Your 2018 Traditional Knife Of The Year

[Jack Black]

I’m going to have to pick 2.

Thys Meades mini Dino with vintage Westinghouse and a zirconium shield. And a knife I had ahand in designing, made by Don Hanson and of course sole authorship. Both outstanding slippys. View attachment 1044437View attachment 1044438View attachment 1044439

I wasn't joking in my previous post, if you can't choose ONE knife, start another thread, because by ignoring the rules for this thread, you're not only cheating, but you're trolling it

If anyone else would like to post their Traditional KNIFE of the Year here, please do it soon

 

[Jack Black]

For now, this thread is open again.

 

[Ramrodmb]

2018 was another great knife year. Starting (for me) with the GEC 78's.

Not quite Knife of the year though.

Honorable mention to this 14 in Black canvas that was a thoughtful, timely gift from a very generous friend here.

With the help of another friend, I was able to add a 25 drop point that had eluded me for years.

How could one talk of KOTY without mentioning the 77 NF Barlows? The whole lottery thing kinda soured it for me though.

These two 85's come close...Again, more help from friends here.

The 2018 forum knife really surprised me how much I like them. I will call them the runner-up.

But, the coveted "Knife of the Year 2018" award has to go to:
Drum roll......l.l.l.l.l.l.l.l













The Lionsteel Barlow in Rams horn. Blew everything else out of the water for me.

 

[OLd_gUY]

But, the coveted "Knife of the Year 2018" award has to go to:
Drum roll......l.l.l.l.l.l.l.l
The Lionsteel Barlow in Rams horn. Blew everything else out of the water for me.

GREAT KNIFE!! Excellent choice and examples! Very deserving and came within a hair's breadth of upsetting my KOTY. Couldn't agree more.
OG

 

[sitflyer]

I really had to do some thinking on this, as I aquired a few very special knives this year. I was tempted to pick one of my lambsfoots, as I always have one nearby, and I quickly became very enamored by the patterns looks and performance. An 81 Abilene moose GEC spent a bunch of time in pocket early on in the year, and I really took a strong liking to that knife, a full size spear and a full size clip is a real handy combo.

The reason I chose the Lionsteel sheepsfoot Barlow was because it spent the most time in my pocket of all my knives this summer into fall. A return to riding bicycles this spring found me spending many hot days riding and being drenched in sweat. My carbon steel knives would not have survived well, as you can see, even the M390 has rust in the pivot area. This knife also surprised me as how much of a liking I took to it. It has a nice action, and it is a great slicer needing minimal maintenance. I'll even toss the car keys into the same pocket and not worry a bit about it. I did not expect to like this knife as much as I do when I ordered it, was just getting one to check them out for myself.

Happy 2019 Jack! And to everyone else here on The Porch.

 

[Old Biker]

Early in 2018 I bought the Remington bullet knife, made by Buck. It is top left in the picture below and is a strong contender for my knife of the year. Then I guess I went on a bit of bullet knife buying spree, and got a bunch more. Nice knives all, but non are knife of the year.

In this next picture, a Remington 1128 trapper, the 2018 forum knife, a very early Buck 112 found from a Craigslist add, and Bucks Dec buck of the month, another 112. All of these get carried on occasion. all all contenders of knife of the year.

But when I read the rules for this thread, I knew right away there was really only one knife. Back in Sept. I went looking for an imperial shell construction stockman knife, because that is what I remember carrying as a child. I found one. It came as a package with a colonial stockman knife.

I cleaned it up, oiled it, and sharpened it. It sharpened up real easy, so I dropped it into my pocket to see how well it held it's edge. It's been in my pocket every day since. It sharpens easily. It holds it's edge reasonably well. It is comfortable in the hand even in long or hard use. It's not very pretty, but it does it's job very well. So my knife of the year is this Colonial shell construction, cigar shaped stockman.

O.B.

 

[Mitt]

I’m going to have to go with my GEC 43. It did something I had wanted it to do but no other knife I had done before. It replaced my stockman I had carried for 28 years as my edc. It hasn’t failed in any task I have put it up to.

 

[Mitt]

Forgot to add a picture.

 

[dc50]

No doubt about it, my knife of the year for me, is the 2018 Lambsfoot Guardian.

 

[kai76]

It's currently open if you want to post there now

Thanks for the heads up Jack. When this thread was first started, I pretty much knew my choice would be this E Weck bone shadow pen but decided to give my other knives some time to charm me. A few definitely tried very hard and came close to winning my heart but none were as charming as this one...

 

[waynorth]

Squeezing it in before 2019, in this limited opening in the thread, good Old Boiley!! Most pocket time and most enjoyment of several wonderful knives!! (Favorite Turquoise ring too!! Birthday gift from my sweetie!!)
A Barlow in every Pocket!!

 

[315]

Squeezing it in before 2019, in this limited opening in the thread, good Old Boiley!! Most pocket time and most enjoyment of several wonderful knives!! (Favorite Turquoise ring too!! Birthday gift from my sweetie!!)
A Barlow in every Pocket!!
View attachment 1045159 View attachment 1045160 View attachment 1045161

Charlie, don’t know if it’s just the way you photographed that knife but the handles look 50 years old!! I like it. Were they reclaimed from something else?

 

[Jack Black]

2018 was another great knife year. Starting (for me) with the GEC 78's.

Not quite Knife of the year though.

Honorable mention to this 14 in Black canvas that was a thoughtful, timely gift from a very generous friend here.

With the help of another friend, I was able to add a 25 drop point that had eluded me for years.

How could one talk of KOTY without mentioning the 77 NF Barlows? The whole lottery thing kinda soured it for me though.

These two 85's come close...Again, more help from friends here.

The 2018 forum knife really surprised me how much I like them. I will call them the runner-up.

But, the coveted "Knife of the Year 2018" award has to go to:
Drum roll......l.l.l.l.l.l.l.l













The Lionsteel Barlow in Rams horn. Blew everything else out of the water for me.

Lots of fantastic knives there Mark

Happy 2019 Jack! And to everyone else here on The Porch.

Thanks Duane, you too my friend

I’m going to have to go with my GEC 43. It did something I had wanted it to do but no other knife I had done before. It replaced my stockman I had carried for 28 years as my edc. It hasn’t failed in any task I have put it up to.

Forgot to add a picture.

Wow! That's some knife

No doubt about it, my knife of the year for me, is the 2018 Lambsfoot Guardian.
View attachment 1045130

Very nice Dave, the ebony '18 was a close runner-up for me my friend

Thanks for the heads up Jack. When this thread was first started, I pretty much knew my choice would be this E Weck bone shadow pen but decided to give my other knives some time to charm me. A few definitely tried very hard and came close to winning my heart but none were as charming as this one...

Just a beautiful knife Nick

Squeezing it in before 2019, in this limited opening in the thread, good Old Boiley!! Most pocket time and most enjoyment of several wonderful knives!! (Favorite Turquoise ring too!! Birthday gift from my sweetie!!)
A Barlow in every Pocket!!
View attachment 1045159 View attachment 1045160 View attachment 1045161

Always a treat to see Old Boiley Charlie, and a lovely ring too But (quoting from my opening post)...

Now, it could be that you’ve been perfectly happy carrying the knife you bought or were given many years ago, a knife which has served you so well, why would you want to change? If that’s the case, good luck to you my friend, but that knife doesn’t qualify.

What's your pick from the knives you bought, were gifted, or otherwise acquired this year?

Early in 2018 I bought the Remington bullet knife, made by Buck. It is top left in the picture below and is a strong contender for my knife of the year. Then I guess I went on a bit of bullet knife buying spree, and got a bunch more. Nice knives all, but non are knife of the year.

In this next picture, a Remington 1128 trapper, the 2018 forum knife, a very early Buck 112 found from a Craigslist add, and Bucks Dec buck of the month, another 112. All of these get carried on occasion. all all contenders of knife of the year.

But when I read the rules for this thread, I knew right away there was really only one knife. Back in Sept. I went looking for an imperial shell construction stockman knife, because that is what I remember carrying as a child. I found one. It came as a package with a colonial stockman knife.

