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

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sbh06 said:
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 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.
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Very nice post, Jeremy. Three worthy knives. Willem makes a fine knife and yours is no exception. That slip you made for it is perfect as well!!
 
sbh06 said:
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 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.
Click to expand...
That knife is dynamite. Love it every time I see it! The blue was such a great choice.
 
I would have sworn it would have been the The Rider 86HJ Ebony. I love that knife and found I like having a punch and scraper with me for tasks I don’t want to use the main for.

But in an odd turn of events. There is a new winner for my KOTY. And it’s weird I like it because I generally don’t like equal enders, or caps. I like a clip or straight edge, not so much a spear. It’s a mammoth and you’re supposed to carry those in slips and baby them. I like knives around 3 7/8” and not bigger than 4” closed.

Well, I carry my KOTY with no slip and carry it almost every day. Sometimes swapping back to it if I started with something else.

Can't expain it but here it is:


The Mammoth 54.

IMG_4720.jpeg
 
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My KOTY is easy this year. I asked for this Wright lambsfoot for Christmas last year even though I’ve always preferred 3 1/4” or smaller multiblade knives, mainly because I wanted to see why all the fuss about the lambsfoot pattern. I don’t carry it every day, but I do carry it a lot more often than I thought I would (especially after I finally got it broken in.) It’s very simple and basic, it feels indestructible, and it just feels good to carry. It feels like carrying a brand new 100 year old knife. Thanks, Jack Black Jack Black - without you most of us would have never even heard of the pattern!
bwLohAP.jpg
 
My first choice to carry when I have things to do inside and out was the 86hj.a very sturdy knife that you have no qualms about leaning into,also the awl is very useful.then winter came and cold hands followed, this is where I found the 47 my go to knife,I have it in a slip that has a clip that I carry in my pocket, the 47 with its lanyard is easy to access in cold weather, you just pull on the lanyard and it slides out.the high blade gives you more area to grasp and open.then you factor in a wharncliffe blade that I really like using and you have a winner for koty.but come spring the 86 will likely come back in fashion.
17033522813551097868987558402115.jpg17033523224198569182304311414539.jpg
So here is my koty the 47 plumb.i find the lanyards super handy in cold weather.
 
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I always enjoy this thread and also enjoy going back through the pictures I took this year to see which knives really impressed me when I opened the box.

This year I was lucky enough to add many rare and desirable knives but one really knocked my socks off when I first got a look at it. My knife of the year is this ebony Holley single blade curved frame sheepsfoot jack, large at 4 1/8" with a unique look to it, don't recall ever seeing another knife like it.


IMG_1106.jpegIMG_1110.jpeg
 
Generally I’m more of a traditional knife guy even though I can appreciate modern traditional knives as well. I‘ve got several of them during the last years and strictly technical they were all great. Unfortunately, they were all lacking in one point, they didn’t ‚connect‚ with me. I believe most of you can understand that. It’s not a matter what type of knife (modern/traditional). For me, I need to feel that connection otherwise the knife is a great tool but doesn’t get more pocket time than required To do the job.

On the other hand there are knives we simply feel we have to keep in our pocket. I’ve got several knives this year but the one that stands out to me for this year is surprisingly a modern traditional knife which I never would have expected to happen. Late this year I was able to get one of the Jack Wolf Little Bro Jacks with Rosewood covers and I have to say that the little guy checks all the boxes technical and emotional.

A traditional styled knife with modern materials and somehow I can’t get it out of my pockets. This makes it my personal Knife Of The Year.

dK2xA8d.jpeg
 
wickettedge said:
I would have sworn it would have been the The Rider 86HJ Ebony. I love that knife and found I like having a punch and scraper with me for tasks I don’t want to use the main for.

But in an odd turn of events. There is a new winner for my KOTY. And it’s weird I like it because I generally don’t like equal enders, or caps. I like a clip or straight edge, not so much a spear. It’s a mammoth and you’re supposed to carry those in slips and baby them. I like knives around 3 7/8” and not bigger than 4” closed.

Well, I carry my KOTY with no slip and carry it almost every day. Sometimes swapping back to it if I started with something else.

Can't expain it but here it is:


The Mammoth 54.

