Congress knives

johnwaynesandw

johnwaynesandw

Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Messages
2,753
I seem to be drawn to the congress pattern knife. I know many knives were invented for certain job (stockman for farmers and so on). Can anyone tell me what the intended use for a congress style knife was when invented? When was this patern introduced? I like the 2 blade congress because it is so slim, and find the sheepfoot blade very handy. The pen blade is super thin, which makes for a great slicer.


Thanks,
John
 
According to LGIV, the congress knife "appeared on the scene some time in the first third of the last (19th) century. It is one of the earliest patterns created specifically for the American market...For most of its history it was purely a southern pattern."
 
i believe that the congress pattern was orig designed as a pen knife(used for making quill pens). in the southern states it was used as a tobacco knife.
 
Somewhere along the line, I picked up this story about the congress pattern. In the distant past, US Congressmen were given whittling sticks to use while congress was in session so that they wouldnt carve up the furniture. I've always assumed the name of the knife was related to that. Abe Lincoln was carrying a congress knife on the night he was killed. By contrast, Booth was carrying a switchblade dagger.

Here's a picture of lincolns knife and the other contents of his pockets on the night he was shot (from the Library of Congress). Elliot, does it remind you of my ivory Reese Bose congress? It's the look I was going for.

tlc0070.jpg
 
Yeah it kinda does, Eddie. Your congress is a work of art for sure. (Too bad Lincoln hadn't read the headlines about his demise before going to the theater though, huh? LOL!)

I'd always heard the "congress" took the name from the shape being reminiscent somehow of the capitol though your account is interesting as well.
 
Well, no, it makes sense JK. I mean, on most Congress knives there's four blades, in case you're indecisive and can't make up your mind or agree on which to use! :D ;) Easy to see why they called it a Congress now, isn't it?
 
Seems to me there was a congressman named Cassius Clay long ago. As I recall the story, there was a dispute (and probably some language like that used in the Alabama senate recently) between Clay and one of his fellow "congresscritters" when a pistol shot rang out. Clay's knife was a Bowie, carried out of sight under his vest crossdraw fashion. The blade of it stopped the pistol ball, so I guess you could call this one a congress knife, too. :D
 
To cloud the issue even further, The pattern being a favorite of the Ol' Boys that hung around the courthouse steps ( you remember them guys ) trading knives and chewin' plug they cut with this pattern and talking politics, folks that passed by would chuckle and say " Looks like they're holding Congress again today". Whether that is where the name came from or not, I can only wonder. What the pattern was called before it was dubbed a Congress I haven't a clue. If it was always called a Congress or not I am clueless to that as well.
Greg
 
Thanks for all the replies. I thought I would share a few pics of some of my favorite congress knives. These pics are a few months old. The large Congress has been used some and now has a very nice patina on it. I will try to get some pic of it in the morning.


Thanks,
John

















 
Given the definition of "a coming together, or an assembly" and that four blades were a lot to completely hand make 150 years ago (still are), "congress" would seem an apt description. I know it refers to people, but then so do "trapper" and "stockman". I've generally believed it to be named for many blades "coming together" by folding inward from both ends. An interesting question...:) Regards, ss.
 
Since "congress" can also refer to sex, by the same rationale used in the previous post I guess if the blades didn't come together as planned, the maker was "screwed". (Hence the name "congress" for the knife.) ;) :p
 
...Two "Congress" knives in the privacy of their own home after "congress":

DCP_4232.JPG


G'night honey.



I don't think I'll ever be able to think of a Congress knife in quite the same way again.

;) :p
 
For familial reasons I have a soft spot for the Congress pattern. I wish I'd been a little slower passing the old man's on to my son. Old man and knife are still around though. That's good.

I'd heard the stuff about them also being referred to as tobacco knives and having been a predominately southern pattern. The old man was born in Ohio, but it was southern Ohio. ;) He spent some years as a machinist and a tool designer and carried that carbon steel, Robert Klass, Kissing Crane, congress for a good while. When I got it the stag was golden and worn to where it looked like a cream caramel bone or something and the pins stood a wee bit proud. The blades still had a lot of life in them, but they had been reduced a little due to careful sharpening.

John, I still love those two blade Cases you showed. Being thin and rounded like that I imagine they are just sweethearts in the pocket.
 
According to Levine's, the larger congress knives were the ones referred to as Tobacco Knives.
 
Seen many a plugs of bachy cut with a congress when I was younger. Shoveled wheat out of barges on the 10-uh-C river. It was a favorite pattern of the older hands.
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
John, I still love those two blade Cases you showed. Being thin and rounded like that I imagine they are just sweethearts in the pocket.
Click to expand...


Other than my peanut, they are the most forget about knives I have ever carried in my pocket. I like to put the small one in my wallet (which fits well) in case I forget my pocket knife (like that happen all the time ;) ). I will try to get a few more shots of the good ol congress knives when the sun comes out a little more.


John
 
Blues said:
Since "congress" can also refer to sex, by the same rationale used in the previous post I guess if the blades didn't come together as planned, the maker was "screwed". (Hence the name "congress" for the knife.) ;) :p
Click to expand...

And for Congress. Except it's us taxpayers who get screwed! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top