Trestle Pines Grand Portage

supratentorial said:
They incorporated a lot of seemingly popular things into one knife...

Wharncliffe blades
Barlows
Caplifters
Copper bolsters (I don't get this one at all but the Ka-Bar/Canal Street knives seem to have a following)
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Brass, not copper, but "not nickel silver or steel" applies either way. I'd add the match-striker pull to the list, too. There's a lot going on with this knife!
 
I appreciate everyone openly sharing their honest opinions. It's fascinating—and educational—to see the range of reactions.
 
Dadpool said:
Brass, not copper, but "not nickel silver or steel" applies either way. I'd add the match-striker pull to the list, too. There's a lot going on with this knife!
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Oops. Yes. Personally, I would prefer all steel. But nickel silver would be fine as well.

The match strike long pull is another one. You could also add the CPM154 steel as well. There's a large demand for GEC beer scouts with stainless blades.
 
I wait for new picture to make an opinion. But it looks alright for me now. Different, why not?
 
supratentorial said:
~ snip ~
The pattern is similar to the beerlows that were made in small numbers by GEC for Charlie. They sold fast.
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Do you mean the diamond radio jacks? Charlie didn't make a beerlow. There were TCs of his that were modified (originally by Evan, then I think others have done them since I believe) with caplifters added. Charlie stated that he wants his work to remain true to traditional patterns and therefore would never put a caplifter on a barlow because he hadn't seen an original in all his time collecting. I don't think he was particularly bothered about people modding the TCs this way though, he's a pretty relaxed and obliging fellow :)

philllll said:
Why not??? That sounds delicious.
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Tell you what Phil, mix one up tonight and let me know how you get on? :D

Paul
 
pmew said:
Do you mean the diamond radio jacks? Charlie didn't make a beerlow. There were TCs of his that were modified (originally by Evan, then I think others have done them since I believe) with caplifters added. Charlie stated that he wants his work to remain true to traditional patterns and therefore would never put a caplifter on a barlow because he hadn't seen an original in all his time collecting. I don't think he was particularly bothered about people modding the TCs this way though, he's a pretty relaxed and obliging fellow :).............
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Actually, Bill did in fact make some TC with caplifters for Charlie (knowing that Charlie was not in favor of it). According to Charlie, Bill had a huge grin on his face when he handed them to him at the Rendezvous. They sold extremely fast. I tried to buy one by email but was unable. They all got bought up directly from Charlie at the Rendezvous.

philllll said:
Why not??? That sounds delicious.
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pmew's milk shake brought philllll to the yard. ;)
 
supratentorial said:
Actually, Bill did in fact make some TC with caplifters for Charlie (knowing that Charlie was not in favor of it). According to Charlie, Bill had a huge grin on his face when he handed them to him at the Rendezvous. They sold extremely fast. I tried to buy one by email but was unable. They all got bought up directly from Charlie at the Rendezvous.
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Goodness you're right! I had completely forgotten that anecdote, my apologies *egg on face*


supratentorial said:
pmew's milk shake brought philllll to the yard. ;)
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Damn right, it's better than yours!

Edited to add; I could teach you but...... Frank and Gary will infractorise me :(
 
GEC has also paired Wharncliffe blades with handles that traditionally did not have Wharncliffe blades. The GEC Beagle and GEC Talon are a couple examples. Doglegs and Eureka Jacks typically did not have Wharncliffe blades. There are many other examples from GEC. Northwoods has also done this with their special ground Wharncliffe blades on handles that typically did not have Wharncliffe blades. Both brands have been successful with these unusual blade and handle marriages. It seems to be popular right now. Personally, I'm a little Wharncliffed out. But there does seem to be interest from others.

I think GEC also toyed with different materials for their bolster and shield.... at least on one of the Rendezvous knives.

