Why the Congress

Modoc ED

Modoc ED

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Mar 28, 2010
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I've never been able to figure it out so one or some of you guys might be able to help me understand why or how the old tradition Congress pattern came to be. Why in most cases does it have two identical main blades and two identical secondary blades? Why the need for a 4-blade knife, which makes it bulky to carry, for an every day carry knife? As far as I know, the Congress pattern is one of our oldest tradition patterns. Was the Congress meant to be a whittler perhaps? Anyone have any input for me on this? Thanks.
 
It's good for both right and left hand use. :D
I like the pattern but it's not my favorite. I have a 5-blade around here somewhere.
 
This is probably way off but maybe it's so you can have reserve sharp blades in case you completely dull the others. If I were a betting man I would bet my answer was wrong. Hahah.
 
I have no idea, and I doubt anybody else does either, but it would be fun to guess.

I'd have to go with redundancy myself.
 
Modoc ED said:
I've never been able to figure it out so one or some of you guys might be able to help me understand why or how the old tradition Congress pattern came to be. Why in most cases does it have two identical main blades and two identical secondary blades? Why the need for a 4-blade knife, which makes it bulky to carry, for an every day carry knife? As far as I know, the Congress pattern is one of our oldest tradition patterns. Was the Congress meant to be a whittler perhaps? Anyone have any input for me on this? Thanks.
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There are different types of congress patterns. Some only have two blades. Many have 4 blades but not always identical main and secondary blades. In fact, most 4 blade Case congress patterns I've seen have 4 different blades. A sheepsfoot, spear, coping and pen.

Abraham Lincoln carried a 6 blade congress knife. It was in his pocket when he was shot.
 
I'm not so sure that you are that far off Steelsnob..I like the pattern, but prefer the Case pattern, that has 4 different blades. As far as being bulky, this congress by Ken Erickson, based on the Case 88 pattern is no more bulky than a stockman pattern, but has 1 more blade-it's a large pattern,(4 1/8")but rides nicely in the back pocket:
download-1.jpg
download_004.jpg
 
I understand from what I have read that the Congress was a popular pattern in use down in the South and was made for the American market. Also, it was used by people to cut a bite-sized chews from a plug chewing tobacco. This came from Levine's guide to knives. I first came across one back in the late seventies and was interested in the pattern the 2 bladed Congress is a nice carry knife. It does make a good Whittler and there have been a few Whittler Congress in 3 blades with a split back spring. I have a SMK Congress Whittler that is a nice little knife for a cheap knife. I also have a few Eye Brands in 2 and 4 blade models in carbon steel. Great steel.

RKH
 
I have two Congress pattern knives. One is a two blade Bulldog brand with a non-descript scale material, probably cellluloid, but very plain. It is a fairly large knife being about the same size as a large stockman pattern.

The other one is a four blade Fight'n Rooster with Christmas Celluloid scales. It is a tiny knife, physically about the size of a peanut. I bought it just for the cuteness of it as I think it is too small for me to carry as an EDC.

To me, I always thought they were interesting looking knives, but just seems that a "reverse Congress" pattern would be friendlier to the hand. But I don't have one of those to make a personal comparison.

EJ
 
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Well, I can't offer much beyond the perfection personified by that Ken Erickson congress knife, and if you can't understand that, I don't know what to say. I carried a Boker four inch for about 12 years as an everyday hard use knife in the construction trade, and it finally disintegrated. It had four different blades and they all went to work at different minutes of the day. I have some knives that will never go to work; they are just too purty, but if I want one, and can't have another, this one would be in the competition.
 
By the way, at some point, WESTERN, and probably others offered a big congress knives with four full size sheepfoot blades, and were called dynamite knives. They were used by blasters doing railroad and other blasting projects and were indeed redundant blade knives. I bid on one last year on the fleabay and was shocked to see my feeble bid go way under.
 
TLARbb said:
To me, I always thought they were interesting looking knives, but just seems that a "reverse Congress" pattern would be friendlier to the hand. But I don't have one of those to make a personal comparison.EJ
Click to expand...

Here's a little two blade reverse Congress made by Schrade, that I have. I find it allot friendlier to the hand then my Congress knives.
SchradeKious.jpg

Image is from the A.G.Russell website a few years back.
 
Well, I can sure tell you the most valuable Congress around...this one...

lincolncongress.jpg


The six-blade Sheffield Ivory Congress that President Lincoln was carrying the night he was assassinated
 
From what I understand, the Congress pattern is a purely american pattern, and even though some Sheffield and German makers produced them, they were made for the American market...mainly in the South. I'm not really sure how or why the pattern came about, and the last couple "super knowledgeable" people I asked didn't have a solid answer either. I traditional Congress will typically have a sheepsfoot main blade, and any combination of secondary blades.
 
I am pulling this out of my posterior. I seem to remember reading it was called a Congress because it could be held easily between the thumb and first two fingers and beaten loudly on top of the desk in front of legislative members. Rapping on the wood to make a point or try to draw attention to gain the floor during heated, loud debates.......????? Maybe that rumor got going just because of Lincolns knife.?

300Bucks
 
Those who have used a double bit axe much will be familiar with the
practice of having one heavy edge, for rough work, and one thin
edge for careful work.
Perhaps the two sets of blades originally served a similar purpose....
one set with thicker edges for chores requiring a stronger edge, and
one set with very thin edges for very careful work....?
 
Russ Andrews said:
Those who have used a double bit axe much will be familiar with the
practice of having one heavy edge, for rough work, and one thin
edge for careful work.
Perhaps the two sets of blades originally served a similar purpose....
one set with thicker edges for chores requiring a stronger edge, and
one set with very thin edges for very careful work....?
Click to expand...

This seems to make sense. In the past when knives were for working around the farm you wouldn't be able to pull out a Sharpmaker, so having the redundancy would mean you could work all day with your knife while ahving a sharp blade.
 
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