I figure this is the only place that would tolerate me gushing over this worn old tool I carry in my pocket.
I purchased my first traditional more than 20 years ago. I bought a box of used knives for a good price. In the box there was one knife if I was after.... and this old traditional was definitely not it. I promptly stuck the traditional and the others in a drawer and never looked at them again...until about 1.5 years ago.
I got interested in traditional's and I remembered that I had an old stag covered traditional somewhere. I pulled this knife out and opened the main blade for probably the first time, and was it sharp !! I was amazed. I had no prior experience with carbon steel blades. I'll just say that I haven't bought any fancy modern stainless since.
This knife is really worn. It is a 2 blade congress pen. It served somebody well in hard work probably before I was born. The main sheep's foot blade was rounded at the tip and looked like it had been sharpened on a boulder. The secondary pen was impossible to open. I posted here and got some good advice on the pen. I left the pen partially open for a month and I lubricated the heck out of it. The spring relaxed a little bit in the lubrication made it much easier to open. Plus, my thumbnail probably got stronger.
I have been carrying this knife most days for quite some time. It has a rounded tip on the sheep's foot and bad gaps in the back spring, but I absolutely love it. The thin blades take an amazing razor edge. I love the walk and talk. Seriously snappy. The uneven stag covers feel great in the hand. The significant gaps around the back spring would prevent anybody from ever wanting to buy it, but all these flaws make it more precious to me. I don't think I use it as hard as the original owner but it sure gets a workout. It's become a trusted companion.
Not too long ago I lost it while fishing around a very remote lake. I had set it down while tying a lure and walked away. The next day my friends agreed to help me walk around the entire lake to look for it. They certainly didn't understand what the big deal was but were gracious enough to help me. I figured there was less than a 10% chance we would find it but I had to give it a try. Unbelievably, in the tall grass I came upon it. The glint off the nickel silver bolsters caught my eye.
I'm sure some of you have some flawed traditionals that you can't help but enjoy. Please share them here. Cheers.
I purchased my first traditional more than 20 years ago. I bought a box of used knives for a good price. In the box there was one knife if I was after.... and this old traditional was definitely not it. I promptly stuck the traditional and the others in a drawer and never looked at them again...until about 1.5 years ago.
I got interested in traditional's and I remembered that I had an old stag covered traditional somewhere. I pulled this knife out and opened the main blade for probably the first time, and was it sharp !! I was amazed. I had no prior experience with carbon steel blades. I'll just say that I haven't bought any fancy modern stainless since.
This knife is really worn. It is a 2 blade congress pen. It served somebody well in hard work probably before I was born. The main sheep's foot blade was rounded at the tip and looked like it had been sharpened on a boulder. The secondary pen was impossible to open. I posted here and got some good advice on the pen. I left the pen partially open for a month and I lubricated the heck out of it. The spring relaxed a little bit in the lubrication made it much easier to open. Plus, my thumbnail probably got stronger.
I have been carrying this knife most days for quite some time. It has a rounded tip on the sheep's foot and bad gaps in the back spring, but I absolutely love it. The thin blades take an amazing razor edge. I love the walk and talk. Seriously snappy. The uneven stag covers feel great in the hand. The significant gaps around the back spring would prevent anybody from ever wanting to buy it, but all these flaws make it more precious to me. I don't think I use it as hard as the original owner but it sure gets a workout. It's become a trusted companion.
Not too long ago I lost it while fishing around a very remote lake. I had set it down while tying a lure and walked away. The next day my friends agreed to help me walk around the entire lake to look for it. They certainly didn't understand what the big deal was but were gracious enough to help me. I figured there was less than a 10% chance we would find it but I had to give it a try. Unbelievably, in the tall grass I came upon it. The glint off the nickel silver bolsters caught my eye.
I'm sure some of you have some flawed traditionals that you can't help but enjoy. Please share them here. Cheers.
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