My own tastes are fairly traditional but there does seem to be a market for slipjoint knives that don't closely follow the oldies. The execution looks a bit rough to me but this might be a prototype. I don't know. It is not as well refined as the TC barlows. I think the main difference may be the manufacturing. We'll see. I wish Queen and Trestle Pines lots of luck. I think this is a step in the right direction (a step away from the original flawed design of a knife with skinner blade and an easy open handle).
 
I like difference and controversy :thumbup: This knife has set out to court both and I'm sure the force behind these knives would be pleased by that.:cool:

That said, for me at least, it's just too much brass :D
 
Dadpool said:
I'm excited about this one! I've been waiting for a caplifter jack with natural handle materials for a while now. :)

I've got reservations about a couple things, but they're on hold until I can at least see more pictures; there's a lot to like about this knife, too.
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I think this is going to be Greg's best of the Tressle pines. I've got to have one in old growth oak. These knives make great users.
 
Lots more photos now, and they seem to be going quick. I'm passing on this round (I'm still hesitant about the same things post-photos as I was pre-photos), but I'll keep an eye on the next round. I look forward to seeing pics from folks who snag one! :thumbup:
 
Dadpool said:
Lots more photos now, and they seem to be going quick. I'm passing on this round (I'm still hesitant about the same things post-photos as I was pre-photos), but I'll keep an eye on the next round. I look forward to seeing pics from folks who snag one! :thumbup:
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Gah! I wish I hadn't seen your post, I'm a total sucker for that boxelder burl...
 
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pmew said:
I find this quite difficult, I've been a loyal customer of Greg's for a long time and when he started the Trestle Pines project I was very excited about it.

- First offering was a fixed blade which I think looks great and ticks all the boxes but I know it would sit on a shelf and never be carried so I passed.

- The second just didn't look right. The size was great and I like barlows, love the high end steel but the blade didn't look proper on a barlow and I'm not a fan of EO notches, especially not on barlow's so I passed again. I've often gone back and thought about it but again I know it wouldn't get used.

- The third just makes no sense to me as a traditional pocket knife fan at all. Sort of a hybrid of the three most popular current trends. Barlow, tick. Wharncliffe, tick. Caplifter, tick. I don't get it; I like milkshakes, orange juice and whisky but wouldn't put them in the same glass. I must say that the bolster stamp looks good though, and if more barlows are forthcoming I hope he keeps it.

I feel bad because I think the old reclaimed woods are brilliant, and when the concept of using high end super steels on traditional patterns at an affordable price was first brought up on his blog I was very supportive, but can't see any way that I'll go for the end product here. I feel guilty about it because Greg has gone a long way to assist me in the past but I can't buy one of these. I'm sure that it will be a hit with many though, it does tick plenty of boxes.

:(
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You left out the Superior. IMHO a fantastic knife.
 
Here's a few borrowed pics of the old growth maple in both the open and closed position. The brass bolster compliments the pins nicely, not sure how I feel about the contrast with the blades but the Kabar coppersmith seemed to make a similar concept work. I've liked the pictures of those after some good use and age. How do brass bolsters age in comparison to steel and copper? I probably would have picked one of these up did I not already own a scout. There's so many knives I'd like to try out and for me personally I only need one with an opener.





 
I like everything about this knife except the tree on the bolster. I dont know if it's just the pictures but I doubt it because it's looked the same in every one I've seen. I dont get how this would look good to anyone but thats really just my opinion and I know what that's worth lol . Seriously though other than that tree I'd buy one in a minute.
 
t.willy said:
I like everything about this knife except the tree on the bolster. I dont know if it's just the pictures but I doubt it because it's looked the same in every one I've seen. I dont get how this would look good to anyone but thats really just my opinion and I know what that's worth lol . Seriously though other than that tree I'd buy one in a minute.
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Over on his blog, Greg (who owns the Trestle Pines brand) said of the tree, "The pine tree on the bolster is designed to give a ‘worn’ look to the bolster."
 
Is it just me that a wharncliffe in this design looks weird? Finger down a blackboard weird.
 
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