All I think about shopping for are modern one handers...

cchu518

cchu518

Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Messages
8,331
But all I keep putting in my pocket are traditionals.

I can't see to reconcile the two things. Been carrying a case mini trapper for a few weeks now and love it. I keep it next to several moderns with clips on them on weekends and when I go out...

I throw the Case in my pocket.

What it comes down to is I'm going to have to distinguish between an EDC that goes in my pocket when out in the public and a work around the house or going camping knife. It's the only category in my very OCD brain where I can think to put the moderns to use.

Any of you guys go through this dilemma over and over in your heads? I don't really collect knives in general so usually I don't have more than a half a dozen or so.
 
Yup. Everyday. LOL. I have more than half a dozen though. When I first started getting back in to traditionals I had the same issue. I would carry my moderns for work and then on days off/around the house I would carry a traditional. But in the last month or so I have been carrying both to work and only traditionals around the house.
I also have the dilemma of trying to pair a large modern with a small traditional, or vice versa.

One of the things about being into traditionals though for me, is I stopped looking at moderns.

It's a total quagmire of fun!!
 
I also tend to carry a modern and traditional combo. More to that, my larger knife will dictate what small knife I carry;
a larger Canadian belt knife and a DPx Heat,
Large 21 sebenza and alox SAK cadet or Wire Jack.

That is one of the things I Love about this passion of ours. I don't Have to carry anything, but I get to choose what I Can carry based upon what I expect to encounter.

Plus, with a few smart choices, you can carry (a little) more than you should need without over encumbering yourself.
 
You're a very conflicted person. You say you don't really collect knives, yet you admit to a desire to buy more. I have the opposite problem I think. I'm fairly content with the knives I have, I don't have an active wish list, and yet I don't feel any unease about adding another to the accumulation should something catch my eye.
 
kamagong said:
You're a very conflicted person. You say you don't really collect knives, yet you admit to a desire to buy more. I have the opposite problem I think. I'm fairly content with the knives I have, I don't have an active wish list, and yet I don't feel any unease about adding another to the accumulation should something catch my eye.
Click to expand...

I am conflicted. I don't like to have too many extras of anything lying around. But I love the aesthetics of a working tool and I love knives in general. Right now there's a hybrid modern out there, that ALOT of the traditional/modern guys are picking up made by Viper. N690 steel but it's slipjoint with micarta handles like that of a fixed blade, but it has a clip - I almost pulled the trigger on that one this weekend and had to restrain myself.

But that mix of appreciating knives comes down to my personal preference. It's not an attainable thing....perfection that is...but you run through 70-80 knives of all sorts and I get a very real sense of what I really like, what I actually carry (I'm purely speaking about myself here) and whether or not there can be a happy compromise between the two. So there's a difference between a knife that I think is perfect vs a knife that I can actually schlep around NYC and go through metal detectors and not be too nervous to have on me, yet still works like how a great pocket knife should.

Recently I picked up and had to trade out a CSC Pinch lockback. I consider it a perfect knife for me. FF, looks, size for a knife. But it wasn't perfect for me in being full trapper size.

I also had a Cold Steel Lucky slipjoint, I thought it was a happy medium, slipjoint with modern materials and a clip. Turned out I hated the clip but loved the rest of the knife.

Before that I had two midtechs that were awesome, just perfect moderns in two sizes but for carry in NJ/NYC it was not ideal.

So I figured for regular edc about a 3.5 closed slim knife really serves me well. For around the house, yardwork, camping, hiking anything goes.
 
Quite strangely, I purchased my first modern folder in a few years online just the other day. I admire the designer, and I've had other knives from the same company which were always good. I didn't really want it for EDC, but I ended up adding it to the 'cart' as part of a bigger order. It arrived today, can't fault the quality, it's everything it claims to be, good design, good value, and shaving sharp out of the box. But what an ugly thing! I can't see me carrying it ever, probably gift it someone as a work knife. In a way I'm glad to have bought it, it's a very popular knife, which is much admired by the 'modern' crowd, but give me any single one of my traditionals any day. That purchase has only reaffirmed my love of traditionals :thumbup:
 
cchu518 said:
...Any of you guys go through this dilemma over and over in your heads? I don't really collect knives in general so usually I don't have more than a half a dozen or so.
Click to expand...
Cognitive dissonance. That's what's bothering you. Reality and your self-image are not in sync, and you are becoming aware of it.

