Will there be a 2017 forum knife?

[gunstockjack]

What I know is this:

We get 'economy of scale' by ordering a large quantity of knives of the same configuration; in other words a price break. Charlie has suggested a 15 pattern TC Barlow (provided it IS NOT of a traditional handle material so as not to confuse it with regular TC Barlow runs), and he would do a regular production run of TC Barlows concurrently. It would have a single sheepfoot blade, crescent nail nick and drawn swedge that will have the BladeForums tang stamp for 2017 (3 dots), Spark has given the knife his approval and the general consensus has been favorable. So the only matter up for discussion at this point is what color/type of micarta. Charlie has suggested the natural canvas and I believe it would be a good choice.

That's all I can tell you for now, and I could be mistaken about some of the details.

So when do we vote and who's bringing the ice cream? I vote for Rocky Road, the kind with almonds and not walnuts....

 

[22-rimfire]

Interesting that this whole thing came together pretty much in a week or so. As was said earlier, "give them a cookie". I have always felt that this was the best approach for the forum knife.

 

[totkst1]

What I know is this:

We get 'economy of scale' by ordering a large quantity of knives of the same configuration; in other words a price break. Charlie has suggested a 15 pattern TC Barlow (provided it IS NOT of a traditional handle material so as not to confuse it with regular TC Barlow runs), and he would do a regular production run of TC Barlows concurrently. It would have a single sheepfoot blade, crescent nail nick and drawn swedge that will have the BladeForums tang stamp for 2017 (3 dots), Spark has given the knife his approval and the general consensus has been favorable. So the only matter up for discussion at this point is what color/type of micarta. Charlie has suggested the natural canvas and I believe it would be a good choice.

That's all I can tell you for now, and I could be mistaken about some of the details.

So when do we vote and who's bringing the ice cream? I vote for Rocky Road, the kind with almonds and not walnuts....

Or just plain fudge swirl and we can add nuts later to taste


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gunstockjack]

While we are on the subject of TC Barlows, the TC stands for 'Tidioute Cutlery' and not 'Tom's Choice' as so many seem to think. The Tom's Choice moniker came about later as a name for the clip blade model.

Backtracking a bit to this years forum knife, something we might consider is a blade etch. We could come up with something picking up on the TC bolster, like 'Top Cat' or ????? Or a neat BladeForums etch of some kind or a figure, like the canoe etch on the Case Canoe. I'm sure we can come up with a multitude of ideas here!

I have not brought this up with Charlie, but I don't think there would be an issue with a blade etch. We have a great graphic artist that I'm sure would help out, as he does the yearly labels and has offered his services again this year. Thanks for all your help Liam (liamstrain)!!!!



OK, let's roll!

 

[LastRodeo]

Sorry Barry. Frank only gave his permission to discuss micarta.

 

[spycycle]

I'm all for some sort of light colored micarta, but might I suggest something other than natural canvas? To me, the Collector Knives #77 barlows have sort of 'trademarked' natural canvas, and I would personally rather see something enough different for the forum knife.

 

[Shaggy]

For the crescent nail nick may I suggest the match strike nick like Mike had on the coping blade of his most recent 85EO SFO? I don't have a pic readily available but I do think it would add a touch of class for those opposed to the simpler feature.

 

[Shaggy]

I'm all for some sort of light colored micarta, but might I suggest something other than natural canvas? To me, the Collector Knives #77 barlows have sort of 'trademarked' natural canvas, and I would personally rather see something enough different for the forum knife.

I still like the shadetree houndstooth pattern myself.

 

[pertinux]

While we are on the subject of TC Barlows, the TC stands for 'Tidioute Cutlery' and not 'Tom's Choice' as so many seem to think. The Tom's Choice moniker came about later as a name for the clip blade model.

Tom was in full evidence even prior, featuring on the first-ever TC barlow's label fore and aft....

~ P.

 

[bozack]

I am not one for black handles, except for buffalo horn, but I was thinking a black or blue burlap micarta. Just a thought. not even sure it exists.

 

[Camillus]

Hello everyone!
I have been keeping out of the discussion, because I wasn't sure if I wanted to do the knife again this year, especially since prices have been going up; and of course it takes up some time as well.
I have been kicking around a couple of ideas with GEC, and I have an idea that you might like, and that might work!!
Most everyone likes the TC Barlows that GEC produces for me, and many have asked for alternate handles which I stubbornly have refused to do. Traditional only is my mantra!
I propose this:
We do a TC Barlow for the forum knife! No royalties or anything else to me! Not my rules on handle materials either!! Maybe that infamous canvas micarta, or, or or. . . .????
Sheepfoot blades are the next in the rough plan I adhere to.
If I do my run at the same time, we both get economies of scale. The Forum knife will be cheaper than my bone-handled version. Correct me if wrong, but I think all the Sheepfoot Barlows to date have had long pulls, so let's do a crescent nick (also, less expensive) on this one.
What say you???????????

