Any suggestions for a slip joint pocket knife?

F

Full Tang Clan

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Jul 22, 2000
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I've been hit by a dose of nostalgia and so I'm thinking about getting a medium to small slip joint type pocket knife.

I have had Old Timer, Buck, and Wenger SAK, but it's a while since I've owned one of these. I'd consider these or any others forumites with slip joint knives could suggest.

My requirements are that it's fairly inexpensive (less than $30 U.S.; the lesser the better!) so I've had to rule out a beautiful mother of pearl handled Case, and those Spyderco slip joints. :(

Also, I want a thin profile blade and a soft steel that will take an edge quickly on the fly -- which is about right for an inexpensive slip joint.

Any suggestions?

FTC
 
If taking a good edge quickly is a priority, you'd have a hard time finding anything better than an Old Timer in that price range.

That good old 1095 takes a wicked edge in a hurry.

For a user, Old Timer is one of the greatest values in the business.
 
I agree with the Schrade Old Timers.
You will hard pressed to find better knives for a simular price.

The Buck 303 and 301 are also terrific stockman knives for a reasonable price.

And the Wenger Highlander or Victorinox Recruit are both of extremely high quality for a reasonable price.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Old Timer is right on your description. Not pretty, nothing fancy, but they will outlast most of thier owners.
 
I have an Alox handled SAK that I really like, the model name is the Electrician.

Also, the Buck slip joints are great I have many and they all stand up well to abuse.
 
You could pick up a yellow-handled Case in carbon (cv) steel <a href="http://www.newgraham.com/yellow.htm">here</a> for under $30, no problem. This <a href="http://www.knifeworks.com/product.asp?0=475&1=553&3=2350">Camillus stockman</a> is another good option in your price range.

Let us know what you choose and what you think of it. :)
 
Take a look at Queen Knives. They have a complete selection of the classic styles and they use D2 Steel on their knives.
http://knifecenter.com/knifecenter/queen/
They have many different handle material options and have knives starting at about $25 and going up from there. A lot of the price depends on what handle material and how many blades.
 
I also thought about those Queen D2 slipjoints, logan5, as I hear they're great knives. But I think that steel might be too hard for what the original poster is looking for. Remember, he wrote: "I want a thin profile blade and a soft steel that will take an edge quickly on the fly."
 
I've had an Old Timer stockman 80T for over 20 years (my first knife). They are an excellent value, and develop a great patina on the blade over time. The Buck slipjoints are also a favorite of mine, especially the little 303 Cadet.

The slipjoint I carry the most, though, is a Victorinox Tinker, $20.
 
I just yesterday bought a small Case pen knife with the yellow delrin handles and the good chrome vanadium steel blades. Price was about $25.
 
mnblade,

I'll give you that one. They are thinly ground, but not the softest steel. But you won't need to sharpen them as often and being semi-stainless they might have less of a rust problem then some of the high carbon blades.


As another option, and probably the first that I would investigate, would be to go to the local Wal-Mart and take a look at the knives there. I don't know all of the brands that they carry, but I'm pretty sure that they have Schrade and Buck and probably some of the best prices that you will find on the models that they carry and you can actually see and feel them before buying. Also, ask if they have any clearence items or if they plan to in the near future. I have seen and read here about people getting slip joints there for well under $20 on clearence.
 
Excellent suggestions so far, thanks. I'm really impressed that some of you guys still collect slip joints. I thought they were a dying breed.

Good to hear you guys are reinforcing my choices of an Old Timer, or SAK. I'm leaning more towards the old fashion Stockman style of knives since they're stylish while being non-intimidating for using around sheeple (compared to a 4 inch bladed tactical folder!).

I'm not familiar with some of the more esoteric brands mentioned like Queen. But a D2 blade for $25 (even though I wanted a soft steel)? Wow! I guess I should check that out but a lot depends on what I can find at local knife stores, outdoor stores, and the Wal-Mart someone suggested.

Originally, I wanted a Case brand because they have a real nice selection and...well...it's a Case. But I was dissuaded by the rather high prices which I assume is because people who collect them have turned them into art knives. Still, I should check out those budget priced Case pen knives a couple of you guys mentioned.

I hope I wasn't too vague with the steel. Rather than the term "soft steel", I should have said that I'm not concerned with edge retention so much as I am that it takes an edge quickly. However, practically all of you extrapolated that all right.

I'll start checking around.
 
FTC: Don't forget, a few slipjoint aficianados congregate in their own little corner of BladeForums, over <a href="http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=773">here</a>.
 
Originally posted by mnblade
FTC: Don't forget, a few slipjoint aficianados congregate in their own little corner of BladeForums, over <a href="http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=773">here</a>.
Click to expand...

Cool, and thanks for the link to those Case knives which are a little more in my current price range than the mother of pearl ones.

I'm still leaning towards a Schrade Old Timer since you can't go wrong at that price, and because all of you guys think that may be the way to go if money is a factor.
 
Schrade or Buck would be choice. Walmart, around here anyways, carries both Buck and Schrade slipjoints, including stockmans, at very good prices.
 
Originally posted by marty123
Schrade or Buck would be choice. Walmart, around here anyways, carries both Buck and Schrade slipjoints, including stockmans, at very good prices.
Click to expand...

Excellent. I live about a half hour drive away from a Wal-Mart. Do you recall what the price range for Schrades are CDN?
 
I just got a catalog from Bulldog, you can get a bone handled 3 5/8" stockman for $28, trapper for $30. They have good forged carbon steel blades. If you like celluloid handles, they may have some that are even less.
 
I'm not saying I never shop at Wal-Mart (I surely do). But if we're talking knives in basically the same price range, I'd choose to patronize a <i>knife store</i> instead of Wal-Mart, even one that's online. There are a number of e-tailers that support this forum. Just my two cents. :)
 
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