Your Traditional Knife of 2017

[Ratbert]

Several nice knives came and went this year...some found a home with me and some have moved on, but this Todd Davison clip point is special. It’s the first custom knife I have owned and is everything I hoped it would be.
Walk and talk is ridiculous and the deep jigging just blows me away. Definitely my Knife of 2017.

 

[Railsplitter]

Great looking knife, Rick! Always liked the 53 Cubans, just haven't found the right one yet. That's a beauty!

Thanks, Lance. It felt good to finally get the one I wanted. I really want to carry it and I've tried but it's just a smidgen too big and I just can't justify the bulk and weight considering how seldom I actually use a pocket knife. I wish I could come to terms with that because it feels absolutely fantastic in the hand.

 

[Slim278]

Here is my knife for 2017. I acquired some beautiful knives this year, but my go to has been this 74. The blade length and shape fills most of my cutting needs and the cocobolo handle just feels great in the hand. I have a yellow rose and an ebony I keep meaning to put in the rotation, this one hasn't let me do that yet.

 

[Jack Black]

The picture pretty much tells the story of this knife. I liked the first one so much I up and bought two more. The original, at the bottom, has been in my pocket pretty much without interruption since April.

Some pretty interesting knives have turned up in my mailbox this year, but none has grabbed my attention like the Okapi Biltong, the only knife ever named after a piece of beef jerky. I like the size, the weight, and the snap of the sheepsfoot blade.

The blade itself took some work to make it useful. I would have ordered it in special grade like the next two but it was out of stock at Baryonyx when I wanted to order the first one. Now it cuts pretty well and is easy to keep sharp. To call the production values “rustic” would be generous. The handle took a bit of sanding and a small application of Sno-seal to smooth mismatched edges.

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@r8shell very kindly sent me one of those Just the sort of rustic, working knife I love

I have mostly been a stockman guy for the last 4-5 years or so, with two-blade jacks coming in a distant second. But for some reason, this year was the year of the single blade for me, as I snagged quite a few really good ones. There are several contenders, but it really came down to two: a Queen and a GEC made Bulldog USA.

Runner Up: Queen #3L Mountain Man lockback trapper in curly zebrawood

And the Winner: Bulldog USA #73 Montana Trail Lock linerlock trapper in ram's horn

I've been looking for one of these for years, and they either were outrageous money, or the horn was funky. This one came at a reasonable price, new in the box, and I immediately put it to work. As you can see, it already has a decent patina growing, and will only get better with more use.

That is some outstanding horn Jeff

Several nice knives came and went this year...some found a home with me and some have moved on, but this Todd Davison clip point is special. It’s the first custom knife I have owned and is everything I hoped it would be.
Walk and talk is ridiculous and the deep jigging just blows me away. Definitely my Knife of 2017.

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Todd always makes a spectacular knife

 

[Hickory n steel]

How do I choose between the thoughtful generosity that has found me this year ?
After all any other knife I've acquired this year is really just a knife.
Anyways all four of these are on me today so I'm not even going to try and choose.

I will however say that the little white imperial from GT is always on me, and the Grohmann from from Duncan has surprised me more than any other.

Lots of fine folks here, and I think I'd rather choose a person or the year than I would a knife, after all you can just walk into a store and buy a knife but great people are a different story.

 

[Will Power]

Gary your Lloyd Stag gets my vote, but you got it first and I freely admit to envy Shadow Stag is a beautiful idea and that blade is no eyesore either

In the wake of this disappointment at not being able to have a Stag like that, 2017 was a dismal failure

In truth though, I do tend to agree with AL the pickings were slim, slim this year so I'll have to put m'thinking cap on and come up with a candidate a bit later. Mind you, 2017 is not yet over... won't get any knives from the family for Christmas though, they think I have everything possible, wrong! But Santa does neglect me, the bearded knife scrooge, sniff

 

[Augie]

Vintage knife are my passion and I managed to add several rare ones this year. Until 6 hours ago this Challenge Cutlery Co carpenters jack would have been my knife of 2017,



But the who knew that the post office delivers on Sunday but this unused Joseph Rodgers Congress showed up in the mailbox, it became my knife of the year as soon as I pulled it out of the box.

