American Traditionals. I tried but...

S

spydutch

Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
978
Maybe I'm just too European, but I don't seem to get really warmed up to them American Traditionals.
Sure I like my Yella Peanut or Mini Trapper, but it's not the same feeling to me as slipping a medium one blade slipjoint into my pocket.
Furthermore these knives are too expensive for me to replace or send for warranty.

However the rest of my carry IS sorta American traditional.
I've shyed away from the multi layer SAKs and carry, what is in my opinion, the very best slipjoint ever made from this side of the pond, The Victorinox Alox Solo.
Managed to get 2 back ups so when they arrive I'm settled for a good while.
One Solo goes to my 15 year old son for fishing, so I can get back my CRKT M16 he snatched away from my display the last time he was with me(fool:eek:)

Instead of a multy layer SAK I carry a Sears 4 way and a P38 in my wallet.
The Sears is IMO better for screws and prying than a SAK.

I even started to carry a rolled up bandana on top of my Solo in RFP.

An Alox Classic and a Fenix E01 on key ring and I'm ready for the most things that may occur during my waking moments;)

Just wanted to share:)
 
I am European too, but I'm one step behind you...
As a matter of fact, I never owned an American traditional pocket knife (here they're not easy to find), but I'm getting more and more curious about them, so I decided I want to give it a try. I am currently considering the patterns (which seem to be kinda messy from one producer to the other), I will buy one and carry it for a while, and then we'll see...
I like my alox solo alot, just prefer to have some more tools (like in an alox pioneer or a tinker), otherwise I would prefer other single bladed folders.
Hopefully soon I will be able to develop my own idea about American traditionals, and see if I like them or if I still prefer "my" traditionals....
Fausto
:cool:
 
I can't say that I can disagree with you.

If I was in your place I'd be doing the same thing. I've long held that Victorinox should be the benchmark that all other knife makers should hold to. Polished inside and out, smooth opening, no nail breakers, and a kick ass factory backing.

Yeah, it's one thing to send a knife back to Case from Maryland, I'm only a day's drive down the road. But from Europe, it can be cheaper just to buy another knife. Not an inexpensive choice either. What does a new peanut cost over there?

But your choice is a classic equal end jack, and a very elegant one at that. Alox Vic's are a great classy looking knife, no matter what side of the pond you're on. You've got the sears 4-way and P-38 for utility, and a good knife for cutting, it sounds like you're all set, with a good set up.:thumbup:

Carl.
 
Around here, a Case Peanut won't cost less than 40 euros (55/60 usd) in the SS version and synthetic handle. Also, it's hard to find them online, and buying them at a knife shop (assuming u can find one - meaning both the Peanut and the knife shop) would surely be more expensive.
Sending it back to Maryland wouldn't cost that much...but then when they send it back to u, the customs would probably keep it for a while and charge...life is hard here for knife enthusiasts...
Fausto
:cool:
 
I am also European (English) and while I enjoy the American patterns a great deal, I do wish there were more European patterns available.
I love the old Sheffield knives with spear point blades and swedges, but modern ones are few and far between.
 
Well, I´m from Germany, nearly (Bavaria) ;)
I like the America Traditionals very much. I like the feel of bonehandles in the hand. The Delrinhandles are not as natural, of course. Here in Germany we have Solingen, so there are many of knifemakers next door, so to say. Many knives here have still stag or wooden handles.
Nevertheless I like the American quality of producing knives, steels, handles, bolsters... all theese things are where they should be. Nearly no blade play and so on and on...

First it was some kind of difficult carrying a knife with three blades, but no bottle opener or screwdriver. But after a little while, it was alright and I wouldn´t like to miss my loved Stockman, which I carry every day (!).

I love them really...
SAKs for sure, are alrigt, but they are the working horses for the dirty jobs.
The problem here (germany) is, that Case knives (for an example) are difficult to get, about three weeks or even longer. But when someone likes theese knives, the time of waiting til the order arrives is no problem ;)

This my own oppinion!

Kind regards
Andi
 
Never warmed up to the solo to be honest though I really like other Alox SAKs. I'd much rather have a Spyderco if I'm going single blade only.
 
These days I mostly carry a Peanut or some other sort of smaller jack or penknife but, if I'm not, an Alox Pioneer Settler is my go-to knife. I don't know what it is about it but it's an almost perfect pocketknife. Sure it may not be as pretty as many of the bone, stag, wood, etc. jacks and pens but, as Carl mentioned, it's beauty lies in it's fit, function, and simplicity (not to mention value). All that in a thin, light, handy package that you can just throw in your pocket or pack without ever having to worry about it (+ it'll never let you down)! :thumbup::thumbup:
 
I tried the alox Solo for a while and although it's a great knife, I missed the other tools that the Soldier and Pioneer have on board. Having a few screw drivers and especially the awl can save the day.

Those American patterns look great. I have a Canoe from Böker, which I know is a German compay, but American made traditional knives are hard to find here. Fortunately Victorinox and Wenger have a wide range of multiblade/multifunction knives. There is also a company from former Czechoslovakia called Mikov, they make multifunction knives too. They still have traditional knives with handles made of wood, stag and horn. And of course there is Laguiole which has a number of knives with drinking and food related tools like a cork screw and bottle opener. Germany had at least one manufacturers in Solingen who made knives similar to SAKs, perhaps they still do.

The only American traditional knives that I own are a Buck 110 and a Camillus "Demo" knife.
 
I carried them back in my teens ( late Sixties ) . I prefered Trappers , Whittlers and Stockmen . Bottom line , there are better options out there .

Chris
 
In a perfect world, I would carry an SAK all day, everyday. These knives are flawless in function and design. I carry a peanut because it is small and useful and it has the appeal that an SAK lacks (I think its is because of the lack of bolsters and fancy handle materials.) The Alox pioneers and cadets and such are, in my opinion, the perfect pocket knife for their size.
 
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