View attachment 2432281
Click to expand...
THAT'S a KOTY 😊👍
Silverbeard_EDC said:
Great knives everyone. It would be tough to pick a KOTY. I think the winner today would be my Case Rigger Knife followed by a Barlow that was gifted to me earlier this year. Ask me tomorrow and I might give you a different answer. 🤣 - Terry
qh6WIy8.jpg


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So which one is it Terry? If you're not sure, you don't have a KOTY 👍
Headwinds said:
My KOTY is easy this year. I asked for this Wright lambsfoot for Christmas last year even though I’ve always preferred 3 1/4” or smaller multiblade knives, mainly because I wanted to see why all the fuss about the lambsfoot pattern. I don’t carry it every day, but I do carry it a lot more often than I thought I would (especially after I finally got it broken in.) It’s very simple and basic, it feels indestructible, and it just feels good to carry. It feels like carrying a brand new 100 year old knife. Thanks, Jack Black Jack Black - without you most of us would have never even heard of the pattern!
bwLohAP.jpg
Click to expand...
Thank you my friend, I'm glad you gave the pattern a try 😊👍
Oldy said:
My first choice to carry when I have things to do inside and out was the 86hj.a very sturdy knife that you have no qualms about leaning into,also the awl is very useful.then winter came and cold hands followed, this is where I found the 47 my go to knife,I have it in a slip that has a clip that I carry in my pocket, the 47 with its lanyard is easy to access in cold weather, you just pull on the lanyard and it slides out.the high blade gives you more area to grasp and open.then you factor in a wharncliffe blade that I really like using and you have a winner for koty.but come spring the 86 will likely come back in fashion.
View attachment 2432717View attachment 2432718
So here is my koty the 47 plumb.i find the lanyards super handy in cold weather.
Click to expand...
👍
Augie said:
I always enjoy this thread and also enjoy going back through the pictures I took this year to see which knives really impressed me when I opened the box.

This year I was lucky enough to add many rare and desirable knives but one really knocked my socks off when I first got a look at it. My knife of the year is this ebony Holley single blade curved frame sheepsfoot jack, large at 4 1/8" with a unique look to it, don't recall ever seeing another knife like it.


View attachment 2432843View attachment 2432844
Click to expand...
That's a handsome-looking knife 😎👍
wickettedge said:
Oldy Oldy and Silverbeard_EDC Silverbeard_EDC nice knives guys, but this is the KOTY thread. Reread post #1 fellas.
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Thank you 🙂👍
Haegar said:
Generally I’m more of a traditional knife guy even though I can appreciate modern traditional knives as well. I‘ve got several of them during the last years and strictly technical they were all great. Unfortunately, they were all lacking in one point, they didn’t ‚connect‚ with me. I believe most of you can understand that. It’s not a matter what type of knife (modern/traditional). For me, I need to feel that connection otherwise the knife is a great tool but doesn’t get more pocket time than required To do the job.

On the other hand there are knives we simply feel we have to keep in our pocket. I’ve got several knives this year but the one that stands out to me for this year is surprisingly a modern traditional knife which I never would have expected to happen. Late this year I was able to get one of the Jack Wolf Little Bro Jacks with Rosewood covers and I have to say that the little guy checks all the boxes technical and emotional.

A traditional styled knife with modern materials and somehow I can’t get it out of my pockets. This makes it my personal Knife Of The Year.

dK2xA8d.jpeg
Click to expand...
👍
 
Although all three of the following knives were manufactured before 2023, I purchased and received all three of them in 2023.

This 6-dot (1974) Capped Jack with red bone covers could certainly qualify for my 2023 KOTY

1704051346257.png

But then along came this 2021 manufactured Remington repro by GEC which also could qualify as my 2023 KOTY

1704051572593.png

But then to upset the apple cart and be named my 2023 KOTY along came this 2002 manufactured Case Sowbelly Stockman with Vintage Bone covers

1704051879347.png
1704052073872.png
 
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Modoc ED said:
Although all three of the following knives were manufactured before 2023, I purchased and received all three of them in 2023.

This 6-dot (1974) Capped Jack with red bone covers could certainly qualify for my 2023 KOTY

View attachment 2440697

But then along came this 2021 manufactured Remington repro by GEC which also could qualify as my 2023 KOTY

View attachment 2440705

But then to upset the apple cart and be named my 2023 KOTY along came this 2002 Case Sowbelly Stockman with Vintage Bone covers

View attachment 2440707
View attachment 2440708
Click to expand...
Three worthy candidates, Ed, and a fine koty.
 
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