YOUR 2025 Traditional Knife of the Year

This year I definitely slowed down on knife purchases, but there were a few I went out of my way to acquire, including the fantastic run of 38 pruners, with any of Lyle’s sfo’s easily in contention for KOTY. I also really like the 66 run, but really wish GEC would have slid a stockman into that run. But in the end, this is the knife that found its way into my pocket almost daily after I received it. The Case Tractor Supply 6347 stockman. Not close to being perfect, arrived with terrible blade rub to the point I had to lock it in a vice and provide a couple love taps to allow the blades to snap shut. But for me this one was offered at an incredible price point, is the perfect size and blade selection for a daily carry and my KOTY.

I am also in, thanks Jack!

IMG_5081.jpeg.
 
Nothing says Case quite like yellow delrin. This CS sowbelly has traveled with me quite a bit in 2025. It left the factory with not much love. The last 1/4 inch of the spay missed the sharpening wheel and the bolsters and scales are thick and thin in an ugly dog...but attractively imprecise style. It started life with the Case high polish which I toned down to fit its true spirit. I love this mutt of a knife, It has my KOTY vote.

koty25.jpg
Thanks Jack, I'm in. Wishing everyone the Best Holidays and New Year!
Tom
 
If I had to pick just one, this would probably be it. This was the Case 2024 vault pattern, but I picked this one up during a year-end sale and received it around the second week of January of this year. Since then, it's been a consistent part of my rotation and likely will be for the foreseeable future. I've come to like the shape of the main blade a lot more than I initially expected to.


IMG_20251225_084014281.jpg
 
This one took me by surprise. It is, without a doubt, the knife I pick up most often to slip into my pocket. The size is just perfect, and the dogleg frame feels wonderful in hand -- the beautiful jigged covers, which include a subtle pattern, are matched on both sides. Add to that a versatile blade shape and size, and you have my undisputed 2025 KOTY -- a Dixie Dogleg from Mike Zscherny...

Zscherny Dogleg 1.jpeg


Zscherny Dogleg Covers.png
 
Matt_WY said:
This year I definitely slowed down on knife purchases, but there were a few I went out of my way to acquire, including the fantastic run of 38 pruners, with any of Lyle’s sfo’s easily in contention for KOTY. I also really like the 66 run, but really wish GEC would have slid a stockman into that run. But in the end, this is the knife that found its way into my pocket almost daily after I received it. The Case Tractor Supply 6347 stockman. Not close to being perfect, arrived with terrible blade rub to the point I had to lock it in a vice and provide a couple love taps to allow the blades to snap shut. But for me this one was offered at an incredible price point, is the perfect size and blade selection for a daily carry and my KOTY.

I am also in, thanks Jack!

View attachment 3058542.
Click to expand...
Nice choice Matt :) :thumbsup:
Wharn said:
View attachment 3058894
Nice curves, single blade and nice downward angle. Not to mention quite the looker.
Click to expand...
Definitely a looker :cool: :thumbsup:
tomjav said:
Nothing says Case quite like yellow delrin. This CS sowbelly has traveled with me quite a bit in 2025. It left the factory with not much love. The last 1/4 inch of the spay missed the sharpening wheel and the bolsters and scales are thick and thin in an ugly dog...but attractively imprecise style. It started life with the Case high polish which I toned down to fit its true spirit. I love this mutt of a knife, It has my KOTY vote.

View attachment 3058928
Thanks Jack, I'm in. Wishing everyone the Best Holidays and New Year!
Tom
Click to expand...
You made that one your own Tom :) :thumbsup:
Wild Ben said:
Although I have a "few" trappers, most don't get carried and used. Too nice, too used or something, so I got this one to really carry and use and I really am enjoying it! My traditional knife of 2025 for sure!View attachment 3059051View attachment 3059052View attachment 3059053
Click to expand...
Looks good Ben :) :thumbsup:
Grateful said:
My 2025 Knife of the Year. Most years I can’t pick one but it’s easy this year. I’ve carried it daily since August 1st. View attachment 3059061
Click to expand...
Nice! :) :thumbsup:
brokebladeenthusiast28 said:
If I had to pick just one, this would probably be it. This was the Case 2024 vault pattern, but I picked this one up during a year-end sale and received it around the second week of January of this year. Since then, it's been a consistent part of my rotation and likely will be for the foreseeable future. I've come to like the shape of the main blade a lot more than I initially expected to.


IMG_20251225_084014281.jpg
Click to expand...
Interesting choice, that's a nice-looking knife :thumbsup:
JW225 said:
This one took me by surprise. It is, without a doubt, the knife I pick up most often to slip into my pocket. The size is just perfect, and the dogleg frame feels wonderful in hand -- the beautiful jigged covers, which include a subtle pattern, are matched on both sides. Add to that a versatile blade shape and size, and you have my undisputed 2025 KOTY -- a Dixie Dogleg from Mike Zscherny...

