Benefits of "old timey" why do so many still carry and EDC?

Weasipoint

Weasipoint

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I want to start by saying this post in no way is meant to upset anyone or start a fight. Im genuinely curious about the appeal/ place of vintage style folders in the modern world of knives. I understand the nostalgia of collecting knives that you had as a kid, but are they really practical to carry these days with all the new styles and ease of flippers? Again, im not trying to start a "modern vs vintage" fight, im just wondering why so many still choose to carry an "oldtimey" as their day to day user, when there's so many options that make the edc jobs easier. I do understand why people collect these knives, great designs and materials and such, just wondering why so many choose to edc them. For those that do carry an old school, whats your reason for not wanting to go modern, and what are the benefits of not having a pock clip or fast opening blade. This might be a dumb question that bubbles down to pure taste and just preferring the feeling of the old knives, but its just something I've wondered. Please don't let this turn into a fight about modern vs vintage, I just want to hear from those that do stick to older styles and hear why.
 
Things I find attracting about slip joints are thier simple asthetics, lack of screws to lose, no locks to wear out, no pocket clips for better grip comfort, and handle different materials, like jigged bone:). Despite these benefits I usually use a modern 3.5in ish folder.

Edit: I also think a lot of guys carry them because they wear slacks at work and don't want to advertise carrying a blade.
 
You'll find very few humans that drill their lives down to pure efficiency.

Knives give a sense of belonging to a larger group or time. Some people enjoy belong to a modern tactical mindset with a tough looking military type knife and others want to be living in a time when no one locked doors.
 
Thats about what I was figuring but still wanted to hear opinions, comes down to liking that simple side of the old knives and the nostalgia of carrying a type of knife you grew up with, or saw older family members use.
 
There are times when a one hand open/ close knife is desirable, and times when It isn't. Generally speaking tradirionals have thinner blades; and handle most day to day cutting chores easily. I like, and carry, both modern and traditional knives...and probably use the traditionals more often.
 
Old school-Slip joint knives have class, better blade grinds, not so damn thick. So many of the modern knives remind me of pry bars. I have and use modern type knives, like the one handed opening. I still use both types.
My two cents.
 
I've been EDCing a Douk Douk for a year and a half, I personally don't really care for super steels, and I find more modern offerings to lack character. To me a well loved and oft carried knife is a thing of beauty. There's really no nostalgia involved get me, just simple utilitarian practicality. Simple carbon steel with a thin grind works great for me. I understand that it's not for everyone, my small tree service does a couple of hundred removals a year and I haven't felt the need for any more knife other than curiosity driving me to purchase a small sebenza. Honestly while I appreciate the build quality of modern high end folders they just don't do it for me. 16047747029612050269728.jpg
 
The lack of pocket is is one reason I get nervous about carrying the old school as well, always afraid it will fall out or get knocked around and beat up if I have keys or anything else in my pocket. I grew up with older knives and lost alot as a kid. My biggest issue though was breaking finger nails trying to get a stiff blade open, especially on SAK, unoiled those things will snap a nail trying to pry them open
 
I imagine it's pure aesthetics or nostalgia. Like you said modern folders are functionally superior in many ways, but everyone loves the familiar. Myself, I do like the aesthetic but I don't like knives loose in the pocket, I find it uncomfortable. If I could find a good sheath system (don't care for slip sheaths) I'd carry them more.
 
To put it short, the thing about the whole tactical folder thing is that they are knives that were designed for a type of carry and use that is legally complicated in my country. So for carrying a pocket knife, I prefer a small slip joint, preferably a SAK. If I need a bigger knife for a specific purpose, I generally carry a fixed blade. I also don't like pocket clips because of the risk of snagging. On top of that, I just really appreciate the beauty of traditional knives.
 
Why not both?

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I spent years exclusively carrying modern folders. Frame locks, flippers, and funky grinds were never my thing but I like my modern knives for sure. For me, modern folders have always been very utilitarian oriented with ergos and performance far outweighing looks.

A while back I decided I wanted to try something different. I was largely bored with what I was seeing in the modern knife world and had done so much experimenting that I'd really found the designs and steels that worked for me. And when something new did catch my eye it was all too often a sprint or at a price point that I was just not willing to pay.

My wife had purchased a Buck Canoe for me at some point and so I just tossed that thing in my pocket to see how it went. And much to my surprise, after a few days of initial adjustment, I realized the two-hand opening and slip joint weren't really a hinderance at all. The blade size was no big deal as I frequently carried a Dragonfly.

