Anybody else move away from and keep coming back to traditionals?

[Ironbut]

I always have an Alox SAK on me, but switch back & forth between a traditional & modern folder for the "main" blade, depending on my mood or what I'm going to be doing that day. I could get along just fine if I only owned a medium stockman or a Barlow, but it's nice to have choices.

 

[jackknife]

You know, one of the things beside the 'soul' that a well seasoned traditional has, is versatility.

Growing up in the 1950's, all the pocket knives I saw had at least two blades. Barlow's, cheap pen knives, the celluloid handle cheap jacks on the cardboard stand up dis[lay by the cash register were two blades. One large and one smaller. Double the cutting options. Then they have the three blade stockmen. More cutting versitility. Wth three different blades with three different blade shapes and three different edges, they pack a lot of cutting options into one pocket size package.

And I haven't even got into the SAK's, demo knives and TL-29's out there.

When I tried to really like the old Buck 110, or 'modern' knife, I felt really really handicapped by having only the one big blade that was so often too much.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I thoroughly enjoy and get a lot of utility out of a traditional slip joint.

They are esthetically pleasing, and certainly have a timeless appeal.

Saying that, I still find that most of the time a modern folder offers more utility for my purposes day to day.

An example would be when I am fitting drip connectors, it is much quicker to grab a modern folder, pop it open with one hand, make a cut, then close it with one hand, and slide it back in my pocket.

The larger blade size and extra edge retention also comes in handy more often than not.

At the end of the day, I love pretty much all knives, and carry a modern and traditional simultaneously. They both have purpose and different strengths.

 

[Hyesouljah]

To me the modern style knives just have no soul. I've always and only ever enjoyed traditionals.

CRK’s are the only modern folders that feel like they indeed have a soul like our traditionals do. Maybe that’s why they pair so nicely

 

[Will Power]

Actually no, never moved away from the Real Thing

But I do like to keep some aspects of life compartmentalised: Moderns have their place but I could not move into them, nor they into me - on any large scale. I had a Spyderco but gave it away, somewhere there's a Byrd and a BM Mini Grip but I never use them, would sell them if somebody wanted. But, I do like this CRKT Ken Onion Ripple and might occasionally carry it were it not for the FEAR of it opening in my pocket- a nightmare! Its very well-made, flips open satisfyingly and unlike most of its ilk is not massive or bulky, shown here with a customised GEC 15 for size.

 

[Just Tom.]

Until maybe 5 years ago, when I started to look at knives on the internet (in an attempt to find models I had owned in the past), I was blissfully unaware of even the existence of modern knives. I had not purchased any new knives since 1992, and the ones I had served me well enough.

I have tried to keep an open mind about modern knives, but I can’t get around the fact that they all just look like utility knives to me.

 

[Bastler]

It took me a long time to get on the modern knife train, but I never really adjusted to the pocket clip digging in my hand. I like the convenience of the modern knives and I keep a few around, but while they're handy, they're not inspiring. My favorites are old friends.

 

[glennbad]

I got kinda burnt out on traditionals, but during covid, with no shows or anything else to go to, it forced me to go through my collection. I found a new enjoyment and appreciation for what I already had, and am thoroughly enjoying traditionals again.