Your 2018 Traditional Knife Of The Year

This is an easy one for me because this year I finally got around to having a knife customized with a theme that I've been thinking about for a long time. I just had to wait for the right knife to come along and then find someone to do the work.

After carrying a GEC Churchill for close to a year, I knew that was the pattern that I wanted to use for the mod.

It might a little extreme to call this "my dream knife" but that's as close as I can come to describing how I feel about it.

I sent this Maroon Micarta Churchill off for customization.


And it came back looking like a spittin' image of the vision I had in my head all that time. I call it "The Gambler" because of the Ace of Spades theme and also because the person doing the work had to make the shield by hand and I knew I was taking a gamble on the outcome.

It's not perfect but it's exactly what I wanted and being a Churchill, it has proven a fine companion since I got it back on 11/9/18. I rotate my watch pocket knives but I don't see The Gambler ever leaving my right front pocket.

 

As a matter of principle it is difficult to choose one specific knife, I am not wealthy enough to get knives I wouldn't like!
Like you, Jack, I much benefited of Charlie @waynorth 's generosity and the Ancient Barlow II is often in my pocket, a real stalwart. I dig the warmth of the handle and use her more than often at lunch time and as such she is a great contender for the title.


My Year's knife however is the 14 Dead Skunk, not only because she is so nimble she seems to jump into the hand when needed but because she was this year's best surprise and arrived unexpectedly thanks to Barrett @btb01 !

 

I had a few great Tuna knives come in this year. But one in particular I've been on the hunt for a mint example for a long long time. I liked the pearl humpback whittler, and the burlwood muskrat, but my knife of the year is the stag swingguard.

 

I hereby declare myself the winner and offer myself the prize of an extra cup of coffee, which I graciously accept.

You talkin' to me?

I don't see anybody else here, so I guess you must be talkin' to me.

 

This was an easy choice for me, there was one stand-out knife for me this year...

It was a busy year of buying and selling knives. I keep my knife collection at about 20 pieces, so when I want to try a new one I usually end up selling (or giving away) an old one. I've probably bought and sold/gave close to 50 knives this year. Some knives I love and they will never go anywhere. Others I know are just holding a place for another acquisition down the road. My knife of the year is one of my newer ones but has probably had more pocket time than any other knife I own already. It has been in my pocket every day, even if I start the day with a different one. I carry this knife so much that I recently acquired a knife slip ( thanks @glocktenman ) so that I can carry a second knife to give some of the others more travel time. The knife I speak of is an absolute dream to carry in the watch pocket, so small and slim. Even though it's small, the blade is plenty large enough to get just about any chore done that crosses my path on a typical day. The all steel construction, the handy clip blade shape, the ebony handle covers, and the end caps make it durable and should last for years and years, which is nice since I tend to drop knives a lot because I use them as fidget toys. This knife wasn't a top choice for a knife purchase, in fact I picked it up used on a whim because I couldn't refuse the reduced price, so it was a bargain too. Last but certainly not least, this knife fits the carry requirements for California public schools, so I can have it with me at work and nobody bats an eye if I pull it out and use it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my Knife of the Year... (drum roll)... The 2018 GEC #14 in Ebony

 

Well we will see if my Forum knife arrives this month, but even so I believe this will be my knife of the year.

 

It will have to be the 2018 Forum Knife for me when it arrives, because I haven't acquired any other knives in 2018.

 

Great thread, Jack! I'll have to post something next week here, as I am preparing for a short trip.

 

It will be both my best and worst knife of 2018. In a race with only one runner, everyone comes in first and everyone comes in last.

 

Now that I'm about halfway thru my morning "Jeroboam" of coffee...



This knife actually took me by complete surprise.

It's easily my 2018 Pick Of The Year!

Honorable Mention(s):

The #15 Antique TC Barlow & #46 Ironwood Whaler were my most exciting purchases of the year.

- Del

And Jack,

Best of health to you and your family.

Regards,

- Del

 

John (@JK Knives) brought my vision of a lunch box knife to reality back in March, and it is an incredibly versatile and beautiful piece. With his 3" handle from the Bluegill, we added on a 4" straight back blade made from 1/16" 440C. It is compact, light, and packs a whopper of an edge. Fruits, vegetables, pork chops, and chicken breasts don't stand a chance. The simple, lightweight, fold over leather sheath slips neatly into my right front pocket and never intrudes, making it a joy to tote around.







My JK Knives Pocket Chef is my choice for 2018 Knife of the Year.

 

Awesome knife Railsplitter!
I had exactly the same experience, and no contest the result is my knife of the decade.
The Churchill for me checked all the boxes and I was very disappointed that there was not a jigged bone Northfield variant on offer. So I had that remedied.
I need to get some more good pics of this knife but I have been so busy (lazy) this year I haven't had the time.

 

I was fortunate to pick up several "grail" knives for the collection this year, but among the ones I actually carry and use, this ebony #85 takes the prize. I reground it to perfectly suit me, and it's a joy to carry and use.

 

The jigging on that knife is awesome. Probably the best covers I've seen on a GEC. Love it. Wish it could have come from GEC that way.

 

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Mine has been a surprise for sure. I bought this LT Wright Patriot as a pocketable fixed blade. Super sharp, handy size, make tinder, make shavings, skinned a doe, started a fire using a fero rod.... Great size.

I've dropped it and damaged the edge on concrete.... had to redo the edge, now it's shaving sharp.

I actually thought I lost it a couple of weeks ago in the woods. I found out the next day that I had forgotten to remove it from a pocket and the wife found it prior to washing.

I spent about 2 days worrying about it and looking to buy a replacement ASAP. Just a great little knife.