Here, let me help you: You are a knife hobbyist. You have an interest in knives beyond just selecting a tool for a particular purpose. You like them. You enjoy them. They appeal to something in you. You joined a forum about knives, and even paid for a subscription. You, my friend, are into knives.

Your internal conflict comes from you having the idea that "I must have a legitimate need to justify these purchases. There must be a logic to it all." Well, good news and bad news. The legitimate need you have is to engage in an activity you enjoy. A hobby. This hobby, in fact.

The bad news is, you are spending money on something that is purely for pleasure but seems like there should be an actual useful purpose beyond that. There may be a useful purpose for your first 3 or 6 knives. Beyond that, you're a hobbyist / collector / compulsive spender / hoarder / rich guy with money to burn.

Just accept it and life will become simpler. You will buy what you want and carry what you want, and not worry whether there is any actual need or purpose other than the fun of it.

Or alternately, you may try that on for size and decide that isn't the reality you want, and you will change the reality to match your self-image, and you will quit buying knives you don't need and will just get on with your life and get into model railroading or stamp collecting, and then worry about why you never ride the little trains or mail enough letters. :D

I used to beat myself up over having way more knives than I need or will ever use until I decided to accept that I am a knife collector as a hobby. I enjoy it. I don't spend more than I can afford. I acknowledge that my tastes and interests change over time and sort of go with the flow.

I'm at a point with traditionals that I am satisfied with my collection and not actively looking to add more, though if something comes along that interests me I might add more.

I do have a recently re-kindled interest in some modern knives, so I've also been looking at them. Added 2 recently, have two on order. But in general I still carry my traditionals most days, like you. Though the past couple of days I have added a completely unnecessary large modern folder to the carry mix. No logical justification needed other than I felt like carrying it.
 
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Jack Black said:
Quite strangely, I purchased my first modern folder in a few years online just the other day. I admire the designer, and I've had other knives from the same company which were always good. I didn't really want it for EDC, but I ended up adding it to the 'cart' as part of a bigger order. It arrived today, can't fault the quality, it's everything it claims to be, good design, good value, and shaving sharp out of the box. But what an ugly thing! I can't see me carrying it ever, probably gift it someone as a work knife. In a way I'm glad to have bought it, it's a very popular knife, which is much admired by the 'modern' crowd, but give me any single one of my traditionals any day. That purchase has only reaffirmed my love of traditionals :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Same thing happens to me, I get the itch, get the idea in my head and I have to pull the trigger just to see what it's like in real life.Slippies have a magical proportion for me at about 3.5" closed so its easy to choose a traditional for myself.

Not many places around me to handle knives in person! I do that all the time with moderns just because I appreciate the designer or the new way that they resolve the age old human problem of designing a tool to cut with! What I normally end up EDC are traditionals though, they are proving to be the most elegant and compact combination of them all. For the moderns there's a definite sweet spot for me where I just have to try out the knife. So far I've kept a few that for my purposes I deem perfect and could be pretty much my just one modern knife if I had to do that.
 
I guess if you love knives it covers a lot of ground.
Even though these are my passion
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One of these seems to end up in my pocket quite often.
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I guess I am truly a knife Knut with no hope for normalcy.
 
No, I don't. I've collected/used Traditionals since grade school, and got my first Modern(clip, one hand opening) in the early 90's.
I've loved both equally ever since.
About the only knives I don't care for are ones with tacticool features(black blade, recurves, glass breaker, etc...).
 
Jack Black said:
Quite strangely, I purchased my first modern folder in a few years online just the other day. I admire the designer, and I've had other knives from the same company which were always good. I didn't really want it for EDC, but I ended up adding it to the 'cart' as part of a bigger order. It arrived today, can't fault the quality, it's everything it claims to be, good design, good value, and shaving sharp out of the box. But what an ugly thing! I can't see me carrying it ever, probably gift it someone as a work knife. In a way I'm glad to have bought it, it's a very popular knife, which is much admired by the 'modern' crowd, but give me any single one of my traditionals any day. That purchase has only reaffirmed my love of traditionals :thumbup:
Click to expand...
Strange indeed, Jack. Similar occurrence here, but a different outcome. Just last week I bought two modern folders after maybe about 3 years of nothing but traditionals. It was a special situation where I could get them below dealer cost, so I thought to myself, I can't pass this up. At the worst they'd make good Christmas gifts for my nephews.

