All About Pocket Knives

Well I'll throw out another pattern thread for discussion. This one is handled in Ebony wood and and made by Queen with154cm stainless. As you can see it is marked 2015 which would indicate that it is a Derrik Bohn or KSF knife. It also tells us that the Gladestone, Mich. Stamp was used fairly recently.

Interesting observation Greg. I have the same knife but with smooth yellow bone. Derrick did 2 runs of the Indian River Jack. First one in ~ 2013 has a curved nail nick and the second one in 2015 has a long pull.
I think he used the Gladstone marking because the original Indian River Jack was a Dave Shirley design. There could be other explanations too.
kj

Here's my earlier version with the nail nick, stamped 2014 and Northwoods iver Gladstone, Mich over U.S.a. Its a user. Stiff pull. It has a half stop, but the "top"half is curved like a cam and the transition is ground a bit for smoothness. Bit different and not my favourite. Couldn't get a good picture. On a side note, my 5 year old daughter just told me "Dada that is going be your last knife cuz I can't look after so many when I'm bigger."

kootenay joe wrote:Interesting observation Greg. I have the same knife but with smooth yellow bone. Derrick did 2 runs of the Indian River Jack. First one in ~ 2013 has a curved nail nick and the second one in 2015 has a long pull.
I think he used the Gladstone marking because the original Indian River Jack was a Dave Shirley design. There could be other explanations too.
kj

My Indian River Jack is marked 2014 for the year with "Gladstone Mich USA". I wanted a smooth white bone example, but wasn't able to coordinate timing well enough to make it happen.

Outstanding knife Jerry! I think you made out pretty well even though you missed the smooth bone.

[/quote]My Indian River Jack is marked 2014 for the year with "Gladstone Mich USA". I wanted a smooth white bone example, but wasn't able to coordinate timing well enough to make it happen.[/quote]

gsmith7158 wrote:Outstanding knife Jerry! I think you made out pretty well even though you missed the smooth bone.

I'll second that! That might be the best looking IRJ I've ever seen.

I did have both the 2014 & 2015 IRJ's but i gave the 2014 one as a gift to a knife maker friend.
Here is my 2015 IRJ with smooth yellow bone. Made by Queen i believe so likely cow bone and not camel ?
Simple pattern but an elegant knife.
kj

That is a beautiful knife. That color is great. Looks very close to most of the Eureka Jack Camel bones that just came out.

Queen made many Moore Maker knives with handles of yellow bone, both jigged and smooth. Those were cow bone so most likely this is as well even though the color does resemble the yellow camel bone GEC has used.
kj

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Thu Oct 31, 2019 3:48 pm I did have both the 2014 & 2015 IRJ's but i gave the 2014 one as a gift to a knife maker friend.
Here is my 2015 IRJ with smooth yellow bone. Made by Queen i believe so likely cow bone and not camel ?
Simple pattern but an elegant knife.
kj

That is magnificent, anyone would treasure that in their pocket. Well done.

Yes, design is everything. The proportions and shapes of the IRJ must be in perfect balance and harmony to create a knife that looks 'just right' and instantly appealing.
This pattern goes back to Dave Shirley days. Anyone know if it is based on a vintage USA equal end jack ? Or did D.S. design it ?
Would be very interesting to know. If based on a vintage knife, that is one i would try to find.
kj

Roland, Beautiful IRJ. For what it is worth, my opinion is cattle bone for a couple of reasons. 1) I believe that is what Queen was using at the time and 2) I think camel would show a bit more variation in color - your example is very uniform.

Green camel IRJ.

My varying examples of the latest run of mammoth Indian River Jacks

Buckibbq wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 2:14 pm My varying examples of the latest run of mammoth Indian River JacksEA19AE90-25DC-443A-B003-3C3EB25F010C.jpeg

Quite stunning!

Buckibbq wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 2:14 pm My varying examples of the latest run of mammoth Indian River JacksEA19AE90-25DC-443A-B003-3C3EB25F010C.jpeg

Wow!!!

Thank you for the comments, David and Rick!

I agree with David. Very knice.

I did not know that there was a new run of the IRJ. Were these bought from Knives Ship Free ? And who are they made by ? I think the first ones (2014 ?) were made by Queen which is no longer in business and GEC has said they will not be making any more SFO's. However i suspect these are GEC made knives ?
I am jealous that i did not know about these new IRJ's and therefore missed out on a chance of getting one.
kj

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:44 pm I did not know that there was a new run of the IRJ. Were these bought from Knives Ship Free ? And who are they made by ? I think the first ones (2014 ?) were made by Queen which is no longer in business and GEC has said they will not be making any more SFO's. However i suspect these are GEC made knives ?
I am jealous that i did not know about these new IRJ's and therefore missed out on a chance of getting one.
kj

You are correct. GEC made. Released from KSF on 11/11/20.

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:44 pm However i suspect these are GEC made knives ?
kj

This version of the IRJ was made on the GEC #35 frame which made its debut as the “Churchill” in 2017.

Buckibbq wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:41 am

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:44 pm However i suspect these are GEC made knives ?
kj

This version of the IRJ was made on the GEC #35 frame which made its debut as the “Churchill” in 2017.

I would love to have one of these IRJ's but i doubt any will come up for sale any time soon.
kj

Buckibbq wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:41 am This version of the IRJ was made on the GEC #35 frame which made its debut as the “Churchill” in 2017.

That's close but the GEC #35 frame actually made its debut as the 2016 Bladeforum Drover.

Thanks for that correction, Rick...I should have remembered that. That’s definitely one of my favorites on the 35 frame. Love the bone on those!

Is the "Drover" a double end jack ? i.e. punch at opposite end from the blade.
kj