Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
A large Hen & Rooster.
I can never remember the name of these covers.
I can never remember the name of these covers.
Joe
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Would they be abalone? Or do you think something synthetic?
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Sure look like peacock abalone to me - absolutely stunning knife Joe (as usual)!
Tom
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Blue: I'm really liking that Boker. Hadn't seen that style of bolster before.
Many fine photos of interesting Congresses. These plus all the comments have expanded my view and understanding of the pattern. Thanks to all.
Many fine photos of interesting Congresses. These plus all the comments have expanded my view and understanding of the pattern. Thanks to all.
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Thanks guys.
They are some sort of synthetic. Corolon??(sp)? perhaps.
They are some sort of synthetic. Corolon??(sp)? perhaps.
Joe
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
I'm probably incorrect but I'm including anything with a sway back frame and calling it a Congress.
A Belknap Hardware Congress (Boker??). Love those stepped bolsters. Did somebody say GEC Speaker Jack? The Clerk also has a Congress frame. It's the blades and bolsters on this one that tickled my fancy. They even come in a Whittler configuration. Queen made at least one over the past few years.
A Belknap Hardware Congress (Boker??). Love those stepped bolsters. Did somebody say GEC Speaker Jack? The Clerk also has a Congress frame. It's the blades and bolsters on this one that tickled my fancy. They even come in a Whittler configuration. Queen made at least one over the past few years.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
jerryd6818 wrote:I'm probably incorrect but I'm including anything with a sway back frame and calling it a Congress.I would add equal end bolsters to that statement.
A Belknap Hardware Congress (Boker??). Love those stepped bolsters.
Belknap Hardware Congress - Open Mark.JPG
Did somebody say GEC Speaker Jack?
GEC 133217 Speaker Jack Muslin Micarta - Open Mark Labeled.JPG
The Clerk also has a Congress frame.
GEC 130217 Clerk - Smooth Oiled White Bone - Labeled.JPG
It's the blades and bolsters on this one that tickled my fancy.
GEC_61_Mark Labeled.JPG
They even come in a Whittler configuration.
GEC 620311 UN-X-LD Courthouse Whittler Burnt Labeled.jpg
Queen made at least one over the past few years.
Queen #31 Congress (2012) Labeled.JPG
Roger
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
I really like those "barlow like" bolsters on that one QS.
Phil
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Thanks, S&M did a good job on this one; I like the total look. But I also really like the stepped bolsters that several have shown on this thread.
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
I've always gravitated to the half congress, as the full congress feels too "fat" - I just like slimmer knives. My beef with the half congress is the secondary blade doesn't have much meat to it ... the large sheepsfoot is great, but the secondary is almost like a slim pen style blade which doesn't seem to fit at all in a medium to larger frame knife
pffffft that's not a knife ......... now THAT'S a knife !! Crocodile Dundee
John
John
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Here are the only examples of the Congress pattern in my knife collection. I don't carry either of them but it has nothing to do with the Congress pattern, it's simply because I have other patterns that I prefer to EDC which adequately serve all my EDC needs and these GEC Northfield Elk knives I want to keep pristine as collectibles. Aesthetically, I do like the pattern (to look at) because of the graceful swayback curve, but my EDC cutting needs are better accomplished with other patterns.
Here are a couple Congress pattern knives that I just recently sold:
~Q~
Here are a couple Congress pattern knives that I just recently sold:
~Q~
~Q~
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Q, I think those GECs are flat out gorgeous. Usually, I am not particularly attracted by elk. But yours, imo, are exceptional.
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Garry, that S&M is some piece of work. Me likee.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Glad you like it. Also, I have been thinking of creating a file of "Jerryisms." I have two entries already: "pins and noodles;" and "britches sagger." Folks on the West coast don't talk like that, to their loss.
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
You're in Kentucky now. Just keep your ears open and you will hear all kinds of 'isms.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
I carried this Case 052 for a while back in the ‘90s. Like some others have said, I like the looks of the pattern but for some reason I don’t enjoy caring it much. I think it’s a combination of a fairly thick knife, and on this example the blades are thinner than I normally like.
I will say that there are some attractive knives in this thread. The congress pattern just has a great old time look to it.
Tom
I will say that there are some attractive knives in this thread. The congress pattern just has a great old time look to it.
Tom
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Well, Garry, how 'bout a revival of this thread? A thread dedicated to the likes and dislikes of the Congress pattern.