I had the same observations you did "can't fault the quality, it's everything it claims to be, good design, good value, and shaving sharp out of the box."

But I didn't find them to be ugly. One is actually quite attractive with carbon fiber scales, and the other has a rugged ergonomic functionality to it that is appealing in it's own way. Both are excellent knives and certainly more tool that I will ever likely need for anything.

I didn't lose my affection for or appreciation of my traditional knives, but it rekindled a dormant interest in the modern designs as well. So it reminded me that it doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing.
 
Lol, I don't want to name it but I had the WC version both large and small of that bottom one. It didn't feel right in my area carrying them around. I'm almost certain it's what JC57 said and I'm going to order them again when I see a good one come on market in the forum just to have it as there's no alternative to them in the market really. In terms of compactness and simplicity. See there I go again justifying things. lol

Btw my only complaint on this one is I feel they should have made the shield going the other way, so that it's readable in the open position, but the good news is it's sparked a bit of an interest in the teardrop pattern especially that Case Tony Bose collab.
 
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I have this same problem, my solution is carrying one of each! I had this #73 and a D2 Griptilian with me while I was rebuilding this dirty old tree stand for my cousin yesterday. I typically have a GEC with a modern (a Spyderco or Benchmade) in my EDC.

 
I tend to go in phases. Usually I'll start off the cycle carrying only one type of knife (let's say a modern "tactical" folder) and will carry it for several weeks to several months with no real desire to change out what I carry. Then I think "hmm... maybe I should put my CQC6K away and carry a Salt 1 today instead." So I carry a different knife from what's been in my pockets for weeks or months. That starts the cycle. Then I think "oh, I haven't carried my TL-29 in a while, I'll drop that in my pocket along with the Salt 1/Delica/Tenacious/whatever", and eventually the modern folder gets dropped in favor of a Douk-Douk, Opinel #8 or Svord Peasant knife alongside a medium slippy. Usually this pattern continues for anywhere from three weeks to six or more months, and sometimes I seriously consider selling off all of my knives except about four or five traditionals. Then I get modern curious again and the cycle begins anew.
 
That's my resolve for having to many knives! Sell off, trade or GAW one grouping or another. I had picked up a JK fixed blade not too long ago, but wanted the same knife in a different steel so off it went. Having a particular knife for a while allows me to see how it works in my lineup and quite often I end up re-buying a pattern or modern if I end up realizing that it "doesn't get much better than this."
 
We do have an entire thread dedicated to Traditional and Modern Pairings, so you are certainly not alone in liking the full spectrum of the cutler's art, both old and new.

This sub-forum is just an oasis where we tend to only discuss the traditional patterns. Even though as individual participants, we may individually like them all.

Room for all tastes and interests.
 
John good thought out explanation.
jc57 said:
Cognitive dissonance. That's what's bothering you. Reality and your self-image are not in sync, and you are becoming aware of it.
Here, let me help you: You are a knife hobbyist. You have an interest in knives beyond just selecting a tool for a particular purpose. You like them. You enjoy them. They appeal to something in you. You joined a forum about knives, and even paid for a subscription. You, my friend, are into knives.

Your internal conflict comes from you having the idea that "I must have a legitimate need to justify these purchases. There must be a logic to it all." Well, good news and bad news. The legitimate need you have is to engage in an activity you enjoy. A hobby. This hobby, in fact.

The bad news is, you are spending money on something that is purely for pleasure but seems like there should be an actual useful purpose beyond that. There may be a useful purpose for your first 3 or 6 knives. Beyond that, you're a hobbyist / collector / compulsive spender / hoarder / rich guy with money to burn.

Just accept it and life will become simpler. You will buy what you want and carry what you want, and not worry whether there is any actual need or purpose other than the fun of it.

