The Venerable Congress

[CoffeeCat2112]

a WW1 era Camillus

The shadow pattern and bone texture on this one is amazing!

I agree, Gus - that knife is the Platonic form of "Congress". Wow!

Love the color on this one!

This one, too!

As far a the pattern itself, I don't really go in for redundant blades on a knife or more than two blades (exception made for SAKs), so I'm more fond of the half Congress and Congress jack (go figure). Still, there are some beautiful examples of the type in this thread already. :thumbup:

 

[Alnamvet68]

An old thread but nice to see such beautiful Congress knives. I have one - a GEC #61 Half Congress in Elephant Ivory and it's absolutely beautiful. It's my Sunday-go-to-Church pocket knife

Now THAT's a fine piece...elephant ivory; it doesn't get any better.:thumbup:

 

[Gevonovich]

 

[Slim278]

Could that be the same knife as this one I sold a while back? If it is I am glad someone is enjoying it.

 

[Gevonovich]

Could that be the same knife as this one I sold a while back? If it is I am glad someone is enjoying it.

Unmistakably the same knife ! Tell me its story as you know it? The history of its journey...we always ask if a knife could talk...wow !!!

 

[cjtamu]

Thank you to @gevonich for pointing me to this thread. My first Congress, a stag-handled Boker Double Tree. Love this pattern and the history of it. Will definitely be looking for more.

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

If you're a fan of the Congress pattern, like I am, you are in good company.

This was Abe Lincoln's pocket knife

How's that for history?

View attachment 1176383

 

[Mayonardo]

The GEC #13 pattern. There is something about this knife…

 

[cjtamu]

Ron Sabbagh I read he had it in his pocket when he was shot. Mayonardo , is that a 3 blade knife?

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

Ron Sabbagh I read he had it in his pocket when he was shot. Mayonardo , is that a 3 blade knife?

Yes. This is the knife he had on him on the night of his assassination

Mayo...I have a 13 Whittler and I agree.

 

[JB in LV]

I knew there was another useful thread somewhere, just took a few to find it:

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/lets-congress.1102196/


T-B: GEC 61 2 blade, 61 4 blade, 62 Easy Pocket Congress (2 blade).

 

[Mayonardo]

Ron Sabbagh I read he had it in his pocket when he was shot. Mayonardo , is that a 3 blade knife?

No, it has two, the long Wharncliffe and the pen.

 

[cjtamu]

Ahh. Did a quick search for that pattern and found one that was 3 blades, a Sheepsfoot and 2 pens. Thought that was a little unusual.

 

[Tiaan Burger]

The Congress pattern might have been developed as a penman's knife as one does not need a long blade to cut and prepare quills for writing. Also, most of the cutting is done on the ball of the thumb, using a narrow, thin blade.
After going through this thread I have decided on my next knife!

 

[rbeggs]

I haven't ever thought much of this pattern. The Congress has always seemed a little bit old mannish to me, but... the more I see the gec 61 and 62 the more I want 3 or 4 of me. I wish the would do another run of them.

 

[Old Biker]

I have and carry this one. The Boker Carvers Congress.

I like the idea of four blades, but I want 4 different blades. Most congress duplicate blades, so you end up with two or at most three different blade shapes. This one has four, so it's the one I own.

O.B.

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

The Congress pattern might have been developed as a penman's knife as one does not need a long blade to cut and prepare quills for writing. Also, most of the cutting is done on the ball of the thumb, using a narrow, thin blade.
After going through this thread I have decided on my next knife!

From what I understand, you are correct. Originally developed for sharpening quills and also for cutting tobacco. Some had blades for nail grooming.

A true gentleman's Knife!!

 

[cjtamu]

What I’ve read that makes the most is that the knife quickly gained popularity in the South because of all the tobacco and cotton farming. The duplicate blades were there to reduce the amount of sharpening required during the day. If one dulled, you switched to the other so you didn’t lose time. The coping blade was used for etching the counts, and the pen was there so there was a blade with a sharp point. Obviously a great knife for whistlers as well with 3 or 4 different blade shapes.

 

[Mike Robuck]

When I first started collecting I wanted an old 88 Case congress. Never did get one, but I like that pattern.
Southington congress:

Ulster ivory congress:

Big NYK Co. half congress:

 

[kai76]

A great thread to revive. Mike Robuck Excellent examples of old Congress’s! Can’t decide which is my favorite, all are really amazing.

I don’t own many but these 2 congress pens are my favorite ones. Ebony NYK and MOP Schrade cut co.