White owl at one year

D

DrPenguin

Joined
Mar 2, 2005
Messages
502
In a few days my 68 White Owl will have a year under its belt and I thought I would put up a few pics for anyone that might be interested in how this model has stood up so far. For the first 6 months it was carried every day and after that it has been carried about half the time. I bought my first ever jack pattern special for my wedding and it has split time with the owl.

Workmanship wise the thing is rock solid. The handles are tight with no wiggle I can detect. No blade wobble or liner gaps have appeared either. The heat treat on the blades seems to be very well done and it holds an edge just like you hope 1095 would do. I had never had an ebony knife before so I was interested in how it would stand up. So far it has done well. A few minor knicks and dings that an honest pocket knife will get over time. No shrinkage or cracks so far. The walk and talk of this knife were absolutely perfect for my tastes out of the box and haven't changed a bit over the first year.

All in all it has handled everything from stripping wires or cutting things in the lab to opening packages of all sorts. Gardening is one of my hobbies and it has handled all those type things with style. So far it has been a great EDC and has proven to be a very good purchase. Probably my favorite knife of all those I have owned. I have a backup in Mexican Bocote that is still in the box and is probably a prettier knife but I don't regret using this one.

A few pics:

The shiny thin edge that Carl has made famous in his tales:

WO_01_zps4c35fba0.jpg


The look of a pocket knife that has some honest use under its belt:

WO_03_zpsbcaab9e5.jpg
 
Looking good, I really like the 68 White Owl:thumbup: I recently got my first GEC, a #15 in ebony. I've got a few old ebony knives from the 20's and they look very good for there age.
 
Thanks for the update. Good to hear how much you are enjoying it. If I had bought a 68 with a clip main last March instead of a spear, I would likely be joining you in speaking of its first year of use. Still probably should have kept it. Yours looks great.
 
Thanks guys. I am pretty happy with how the ebony has held up. Funny you mention the spear on the owl. I first ordered a rust bone model with the clip and a spear one was accidentally shipped. I just ordered this one and moved on. Funny thing (as I have stated before) is that I have knives I consider almost perfect but they don't end up being the ones I carry. I intentionally ordered the ugliest ebony I could find. It has darkened considerably over the first year from the mostly red that it started out as.

Will
 
I like the 68 to, it's one of my most carried knives and I agree, it holds up very well in time, thanks for your update.
 
Nice to see you like it, I've admired the #68 White Owl ever since Pertinux first posted hers, I am hoping that I have one in the package that has been sitting here from my wife for a few weeks, I have a week more to wait, until I'm allowed to open it. Seems like it would be a good utility knife in a slim package.

Pete
 
Will, the knife looks and is GREAT. I admire the fact you've EDC'd it for a year. I've always yearned to do that but weaken'd and carried others than just one chosen knife.

I rec'd the TC Clip 2 blade Barlow in Gabon Ebony for my birthday a couple of weeks ago and have carried it everyday since. I did cheat once and carried my JBF Champlin TD for part of a day :) But my desire is to stick with this knife for a whole year---call it an experiment ;)

Knowing me it won't happen but I'll give it a gallant try. I know I'll introduce others to share time along with it but I want to carry the Barlow everyday for a year :thumbup:

Again, I love your White Owl---it aged very very well...

Paul
 
That's a great looking knife there Doc. I was hemming and hawing about this one for the last year or so and when one came up on the exchange for a great price, I just couldn't resist! I should get mine by the weekend : ) I'm definitely addicted to ebony.

~Jim
 
I like hearing about the journey one has taken with their companion knife. As with Pete & his peanut, it's just gratifying to hear about the connection.
Peter
 
Thanks for the compliments folks. I feel like such an enabler. :)

You guys are right that a knife becomes a companion after a while. This one brings back memories of things I've done with it. Cutting tomatoes from my garden. Repairing generators in the aftermath of last year's derecho. Getting my lab up and running. Opening my Christmas present from my wife. Cutting up cheese at the Beer & Cheese Fest. That kind of thing. Been an interesting year.

Will
 
DrPenguin said:
In a few days my 68 White Owl will have a year under its belt and I thought I would put up a few pics for anyone that might be interested in how this model has stood up so far.

The look of a pocket knife that has some honest use under its belt:

WO_03_zpsbcaab9e5.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this up, the pictures and your impressions. :thumbup:

Doug Add said:
Thanks for the update. Good to hear how much you are enjoying it. If I had bought a 68 with a clip main last March instead of a spear, I would likely be joining you in speaking of its first year of use. Still probably should have kept it. Yours looks great.
Click to expand...

DrPenguin said:
Funny you mention the spear on the owl. I first ordered a rust bone model with the clip and a spear one was accidentally shipped. I just ordered this one and moved on.
Click to expand...

While I, on the other hand, could take or leave the clip blade version, but think the spear iteration is exactly right.

Funny thing (as I have stated before) is that I have knives I consider almost perfect but they don't end up being the ones I carry. I intentionally ordered the ugliest ebony I could find.
Click to expand...

!

I haven't gone that far, but have come to realize that some knives do seem more accessible (for lack of a better term) than others, and they're usually the ones I'm not as afraid of "messing up" vs. others. My ebony Boys Knife and "ugliest" barlow get the most day-to-day use.

Stich2442 said:
Nice to see you like it, I've admired the #68 White Owl ever since Pertinux first posted hers, I am hoping that I have one in the package that has been sitting here from my wife for a few weeks, I have a week more to wait, until I'm allowed to open it. Seems like it would be a good utility knife in a slim package.
Click to expand...



Hoot!

If a White Owl awaits, I do hope you like it.

For me, the White Owl is a pattern in which everything works together well aesthetically and functionally. No blade rub, sweet pulls, slimness offset by subtantial blades within the length, or the other way around-- very useful blades in a very slim package).

Generally, I don't prefer pen knives over Jacks; very specifically, I love my White Owl.


O'course, the name doesn't hurt....



~ P.
 
I find that Ebony just looks better the older it gets! I really am feeling a lack of ebony in my collection!

When I scrape together some knife money, I will have to get an ebony handled version.
 
Got exactly the same knife in Ebony too, great carry. Mine came with very black already so I haven't noticed any darkening. I find it is the 'right' size for my needs and I've always liked single-spring knives-they test the cutler's skill, no blade rub on this nor on its Tidioute Kryptonite relative or bone handled stainless version. The pull on these knives impresses me, smooth but no hint of a wimpish spring here,decent snap.

Some ways I think wood is the most durable handle, bone can crack or chip quite easily,acrylic could scratch but wood, particularly Ebony, seems to stand up really soundly:thumbup:.

Regards, Will
 
I agree, Will. As pretty as my bone handled knives are, I still fret for a second if I drop one and wonder if I've chipped it before I pick it up. The wooden ones, not so much.
 
Very true Blaine, then there's the horror of cracking around the pins, smooth bone especially! It only takes a hairline...:eek::eek:
 
Pertinux, it was kind of like going to the dog pound. I saw the knife and knew immediately it was probably going to be the last 68 sold because of the redness of the ebony, lol. So I took it home and haven't looked back. OTOH both sides have that large red streak down the center so it is well matched! :)

Willgoy I agree. This configuration has made me into a huge fan of single spring knives. Had no idea how comfortable they are in the pocket and the hand. Bad thing is that once I found something that I liked so well it kind of turned off the need to hunt for something else which we knife lovers love to do. I still look and occasionally buy but only for my small collection.

Will
 
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