Whatcha got on order? (Traditional Knives Only)

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Great Eastern Cutlery #321224 Engineer Special Factory Order: C. Risner Indian Head Red Pearl Acrylic​

 
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Thought I was lucky to get one of those but they sat on the shelf for more than a day 😲 A bit surprising considering the historical reference should appeal to both knife aficionados and fuckers flippers.

Regardless, the handle scales and well used blades will go very well together on this one.
 
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Jacques Mi said:
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Thought I was lucky to get one of those but they sat on the shelf for more than a day 😲 A bit surprising considering the historical reference should appeal to both knife aficionados and fuckers flippers.

Regardless, the handle scales and well used blades will go very well together on this one.
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Nice knife - in my opinion, you got lucky! 🥳

You describe an interesting phenomenon.

If I may, I believe the lack of fervor is due primarily to the use of Richlite. With each run that includes Richlite as a cover option, I've noticed that certain voices seem to be zealously against it. I understand the reluctance, especially within a "traditional knife" community, to accept the use of a new-fangled modern material. I've heard it was this way with Acrylic once. Chances are, had the brand name "Richlite®" not entered into the equation and the use of the prior common name "paper micarta" continued instead, you may not have seen the same amount of hang time on these.

Which brings up another point - the Richlite branding itself. Personally, I'm neutral about it (that's usually bad - good branding should make you feel something... anything). I can picture that boardroom meeting - an outside contractor who has been hired to create a list of glitzy brand names (for the generic-sounding and copyright-infringing name "paper micarta") is wearing the off-the-rack suit he owns just for the, roughly biannual, occasions like this. He's going down the list and gets to Richlite - the execs want to know "What does it mean, man?" and he tells them some nonsense about how the word "rich - evokes an indefinable feeling of high quality, y'know?" and how "lite - is such a precious way of suggesting that the product has fantastic strength-to-weight ratio." They liked it, and now we have Richlite, and more importantly - opinions about it!

I like it, or at least don't mind it. I also understand why some folks don't - and why others struggle to get excited about it at all (it was born to be a countertop, after all). I also know that in six minutes, six months, or six years - those same people may publicly lament how they miss the good ol' Richlite glory days when Richlite-covered knives would sit for a whole day - which will inevitably spark a temporary run on Richlite-covered knives and the airing of many sentiments like "Boy, they just don't make this Richlite like they used to, do they?" 😂

Another angle to consider is that Queen has possibly now been effectively defunct long enough (and without any serious effort at promoting the company marks) that the meaning of their brand imagery is lost from the cultural lexicon or has shifted. Probably both. Maybe the flippers know that their primary audience won't get the reference, and even if they do - what does Queen mean to them? What connection do they have to this great, yet lost, company? Maybe Queen has become not much more than an inside joke among those who know. Not a disrespectful joke - maybe more like a gag? 🤷

What an interesting time to be interested in knives. That turned out longer than I'd planned it to be. I think I'd been thinking about it for awhile. Thanks for listening. 😂
 
birdsbeaks said:
Nice knife - in my opinion, you got lucky! 🥳

You describe an interesting phenomenon.
. 😂
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Good points. Like acrylic, not all Richlite has the same appeal (e.g. maple on the 62), but they’ve done it well too (e.g. the last 15s.) I’m pretty neutral, but I didn’t care for Queen’s winterbottom so this homage isn’t for me.

We’ll likely see more and more Richlite, as I understand it’s easier to work with and affordable.
 
birdsbeaks said:
Nice knife - in my opinion, you got lucky! 🥳
You describe an interesting phenomenon.
If I may ..... Thanks for listening. 😂
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That was a pleasant and insightful read.
Thank you!
I've never touched Richlite before but I'm curios to see how it feels like and holds up. I agree, the name is tacky and doesn't fit well with a traditional slipjoint. It is what it is, I'm not offended by it.
 
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Jacques Mi said:
That was a pleasant and insightful read.
Thank you!
I've never touched Richlite before but I'm curios to see how it feels like and holds up. I agree, the name is tacky and doesn't fit well with a traditional slipjoint. It is what it is, I'm not offended by it.
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Thank you, my friend. In that case, I'm glad I set it down.

The most recent run of #21s was my first experience with Richlite. Since then I've found it be extremely durable, resilient, lightweight, and resistant to cracking and chipping. I find it attractive and imagine that thus far, we've only scratched the surface of the aesthetic possibilities. I think you'll enjoy it on a working pattern.
 
Jacques Mi Jacques Mi I think you’ll be pleasantly suprised to the look and feel of Richlite. My first and only one which won’t be my last Btw is on my Gec#78. I was disappointed when that was the only one I could acquire on the drop but now that I have it I absolutely love everything about it.
Looks as good if not better than any other cover imo and feels wonderful in hand.
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birdsbeaks said:
Thank you, my friend. In that case, I'm glad I set it down.

The most recent run of #21s was my first experience with Richlite. Since then I've found it be extremely durable, resilient, lightweight, and resistant to cracking and chipping. I find it attractive and imagine that thus far, we've only scratched the surface of the aesthetic possibilities. I think you'll enjoy it on a working pattern.
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Yes, a material that had durability and longevity is often not associated with aesthetics - but that conception seems to be changing today. It is positive that Richlite may take hold on both ends so to speak.
 
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I have been very tempted by the richlite 81, but have stayed strong. I personally perceive Richlite as a brand of paper Micarta, so judge it no differently than other Micarta. I see myself having a GEC with Richlite covers eventually.

I think it looks fantastic and the Queen reference is tasteful and nice. That etch and tube art too. Queen used plenty of jigged synthetics as well as bone.
 
!!! That broccoli knife I ordered on July 17th is almost ready to ship!

I'm not complaining, really. The knife was something like $8 and the shipping is free.
 
I am absolutely thrilled and over the moon that I have a Horsewright custom knife coming my way! Definitely a dream knife!
 
justsomedude said:
For over 6 months I was strong, I even forgot that I had seen it listed. Then, in a moment of weakness after a late Saturday night I typed the fated words, "Reese Bose Knives" into my search bar and now this is on it's way to me.
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Those late-night forays into "knives for sale" can be expensive! I've been there! Nice one! ;)
 
I just looked it up because I was curious about why the Gerber Gator fixed blade would be on sale for so cheap ( they're sold out BTW ), and I found that Gerber has discontinued this model.

If I knew that I might have ordered 2.
 
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