What patterns have surprised you?

btb01 said:
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).
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I had always used freehand stones in the past, at first I used an upturned coffee cup, then I bought two pairs of ceramic rods which work just fine :)
 
btb01 said:
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).
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I got super frustrated with not being able to sharpen serrations and recurves, so I picked up a Ken Onion Work Sharp and the blade grinder attachment used for about $140 total shipped - which is about half what I got back selling the Wicked Edge that it replaced. Faster and easier and leaves a nice convex edge.
 
jc57 said:
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.
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Your post sent me down the Trapper rabbit hole, jc57! :D I've come to see how great a Trapper would be as a camping knife: spey blade for food, clip for everything else. That takes advantage of the Trapper's unique configuration in away I'd never considered before. Thanks! :thumbup:
 
jc57 said:
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.
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Funny thing is, the look of the classical trapper pattern (in all its sizes) is what drew me in. I found myself getting a number of them and really enjoying the look, the feel in hand, and the long, slender clip. My first wood-handled knife and my first horn knife were both trappers. Long before I cared about the stockman or the scout or the pen I liked me some Barlows and some trappers, plus whatever SAK or jack I could whip up with a spear blade.

These days, however, the trapper is among my least-carried patterns, if you don't count the jumbo bone Camillus with the drop-point blade in place of a clip. I almost always end up with a workable spey blade in one of my other knives and even if I don't have one I'm usually getting my clip blade fix from another knife. It doesn't help that my favorite stockman's master blade is almost identical in length to, and broader than, the typical 4"+ trapper clip. I have actually found it difficult at times to work trappers back into my carries, even as I ended up with one or two lovely examples that are perfect for toting. I can even replace the knife with a large Barlow and get larger blades in a pattern I've always adored. :o



I should use one to revive Connor's challenge thread. See if I can survive with a single trapper for a whole week. :eek:
 
slim sleeve board knives have become my obsession. Doctors Knives, esquires and melon testers. The long primary blades with opposite end secondary is my choice configuration. does everything a wider blade can do, just slimmer and more portable.

here's a quick snapshot of my current line up.
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Very interesting thread:thumbup:

I liked the 38 Lick Creek/Orchard Gem when I got two, but I wasn't using them. Then I took Lyle's pick bone variant into service and found it remarkable as a user and a pleasure just to carry. The short Hawkbill is truly useful for so many tasks - it even hooks/slices open an apple wonderfully. The long Spey, a blade I usually disdain also shows versatility. But, I am biased in favour of single-spring knives anyway. On a similar note, it would be excellent to get a single spring knife with Clip or Spear master and Pruner secondary, be unusual and highly useful actually. I admit to being disappointed that the forthcoming Forum Knife didn't opt for this, OK some 'purist'/pedants might shriek that it was never done in the olden days (And? So what?) :rolleyes: I don't have any use for a Punch and have actually found that they often break when using them on thinnish leather belts, so much for harnesses! Pretty sure drivers cabmen had dedicated fixed harness tools in a box for that kind of thing and that knife companies just added Punches as attractive tools or gimmicks. Nothing wrong with that either.

Here's a knife that also has a half Hawkbill/smaller Pruner the 56 single blade Pruner. This continues to surprise me, also surprising is you hear very little about them. This is certainly one I wouldn't part with. As for sharpening, I find the Sharpmaker OK for this, the video with Sal Glesser actually deals with sharpening Hawkbills and serrated knives.

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The peanut without a doubt. I tried a couple different models, but received gifts from Sitflyer and Jackknife of Damascus peanuts and that was it. I am hooked.
 
btb01 said:
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).
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I use my Spyderco Sharpmaker. Use the triangle edge; not the flat edge of the rod. My hawksbill is probably the sharpest blade I own.

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deltaboy said:
The canoe and the small stock man and 2 bladed Jack.
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Wow...real close to mine. The canoe definitely...very comfortable. I was really surprised how thin the main blade on my Case is (not in a good way). The large stockman really took me by surprise. I LOVE the sheepsfoot blade on that one. Actually knocked my trappers out of the rotation for a while. And last but not least, the texas jack. I really like the way it feels for the size and great fit and finish. I would like to give a peanut a try. So many good endorsements really can't be wrong.

By the way, I'm referring to Case knives in the patterns mentioned above...
 
