I've cast my vote for Buck. While the 301 wouldn't be my choice if I was making the purchase from the custom shop, I'm willing to run with it...though the results of votes-to-come could curtail my interest. (When/if I'm out, I'll stop voting)
Since this vote is solely focused on determining whether Buck or GEC will be doing this year's forum knife, I'm not going to list the rest of my choices.
It will be interesting to see the options offered for handle materials.
Will future polls indicate the upcharge for various options? Using Buck as an example, when the blade steel and handle material polls happen, it would be nice to know, when voting, what we're doing to the cost of the end knife. It can be done with the common format 420HC (+$0), 154CM (+$7), S35vn (+15), CPM20CV (+$20)
This is even more important with handle materials, with the custom shop listing upcharges as high as $92.
*please note - the numbers used in this example are somewhat arbitrary...I am not suggesting that these are the actual upcharges.
I think that some might choose to minimize upcharges, some to moderate them...and others will simply focus on creating their favorite knife, cost be darned.