What pattern would you like to see in 2016 as the Trad Forum Knife

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Originally I never would have wanted a scout knife, I've only found bad shape or poor quality examples wherever I go. Yet the recent love for the scout pattern on here has gotten me searching for one to try out, although to no avail. I think a forum scout would be awesome by itself, and certainly solve my problem! I want a bail but the wallet says no, maybe if this is finalized and we see how much more a bail is I'll decide.

Connor
 
Oh and I second the removal of can opener, but I would like to see an awl replace it.
 
eisman said:
Having ruffled everyone's feathers, I'll throw in the knife I'd like to see used a pattern for this year (if we can get one done up).

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Very nice! What is the pattern name of this? It looks a lot like the Northwoods Presidential - maybe the same inspiration?
 
I quite like having the can opener on a camping knife. In my mind, that is the reason for the scout. I think of it a part three of a hatchet, fixed, and folder set. And it is nice to be able to open a can in the woods. I understand maybe not wanting the can opener on an every day pocket knife, but it is nice to have on a camping knife.
 
eisman said:
OK, I'll toss in my $0.02 worth...once again.

If you want a pattern that's readily available (Stockman, Sowbelly, Swayback, etc) then buy one. The Forum knife should be a pattern that's not currently available. Not just a scale material. There are lot's of knives that used to be made by companies that are no longer made. For example, Case makes tens of thousands of knifes every year, but they haven't run the 6245 in over 50 years. That would be a nice Forum knife.

The advantage of doing a Forum knife that's not readily available is that often the company will then put out other runs of the same pattern. At that point we have directly influenced both the return of a hard to find pattern, and collectors (on and off this Forum). That's one of the reasons Tony Bose's yearly patterns are so popular. A good example of this is the GEC 73, which started as a Forum knife and has been produced in dozens of variations since then. Think of it as giving something back to the hobby.

Unusual, or uncommon, or special, knives have a collect-ability all their own. That's why SFO's are worthwhile, the Beer-Scout, or the Washington Jack, or the Canittler, are hard to find, but they are out there, and that's why they call it collecting. And that's part of what makes a BF knife special. Be honest, wouldn't you rather have one of the first Slim Jacks (old Remington pattern) made in 50 years, or maybe a Lock Punch Jack (have you ever seen one), or another Sodbuster? Putting the BF logo on something that's not special just cheapens it.

And that brings me to my last point, we cheapen the whole process by trying to limit the cost. I'm not saying it should be unlimited, but trying to keep it under $100 for what's essentially a short run custom limits the final product. I'd rather see 100 made at $150 than 300 made at $75. We should be happy to pay for better materials, better fit and finish, and some exclusivity, and most of the SFO's I'm seeing these days are much closer to $150 than $75.

Having ruffled everyone's feathers, I'll throw in the knife I'd like to see used a pattern for this year (if we can get one done up).

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Basically I'm in agreement with you except that the Forum Knife is not always based on unobtainable or defunct patterns e.g. there's been a Stockman, Barlow, Trapper, Moose, Single Blade knife. nor did the 73 start off as a Forum Knife, I think you may mean the 85? But I take your point, ambition. Well, if the Scout goes ahead, then it will represent a fairly difficult to obtain pattern and as it will be a new one for GEC it will be expensive, particularly in 4 blade configuration. Realistically, I suspect it would be 150 USD or more . I hope those who are enthusing over it realize this?

The Erickson you show is just what I'd like, something completely different from the run-of-the-mill and could be feasible as a production knife. Last year, GEC put forward a proposal that was rather lacklustre but if they went back to the drawing-board and offered more interesting blades like the Erickson and offered special colour bone and shield you could get a truly remarkable knife and it would as you point out, not have to be restricted to the lower price end, but to lower production numbers. I wish, anyway.