View attachment 3059998


View attachment 3059991
Click to expand...
The best kind of KOTY! :) Beautiful knife :) :thumbsup:
 
Nothing like waiting ‘til the last minute to get in on this thread! (Honestly, that’s pretty on-brand for me lately.) 🤣

My new knife acquisitions slowed down a bit this year compared to previous years, but from this list it feels like I was going for a quality over quantity sort of thing, which I think is good.

As an enthusiastic GEC collector, I have to admit that this year’s new releases felt a bit lackluster (in my opinion, of course, and with a few notable exceptions), but on the bright side, I was able to pick up a few older GEC examples that made up for lack of exciting new releases. Probably the coolest one was this 2012 Northfield #72 club knife I picked up at the Badger Knife Club show this year. I love the fat spearpoint blade on this pattern, and the double-sided shields and etches make this a pretty unique knife. It fails to qualify for KOTY because, well, I haven’t actually carried it, but I’m still giving it an honorable mention for being probably the most interesting GEC I picked up this year.

3ljUgdC.jpg


pJpTlYs.jpg


PnvL1Ed.jpg


These next two knives are both very close runners up for my Knife of the Year this year, and could have easily taken the top spot. (I still might change my mind in either direction before I’m done typing this up.) 😁

First up is my Rhidian Rhidian What-A-Lamb. While technically not my first custom knife, it sort of feels like my first, because it’s the first custom knife I commissioned and had made to my specifications. Rhidian took my (admittedly somewhat weird) idea to make a fancy custom nod to the humble Camillus What-A-Knife and really brought it to life in a way that I think only Rhidian really could.

NWoNRXa.jpg


Shortly after receiving the What-A-Lamb (Rhidian had finished it a couple weeks before the OKCA show and brought it with him to the show), I picked up another excellent custom knife from Mike Moran. I had admired Mike’s work from what I had seen online, but before this year’s Oregon show I hadn’t actually handled any of his knives in person. I definitely did not go to Oregon with plans to buy one (having just paid for the Rhidian), but when I got to sit down and handle the knives Mike had brought with him, I just couldn’t resist. Mike’s build quality is absolutely incredible. He would argue that none of his knives are perfect, but I’ll be damned if I can find any flaw. I love how slim this little knife is, and the thinness behind the edge makes it cut like a laser.

bpHjR1p.jpg


As I said, either of those knives could have easily taken the top spot this year. Both have spent a good amount to time in my pocket this year and could certainly qualify, but there’s one knife that got even more pocket time, and I think my KOTY nod has to go to that knife.

The Cosimo Lunar Lamb is my second Cosimo Lambsfoot (the first, a gift from Jakeywax31 Jakeywax31 last year, got a runner up nod for my 2024 KOTY), so I already knew that Cosimo made an outstanding knife. And while my experience with custom makers is mostly limited to those mentioned so far in this thread, I can say that Cosimo’s quality is right up there with Mike and Rhidian. My favorite thing about this particular knife is the deep, craggy “Lunar” jigging. I generally carry a Lambsfoot and one other knife every day, and since I’ve received the Lunar Lamb, it has definitely been the Lambsfoot that has gotten the most pocket time, and for that reason, it’s my Knife of the Year for 2025.

54HNYDU.jpg
 
Ive had an off year for "collecting".

My gun safe failed (the electronic lock failed). I live in a small town. No near by locksmiths to fix it. So I've been locked out of my collection for much of the year.

I had a few traditional knives out side the safe. A handful of Opinel, a few Mora... and a GEC Barlow and a Buck knife 3 spring Stockman.

But I did pick up a "traditional" knife this year.

I found a crazy close out deal on a Buck 110 with aluminum and micarta handle... S30V steel.

I have several 110...in brass and wood...but they rarely see pocket time.

This 110 is lighter, and has been carried every day since I got it this season.

Light. Easy to cary. Better edge retention. Fantastic thin grind with a sharp point.

Its been a daily carry 20251231_132131.jpgsince it got it.
 
I'm in :)

As a fairly long time collector of "old" knives, often times a GREAT knife to me is more about the hunt and being to spot an old knife that is relatively rare. In November I spotted a multi-blade Henckel's Mother of Pearl knife that just struck me as being a rare and nearly 100 year old knife that looked in really nice shape. I was guessing it was pre-World War II because considering the state of the world post-World War II... a fancy MOP knife with 18 blades/tools just wasn't practical or cost effective; certainly not for Henckels based out of Germany. So I took a chance and purchased it from the seller. Once I got it in hand, I really just wanted to know how old it was and many of us know that Henckel's can be pretty hard to date. So I thought to myself that I needed to reach out to our Porch friend, Neal, to see if he had any idea on its origins. I sent him pictures and background info and waited. A few days later he got back to me with the funniest of responses... he said "Hi Kevin.. Well if you would have purchased the J.A. Henckels Knives book, you would know everything you need to know about that particular knife." He was right 🤣 See the thumbnail pictures below and you will see exactly why this was so funny / ironic. So with that background, I present to you my absolute favorite knife purchase of the year and my nominee for KOTY, the c.1930 JA Henckels MOP18-blade/tool, utility knife :)