And so more and more knives in this venue started to find their way to my house. Case knives aren't the highest quality in this category but they aren't bad for the price, have a lot of variety, and are so affordable that I found myself really having fun experimenting again. I was trying out different patterns and really enjoying the process. And at no time did I feel want for a modern knife.

Now, that is in no way implying that I abandoned modern knives. That, to me, is silly. If I knew I was going to be needing a knife for more work-oriented tasks then I'd most likely toss one of my M2LW's into my pocket. But day in and day out, my EDC was most likely an "old timey" knife. I did and still do very much like the Case Mini Copperlock. That's a back lock as are other "old timey" knives but still no where near modern.

And that all taught me that my immediate dismissal of slip joints at the least was unfounded and caused me to miss out on some real nice knives out there. Then I started finding slip joints that I really like and that are beautiful. Laguioles, Chambriard Compact, modern traditionals like my lionSTEEL Gitano and Buck 501 in S30V, and so on. These knives really make me happy when I use them.

With that "must have a lock and one hand opening" mindset purged, I'm finding some great knives.

Again, in no way do I think it needs to be an either/or and people should use the right tools for the right jobs but I just think, from personal experience, that dismissing so many awesome knives for reasons that in reality are often not relevant, is quite unfortunate.
 
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Sure, there's the nostalgia factor. Also legal or aesthetic reasons.

What I'd consider is what you actually use your knife for. Right tool for the job, and all that:
Filleting fish, scoring drywall, butchering a cow, removing a splinter?
If I'm using my knife for whittling or some other delicate task, I prefer a short thin blade. "Speed of deployment" is irrelevant.
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If I'm up on a ladder, I like the convenience of a one hand opening knife.
Happily, I can and do carry different types of knives.
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I carry a large Stockman lots. It comes in handy having three different blade shapes - clip for general work, sheepsfoot for delicate stuff, and the spey was reground for rough work like scraping. Also even a good sized multi-blade doesn't get the same fearful looks from people that even a small tactical does.
 
For many people, and I imagine the vast majority on this forum, their choice of knife is just as much an expression of who they are, their personality, as it is a matter of cutting efficiency.

I own and carry both modern one-hand opening "tactical" knives as well as old-time two-hand opening lockbacks. I once had a job where I often needed to deploy a knife with one hand to cut something because my other hand was occupied, but these days, unless I were trapped in a burning car by a seatbelt and only had the use of one hand, I can't think of any situation where I would need a one-hand folder to cut something. And heck, I ride motorcycles, I don't even own a car. So I REALLY doubt I'll ever NEED one.

I suppose a similar question could be asked- "Why do people choose one-hand opening knives?". I seriously doubt that taking an extra second or two to open a two-handed folder would really have a negative impact on most peoples lives.

That being said, I think being able to open a folder with one hand is way cool. I'm 50 years old, and when I was a kid I dreamed of being able to quickly and easily open a folder with one hand. I remember as a kid the first time I saw a "one-armed bandit", the clamp-on thubstud that could be attached to folders. This was long before thubstuds/discs/flippers/etc became common. I was blown away by the little device. But that was long before the internet, so I couldn't just go online and order one. In fact, I didn't even know what it was called.

Heck, I like knives. All kinds of knives. And in my opinion just "liking" a knife is good enough reason to buy it, carry it, and use it, whether it be the most high-tech modern "tactical", or the most "old timey" antique.
 
Weasipoint said:
The lack of pocket is is one reason I get nervous about carrying the old school as well, always afraid it will fall out or get knocked around and beat up if I have keys or anything else in my pocket. I grew up with older knives and lost alot as a kid. My biggest issue though was breaking finger nails trying to get a stiff blade open, especially on SAK, unoiled those things will snap a nail trying to pry them open
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Don't think I have ever used a difficult to open blade on a SAK. Some of the other tools can be difficult with weak finger nails. Keep them clean....

As far as old school versus modern school thought.... I love my SAKs and carry one as a primary edc. I have modern folders but they usually aren't carried any more. I generally keep a larger knife available (in my truck or on my desk) should a need arise. But that need seldom happens.

I have no need to open a knife one-handed. Fast is not a need. Those aspects are not even a consideration any more if I am looking at a knife to buy. What's my next knife purchase? Probably a GEC slip joint. I honestly doubt I will use it unless something changes in my preferences.
 
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