Or alternately, you may try that on for size and decide that isn't the reality you want, and you will change the reality to match your self-image, and you will quit buying knives you don't need and will just get on with your life and get into model railroading or stamp collecting, and then worry about why you never ride the little trains or mail enough letters. :D

I used to beat myself up over having way more knives than I need or will ever use until I decided to accept that I am a knife collector as a hobby. I enjoy it. I don't spend more than I can afford. I acknowledge that my tastes and interests change over time and sort of go with the flow.

I'm at a point with traditionals that I am satisfied with my collection and not actively looking to add more, though if something comes along that interests me I might add more.

I do have a recently re-kindled interest in some modern knives, so I've also been looking at them. Added 2 recently, have two on order. But in general I still carry my traditionals most days, like you. Though the past couple of days I have added a completely unnecessary large modern folder to the carry mix. No logical justification needed other than I felt like carrying it.
Click to expand...
 
John good thought out explanation.
jc57 said:
Cognitive dissonance. That's what's bothering you. Reality and your self-image are not in sync, and you are becoming aware of it.
Here, let me help you: You are a knife hobbyist. You have an interest in knives beyond just selecting a tool for a particular purpose. You like them. You enjoy them. They appeal to something in you. You joined a forum about knives, and even paid for a subscription. You, my friend, are into knives.

Your internal conflict comes from you having the idea that "I must have a legitimate need to justify these purchases. There must be a logic to it all." Well, good news and bad news. The legitimate need you have is to engage in an activity you enjoy. A hobby. This hobby, in fact.

The bad news is, you are spending money on something that is purely for pleasure but seems like there should be an actual useful purpose beyond that. There may be a useful purpose for your first 3 or 6 knives. Beyond that, you're a hobbyist / collector / compulsive spender / hoarder / rich guy with money to burn.

Just accept it and life will become simpler. You will buy what you want and carry what you want, and not worry whether there is any actual need or purpose other than the fun of it.

Or alternately, you may try that on for size and decide that isn't the reality you want, and you will change the reality to match your self-image, and you will quit buying knives you don't need and will just get on with your life and get into model railroading or stamp collecting, and then worry about why you never ride the little trains or mail enough letters. :D

I used to beat myself up over having way more knives than I need or will ever use until I decided to accept that I am a knife collector as a hobby. I enjoy it. I don't spend more than I can afford. I acknowledge that my tastes and interests change over time and sort of go with the flow.

I'm at a point with traditionals that I am satisfied with my collection and not actively looking to add more, though if something comes along that interests me I might add more.

I do have a recently re-kindled interest in some modern knives, so I've also been looking at them. Added 2 recently, have two on order. But in general I still carry my traditionals most days, like you. Though the past couple of days I have added a completely unnecessary large modern folder to the carry mix. No logical justification needed other than I felt like carrying it.
Click to expand...
 
cchu518 said:
I am conflicted. I don't like to have too many extras of anything lying around. But I love the aesthetics of a working tool and I love knives in general. Right now there's a hybrid modern out there, that ALOT of the traditional/modern guys are picking up made by Viper. N690 steel but it's slipjoint with micarta handles like that of a fixed blade, but it has a clip - I almost pulled the trigger on that one this weekend and had to restrain myself.

But that mix of appreciating knives comes down to my personal preference. It's not an attainable thing....perfection that is...but you run through 70-80 knives of all sorts and I get a very real sense of what I really like, what I actually carry (I'm purely speaking about myself here) and whether or not there can be a happy compromise between the two. So there's a difference between a knife that I think is perfect vs a knife that I can actually schlep around NYC and go through metal detectors and not be too nervous to have on me, yet still works like how a great pocket knife should.

Recently I picked up and had to trade out a CSC Pinch lockback. I consider it a perfect knife for me. FF, looks, size for a knife. But it wasn't perfect for me in being full trapper size.

I also had a Cold Steel Lucky slipjoint, I thought it was a happy medium, slipjoint with modern materials and a clip. Turned out I hated the clip but loved the rest of the knife.

Before that I had two midtechs that were awesome, just perfect moderns in two sizes but for carry in NJ/NYC it was not ideal.

So I figured for regular edc about a 3.5 closed slim knife really serves me well. For around the house, yardwork, camping, hiking anything goes.
Click to expand...

You're not conflicted. You love knives so you buy knives. No conflict. No sense in apologizing for it. Roll with it. :thumbup:
 
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