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The Congress knife arrived on the scene in the early 1800s.   As with other Pocket knives such as Trappers and Stockman’s, the Congress was made with a specific audience in mind; and that audience was not congress.  Most likely the name Congress refers to the way the way the blades of the knife come together (as in the  equal numbers of blades are located on both ends  of the knife and then come together or meet in the middle of the handle).

The market for the knife was the Antebellum South  and the blades chosen were those needed to fulfill its agricultural needs.  The most common Congress is he four blade pattern which features two large sheepfoot blades as primary blades, and a small coping and pen blades as secondary blades.    The sheepfoot blades were used extensively in the cotton and tobacco industry.   The reason the Congress had two sheepfoot blades, one on each end, is the same reason the muskrat has two identical blades.  It allowed the user to cut twice as long before having to stop and re-sharpen his blades.  This allowed the worker to take fewer breaks during the work day.   The coping blade was used for scribing (perhaps carving initials in wood planks to mark work done?) and the pen blade was so that the knife had a blade with a point on it.

The pattern caught on like gangbusters in the Deep south and was found to be an excellent pattern for whittling.    The patterns quickly evolved and soon followed congress knives with  2 blades a Half Congress as well as 6 and 8 blade Congress knives.  Normally the Half Congress had one sheepfoot and a smaller pen or coping blade.  However the 6 and 8 blades tended to keep  two keep the two sheepfoot blades coming together in the center and just added additional blades such as a cuticle/nail file, small clips or additional coping or pen blades.  The most famous of is probably the six blade Congress that  Abraham Lincoln was carrying when he was assassinated.   (Abe Lincoln was said to be an avid whittler.) Today, many people call a six Blade Congress, regardless of the blades configuration a Lincoln Congress.   His actual knife had a large sheepfoot, a large spear blade, a cutlicle/file blade, two pen blades and one coping blade.

The early Congress knives, including the Lincoln congress were made on a slim concave shaped handle.  This meant that when the knife was placed spine down on a flat surface only the ends would touch the surface; the center of the knife would be raised in the air.  The ends were also smaller than the center of the knife so that you had two arcs.  Because of this shape, you have a somewhat long handle for relatively short blades! (Again the blades come together in the center!)  On the bright side, the longer handle gives you more to grip when cutting through tough stuff.

Today, you will also find congress knives built on a larger frame which allows wider blades to be added.  You will also occasionally find “congress” knives that have a flat back-spring. Many congress collectors can accept the wider frame but do not accept the flat spine, arguing (I think correctly) that the curve of the handle is an integral part of the pattern.  Some also argue, that the knife should have four blades, two  large sheepfoot,  followed by a small pen and a small coping. While this is the most traditional, it is probably not an argument worth making.  

Okay, enough  background!  Let’s come together and show some Congress knives!

The Congress pictured is an old Case Congress from around 1965-1969.    The pocket worn scales are old green jigged bone!

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nice looking boker JJ

Here are some pics of my Colt Buckshot Bone Congress.  It is one of those congress knives that replace a sheepfoot with a spear blade.   Only problem is it also replaced the coping with a pen.   Case makes a Congress wirh a Sheepfoot, Spear, pen and coping.   I'll need to consider that one!   Lots of nice touches inspite of the no coping blade which will probably be remedied in the future!

Blade etch (above) and Shield (below)

and also the red spacer between the bolsters and bone as well as the  Colt Anaconda C logo.

Nice one Tobias!

I was later to the game when it comes to collecting Congress Knives.  The first one i bought was about five or so years ago.  It was one made U. S. Classics  The knife was made in China.  I bought it on Ebay  from KY knives the Seller made it very clear that it was from China and I had not heard all the controversy of surrounding these knives that were "Designed in Salt Creek, Kentucky"  Man I'm glad I didn't because this is one heck of nice knife, especially when I paid less than $10  for it!  The handle material is imitation Tiger Eye   It is wide body congress that is 3 5/8 inches closed.  Blades are two sheepfoot, a coping and a pen.  Nice squared off nickel silver bolsters, steel springs, brass pins and liners.  The blades are 440 Stainless and the knife is as a good or better than a Rough Rider.  Very solid, very well built.  After buying this one, i knew two things:  I was going to buy more  U. S. Classics  knives and that this would not be last congress I bought either!

The shield is a simple bar suitable for engraving.

The match striker pulls and ringed bolster look strikingly similar to the ones found on Rough Riders.  I love the tall or high rise blades on this pattern.  In many ways, I think the congress is more beautiful closed than when opened, especially when the spine is arched as this one is.

Specifications:

Manufacturer:  U.S. Classics (Defunct)

Place of manufacture:  China

Pattern:

Pattern Number: EM 2567011047

Closed Length 3 5/8 inch

Tang:  Sheepfoot one: U.S Classic / China ring around the number 09

Tang:  Sheepfoot two: U.S Classic / Salt River Ky.

Blades: 4

Main Sheepfoot

Second Main:  Sheepfoot

Secondary:  Pen

Secondary:  Coping

Steel:  440 A Stainless Steel

Pins:  Brass

Liners: Brass

Bolsters: Nickel-silver (squared, ringed)

Handle material: Imitation  Tiger Eye (Acrylic)

I don't collect these Tobias but I am enjoying learning about the pattern. By the way love the square bolsters!

Steve, to be honest, I also don't really "collect" Congresses.  However, I've accumulated about a dozen of them and could easily start collecting them.  I know of at least three that I'm looking at!

To date my favorite congress is actually a six blade congress made in Frost's Whitetail Cutlery line.  It feature stag handles, nickel silver bolsters, brass pins and liners, 440a stainless steel blades (56-58 HRC)

 Closed length is 3 7/8 inches with two sheepfoot main blades and wharncliffe, coping, coping, and pen secondary blades!

Front side

Back side

back springs

A congress (a coming together) of blades

The glamor shot

A sheepfoot ready to go

sunburst bolster

and the Whitetail Shield  (Nice Rack!)   Despite reading USA, it is USA cutlery compnay that outsources production to China and Pakistan.  This one was made in China.

Actually a nice looking knife, Tobias.

That IS a nifty looking knife, Toby.  Not really a fan of worked bolsters, but the sunburst works with this one.

Time to post another Congress.  This one is in the Marbles Scrimshaw Series.   I almost didn't buy it because it has two pen blades.  I really like my Congress knives to have a proper coping blade.   Had the knife had something other than a mountain lion laser scrimmed into the white smooth bone I probably would've passed on it.

The knife comes in an over-sized "collectors" box.

Handle material is white smooth bone and stag.  spacers are black and white compisition.  Brass pins and liners. Nickel-silver bolsters.   Two sheepfoot blades and two pen blades. 

The reverse side and the Marbles blade etch.

Meow.

From the promotional literature:

Marbles Outdoors Knives - Scrimshaw Series - Congress Pocket Knife with White Smooth Bone & Stag Handles. Model: MR254. In the early 19th century, whalers could find themselves at sea for up to two years at a time. With very little to do, some whalers would spend hours and hours etching intricate scenes into whale teeth and bones. This incredible art became known as scrimshaw. The Marble's Wildlife Scrimshaw Series celebrates that art with intricate etchings of the animals of the wild. 4 1/8' closed four blade. Stainless blades. White smooth bone and stag handles with nickel silver bolster(s). Front handle features wildlife scrimshaw style artwork of mountain lion.

I like that scrimshaw too Tobias.

Right now on eBay there are two CRKT 6062 Congress in jigged bone available for $19.95!!! These are discontinued. I bought one. Great chance to get a hard to find knife at a very cheap price.

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