I carry both. Traditionals are fantastic for daily tasks. I don't need a hard use knife for 95% of what I do. I prefer natural materials.
 
Cory Hess said:
Aesthetics. Traditional knives look better than modern knives. Modern knives are functionally superior, but I don't like how they look as much.
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This. I just love the look and feel of the few I own.

I don't use them at work. They simply won't keep up. I've tried. They're "neat" and "unique", but they simply don't do what I need them to do as well as my modern knives.

Where mine really shine is whittling on a lazy Sunday, pulling one out in front of a lot of people to cut the tag off of my daughter's new shoes, or simply admiring the craftsmanship of the knife among friends (everybody loves a good ol traditional pocket knife!), or even admiring the knife alone.

They are a joy to own.
 
My first pocket knife was a Cub Scout knife in about 1973 or so. I proudly carried it to school clipped on my belt every day - my how times have changed! I think that was my only knife til about 1985 when I bought a Buck 110 style knife made by Craftsman (I still have that one, the Cub Scout knife I'm hoping will turn up some day). I then carried a SpyderCo (don't remember what) in the early 90's for several years. I think it was a couple different SAK's for awhile after that but don't recall the model. Finally in 2013 I rediscovered traditional pocket knives accidentally stumbling upon this forum. I instantly became fascinated with them and had to have one. Since that day I've not touched anything other than a traditional pocket knife.

Through all those years I owned and carried pretty much one pocket knife at a time. That's all I carried and at that time it served all purposes. When it was either lost or I was gifted another one I then began with the next. I didn't really think about my knives other than as a tool that was necessary to get through life's daily tasks.

Since coming over to the traditional world here I've really enjoyed these old classic patterns. I don't have a lot of them (about 20 maybe?), but I sure do enjoy them. They serve any purpose I need a knife for 99% of the time and they are just beautiful pieces of old world craftsmanship.

Generally I carry one of about 4 or 5 of the 20 that I own - the rest see occasional use when I feel like a change. The large Stockman and yellow Case Sodbuster are my hard work knives (if it's really hard work then I go to a fixed blade). The 77 Barlow is my "never without it" 365 days a year EDC. The yellow Peanut is there a huge percentage of the time in my watch pocket riding along as the #2 to the Barlow. My #33 Conductor in Ebony is usually in my pocket as the #2 if it's not the Peanut. An orange alox SAK Farmer permanently resides in a pouch on my pants belt.
 
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I prefer the utility and beauty of them, single blade or multi-functional they meet my needs well. I also carry a fixed blade daily as well, but I consider that to be traditional as well( they don't all have to be bowies 🙂). I carry a leek as well for my off-hand because it's quick and easy to deploy and, well...they're fun to play with and take a hell of an edge. I've got scars to prove it.;) Traditionals were my gateway to a lifelong love and passion for knives and cutting implements in general(nothing better than a paper thin curl of wood from a properly sharpened block plane!) 😎
Thanks, Neal
 
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