.

 

[Gevonovich]

Markv..hopefully we will get some photos of all the species you note.

Thanks Rick...this knife had me working on my photography. I took about 20 pictures. In the first photo I was going for the waxing crescent moon effect. I'll need to work on my lighting to bring out the detail shown in your photographs. The knives you posted are simply works of art. Thanks for the history and use info...perfect.

 

[Jug Johnson]

Great pattern, awesome pictures so far!

 

[yablanowitz]

I'll throw in a pic I used for the redbone thread, 2 Case mediums and a Boker.

 

[mike Berkovitch]

I'll add 2 Case, one is 4 blades and the other 2 blades

Mike

 

[Gevonovich]

Tom...Mike ...and yablanowitz. Thanks for adding your examples to the mix.

 

[Triq]

I have a few but to be honest they never really felt right in my hand, they sorta feel backwards to me i dunno? But heres a Boker.

 

[yablanowitz]

And here's what that Boker looks like when it has to work for a living.

GEC in Raisin Jig bone

Queens in Winterbottom bone

Kissing Crane

Schatt and Morgan

The whole family

 

[Gevonovich]

Excellent bevy. The bolsters on the Boker are very interesting and the work looks good on it. Both the GECs are quite classy. I must get one. The Schatt and Morgan is just gorgeous. The Queens with the Winterbottom bone are interesting in that they are two sizes although both two blade. I have never seen that type of bone jigging and its quite nice. The kissing Crane is perfectly worn.
It was a pleasure...thank you.

 

[LKJW]

I have (I think I still have it) a Rough Rider congress (I might have given it away). Interestingly, I like the full, but not the half congresses. Nice knives!

 

[Arathol]

Some Bulldogs

in abalone

brown bone

stag

a small Gutmann marked H & R

a WW1 era Camillus

I'm not sure when the Congress first appeared--probably in the early 1900s--but it was a very popular 'Tobacco Knife' in the American Old South that was often used to cut "chaw" (chewing tobacco) plugs

Actually much older, probably back to the 18th or early 19th century. Abraham Lincoln had a pearl handled 6 blade congress in his pocket that night at Fords Theater, and this pattern dates from well before that.

 

[Gevonovich]

That camillus!!! I guess the Gutmann is a Hen and Rooster ( H&R )? The bulldogs are sweet!! The more I see Bulldogs the more I appreciate them. Double fluted bolsters and match pulls are nice touches. Thanks for posting these Arathol

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

I love the serrated blade on this Camillus Yello-Jaket:

Actually sold my stag Bokers when doing some thinning, but they were pretty things.

I have a soft spot for Congress pattern knives though I only have a few. My dad carried a Robert Klass, Kissing Crane back in the day. A blade or two was worn down a little from careful sharpening and the scales were pocket worn. I can't recall if it was a deep golden bone or stag.

I had been after him for several years to give me that knife. It became a running thing. I'd try to get him to give it to me and he would say no. When I was getting ready to leave for basic training at 21 yrs old, I asked him to keep my big lock blade as I couldn't take it with me, or any knife for that matter. He was laying down and had the Kissing Crane by the bed. He said, "Boy, you want that knife?" I said "Sure." He said, "Take it, it's yours." We had been so long with me asking and him saying no I had to say, "What? You don't love me anymore?"

That was back in 1981. I did take the knife and kept it for years, but rarely carried it. I ended up sending it to my own son several years back. I kind of wish now I'd kept it and he could get it on down the road. I don't know if he fully appreciates it.

I've managed to gift Dad a few knives over the years and had to spend considerable effort to eventually wrangle a trade or two to get one or two back. LOL. He was a machinist and later tool designer along with cross country truck driver over the years. He understood good steel and quality workmanship. So imagine my chagrin when the knife he always carries with him is a Chinese made Winchester folding lockback with partial serrated blade that I gave him about 6 or 7 years ago. He won't carry the end of days Schrade stockman with white delrin scales I gave him. He is keeping it up because he doesn't want to mess it up. Hey, he's happy with what he's carrying so that's what counts.

So yeah, I have a soft spot for the Congress pattern. Except for the stag Bokers (too heavy) I've found the pattern carries well. For me I found I sometimes prefer a bit more blade length in a similar sized knife so I don't carry a Congress much. The Camillus is an excellent choice when I do.

 

[biglmbass]

I have a strong preference to a half congress over the thicker full congress though I've several of each. These are 2-blade halfs. No pics yet of my full congress models. The top left one gets carried frequently.

 

[Bastid]

The most perfect knife I own:

 

[Peregrin]

The most perfect knife I own:

It just doesn't get any better then that! :thumbup::thumbup: