What patterns have surprised you?

[Comeuppance]

For me, it was the hawkbill/pruner - I honestly just picked it up because it was $8 and looked good. When I threw it in my pocket one day, I discovered that it was actually really useful for daily chores. It just hooks right into things and cuts like nobody's business!

(Quick and dirty pictures)

Before that, I was pretty surprised by the Peanut and how capable such a tiny little knife can be.

(also pictured: inescapable and ubiquitous dog fur bits)

 

[Tyler.Bachman]

I have to say two patterns the small gec coyote peanut style knife and the sod buster patter the handle is very comftorable and capable user


Tyler

 

[Comeuppance]

Is the Coyote peanut sized? Mannnn. I knew I shoulda picked up one of those. If they come out with a clip/wharn combo in that pattern, I'll be all over it.

 

[Tyler.Bachman]

Is the Coyote peanut sized? Mannnn. I knew I shoulda picked up one of those. If they come out with a clip/wharn combo in that pattern, I'll be all over it.

Pretty close a little bigger and thicker and wide. But similar proportions and the weight is nice.


Tyler

 

[jc57]

Stockman pattern. When I first started out, I was only interested in 2-blade Jack and Pen patterns, and didn't see any reason for three blades. But they were so popular I decided to try one and became hooked.

Also, the full-sized Case Trapper has been a surprise. For some reason I don't just love the overall look of the pattern, probably that long Spey blade just doesn't look right to me. But it's one of my frequently carried "big" patterns on weekends. I carry it when there's a chance of eating out and needing something more capable than what the restaurant may offer. The Spey is an excellent sandwich slicer and condiment spreader.

 

[Wurrwulf]

Is the Coyote peanut sized? Mannnn. I knew I shoulda picked up one of those. If they come out with a clip/wharn combo in that pattern, I'll be all over it.

They are very, very close. I don't have a Beagle to compare the thicknesses, but I would imagine that they are very close in width, as well. These two patterns, along with the 25 have completely blown me away to the point that I barely look at knives with blades over 2 1/2 - 3" in size.

 

[Duper]

Is the Coyote peanut sized? Mannnn. I knew I shoulda picked up one of those. If they come out with a clip/wharn combo in that pattern, I'll be all over it.

They are still around on numerous vendor sites I think.

,,,Mike in Canada

 

[Comeuppance]

They are still around on numerous vendor sites I think.

,,,Mike in Canada

It doesn't have the blade combo I'm looking for, but I just saw the Rough Rider Mini Stockman which is clip/sheep/spey, so I'll probably be totin' that around pretty soon unless I find something better!

 

[Grateful]

Not sure if its really a pattern but the Opinel has been the biggest suprise for me. Lite weight, durable and man do the cut well. Great knives.

Jim

 

[Bartleby]

The Christy sliding knife. My family members carried them for years, but I never tried one until they got passed down to me. I didn't want to use the family knives for sentimental reasons (some being nearly 80 years old), so I bought a current one. I have been surprised at how useful it is, and surprisingly comfortable for its small size. The thin blade cuts much better than I had thought it would (although I bought a spare blade, it seems doubtful I will need to use it), and it is super discreet.

 

[Dadpool]

The Peanut surprised the heck out of me. I thought it would be too small for my mitts, but it's not. I thought it would bug me to have two blades with belly and no straight-edge, but it doesn't. I thought the tiny pen blade might be too small to be useful, but it isn't.

I can see why it's a classic, and it's more than earned its place in my rotation.

 

[Henry Beige]

The Improved Muskrat: Clip on one end and. Long sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe on the other. I got the Rough Rider and it amazed me how useful it is, and easy to carry. The smooth tobacco bone scales were also surprisingly attractive. I have picked up several other patterns in this finish, and will keep my eyes open for other examples of this pattern.

 

[Comeuppance]

The Improved Muskrat: Clip on one end and. Long sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe on the other. I got the Rough Rider and it amazed me how useful it is, and easy to carry. The smooth tobacco bone scales were also surprisingly attractive. I have picked up several other patterns in this finish, and will keep my eyes open for other examples of this pattern.

