What made you pick a pattern?

I'm really drawn to single bladed traditionals. No particular pattern is my favorite. For some reason multibladed knives seem less whole if that makes any sense at all. I'm not sure where this stems from. My dad had an ol' buck 110 that he was gifted from his father when he graduated and travelled through Europe. It was an ugly beast with a broken tip. It was my grail as a child. Interestingly I never got my own 110 till my 20s. I also love carbon steels. Again this love came from a family knife. My mom always had this old fixed blade in carbon steel. Had a beautiful patina. Sadly this knife was stolen out of the family car during a summer camping trip.
 
I have a preference for three patterns: Stockman (including Cattle King), Dr. pattern with spatula, and thanks to you Carl, the peanut. The Stockman was my first slipjoint. Not sure why... I do think I was a farmer in a previous life. Dr. pattern with spatula... well, I AM a Dr. It is only natural. The peanut... purely Carl's fault. I got one a couple of years back, and I now obsess about it. I carry it nightly in my "relaxing shorts/pants". I also occasionally carry it as my small sheeple friendly EDC.
 
When I first decided to collect knives I didn't have an EDC. After working and doing chores for my parents I was allowed to get a little Case caliber lockback, I cherished that knife like no other. I carried it 24/7, but I ended up loosing it and I was without a carry knife. My Grandfather gifted me an old Case Whaler knife that he had, but I only carried it for a few weeks before my Birthday rolled around. I just asked for a knife, no pattern in particular, just a knife.

I knew it was a Case box, I imagined what it could be through the wrapping paper, but I could never guess. After ripping through the paper, I spilled out a little brown Peanut. This knife was as old time as it got for me, I loved it. I knew the scales weren't Bone, but it was a perfect little knife. I couldn't tell it was in my pocket, but when I needed it, it was there, it did everything and went everywhere with me. Time has a way of changing things and I changed my EDC out, I still loved that Peanut, but I left it at home a lot. When I finally started carrying it, I was involved in a car accident and I lost that nut somewhere in the wreckage.

When my birthday rolled around there was only one thing I wanted, a Case peanut. My Grandmother has always supported my knife addiction and another peanut was almost a given. I received a harvest orange nut, a beautiful little knife that warmed my heart and my pocket. After joining this forum and reading Carl's many stories on the nut and in particular the yellow nut, I had to have one. Another year passed and it was time for another b-day request. I was specific about wanting a CV peanut and when my little yellow buddy spilled out, I was more than pleased.

My Grandmother had a stroke a few days ago and we are going to Pittsburgh everyday, having that little nut is perfect. It will do everything I need it too and with my Grandmother in the hospital, it reminds me of her. It will be with me until she comes home, hopefully right when it's the perfect time.

Here they are.
P1014612.jpg
 
Great story Johnny, and we're sending some prayers for your grandmother. Hope all ends well.

Carl.
 
My first knife, a Camillus stockman, was a Christmas present from my grandfather. I carried it for many years before losing it.

My current carry choices are determined by what I am planning for the day. If I will be at work where we have a 2.5" maximum blade length, I carry a Buck 55. I had tried a peanut and found it a bit smaller, a medium jack and found it just perfect, and the 55 and found it to be more perfect than the jack. It's a nice, slim knife that rides comfortably in the pocket and has enough blade that I could probably use it just about all the time.

When I get home I swap it for something else. For general use I prefer a 2-blade Barlow or teardrop with a spear and pen blade combination and nicely rounded edges. I like the spear blade for general use and the pen for opening mail. I can also use the pen blade for some whittling if I am so inclined. It's enough knife to do what I need, but not so much it feels uncomfortable in my pocket.

The other possibility for evening and weekend use is a 3 or 4 blade knife with an assortment of blades that are good for whittling. It used to be the Boker Congress Carver all the time because it has the ideal combination of blades for me, but sometimes I'll carry a GEC Gepetto Whittler and other times, but less often, a Schatt&Morgan 4-blade sowbelly.

So basically my choice of knives is determined by practical considerations.
 
I started by buying three meduim size Stockman with delrin handles
A Queen 3 1/4" in 'Jigged Black Cherry' delrin in D2, a 3 5/8" Yella Case and a yella MooreMaker that was made by Camillus, both in carbon

My first post was asking which one to buy
And I followed the excellent advice as is commonly found here on this forum


I bought all three...........
 