 

[Peregrin]

Gary your Lloyd Stag gets my vote, but you got it first and I freely admit to envy Shadow Stag is a beautiful idea and that blade is no eyesore either

In the wake of this disappointment at not being able to have a Stag like that, 2017 was a dismal failure

In truth though, I do tend to agree with AL the pickings were slim, slim this year so I'll have to put m'thinking cap on and come up with a candidate a bit later. Mind you, 2017 is not yet over... won't get any knives from the family for Christmas though, they think I have everything possible, wrong! But Santa does neglect me, the bearded knife scrooge, sniff

Geeze, Will! I'm feeling a little bad.... Must be the cold I've got.
Thanks for the accolades! 2017 ain't over till it's over!

 

[clutchcarter]

Can there be any doubt about my knife of 2017? Or even that it's the best knife in my collection. The inscription indicates the wedding date of my daughter. The best thing about this knife isn't its heritage or quality of steel. It's the fact that it's part of the package that includes the addition of a really great son in law.

 

[Will Power]

Grand knife that Rodgers, some boss Stag on it too! Must have cost you a pretty penny Augie

I like the 'Tobacco Blade' stamping on one of the Sheepfoots, shows clearly it was aimed at US consumers of chewing tobacco or plug pipe tobacco. I think Charles Dickens in his 'American Notes' after one of his visits to the US wrote about people chewing tobacco freely in Congress and spitting it out equally freely too, he seemed to have a thing about Americans and their spitting habits

 

[Sabercat]

I acquired some great knives in 2017, and feel fortunate to be able to have such a hobby.

After years of building a random collection of folders - I decided this year to put more focus on my favorite: the #15 TC Sheepfoot. I had considered this for a few years, but didn't want to go down this rabbit hole until I knew unequivocally that this was my favorite knife of all knives.

My small collection got a lot bigger this year, thanks to the forum TC, and the Cranberry Sawcut and Ebony that were all made in August.

It is my seventh, and most recent addition that is my choice for knife of the year.

A top notch member here reached out upon seeing my signature, and asked if I was interested in this one at a very fair price. Boy was I! My first 2013! I had to sell off some of my non #15 favorites to afford it, but it was worth it.

Upon receiving it, I noticed something perplexing. The number described a two blade TC, but after hours of inspection, I could find only one blade

I had a day off of work a few days later, so took the hour trip to GEC, and showed it to Bill. He gave it a quick look over, and diagnosed it a factory mistake.

I was delighted just to get a knife I thought I may never find. Discovering that I have a neat story to tell about it makes it even better. Obtaining it as a result of another member's kindness makes it the best.

Thank you @LastRodeo !

 

[Planterz]

Only one knife? No doubt it's my first custom, a Jim Dunlap gent's trapper in silver lightning strike carbon fiber.

 

[Jack Black]

Vintage knife are my passion and I managed to add several rare ones this year. Until 6 hours ago this Challenge Cutlery Co carpenters jack would have been my knife of 2017,

View attachment 808095

But the who knew that the post office delivers on Sunday but this unused Joseph Rodgers Congress showed up in the mailbox, it became my knife of the year as soon as I pulled it out of the box.

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Wow! Absolutely stunning! Congratulations

Can there be any doubt about my knife of 2017? Or even that it's the best knife in my collection. The inscription indicates the wedding date of my daughter. The best thing about this knife isn't its heritage or quality of steel. It's the fact that it's part of the package that includes the addition of a really great son in law.

Congratulations to all concerned

Grand knife that Rodgers, some boss Stag on it too! Must have cost you a pretty penny Augie

I like the 'Tobacco Blade' stamping on one of the Sheepfoots, shows clearly it was aimed at US consumers of chewing tobacco or plug pipe tobacco. I think Charles Dickens in his 'American Notes' after one of his visits to the US wrote about people chewing tobacco freely in Congress and spitting it out equally freely too, he seemed to have a thing about Americans and their spitting habits

They chewed it in England too, my great grandfather was never without his plug, and I remember the 'No spitting' signs on the top decks of buses as a kid Tobacco chewing was particular common among coal-miners, munitions workers, and other occupations where smoking was restricted on safety grounds

I acquired some great knives in 2017, and feel fortunate to be able to have such a hobby.

After years of building a random collection of folders - I decided this year to put more focus on my favorite: the #15 TC Sheepfoot. I had considered this for a few years, but didn't want to go down this rabbit hole until I knew unequivocally that this was my favorite knife of all knives.

My small collection got a lot bigger this year, thanks to the forum TC, and the Cranberry Sawcut and Ebony that were all made in August.

It is my seventh, and most recent addition that is my choice for knife of the year.

A top notch member here reached out upon seeing my signature, and asked if I was interested in this one. Boy was I! My first 2013! I had to sell off some of my non #15 favorites to afford it, but it was worth it.