When trying new patterns I've been surprised both positively and negatively a few different times. I like experiencing new styles and still have several I look forward to checking out someday. Patterns that have provided a pleasant surprise for me include the muskrat, peanut, saddlehorn etc. But no pattern was a bigger surprised to me in positive way, than the sowbelly. To me sowbellys were unappealing, even the name sowbelly turned me off. The only reason I tried one is because I had acquired most of a Colt's 175th anniversary series and a sowbelly from that series became available at an incredibly low price. After using it for a few days I wanted more. Surprisingly, it is possibly the best fit for my hand of any traditional knife I've ever used. With 3 different and useful blades to choose from and it's practical size for the pocket, what's not to like? (other than it's name :D)? Since getting the Colt I have picked up two additional sowbellys (from a different maker) and still have some others I plan to try.

The humble sowbelly what a pleasant surprise.
 
I was surprised that I found the congress useful. I ignored the pattern completely until I picked one up at a resale shop and became attached to it:thumbup:
 
Travman said:
I use my Spyderco Sharpmaker. Use the triangle edge; not the flat edge of the rod. My hawksbill is probably the sharpest blade I own.

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Astounding! I must have missed this Tidioute or is is one of Knives Ship Free Camel Bones? Fantastic colour, lucky owner!

Regards, Will
 
When released in late 2014, I decided to give the Northwoods Indian River Jack a go.
A traditional slipjoint in modern stainless powdersteel, was too tempting to pass.

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Upon receiving the IRJ, I started to follow what people thought about them.
There were many complaints about fit & finish, but I thought my IRJ was ok.
Closer inspection showed the same things on my knife too.

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After setting the edge on a waterstone, I started to carry it in my pocket and to my surprise it worked incredibly well!

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The CPM 154 steel is a great performer with good edgeholding and no rust in wet environment.
The strong backspring ensures a solid feel and there's no bladeplay.

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So, when I need a simple and traditional pocketknife in stainless, the IRJ is a pleasure to take out of the pocket and use!

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Regards
Mikael
 

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Mikael Looks like a very attractive user to me, excellent shots of it too. Can't really see any finish issues myself....

Thanks, Will
 
Will Power said:
Mikael Looks like a very attractive user to me, excellent shots of it too. Can't really see any finish issues myself....

Thanks, Will
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Yes it sure is!
I have worked a little bit on the scales finish and the waterstone has taken away some of the bumps in the blade.
There are still a few hollows in the blade, but the cutting geometry is working and I have decided to just use the knife as is.

The IRJ is also not far from what my Grandfather had in is pocket.
His knives were of Swedish making and thinner.
I don't have any of them, but I found one like them at a fleamarket.
Here showed with the IRJ and a GEC #68.

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Regards
Mikael
 

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I'll be the first one to go the opposite way with this. I was surprised that I didn't like the Lanny Clip pattern. There's plenty of people that love them, swear by them, and collect them. When I finally had one made by a custom maker and got it in hand...nope not for me. I don't know what it was either, guess it just didn't feel right.

What's funny is, I still love how they look and the size is great. Maybe I'll try again in a few years and see what happens!
 
In general my biggest surprise came from smaller patterns. I used to carry nothing but 3¾" and larger slipjoints and lockbacks, but in the last few years I've tried smaller knives and found them very capable. Sub 3" knives are still too small for my large hands, but 3¼ to 3⅜ inch knives are becoming a lot more common in my daily carries. An alox Cadet @ 3.29" is something I carry just about every day, sometimes paired with a larger knife, but not always.

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Another small favorite is this 3⅜" Rough Rider Eureka stockman, a very useful and pocketable pattern.

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JD Bear said:
Wow...real close to mine. The canoe definitely...very comfortable. I was really surprised how thin the main blade on my Case is (not in a good way). The large stockman really took me by surprise. I LOVE the sheepsfoot blade on that one. Actually knocked my trappers out of the rotation for a while. And last but not least, the texas jack. I really like the way it feels for the size and great fit and finish. I would like to give a peanut a try. So many good endorsements really can't be wrong.

By the way, I'm referring to Case knives in the patterns mentioned above...
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I have a Buck and a Colt Canoe and I,still not landed a Case Small or full sized Stock man.
 
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