Now this is very cool. Excellent looking knife.I swoon a little bit every time I pick this one up. Wanted one ever since they came out in burnt indigo bone and I found this one on sale during an online cerebration in September. Big but slim and a delight to carry and hold. Case Wharncliffe copperlock -- a marriage of the trapper and copperhead patterns.
Well folks, it's that time of year again - and what a year it has been!- Time to select your Traditional Knife of the Year
Quoting from previous threads (except for updating the year):
In 2020, if you’re lucky, you may have bought, found, or been given, an EXCEPTIONAL knife. Maybe it was a knife you didn’t think was going to be that special, but it has absolutely CHARMED you. Perhaps it was an inexpensive knife, which you picked up somewhere, slipped in your pocket, and then found you couldn’t stop carrying it. It must be a knife you have gotten since the start of the year. If you’ve come across a knife like that, perhaps you’d like to nominate it as YOUR knife of the year.
Now, it could be that you’ve been perfectly happy carrying the knife you bought or were given many years ago, a knife which has served you so well, why would you want to change? If that’s the case, good luck to you my friend, but that knife doesn’t qualify.
It could be that you’ve had lots of knives this year, and liked many of them, but none of them really stood out. Don’t worry, maybe something will come along next year, which will absolutely knock your socks off. You can tell us about that knife next year.
Also, and we always get a couple of these, you may be one of those indecisive folks who just can’t make your mind up. Maybe you have two, or three, or four knives you really like, and can’t decide which you like the best. If that applies to you, feel free to start another thread, because if ONE of those knives doesn’t stand out, it doesn’t deserve to be nominated for this one. By all means mention a number of knives, but in the end, YOU MUST CHOOSE ONE. If you can’t…on yer bike!
It gets worse, there’s no prize* for this, and there’s no winner!
So, we're not looking for the fanciest custom you picked up this year, we're looking for a knife that you've CARRIED, that has absolutely hogged your pocket in a way which may have taken you by surprise. Don't worry if you can't choose one, you're not being asked to choose your favourite child, just sit back and read the posts, and maybe you'll find a knife to nominate next year. I'm going to make a slight change this year (2019), you may nominate a knife you received last Christmas, (and did not carry before Christmas Day), so long as it fulfills all the other criteria.
Hopefully everyone gets the idea, not the fanciest or most expensive knife you've acquired this year (or since last Christmas), but one which is really special to you
Thank you to everyone who joins in the fun, and thanks to you all for helping to keep me more or less sane in a crazy year in a mad, mad world
All the best
Jack
Some links to past Traditional Knife of the Year threads:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/your-traditional-knife-of-2019.1701068/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/your-2018-traditional-knife-of-the-year.1627912/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/your-traditional-knife-of-2017.1536817/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-traditional-knife-of-2016.1452776/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-knife-of-2015.1352217/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-knife-of-2014.1248497/
The pandemic has introduced some new terms into our vocabulary, some are mainstream and some are more low key or made up. My favorite one is "hard pants", I thought I made it up but I have no proof of that. I just know when my wife says we are going to the grocery store, I tell her to wait a couple minutes so I can get my "hard pants" on. Sadly working from home pretty much all year has me wearing fleece pajama pants and a hoodie for my work attire
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Great post Kevin, and a cool choice
Harry
Love the pics Glad you managed to find another I like this thread, Jack, but I find myself in the same predicament as yourself: my 2020 Knife of the Year would be my 2019 Knife of the Year if it were eligible. That would be my olive wood Laguiole from Honoré Durand:
My runner-up last year was my No. 8 Opinel, and that has not changed.
They are the two knives that are always in my pocket or on my nightstand, with the Laguiole taking top honours.
I, too, acquired fewer knives this year. I only bought two, but won two giveaways abd was gifted six knives from very generous individuals:
However, no single one stood out, as required by your rules. One pattern did particularly impress me, though. The Thiers knife, of which I acquired two:
I had planned early in the year to get the larger knife (from Fontenille Pataud) for my birthday in October. Before I received it, I was given the compact knife with a juniper handle by @timberweasel (he was giving away a 1960 US demo knife, but threw in two additional knives and a small flashlight--a very pleasant surprise). It is difficult to choose a favourite between the two, but they don't qualify as per your rules, since I was able to keep them out of my pocket. I have carried all of my 2020 acquisitions, and enjoy them all, but I cannot nominate any of them as my Knife of the Year. So I guess it's "on my bike", as you put it. Maybe something will knock off the Laguiole next year.
I am enjoying everyone's posts. Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Christmas (and Hanukkah)!
Hey, it’s one of my favorite threads of the year!
Jack, I would’ve thought your Bradford Guardian 3 might’ve gotten the nod this year. Sure, it’s no HHB
My knife of the year for 2020 is a toss up between two knives (don’t worry, Jack, I’ll pick just one in the end
Scout’s Scout is probably the most special knife that I got this year. I knew I wanted one of these #15’s with the SCOUT shield to be “her” knife (i.e., the knife I’d have with me when she was born, and would subsequently carry on special occasions and milestones in her life), and I really wanted one in Nifebrite acrylic to match Eleanor’s knife (a Nifebrite #71 Bull Nose). Of course, that was easier said than done. These hadn’t been made in several years, and the SCOUT shield #15’s are desirable and hard to come by.
I posted a few times in the WTB section, and reached out to some Porch friends looking for leads. @JohnDF was one of those friends, and he ended up sending me his own Nifebrite #15 Scout. I would’ve been more than happy to pay a premium price for one of these, but John wouldn’t let me pay him anything for it!
So thank you again, John!