Upon receiving it, I noticed something perplexing. The number described a two blade TC, but after hours of inspection, I could find only one blade

I had a day off of work a few days later, so took the hour trip to GEC, and showed it to Bill. He gave it a quick look over, and diagnosed it a factory mistake.

I was delighted just to get a knife I thought I may never find. Discovering that I have a neat story to tell about it makes it even better. Obtaining it as a result of another member's kindness makes it the best.
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A beautiful knife for sure, and one of my favourite TCs

 

[Will Power]

OK cogitation time over

This year I was lucky enough to come across a number of Black Box knives, the Swell Centre Pen shown, a Coffin Jack, Stockman, 2 Swell Centre split back Whittlers and very generous presents from Al and Bob - Teardrop and Sowbelly. I really like this series of knives: unusual patterns, really beautiful bone, reasonable prices and knives I can use.

But it's not enough is it for KOY? I mean, you find them great, they please you but it's what you expect as the consistency is high. What's needed for a KOY is an element of shock & surprise, something to make you think again. No? Right. This autumn GEC released a new interpretation of the 35 pattern which had been a Forum Knife 2016 and an SFO from the illustrious Campagna stable, naming it Churchill. At first I was completely unmoved, bored frankly. I thought the naming a bit kitsch even lame, a big EE knife did not arouse any interest in me. I barely looked at GEC's website coverage, stifling my yawns. My complacency and prejudice got undermined when I had a look at the Churchill thread, I began to wonder. A single-spring knife with Clip and Sheepfoot? That's a change, and one for the better. Then I saw the Cougar Claw Bone and lost my mind It reminded me of Queen's WCSB or Winterbottom Bone, Queen may get criticised at times for QC but in the past their bone has been of very high calibre indeed. And this Cougar looked the part. My dealer has good photos so I was able to select a nice deep grooved one, just like my little Tabby cat's favourite scratching tree all gouged It got better. The knife carries very nicely, not at all bulbous or heavy in the pocket, moderate pull with no tiresome half stops yet loud snap and brisk action. The two blades are so useful and both feel right when the other is closed. I was initially wrong about this knife, bigoted almost but I got stunned by it in exactly the right way, that's why it gets my KOY vote due to its surprise factor plus excellent gap and play free construction.

Churchill Cougar Clawed Bone shown with a GEC 56

 

[5K Qs]

Geez, Will, you sure fooled me!! I read your earlier complaints in this thread, and thought to myself, "What is Will griping about? He loves (with good reason) his Black Box Winchesters!" When I started reading your "nomination post", I thought, "OK, Will has come to his senses and appreciates his good fortune with the Winchesters! " But then the Churchill surprise ending totally floored me! Will, your description of your Churchill (along with hearing similar reports from so many Porch dwellers) has me almost persuaded to get one while I still can! Doesn't look like it has sunk joints, which I know you value at least as much as I do, but you're still giving it high praise!! That's quite a testament to the quality of the knife!

- GT

 

[Will Power]

No sunk-joints GT but the tang edges aren't too bad & you can round them with ease with something like a Sharpmaker rod. It's quite a big knife but not so heavy and nice Penknife single spring build. Get one while they're still about as there's a decent choice of scales. Just think, the similar Northwoods but with only one sabre ground blade would cost you an enormous sum after selling out in 1.79677 seconds but it's a GEC just the same. I'm fairly manic in my enthusiasms or dislikes...but it really is well made and something different too. If only there were a stainless option...

 

[lambertiana]

Edit to narrow it down to one...
This one is a NOS Puma stockman. I already have one that I bought in 1984, but it has significant sentimental value to me and I do not want to use it any more. I stumbled on this NOS and couldn't resist; buying it took me back to the excitement that I had for the original in 1984.

 

[rockman0]

Excellent photography as usual Ratbert! Stellar knife to boot !

Several nice knives came and went this year...some found a home with me and some have moved on, but this Todd Davison clip point is special. It’s the first custom knife I have owned and is everything I hoped it would be.
Walk and talk is ridiculous and the deep jigging just blows me away. Definitely my Knife of 2017.

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[black mamba]

Great Puma stockman!

 

[Ratbert]

Excellent photography as usual Ratbert! Stellar knife to boot !

Stellar indeed! I purchased it from a fine gentleman here on The Porch.
Thank you for making it available to me. I have been brave enough to use it, but probably spend more time fondling it and staring at it than actually carrying it!