The smooth tobacco bone is one of my favorites! I went for the Dog Bone Jack despite generally disliking spear blades and it has become my dedicated dog walkin' knife. That's another one that surprised me! I honestly just bought it for the sheath, hah.

 

[TsarBomba]

Is the Coyote peanut sized? Mannnn. I knew I shoulda picked up one of those. If they come out with a clip/wharn combo in that pattern, I'll be all over it.

They are very, very close. I don't have a Beagle to compare the thicknesses, but I would imagine that they are very close in width, as well. These two patterns, along with the 25 have completely blown me away to the point that I barely look at knives with blades over 2 1/2 - 3" in size.

Since you took care of the peanut/Coyote comparison, I figure I can help here.

Stockman pattern. When I first started out, I was only interested in 2-blade Jack and Pen patterns, and didn't see any reason for three blades. But they were so popular I decided to try one and became hooked.

Also, the full-sized Case Trapper has been a surprise. For some reason I don't just love the overall look of the pattern, probably that long Spey blade just doesn't look right to me. But it's one of my frequently carried "big" patterns on weekends. I carry it when there's a chance of eating out and needing something more capable than what the restaurant may offer. The Spey is an excellent sandwich slicer and condiment spreader.

Cosign on both of these. I am now a big fan of both the large trapper and large stockman patterns, and you've discovered some of the benefits of having a nice broad spey on board.

The smooth tobacco bone is one of my favorites! I went for the Dog Bone Jack despite generally disliking spear blades and it has become my dedicated dog walkin' knife. That's another one that surprised me! I honestly just bought it for the sheath, hah.

I keep my Beagle or Coyote in the DBJ's sheath for full coverage, as I don't like how many "ready made" slips will leave the top bolster hanging out to be damaged or scratched. The pocket clip is eminently useful, too. I'm considering buying 3-4 more of the DBJs and giving the knives themselves away.

 

[paulhilborn]

The #38 Orchard Gem/Lick Creek totally caught me off guard. I ABSOLUTELY love the knife:thumbup:

 

[Camillus]

My surprises.

GEC 71. For such a plain looking knife it is surprisingly nice in hand
Case peanut. For such a well renowned knife, I didn't expect such poor walk and talk
GEC 98. Every time pick it up I get 'oh my gosh' feeling from the size.
GEC H733 The surprise is that I can't believe they don't make these anymore. A superb knife.






.

 

[glocktenman]

The #38 Orchard Gem/Lick Creek totally caught me off guard. I ABSOLUTELY love the knife:thumbup:

Paul,

That's the one that I was surprised with too. I got one as a gift and looked at....almost didn't gift it but, I did. LOL. It fits my hand well and I love the main blade. I can pinch it open. I'm looking around for another to keep as my own now.

 

[pmew]

The #38 Orchard Gem/Lick Creek totally caught me off guard. I ABSOLUTELY love the knife:thumbup:

That's the one that I was surprised with too. I got one as a gift and looked at....almost didn't gift it but, I did. LOL. It fits my hand well and I love the main blade. I can pinch it open. I'm looking around for another to keep as my own now.

Gents, I totally concur. Since I got it I have probably carried it more than any other;

 

[Comeuppance]

Depending on how much I like the Rough Rider in a similar setup, I might scout out one of those cranberry pick bone orchard gems... I have come to appreciate the hawkbill profile a lot more now that I can easily sharpen them.

Very handsome and functional knives by all accounts, and in pretty low demand which makes picking one up a pretty easy task!

 

[btb01]

I have come to appreciate the hawkbill profile a lot more now that I can easily sharpen them.

What are you using to sharpen them? Sharpening's what has always kept me from picking up any hawkbills, because I know I couldn't use any of the flat-stone type sharpening apparatuses I currently have (Arkansas stones and DMT).