Thanks, Will
 
I realize the Forum knife has used some fairly common patterns. But, to me, those are the least interesting, and not very special. My point was that the Forum knife SHOULD be something that can't be had in less than 10 minutes on eBay.
 
waynorth said:
I have been talking to Barry and GEC about doing a Forum knife for this year.

I'd like to point out that Barry went above and beyond the call of duty for 2015, and put in hours of work, and some significant risk, for no money!
He is understandably reluctant to do it again, so I am trying to find a way to entice him, and to provide a knife we all could love.

For many of the past several years, many have longed for a good old Scout knife. I also have longed to make one. Making one would pull me back into the annual project with enthusiasm intact.
Bill shook his head at that one, pointing out that a four-bladed knife would be quite expensive.
He has traditionally given us very generous price breaks on knives with fewer blades - the single blade stag jack was a killer deal a couple of years ago. He says his risk of losing on a 4-blader goes up exponentially because the knife is so complex.

I tend toward the Go Big or Go Home philosophy, but that is a lot to ask of friends!:eek:

Nonetheless, I have a proposal!!:)

Damn the Torpedoes, let's do a Scout!! A New-era, Old-school Scout knife!

3 5/8", safety Can opener, Caplifter/screwdriver, Awl/punch, and Spear main.
Back to our tradition of a new pattern (triple-P etch - Pertinux would approve!) for the Forum!
Many - a majority - of post-war Scouts had synthetic handles, and they are the least expensive, and ironically the toughest, so lets do Micarta! I can hear the gasps as I utter the M-word!!

We can decide;
A) the color - it would be jigged - more gasps!
B) a shield
C) bail (costly) or no bail

I am fully prepared to be shouted down, booed, or booted from the forum, especially when we go significantly over the past $100 limit I have aimed for in the past .

What Say You????
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I'm in. Where do I send my money? If it needs to be a little more expensive, so be it. I'm in.

That being said..... I would really prefer jigged bone, but I'm in anyways.



If we stick to Micarta, what colors could be available? I really liked that Ivory we used on the Congress Jack. It would be quite classy on a scout.
 
WOOHOO!!! This is outstanding news!

Charlie, you have the Midas touch. All of your projects turned to gold!!

You're at the helm and I say don't listen to any of our opinions or suggestions, but chart your own course! You choose the color of micarta, you choose the number of blades, you choose the style of punch, you choose bail or no, etc. You are the Man and we are privileged to be able to follow you on this project.

This is also a great way for Bill to produce a Scout with no risk to himself since all the knives will be paid up front.

To those wanting a fixed blade, it's been discussed before and I was originally a proponent. The issue is that it will significantly increase shipping costs. The size of box needed to ship a fixed blade versus a pocket knife makes the project prohibitively expensive for some, especially those outside CONUS.
 
I'd be in for sure on a scout knife. Jigged green micarta would be gorgeous. A slim 3-blade would be outstanding.
 
I have mixed emotions about scouts. I am always attracted to them but spear points are my least favorite. I probably won't be in for a scout with a spear.....I am sure it will be wonderful though.
 
I can't remember if this was brought up already but I believe it was, GEC does really nice work with their 3 blade Whittler patterns, couldn't they do a Whittler Scout? Spear main on two springs, caplifter and punch secondary at the other end on their own spring.

It's still a scout, it'll save some money, it's something unique for sure, won't look like the typical scout, and it will certainly still be very useful. 4 blades isn't that necessary, because seriously, who really uses the can opener anymore...acorn shield for the win.
 
Jsega51 said:
I can't remember if this was brought up already but I believe it was, GEC does really nice work with their 3 blade Whittler patterns, couldn't they do a Whittler Scout? Spear main on two springs, caplifter and punch secondary at the other end on their own spring.

It's still a scout, it'll save some money, it's something unique for sure, won't look like the typical scout, and it will certainly still be very useful. 4 blades isn't that necessary, because seriously, who really uses the can opener anymore...acorn shield for the win.
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I used one recently to open a can of coffee. :p
 
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