Lots of great looking knives, gents! Yet while I can appreciate the looks of most any knife, mostly when the handle catches my eye, I can't say the same for how I feel about all patterns. The first thing I look for is pattern, then the looks of the handle.
I'm not a fan of the Congress. I had one for a while, a Boker, then gave it away about a year and a half ago in a little contest that showed some very cool cars owned by some of our AAPK members. https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_ ... lit=warden
Cal "toungeriver" was the winner, showing off a '55 Ford Customline.
Me, I did like the handles, just didn't care for the way it felt in the hand. Blade configuration just didn't suit this stockman guy, either.
I picked it up when I first started collecting to see if it might be a pattern that would interest me to collect. Nope.
Oh, well. With me off the hunt for Congress knives, the more for you Congress collectors!
Lots of great looking knives, gents! Yet while I can appreciate the looks of most any knife, mostly when the handle catches my eye, I can't say the same for how I feel about all patterns. The first thing I look for is pattern, then the looks of the handle.
I'm not a fan of the Congress. I had one for a while, a Boker, then gave it away about a year and a half ago in a little contest that showed some very cool cars owned by some of our AAPK members. https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_ ... lit=warden
Cal "toungeriver" was the winner, showing off a '55 Ford Customline.
Me, I did like the handles, just didn't care for the way it felt in the hand. Blade configuration just didn't suit this stockman guy, either.
I picked it up when I first started collecting to see if it might be a pattern that would interest me to collect. Nope.
Oh, well. With me off the hunt for Congress knives, the more for you Congress collectors!
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
In 2000 I thought I needed a congress.
I purchased a stag Hen&Rooster.
It was a good looking knife but to small.
Later I purchased a large Boker congress.
I have since traded away both. I own a lot of knives, but no longer have a congress.
I guess that kinda says what I think of the pattern.
I did enjoy going through this thread though.
I purchased a stag Hen&Rooster.
It was a good looking knife but to small.
Later I purchased a large Boker congress.
I have since traded away both. I own a lot of knives, but no longer have a congress.
I guess that kinda says what I think of the pattern.
I did enjoy going through this thread though.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Count me in as a Congress fan! I love them and the way they fit your hand.
A big ol Congress knife and a 4 1/4” stockman are my hands down favorite knives to use. One of my favorites is a rosewood handled Boker jumbo Congress. I typically don’t gravitate toward wood scales, but this one is so thin it disappears in your pocket or hand for a big knife.
A big ol Congress knife and a 4 1/4” stockman are my hands down favorite knives to use. One of my favorites is a rosewood handled Boker jumbo Congress. I typically don’t gravitate toward wood scales, but this one is so thin it disappears in your pocket or hand for a big knife.
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Robert E. Lee
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Recently there was a post about Persian knives and many of those are Congresses. I know Ali that posted those, uses a Congress for his Calligraphy. The blades are perfect for cutting down the quills.
After reading this thread I realized that I prefer to collect them more than use them. I don’t have one in my rotation, but I have more Congresses in my collection than just about any other pattern, except the Barlow. I know the reason I don’t use one is that my earliest purchases were all Case Congresses and I couldn’t open the blades w/out turning my thumbnail backwards. When I got other Congresses that were easier to open, I had already put other knives in my rotation. Those tough pulls turned me off of Case Congresses.
After reading this thread I realized that I prefer to collect them more than use them. I don’t have one in my rotation, but I have more Congresses in my collection than just about any other pattern, except the Barlow. I know the reason I don’t use one is that my earliest purchases were all Case Congresses and I couldn’t open the blades w/out turning my thumbnail backwards. When I got other Congresses that were easier to open, I had already put other knives in my rotation. Those tough pulls turned me off of Case Congresses.
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
I agree cudgee.A knife with blades that are difficult to open is a real turn off as far as regular use.
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
I took pictures of mine tonight. I thought I had them all out, all Boker. Then I remembered there was one more, a Queen.
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Robert E. Lee
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Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
A nice assortment Colonel. Thanks for sharing.
Re: Ruminations On The Congress Pattern
Thank you sir. One reason I like the Boker version is that I have 4 different blades, all very useful. The only thing I really miss is a spey. Not sure if anyone ever made a Congress with a spey, but if they did, that would be about the perfect knife on the farm.
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee