What's your grail?

I don’t have a grail knife. As much as I enjoy knives I don’t recall lusting after any particular knife for very long. The subject of knives is attractive due to its deep and apparent diversity. There are lots of interesting knives out there and on occasion when I come across one that I like or find intriguing I will consider acquiring it if I have the means. For me it has almost always been a passive opportunistic process rather than an obsessive quest. Enjoyment comes from the seemingly endless variety rather than from a specific brand, form and shade of knife. I often enjoy simple knives that I can associate with a specific place, time or function. In that sense the knife is just a prop to stir my Imagination or curiosity and the real quest comes from learning about the varied items that I encounter.

n2s
 
I agree with not2sharp not2sharp , my hobby enjoyment lately has been the variety of patterns. More and more I appreciate other people's knives without the desire to have one for myself or to constantly seek out the best knife I can find.

I had a grail knife, the 86 CK SFO. I couldn't imagine a more perfect knife. Well, I got my grail knives...
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... but as I started carrying the stag 86, I found myself going back to other knives with memories tied to them. I also didn't like the blade shape near as much in daily use. Life lesson - sometimes the things we think are perfect are definitely not perfect.
 
It only exists in the mind....thus it becomes an eternal quest, or dangerous delusion :eek::D

But, if Ken Erickson were still making knives and he would consider me....A Serp frame something like a GEC 38, single spring 2 blades Penknife type construction, Spear or Drop-Point master, small Clip secondary, all sunk-joint, Tip-bolsters, Bar shield and bark, gnarled Stag :cool:

Easy no?;)
 
Mines a fixed blade. I own a number of nice Buck 118 Personal variations going back into the mid-1960’s, but I have wanted a nice example of an early Barrel-Nut constructed 118 for many years - haven’t yet tripped across one. OH
 
Matt_WY said:
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A true grail knife would be something by Tony Bose. Enrique Pena has made some incredible multi-blade traditionals in the past that are just beauties. Lately I have been totally taken in by Don Hanson trappers with some of that oldass rag micarta.
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That is a beauty for sure. I don't know if it's a grail knife or not but the one I seek the most is the GEC Charlie Campagna SFO WAYNORTH CUTLERY REAL LAMBFOOT KNIFE. Missed the boat on these actually didn't even see the boat. They come around every once in awhile but at a high premium and go lightning quick as you know. The likely hood of me actually getting one is slim .
 
Ron Lake tail lock.. not engraved with stag or MOP inlays and stainless frame.. it probably won't happen so it's definitely a grail in the truest sense
 
Edit :
I replied only to realize I already had a few months ago, surprisingly my answer was the same.

I guess the Amber jigged CV Case 08 must be my true grail if I'm still hoping for one.
Right now can think of a handful of knives I'd like that I probably won't even remember in a few months.

Also I am currently looking for a Buck 305 in brass and wood, they made enough of them and it's only been a few years since they stopped, but I just haven't found one yet.
 
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A Tony Bose stockman is the grail I will never acquire. I do however have Case Bose collaboration stockman and cattle knife and they are fantastic.

As to a grail I may someday be able to obtain it is this one.
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I was able to find and acquire a grail a while back a GEC Abilene in ebony as seen in my avatar. I have numerous GEC's and the ebony Abilene is hands down the absolute best of the lot.
 
To me a grail knife has to not only be so rare that you may never have the opportunity to procure one but also so desirable that others are also on the hunt for the same knife. That removes customs as that only involves ponying up the bucks. Never thought I would own one of my two GEC grails, a blood red Rendezvous Beer Scout, 1 of 3. My other grail, the Rendezvous soup bone Beerlow…still on the hunt! DC04837E-4B73-490C-88F2-14BED75DE904.jpeg
 
Soup bone TC/caplifter. These were sold by Charlie Campagna waynorth waynorth at one or the Rendezvous”s. I think it was 2013 or 2014. I heard that Charlie never wanted a caplifter on one of the TC’s. Bill made these as a joke.

The Soup bone color and character were amazing on these knives. This may be the most subtle and tasteful etch that GEC has ever done. (I think this pic belongs to Primble Primble )
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Will Power said:
It only exists in the mind....thus it becomes an eternal quest, or dangerous delusion :eek::D

But, if Ken Erickson were still making knives and he would consider me....A Serp frame something like a GEC 38, single spring 2 blades Penknife type construction, Spear or Drop-Point master, small Clip secondary, all sunk-joint, Tip-bolsters, Bar shield and bark, gnarled Stag :cool:

Easy no?;)
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Add a decent stainless and pen secondary and you've pretty much got my grail also! :)
 
Pomsbz said:
Add a decent stainless and pen secondary and you've pretty much got my grail also! :)
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:cool: I think Ken usually opted for stainless anyway, but I go along with your dream too :thumbsup:

Absolutely pleased with a recent GEC 38 English Whittler I got hold of, I still don't really believe in 'grails' but this one has exceeded all expectations , it is of course non stainless so there's always a fly in the ointment...:D

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Quite a few of my grails have actually become realities. As with such a hobby, in which I collect "things", I have had many grails along the way, (my just really wanting something really bad and not seemingly achievable). For any number of reasons they may simply seem unlikely to be acquired. Maybe it's because of their scarcity, (hard to find). Sometimes it's just way too expensive, (too rich for my blood). Other times the specimen(s) that I do find are not up to my standard of overall condition, (my finding them all beat to heck). One thing is for sure, just when I think that I have in mind "that one grail of all grails" that makes the top of my list, another one comes along and gets added in or surpasses it. It's all part of the fun, that feeling like a little boy really wanting something... Kind'a like the kid in the "A Christmas Story" movie, where the little boy just wants that darned Red Rider BB gun. And, if he can only be allowed to somehow get it, he'll not want anything ever again so badly. But, of course, that's not what actually happens. Whether he gets it or not, he'll soon enough find something else that he again wants very badly. Boys will be boys, and I think it's all good. It's a fun part of life that is mostly only doable with us lucky folks living in first world/well developed countries.

Now, I will mention one of my grails that I was able to recently make a reality.
It wasn't a big ticket item, but neither was it cheap.
You see, while perusing online a few years ago, I ran across some pictures of Bowie Knives being made by the current owners of the Wostenholm IXL brand name. The makers of these knives are part of the Egginton Group in Sheffield, England. Upon further investigation of them, I was lead to watching a few of their online videos, showing the old school handmade methods that they were still applying for getting them produced.
But, I could not find anybody in the USA that was carrying them at the time. Well, I did have the option of ordering it direct from England, but that just wasn't something I wanted to do. Pricing direct would have been in the $600 range, and I didn't want to make a purchase like that for something coming from overseas.
Well, fast forward to a few months back, and I stumbled onto a reputable US dealer that had some of their specimens in stock.
The little kid in me couldn't resist, my calling them right away and placing my order for one.
After receiving the knife, it was only a few months later that I ordered another similar version, but of a vintage nature, (having some decades under it's belt).

The top one shown here is the Egginton Group Bowie, and the one beneath it is the other vintage specimen I got last week, (both Sheffield, England made and having commemorative Wostenholm IXL markings on their blades)...




I was giddy when I got them... But, I hope to always, (while I'm still alive), be able to add new "I want that!" items to my list. Although I may not always be able to get them, (the Grail status thing coming into play), I do want to continue to feel that boy'ish giddiness I get whenever I do get something that I really wanted badly 🤓
 
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