Edit- By the way... getting all of the blades/tools pulled out at once on these knives is dangerous for a couple of reasons, 1) the obvious one is that you have a lot of sharp objects in close proximity to each other (LoL) and 2) I would really hate to break any springs cuz I could feel some significant pressure. So instead of cutting myself or snapping any metal, I have all but two implements pulled for this picture... the button hook and screw driver are hidden ;)

20251229_112600.jpg

20251229_112653.jpg

20251229_113757.jpg

Screenshot 2025-12-31 160320.jpgScreenshot 2025-12-31 155751.jpg
 
Last edited:
My 2025 Knife of the Year is the Cosimo De Benedetto white bone shadow lambsfoot described below. It's the first custom-made knife I've ever owned. What follows are some edited excerpts of a couple of posts I made in the Guardians thread soon after I received this knife.

Some of you may remember that I was on the business end of double-barreled generosity back on Labor Day. That's the day Bob @Rufus1949 announced the winner of his latest extremely generous estimation game, and the winning estimate was provided by @Tyson A Wright, who very generously decided that he was entering on my behalf. A big thank you to both of those gentlemen for their magnanimity! :thumbsup::cool::thumbsup:

I've decided that the knife's "official" name is CBD BF Agnello Ombra Bianca, where CBD are the initials of the cutler, BF are the initials of where I won the knife AND the initials of the generous GAW host, and the final 3 words are Italian for "white shadow lamb". But my nickname for the knife is just White Shadow. Some photos of the knife follow.

The knife has an interesting shield (I'd call it a "bomb shield" but that may be wrong) and an oversized pivot. The smooth white bone, especially on the pile side, has a fascinating mottled appearance, kind of two-tone bone.
uY4jbKc.jpeg

S0qEgXp.jpeg


The lambsfoot blade is about 2.9" long and has the somewhat unusual (at least among the lambs I have) "rounded nose". The blade also has an outstanding stovepipe kick! The handle is about 3.9".
5CchtWV.jpeg

yWJfaX3.jpeg


Thanks again to Bob and Tyson for a fantastic knife I'd never dreamed of having!

- GT
 
The highlight of 2025 for me was adding the 46 Whaler (top) to the ivory collection to complete the quest of acquiring one of each of the patterns that GEC made in elephant ivory. I still need to get them all gathered up for a group photo which is on my 2026 "to do" list.IMG_5962 (1).jpg
 
5K Qs said:
My 2025 Knife of the Year is the Cosimo De Benedetto white bone shadow lambsfoot described below. It's the first custom-made knife I've ever owned. What follows are some edited excerpts of a couple of posts I made in the Guardians thread soon after I received this knife.

Some of you may remember that I was on the business end of double-barreled generosity back on Labor Day. That's the day Bob @Rufus1949 announced the winner of his latest extremely generous estimation game, and the winning estimate was provided by @Tyson A Wright, who very generously decided that he was entering on my behalf. A big thank you to both of those gentlemen for their magnanimity! :thumbsup::cool::thumbsup:

I've decided that the knife's "official" name is CBD BF Agnello Ombra Bianca, where CBD are the initials of the cutler, BF are the initials of where I won the knife AND the initials of the generous GAW host, and the final 3 words are Italian for "white shadow lamb". But my nickname for the knife is just White Shadow. Some photos of the knife follow.

The knife has an interesting shield (I'd call it a "bomb shield" but that may be wrong) and an oversized pivot. The smooth white bone, especially on the pile side, has a fascinating mottled appearance, kind of two-tone bone.
uY4jbKc.jpeg

S0qEgXp.jpeg


The lambsfoot blade is about 2.9" long and has the somewhat unusual (at least among the lambs I have) "rounded nose". The blade also has an outstanding stovepipe kick! The handle is about 3.9".
5CchtWV.jpeg

yWJfaX3.jpeg


Thanks again to Bob and Tyson for a fantastic knife I'd never dreamed of having!

- GT
Click to expand...
A hugely generous giveaway prize Gary, and a very handsome knife :) That pivot is called a 'Bird's Eye' pivot by the way :) :thumbsup:
Buckeye Sharp said:
The highlight of 2025 for me was adding the 46 Whaler (top) to the ivory collection to complete the quest of acquiring one of each of the patterns that GEC made in elephant ivory. I still need to get them all gathered up for a group photo which is on my 2026 "to do" list.View attachment 3064028
Click to expand...
Congratulations :) :thumbsup:
 
Happy New Year everyone :) Thanks for taking part in my annual Traditional Knife of the Year thread, and for putting so much thought and effort into your contributions :cool: I'm going to close the thread for now, and I'll do the draw later today :) Good luck to everyone who entered :thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top