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