I cleaned it up, oiled it, and sharpened it. It sharpened up real easy, so I dropped it into my pocket to see how well it held it's edge. It's been in my pocket every day since. It sharpens easily. It holds it's edge reasonably well. It is comfortable in the hand even in long or hard use. It's not very pretty, but it does it's job very well. So my knife of the year is this Colonial shell construction, cigar shaped stockman.

O.B.

What a great choice!

 

[waynorth]

Charlie, don’t know if it’s just the way you photographed that knife but the handles look 50 years old!! I like it. Were they reclaimed from something else?

I just boiled them, 315, then fine sanded them - 6 years ago, and have carried them ever since!!
But I flubbed the spirit of this thread!!
THIS YEAR, I acquired a knife from our good friend kamagong!!
A knife to behold!! A knife to CE and CF with pride!! Perfect mechanicals and AAA Pearl handles!!
A cutler's pride pattern, the split back, wedged Whittler, nicely fitted!! A top specimen of the breed, accomplished under the hands and supervision of a great cutler back in 1995!!
My knife of the year!!

Seen with the Whittler is an exquisite William Rodgers Stag pen, a gift from the Whittler's seller!!

 

[DelOro]

I just boiled them, 315, then fine sanded them - 6 years ago, and have carried them ever since!!

Charlie,

When you say boiled? Do you mean like an egg?

If I try this and Mrs. Oro catches me? I need to have an explanation!

- Del

 

[Jack Black]

I just boiled them, 315, then fine sanded them - 6 years ago, and have carried them ever since!!
But I flubbed the spirit of this thread!!
THIS YEAR, I acquired a knife from our good friend kamagong!!
A knife to behold!! A knife to CE and CF with pride!! Perfect mechanicals and AAA Pearl handles!!
A cutler's pride pattern, the split back, wedged Whittler, nicely fitted!! A top specimen of the breed, accomplished under the hands and supervision of a great cutler back in 1995!!
My knife of the year!!
View attachment 1045203 View attachment 1045205 View attachment 1045206
Seen with the Whittler is an exquisite William Rodgers Stag pen, a gift from the Whittler's seller!!

Very, very, very nice Charlie

Charlie, completely off-topic, but do you know if Jim Taylor, or maybe Bill Adams, ever had anything to do with Winchester?

 

[knarfeng]

I’m going to have to pick 2.

I wasn't joking in my previous post, if you can't choose ONE knife, start another thread,

I wouldn't sweat it. Some folks just feel they're special.
...and that's all I'm going to say about that.

 

[kai76]

Just a beautiful knife Nick

Thanks so much Jack! I never tire of seeing your Ashley’s lambsfoot and I can see why it’s your pick for 2018. It’s classy and has the sexy curves yet it looks solid and can handle any given task. And at the same time, the stag gives it the gnarly feel. A very well balanced beauty I must say!

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks so much Jack! I never tire of seeing your Ashley’s lambsfoot and I can see why it’s your pick for 2018. It’s classy and has the sexy curves yet it looks solid and can handle any given task. And at the same time, the stag gives it the gnarly feel. A very well balanced beauty I must say!

Thank you very much Nick, very kind of you

 

[blades&wrenches]

2018 was a good year for me. I got away from traditionals for a while and somewhere in the latter half of the year I decided to pick up a few more. And they are some gems.
A beautiful Rhidian custom in green micarta that trumps all the others in the F&F department, yet it was made to work! Premium modern materials in a gorgeous traditional package. It’s truly a piece of functional art.
A GEC 78 single blade in golden brown jig bone I got from the Pay-it-Forward thread. This knife exceeded all expectations. It just feels like a solid working knife with some of the best walk and talk I’ve had.
A GEC 15 clip point in black micarta that I just got in hand today. Haven’t had the chance to use it yet but initial impressions are great. Great size and I love the black micarta and clip point.

But...for my 2018 KOTY, I’d have to go with this Jeff Mitchell custom. About the same size as a GEC 15 but with all the custom touches one could ask for. Colorful burlap micarta covers, stainless construction, and that sweet CPM154 sheepsfoot blade. It just brings a big stupid smile to my face. Love it!