I wanted a knife long enough that I could do some food prep with if needed and liked the look of a trapper frame so a Case Mini Trapper was my first. I didn't really like the way CV reacted with food so went for something bigger, a Canal Street Half Moon Trapper. I got a Queen #11 Utility and a GEC #48. I liked the Queen as it was the longest but it felt a little too long. The #48 (Based on Schrade serpentine trapper frame) felt most comfortable to me. I liked them a lot but found I needed a second blade for dirtier jobs. Now I'm most attracted to 2 blade trapper frames but occasionally still get single blade versions and smaller knives to accompany them. I actually like a jack knife set up on a serpentine trapper frame the best, or a wharncliffe trapper where the wharncliffe doesn't stick out to much. I like the 3 1/2 ~ 4" sizes the best. Examples:
IMG_1789.jpg

IMG_1639.jpg

IMG_1367.jpg
 
A blessing for your grandmother, Johnny.
Smoke sent.
 
The buck 55 is a great knife. I was admiring mine today. Of my "new" knives, it is certainly one of the best, certainly better put together than most of what I see Case put out.

Johnny, best to you and yours.
 
2Dead said:
I wanted a knife long enough that I could do some food prep with if needed and liked the look of a trapper frame so a Case Mini Trapper was my first. I didn't really like the way CV reacted with food so went for something bigger, a Canal Street Half Moon Trapper. I got a Queen #11 Utility and a GEC #48. I liked the Queen as it was the longest but it felt a little too long. The #48 (Based on Schrade serpentine trapper frame) felt most comfortable to me. I liked them a lot but found I needed a second blade for dirtier jobs. Now I'm most attracted to 2 blade trapper frames but occasionally still get single blade versions and smaller knives to accompany them. I actually like a jack knife set up on a serpentine trapper frame the best, or a wharncliffe trapper where the wharncliffe doesn't stick out to much. I like the 3 1/2 ~ 4" sizes the best. Examples:
Click to expand...

I am also drawn to this pattern, but it was clearly a case where the knife chose me. The first time I saw one of these old Schrade serpentine jacks with the fancy bolsters and sabre cut blade paired with the pen, I had to have one... well make that two, and counting.

Walden_NY_294_f-2.jpg


294_red_b1-1.jpg
 
thawk said:
I am also drawn to this pattern, but it was clearly a case where the knife chose me. The first time I saw one of these old Schrade serpentine jacks with the fancy bolsters and sabre cut blade paired with the pen, I had to have one... well make that two, and counting.

Walden_NY_294_f-2.jpg


294_red_b1-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Do these come in single blades too?
 
So ... why did I choose the stockman pattern? I haven't really given it much thought. It's the right size for easy carry 3.5"-4". The sheepsfoot blade is both shepple friendly and short enough to open boxes w/o the chance of scratching the contents. The clip is long enough to cut a steak when I go to my bro-n-laws house (has 3 steak knives total). and of course there's the spare (spey). The spey is rarely used, so it has the distinction of being the sharpest, but least used blade on my knives.
 
thawk said:
I am also drawn to this pattern, but it was clearly a case where the knife chose me. The first time I saw one of these old Schrade serpentine jacks with the fancy bolsters and sabre cut blade paired with the pen, I had to have one... well make that two, and counting.

Walden_NY_294_f-2.jpg


294_red_b1-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Something about them looks so right, so inviting :thumbup:

raym0016@gmail.com said:
Excuse my ignorance, Can you tell me what the last knife you posted? I believe that is exactly what I am looking for in a traditional edc, color, blades, etc it is perfect.
Click to expand...

Its a slimline trapper shadow made for me about a year ago by Mike Alsdorf. Its about 3 5/8" closed with a 3" main clip blade and a 3/4 size wharncliffe secondary. The covers are black linen micarta and blades CPM-154. 416 stainless steel liners and federal shield. It has a half stop but the pulls are only about 4-5 on the pull scale. Here's a link to my post in Mike's dedicated thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/627551-Mike-Alsdorf-Knives?p=9643705#post9643705
 
MTHall720 said:
Do these come in single blades too?
Click to expand...

They were made back in the late 40's early 50's, and back then there were not any of this exact pattern in a single blade, but there are plenty made like this now, by GEC.
 
GEC has 440c versions coming out soon.
#4881 GEC STAINLESS STEEL SINGLE BLADE TRAPPER
American Hardwood
Jigged Bone
American Elk

Below is a pic of my #4881s in 1095
IMG_1783.jpg
 
I'm fond of jack knives..especially larger and heavier ones. I get along fine with two blades...that is why I never liked stockmen or whittlers.

STP80591.jpg

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I am drawn to Barlows because I remember my grandfather using one. It was old and the blades were reduced to toothpicks but it worked for him. He taught me how to sharpen knives on an old white stone wheel with a tin can dripping water on it and it was spun by a wooden foot pedal...in my minds eye I can still see his knobby arthritic hands gently holing the blade to the spinning wheel. To this day I cannot hold a Barlow without thinking of my Pepere...
 
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