The only reason I’m not making this my knife of the year is that I feel like I haven’t carried it often enough for it to qualify. I had it in my pocket for a couple weeks in the spring (Scout ended up coming about a week late, and I didn’t want to have to rush to the hospital and not have it on me, so I kept it with me for a quite a while around her due date), and I’ve carried it a few times since, but not enough for this thread.
Here it is with Eleanor’s Bull Nose (unlike Scout’s Scout, that knife was not planned; it really was just the knife I happened to have in my pocket that day).
My second honorable mention is this Tidioute #23 in Woodland Micarta. I put this knife to work this summer, carrying it exclusively for several weeks. It might’ve been close to a month. While I do really like this knife, the reason it spent so much time in my pocket was because I wanted to see how I felt about carrying this large pattern (4.5” closed) regularly, and I picked the least “fancy” one to use and abuse for a bit. I like some of the other cover options from this run more than this Micarta, so I don’t think it could be my knife of the year.
Now for the two finalists. First is the 2020 BladeForums Viper Swayback. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t really expect to like this knife that much. I’ve purchased the annual forum knife every year since I’ve been active here on the Porch (I think 2015 was my first). I’ve kept the ones I like, but I’ve also let a couple go when they weren’t my cup of tea. I was afraid that this one might end up being one of the latter (even though I was excited that my design/mock-up for the blade etch ended up being used), but man, this thing really surprised me! I love the horn, the fit and finish are great, and the blade is thin and slicey. Plus, I’m a sucker for a lanyard hole!
My second finalist is this Alber’s Cutlery Co. in Bocote. This was from Eric’s initial test run of 15 knives, which makes it extra special. This knife is beautifully made, with a fit and finish on par with some of my better GEC knives. I feel like it could be a bit thinner behind the edge, but I haven’t had to sharpen it yet as the edge Eric put on it is excellent, and the CPM154 holds that edge well.
So now I have to choose. I honestly thought I was going to go with the Albers when I started writing this post. I like that’s it’s handmade by one man using traditional methods, and while I don’t think the Viper is a bad looking knife, I don’t particularly like the look of the Torx screws or that large pivot screw on the bolster. And I have carried the Albers often…
…but not as often as I’ve carried this year’s forum knife. I don’t usually carry more than one pocket knife, but since I got this years BF knife, I’ve been pairing it up with a more traditional knife 9 days out of 10. It’s seen a lot of pocket time. So, given the criteria for the thread, I guess I’d have to say that my 2020 knife of the year is the BladeForums 2020 Viper Swayback. (And, personally, that’s quite a surprise!
It's certainly a fine blade, and one of the very few knives I acquired this year It's nice to be reminded about SCout's Scout, and @JohnDF 's generosity, as well as that of some of our other fine members Great post, and you kept us all guessing to the end!
My 2020 KOTY is this Case Trapper in peachseed jig antique bone. This one came in August. I'm a sodbuster guy but I always liked to try a trapper. However I hesitated because of the size. Then I saw this one and liked the looks of the bone so I went ahead and purchased it. I'm glad I did. I was surprised how comfortable the trapper is in use. It feels very nice in the hand. And it's not that heavy in the pocket as I thought it would be.
I’m going with a fixed blade this year. David Lisch M.S. is a cool blacksmith that makes killer knives and this is his Legacy model. I’ve been carrying and using it just as it deserves
I'm getting by as well as my bad back will allow I hope you're keeping well yourself Wow, that's some incredible work, just a work of art Awesome knives and stories shared so far! For me this GEC #62 has completely hogged my pocket since February. So much so that prior to this week I think I could count the days I didn't carry it on my fingers with some to spare (this week I've been "forcing" myself to carry something else each day). Working from home and wearing shorts nearly every day may have contributed as I find this a very light and capable carry.
That's special
With your current predilection for traditional French patterns, I think this bike would be appropriate for you, as we both cycle off into 2020 my friend
Jack,
Those guys riding a bike and selling onions in Great Brittain were not only French, they were Breton, and not only Breton , they were Leonad, from the Leon country, the north of the very very western part of Brittany. Don't confuse! I'm native from this area and we are known to be proud and susceptive about our origins. The British nicknamed them "Johnnies" probably because the breton first name "Yannig" was very common. Most of them spoke better english than french.
And now i'm homesick.
Dan.
I've never visited this part of France, but it looks very beautiful, and that's something I should address Apologies for my ignorance For me, I may be picking low on the creativity scale, but it's got to be this years Forum Traditional. I don't think it's that the Viper Swayback is so Uber spectacular or technically advanced. But just a good combination of modern to traditional to good combination of components.
For me, it was simply the nicest traditional that I had purchased all year.....so, Bing Bing....we have a winner.
Mines the Brunette. My boy got the Blondie.
My girlfriend actually went to Brittany about 5 years ago on a work-related trip. She was taking her college students, and so I could not go, but I enjoyed seeing her photos. I have a Belgian friend who moved there with his Breton girlfriend about 15 years ago, and I have always meant to visit them. When I visited France regularly, it was a substantial detour though, and it definitely needs a trip on its own. Well maybe when life returns to normal I can go, I think we'll have all earned a vacation by then
Good to see you here Randy, hope you're doing OK
"There are suddenly in this town many onion sellers appearing!" (First episode of 'Allo 'Allo)LOL!
A beautiful choice Harry, that's some incredible stag
That's very decisive Paul
Fantastic
A very thoughtful and enjoyable post Vince, and you have certainly acquired some nice-looking knives this year. Even with so many beauties, there isn't always one that stands out above all the others though is there? With your current predilection for traditional French patterns, I think this bike would be appropriate for you, as we both cycle off into 2020 my friend
