Your Traditional Knife of the Year 2023 (Easy Tiger, read the rules please! ;))

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I'm new around here but I'll chime in.

I started off the year focused more on modern knives. I'll avoid those here. Somewhere along the way they started to all look the same. I started to want more soul and personality in my "accumulation". IDK, "Collection" just sounds a little formal. I decided to stop accumulation syndrome and take my time looking for things that really speak to me. To buy with more intent and try to find more special pieces.

I started to look at the modern traditionals at first. I like the idea of a mix of modern tech with more traditional feel. I ended up with a Lionsteel CK01 Roundhead. I like the simple barlows yet with a modern take. I also I wanted to try to make my own scales and screws just make sense. Here it is with some home made Dyed Jigged Bone with MOP Acorn Shield.
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Another modern traditional I picked up and really like a lot is the Fox Knives Elite 271 OL Olive Wood. Great little knife but possibly not for everyone. No nail nick and requires care when closing. Fantastic to me though.
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but ultimately the modern traditionals just don't have the same "life" to them. As a woodworker I tend to like wood. I tend to appreciate simple elegant designs. I started to gravitate naturally more towards traditionals and kept noticing Ebony for it's simple elegance and Desert Ironwood has been a long running attraction. So I started to look in more earnest for those directions.

As I was looking around nothing was really jumping out at me. Lots of likes but no "must haves". Then the GEC #47 were announced. I saw they had both the Ebony and Desert Ironwood and they looked fantastic. Not to mention they are highly valued suggesting they are good. I had yet to own one or handle one. I saw and REALLY like the blue bone ones. I decided that was the more unique one of the lot and my goal. I tried in 4 drops and became sick of the whole game. It's not my preferred way of living to fight in such feats of competition. It happens or it doesn't. I decided it wasn't in the cards and would moved on.

Talking to a friend @greesepiggy about it, and mentioned he had some GEC he might let go of. He showed me pics and this 2020 #62 Easy Pocket Congress Sambar Stag caught my eye was sent my way. I have a real fondness for small knives as well. I carried a case peanut for quite a while. This is a bigger but still on the smaller side IMO and wow is it cool. It has a lot of wow for me. It arrived shaving sharp with patina and I continue to maintain with the strop. I really love this thing and it gets regular pocket time. This one was a real contender for KOTY but didn't quite reach as high as the KOTY. Maybe over time opinions will swing back this way but right this year the title sits with another.
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Next, just a few weeks later, I saw these beautifil TITUSVILLE CUTLERY -AMERICAN REDSMITH SERIES- Old Man Norman
Barlow - Buckeye Burl Wood Handless and Copper Bolster. I hemmed and hawed for a couple days about the cost. It was more than my "I don't like to spend that much" on a knife and just under my "no way" personal ceiling cutoff limit. Surprised they were still available and they just kept calling me. I decided to go with one of the more unique looking ones with a bit of a stem knot on the scale rather than one of the more uniform ones. I think it gives it a little something extra and makes it special. This thing also gets a lot of pocket time and is very appriciated but not enough for the title.
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Just a couple days after spending at personal highs and already spent way too much that month yet another drop for the GEC #47's with more to offer was available. I almost did not participate but decided to give it another more try and let the fates decide but only as I promised myself not to get upset. I decided to try for the Ironwood since the blue never happened. Perhaps, lady luck would reward my original goal. I also changed tactics slightly and to my surpise I was able to score an Ironwood. When it arrived, my very first thought was a bare hint of disappointment that I did not get one of the super highly figured ones. But, that brief flash was taken over by how vibrant orange this one was. How it radiates and has clean elegant lines with gold accents really plays well with the colors. The feel of it is amazing and the fit and finish and walk and talk are great. This thing has sure wooed me into submission and forced me to name it KOTY. It has been getting the most regular pocket time of the "accumulation" lately.
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So my most recent additions, since like october, have all been the best nominees and knives I will likely treasure for years to come. They are all wonderful but that ironwood tends to bat her eyes at me the most. Switching to searching for the gems and a more personal connection was the right thing to do for myself. Great year. Cheers.
Welcome to the madhouse Rick. Your final choice is a good one.
I hope you join everyone on the other threads and share your collection.

Bob
 
I haven’t been around the porch in what seems like a few years, and I’ve found that the less I participate here the less I think about knives. The less I think about knives, the more likely I am to grab what works best for me and stick with it exclusively for an extended period of time, and in this case I would have to put forward this knife as my KOTY.

This one has been in my pocket for a couple of years now and it shows, and I’ve got to say I’ve really grown fond of it.
I think this is also the first time I’ve carried a slippie long and consistently enough to earn and honest to God patina.
zoJD4VF.jpeg
 
I haven’t been around the porch in what seems like a few years, and I’ve found that the less I participate here the less I think about knives. The less I think about knives, the more likely I am to grab what works best for me and stick with it exclusively for an extended period of time, and in this case I would have to put forward this knife as my KOTY.

This one has been in my pocket for a couple of years now and it shows, and I’ve got to say I’ve really grown fond of it.
I think this is also the first time I’ve carried a slippie long and consistently enough to earn and honest to God patina.
zoJD4VF.jpeg
Pardon my ignorance, but is it a 14 or a 15?
 
A gift from @jlauffer. It’s definitely my traditional knife of the year. It’s loved, appreciated, carried, and used every day. It does not look all shiny and new like this photo anymore. I’ll have to take a current picture tomorrow.

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I have to say the Bunny.

It has been my constant companion since @315 presented it to me.

It is just the right size, and rides in my pocket like a good little Bunny.

It makes no pretense of being fancy, just a high quality , no nonsense pocket knife.

