As a modern knife guy what traditional folder as my first

mjpgolf1

mjpgolf1

Joined
Feb 4, 2016
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As my taste evolves in this wonderful world of knives I've started to take a liking to the design of a nice traditional folder. I've owned nothing but modern locking knives aside from a Swiss Army Cadet that I carry daily. So I'm asking you guys that are more into the modern folders what a good first traditional knife would be and what was the traditional that you started with?
 
I carry a SAK Tinker, but also really like the Rough Rider and Colt traditionals. Good quality at a reasonable price.
Rich
 
Can't get any more traditional than a Buck 110. :D If you want something a little smaller there's the Buck 112, too. I only really got into knives about a year ago, so for me it was an old Buck 112 and then a new 110.
 
Maybe a GEC or Northwoods with a wharnie? I've always thought wharncliffe's looked more "modern" than say a clip or spear.
 
It's a risky business suggesting a particular model or pattern as an introduction to slipjoints - what aspects appeal to you? I know the exact knife that made me go "Okay, yeah, I need to look into slipjoints" and it was a Soupbone TC Barlow:

Charlows128_zpscrw8rzjv.jpg~original


If I try to distill exactly what it is that made me like this when I had eschewed all traditionals I had seen previously, I conclude that it was the presence of fullers (long pull), a wharncliffe blade profile, and bolsters. I would suggest browsing through the "totin'" thread and seeing what strikes your interest. You might want to start at the last page and work backwards given that many of the models will have become unavailable / rare and many of the picture links will be broken as the thread is a hair over eight years old.
 
I guess I should've been more specific. The Buck 110 doesn't interest me at all nor does that design. I was talking more along the lines of TC Barlow that comeuppance suggested. That style appeals to me however I'm not quite sure where to start and which brands are of good quality. I don't want to do like I did with modern folders when I started and buy a bunch of cheap crap that I end up selling down the road, so I'm looking for suggestions of what "high quality" traditionals are popular so I can get some ideas of which ones to look at.
 
I'd suggest a Barlow with a clip point and pen blades.
A really good fist traditional would be a cv case sodbuster. Whatever you choose make sure it's carbon steel because carbon steel is the only way to go in traditionals👍
 
Cold Steel Lucky One. A single blade slipjoint, but with carbon fiber, S35-VN, a pocket clip, AND Torx construction, so it is extremely easy to clean. Made in Italy is a neat bonus. A VERY nice way to start down the traditional path, while not completely diving into something you are not comfortable with. Not to mention it only runs around $60. I was the same as you, a modern locking folder guy, who wanted to test out the slipjoint/traditional waters. The Lucky One has kicked EVERY other folder out of my pocket:
IMG_0005_zpsasigimze.jpg

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Howdy,
If you are asking about "which traditional knife should I try", I think the best place to ask would be amongst folks who already carry them. ;)

Lets try asking this in the Traditional Forum...
 
Have you tried a barlow before? TC's are very high quality, but maybe an option might be to try something less expensive to see if you like the pattern in general. AG Russell has a lockback barlow, the lock is a bit strange to me, but they are good knives and the size/shape is pretty typical for the pattern (I think). I believe they are called the Medium Barlow Lockback.
 
I will recommend you to try a small pattern, because coming from the world of modern knives people tend to Like a larger blade and large bladed slip joints tend to be too heavy for comfortable pocket carry.
So whatever suits your fancy but stay around 3.5" closed
My first was a large stockman that never got carried.
Mateo
 
mjpgolf1 - pm me your address. I'm on a knife gifting kick lately, and I'd like to send you a Case. Do you prefer small, medium, or large folding knives?
 
mjpgolf1 said:
...I'm looking for suggestions of what "high quality" traditionals are popular so I can get some ideas of which ones to look at.
Click to expand...
That part is easy. If you are looking for "high quality" traditionals that are also popular, then you are looking for knives made by Great Eastern Cutlery.
 
You need to consider if you are after a single blade, two or three blade knife? By looking here for a week or two you will soon get ideas, it is a bit complex at first as Traditionals have so many different patterns and marques. Great Eastern, CASE, Queen, Buck, Böker Germany, RR China all make decent knives that are not out of place or out of use in anybody's collection. Moreover, Traditionals encompass a lot of European and Asian traditional knives too. Plus there are a wealth of vintage/defunct brands to savour once you get more acclimatised.

I hope you will be pleasantly surprised.:thumbup:

Thanks, Will
 
I was in the same place as you. Owned many traditional knives in my youth as back then that was just a knife. Transitioned to more modern knives as I got older and they became available and came solidly down on the pocket clip one hand opening modern steel, modern artificial handles. I filled a drawer with them and still carry at least 2 a day. Some are like Winkler makes so a modern knife that could pass for something out of the past.

As I spend time here and read threads and looked at pictures I decided to give a modern traditional a go (I still have most of my older non-locking knives). I picked a Beer Scout as the one to try out.



One of the dealers on here Gunstock Jack's helped me track one down. That's the real downside of some of these knives; the nicer the modern traditional is the harder it is to get so definitely take a look in the exchange here but you'll see good ones sell in minutes after posting. There should be a run of them coming out "soon" but it's a real mosh pit.

I'm really happy with mine and carry often. The quality is easily on par with any of the modern folders I own.
 
MountainPeek said:
Cold Steel Lucky One. A single blade slipjoint, but with carbon fiber, S35-VN, a pocket clip, AND Torx construction, so it is extremely easy to clean. Made in Italy is a neat bonus. A VERY nice way to start down the traditional path, while not completely diving into something you are not comfortable with. Not to mention it only runs around $60. I was the same as you, a modern locking folder guy, who wanted to test out the slipjoint/traditional waters. The Lucky One has kicked EVERY other folder out of my pocket:
IMG_0005_zpsasigimze.jpg

FullSizeRender_zpsbstsubz9.jpg

Photo%20May%2027%2016%2000%2059_zpshkklqnwg.jpg
Click to expand...

I've had my eye on it for a while, can you tell me if it's FFG (high sabre) or Hollow Grind? Thanks!
 
523c9769c29bdf51b034dacae5c1e5d9.jpg


Case mini trapper $30 and GEC 72 lockback have entirely replaced my modern edc carry.

Not that I don't use moderns but for edc carry I only really carry traditionals these days. No one ever hems and haws when you whip out a traditional.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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