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

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rishma said:
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.
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How about a scaled down version of that sweet Clip blade on Charlie's Texas scout!
 
how about match-strike long pull and tanto. you don't see that, everyday.:) (heh heh) Neal
 
If it's Micarta, I'd rather it not be jigged. I've yet to see jigged Micarta that I like better than smooth. While spear points are more common, I do so like GEC clip points.

So lets see:

-Frame similar to the #68 with a Bail
-Green or Natural canvas Micarta
-Acorn Shield
-Clip point blade with a matchstriker long pull
-Caplifter
-Awl
-440C steel

Would be a great EDC.
 
Well, since we're all throwin' in our $.02 worth, here's mine for the scout forum knife:


Loose the can opener blade in favor of a secondary cutting blade, like a sheepfoot or small clip. Let's face it, pop-top cans are here to stay.

Stainless steel construction throughout; much more user friendly for this type knife. 420hc or 440C are fine. This would also allow the use of the Acorn shield, as it would fall into the GEC class knives that use this shield. (Bill is picky about such things)

Micarta looks better when smooth, as the jigging just disguises the grain.

And lastly, loose the bail in the interest of cost. JMHO.

I can see Charlie rolling his eyes, but I think a break with traditionally made camp knives is in order. Since we're thinking Micarta instead of bone, why not SS instead of 1095?

If we are making the knife in traditional dress, then use carbon steel, common blades, and jigged bone with a bail like most originals had.



OK, I'm done. :D:D:D
 
What Barry said makes a lot of sense to me ... even though I must have missed those scissors in his comment somewhere ;)
 
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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A split spring scout would be very unique :thumbup:


I also vote for no bail
 
But if you look at the 38 Whittler you'll see that the secondary blades are quite thin, as is typical for Whittlers. I can't see a feasible cap opener or punch being made on such thin stock without radically altering the pattern....
 
gunstockjack said:
Well, since we're all throwin' in our $.02 worth, here's mine for the scout forum knife:


Loose the can opener blade in favor of a secondary cutting blade, like a sheepfoot or small clip. Let's face it, pop-top cans are here to stay.

Stainless steel construction throughout; much more user friendly for this type knife. 420hc or 440C are fine. This would also allow the use of the Acorn shield, as it would fall into the GEC class knives that use this shield. (Bill is picky about such things)

Micarta looks better when smooth, as the jigging just disguises the grain.

And lastly, loose the bail in the interest of cost. JMHO.

I can see Charlie rolling his eyes, but I think a break with traditionally made camp knives is in order. Since we're thinking Micarta instead of bone, why not SS instead of 1095?

If we are making the knife in traditional dress, then use carbon steel, common blades, and jigged bone with a bail like most originals had.



OK, I'm done. :D:D:D
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All this makes a lot of sense, just what's needed.
 
Has real pre-ban ivory been completely outlawed yet?
I say get the real thing.
 
Please, no ivory. It will be a nightmere to get it imported around the globe. Ivory micarta would work for me just fine. Plus using ivory would not be exactly a money saving option I guess.
 
knarfeng said:
Ack! No celluloid!
If you want something ivory colored, try for Ivory bone or ivory Micarta.
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Or that other stuff... watchamacallit? oh yeah ..ivory:p

I doubt any ivory will get in here without a hassle. Mammoth is good to go though.
 
Warthog ivory is quite nice and totally legal. A bit expensive, but much less than tusk.
 
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).

IMGP8872_0702_edited-1_zpshif61x9y.jpg
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Eisman, I'm not sure if you're aware but the knife you showed us is readily available. Check out the Northwoods Presidential! I love mine.

kW4solBl.jpg
 
In the spirit of this thread, which is about our fantasies for a forum knife, I think the ivory talk is fine. But I think it is pretty darn unlikely in any real world sense.

That said, there is something special about the feel of ivory, and since my fantasy knives that I started this thread with were scrimshawed nautical types, you know I'd be down with ivory.

But for practicality, cost, legal, etc, my preference would be ivory micarta (if we were to go that route). But I wouldn't really want ivory type handles on a scout pattern. For that presidential, sure. And of course, Ivory micarta handles on whaler or rope knife would be my absolute favorite options.
 
Washington state has laws forbidding the sale of any type of ivory to anywhere, except within the state, so I cannot sell or ship ivory of ANY KIND. Period.

Stupid, I know, but that is the current law.
 
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