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And doesn't this one have a great....great label...absolute genius.😁
 
I don’t post on here nearly as much as I read, but since I enjoy the reading as much as I do, would like to contribute more. My contribution here for my knife of the year was a very easy choice. I got a lot of new knives through the year like many others here. Sometimes you just get one that is such a stand out it just makes you stop and pay attention. This is one of those for me. I love supporting new, somewhat unknown makers as they get into the craft. This is from Gjcustomknives Gjcustomknives and as soon as I saw it, I knew this was the one for me to pull the trigger on from him. I love Lanny’s clips and sambar stag. Once I got this in the mail, I have never been so thoroughly impressed by knife or maker. For a young new talent here, he surpassed my expectations and this knife has not left my pocket since receiving it. The build quality and attention to detail are so good I can’t help but admire it as much as use it. It’s going to be tough to best this one for me. Probably won’t stop me from trying though!
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I went back and forth on this one before settling on this:

It was carried and used here and there before this month, but has been taken to work every day in December and is really growing on me!
Nice choice Ernie 👍
I haven’t been around the porch in what seems like a few years, and I’ve found that the less I participate here the less I think about knives. The less I think about knives, the more likely I am to grab what works best for me and stick with it exclusively for an extended period of time, and in this case I would have to put forward this knife as my KOTY.

This one has been in my pocket for a couple of years now and it shows, and I’ve got to say I’ve really grown fond of it.
I think this is also the first time I’ve carried a slippie long and consistently enough to earn and honest to God patina.
zoJD4VF.jpeg
Outstanding 😎👍
Gotta be this Spring GEC Barlow in 440C


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Barlow's are making a strong showing 😊👍
I don’t post on here nearly as much as I read, but since I enjoy the reading as much as I do, would like to contribute more. My contribution here for my knife of the year was a very easy choice. I got a lot of new knives through the year like many others here. Sometimes you just get one that is such a stand out it just makes you stop and pay attention. This is one of those for me. I love supporting new, somewhat unknown makers as they get into the craft. This is from Gjcustomknives Gjcustomknives and as soon as I saw it, I knew this was the one for me to pull the trigger on from him. I love Lanny’s clips and sambar stag. Once I got this in the mail, I have never been so thoroughly impressed by knife or maker. For a young new talent here, he surpassed my expectations and this knife has not left my pocket since receiving it. The build quality and attention to detail are so good I can’t help but admire it as much as use it. It’s going to be tough to best this one for me. Probably won’t stop me from trying though!
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That looks very impressive 😎👍
 
My knife buying slowed way down this year as I focused on quality over quantity. In the end, it was a three horse race for me for my 2023 knife of the year. First up, and the most sentimental of the group, is the River Town Jack that I won in an awesome giveaway Fixall Fixall hosted. Having grown in in a "river town" of Riverton, Wyoming, this knife reminds me of home every time I carry it. Thanks again Brian for hosting such a great giveaway and I'm honored to own the knife. Unfortunately this knife is not my koty.
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Now, the other two serious contenders for my koty. First is the Appaloosa bone Northwoods Heritage Jack. I was able to score this one from the KSF drop as a straggler from the Fall Creek release and this one is both a stunner and a worker. The 86 is my favorite frame and this one is near the top of the list of those offerings. It has been a mainstay in my pocket since I got it. Again, not my knife of the year.
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The other knife in the above picture IS my knife of the year, and for many reasons. This K'roo lambsfoot with blue Karilian burch burl covers is first class in all areas, custom made by Willem from South Africa. It has been in my pocket nearly continuiously since I got it in the spring and is only left out when I make a concious decision to offer another lamb the chance to ride shotgun for the day. Here's another picture.

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Thanks Jack Black Jack Black for starting this thread. There have been some fine looking knives that made the list from other members for this year.
 
My KotY is this LT Wright Frontier Valley in A2 and natural Micarta. I had been searching for a pocket-carry EDC fixed blade, and this checked all the boxes for me. I don’t think a day has gone by that it hasn’t been on my person since receiving it. It pairs quite well with this Buck 301 in this pocket sheath.

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My knife buying slowed way down this year as I focused on quality over quantity. In the end, it was a three horse race for me for my 2023 knife of the year. First up, and the most sentimental of the group, is the River Town Jack that I won in an awesome giveaway Fixall Fixall hosted. Having grown in in a "river town" of Riverton, Wyoming, this knife reminds me of home every time I carry it. Thanks again Brian for hosting such a great giveaway and I'm honored to own the knife. Unfortunately this knife is not my koty.
MG51ybr.jpg


Now, the other two serious contenders for my koty. First is the Appaloosa bone Northwoods Heritage Jack. I was able to score this one from the KSF drop as a straggler from the Fall Creek release and this one is both a stunner and a worker. The 86 is my favorite frame and this one is near the top of the list of those offerings. It has been a mainstay in my pocket since I got it. Again, not my knife of the year.
DbLb3Mi.jpg


The other knife in the above picture IS my knife of the year, and for many reasons. This K'roo lambsfoot with blue Karilian burch burl covers is first class in all areas, custom made by Willem from South Africa. It has been in my pocket nearly continuiously since I got it in the spring and is only left out when I make a concious decision to offer another lamb the chance to ride shotgun for the day. Here's another picture.

CSaOPgX.jpg


Thanks Jack Black Jack Black for starting this thread. There have been some fine looking knives that made the list from other members for this year.
Fantastic choice Jeremy 😎👍
My KotY is this LT Wright Frontier Valley in A2 and natural Micarta. I had been searching for a pocket-carry EDC fixed blade, and this checked all the boxes for me. I don’t think a day has gone by that it hasn’t been on my person since receiving it. It pairs quite well with this Buck 301 in this pocket sheath.

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Really nice lines 🙂👍
 
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