Here is the post in case people are interested in refreshing themselves as to the options proposed

 

[T. Erdelyi]

What I know is this:

We get 'economy of scale' by ordering a large quantity of knives of the same configuration; in other words a price break. Charlie has suggested a 15 pattern TC Barlow (provided it IS NOT of a traditional handle material so as not to confuse it with regular TC Barlow runs), and he would do a regular production run of TC Barlows concurrently. It would have a single sheepfoot blade, crescent nail nick and drawn swedge that will have the BladeForums tang stamp for 2017 (3 dots), Spark has given the knife his approval and the general consensus has been favorable. So the only matter up for discussion at this point is what color/type of micarta. Charlie has suggested the natural canvas and I believe it would be a good choice.

That's all I can tell you for now, and I could be mistaken about some of the details.

So when do we vote and who's bringing the ice cream? I vote for Rocky Road, the kind with almonds and not walnuts....

Thanks Barry, quoted to make it easier for me to find. I'd love to see an end of day type of scale but I don't think that's possible with micarta although acrylics would work great for that.

The multi colored Coke knife on the bottom right has end of day scales on it.

 

[liamstrain]

I have not brought this up with Charlie, but I don't think there would be an issue with a blade etch. We have a great graphic artist that I'm sure would help out, as he does the yearly labels and has offered his services again this year. Thanks for all your help Liam (liamstrain)!!!!

Heh - yep. I'd be happy to design something for the blade too, if we decide to go that route.

 

[nyrico]

For the crescent nail nick may I suggest the match strike nick like Mike had on the coping blade of his most recent 85EO SFO? I don't have a pic readily available but I do think it would add a touch of class for those opposed to the simpler feature.

I agree, that match strike nail nick was striking, would love to see it again.

 

[Kiteman72]

I agree, that match strike nail nick was striking, would love to see it again.

That nick is neat, and also like Ted's "end of day" acrylic idea. Other classic types, like "Christmas tree" and candy stripe would be sweet as well.

Or could the whole handle be stamped out of steel? That would make a cool looking knife!

 

[22-rimfire]

No steel handles please (that's a "no buy for me"). I'm pretty easy overall as long as the knife is kept simple. Flashy acrylic is fine. Micarta is fine. My vote is is smooth sanded maroon micarta.

 

[clutchcarter]

This all sounds great, along with a blade etch...........Let's vote!

What I know is this:

We get 'economy of scale' by ordering a large quantity of knives of the same configuration; in other words a price break. Charlie has suggested a 15 pattern TC Barlow (provided it IS NOT of a traditional handle material so as not to confuse it with regular TC Barlow runs), and he would do a regular production run of TC Barlows concurrently. It would have a single sheepfoot blade, crescent nail nick and drawn swedge that will have the BladeForums tang stamp for 2017 (3 dots), Spark has given the knife his approval and the general consensus has been favorable. So the only matter up for discussion at this point is what color/type of micarta. Charlie has suggested the natural canvas and I believe it would be a good choice.

That's all I can tell you for now, and I could be mistaken about some of the details.

So when do we vote and who's bringing the ice cream? I vote for Rocky Road, the kind with almonds and not walnuts....

 

[Wurrwulf]

Thank you to Charlie and Barry! I'm in this year, even though the 15 is still a bit on the large side for me. I'm down with either bone linen or natural.

 

[knarfeng]

Am I right in thinking that Spark has approved the forum knife proposed by Charlie, rather than a forum knife in general?

Spark does not get into the specifics of the forum knife. What he has approved is Charlie and Barry running the operation again this year. They offered to take on the financial responsibility for the project have given their word to him that no one is going to make profit off of it.

Spark knows that they have the expertise and infrastructure to run this successfully, so that nothing negative comes back on him or the site. Also, Spark owns a brick and mortar knife store. He also owns all rights to "BladeForums" items. If the "BladeForums 2017 Traditional Forum Knife" were a "for profit" deal, it would be run through his store.

 

[Camillus]

Just for reasons of accuracy, please note the post originally posted by Charlie, as it is not the same as what has been discussed above, and is the only official post on what has been discussed with GEC