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

lieferung said:
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.
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This. I went through an "old timey" knife phase last year. Chasing GEC's, Case Mini Copperlocks, lamb's foot blades from England and elsewhere like nobody's business. Finally realized, I don't like knives loose in my pocket either. The only knives without either a pocket clip or sheath that remain in my collection are SAK's and Case Peanuts. And for me to carry them, I have to be wearing a pair of jeans or other pants with a fifth/watch pocket.
 
1. As a school bus driver, I am not supposed to carry a knife at all. A pocket clip is a dead giveaway, and kids have a sharp eye out for such things.

2. A knife clipped to my pocket takes up a lot of space, and makes the pocket less useful to me.

3. A small slip joint or friction folder gives me as much cutting power as I am likely to need in a normal day. Nevertheless, I like to carry a variety. Keeping them small allows me to carry three knives and a small pair of pliers comfortably, and leaves room for a pocket-sized fixed blade if I think I will need it.

4. It is too easy to lose a clipped knife. They can snag on a chair or work their way out of a pocket if you sit wrong. I have lost several clipped knives in that way. I have never lost a traditional knife out of my pocket. If I lie on my bed, they will sometimes fall out, but they always turn up. If I am in someone else’s bed, my pants will be hanging on the bedpost.

I have some modern folders, and still buy one now and again. There are some days when I will want the particular attributes of a modern knife, but those occasions pop up infrequently. Most modern knives are bigger than what I like, and a small fixed blade usually performs better.
 
Whitedog said:
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.
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I don't like pry bars either... but I like well-made knives.
My fixed blade is a 3" custom Busse Whiskey Warden with blade thickness of 0.100" and slices just great.
My folder is the wonderful 3.5" bladed ATOM by Three Rivers Manufacturing, at 0.090" blade thickness and I love it also. I carry both; use both.
These are not cheap, for sure, but I have purchased many knives that cost twice as much. For my casual use, i have zero need for other knives.
I've owned many Swiss Army models, have a few floating around in the bathroom drawers. I once bought a guy's collection of sixty-some S-A knives and sent them to deployed military. I'm sure they liked them...
 
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Very interesting theme for me. Shame but l don't have any experience with traditional knives in this description of the “classic traditional”. Yes, I have, love and use SA knives in all types, I have a 110 Buck in my collection (who doesn’t), but I never held in my hands a multi blade slip joint. I think the the reason is that in my area this type of knives never was “traditional” we always had some kind of Swiss type slip joints with one blade and several instruments or single blades. So for me this type is an American classic traditional knives :)
Thanks to this topic and all comments that was given I really want to try it, it remains only to decide which knife to start with )))
 
Kabancheck Kabancheck I'm not a big fan of multi-bladed knives. If I carry one, I want two blades...opening from opposite ends. I have two of those that I carry occasionally; but I never use them, partially because I would have to think about which blade is the one I want. (yes, I know - if I used them, that would quickly cease to be an issue.) I only have one 3 bladed knife that I carry, and I use it occasionally.
All the rest of my traditionals are single blades. Heck, the only SAK I have is an Alox Solo...I sometimes question whether that counts; but the box tells me that Victorinox was the original SAK, so I guess it does.
 
My 2 cents worth. All of the above, plus more use.
Now that I am retired I generally carry a small to medium slip joint in my watch pocket. I can, and have, taken one out and fixed a broken nail in line at Target without anyone batting an eye.
More accepted in all situations = more use.
Easy peasy
 
Everything I need, nothing I don't. Unbelievable cutter, unbelievably stainless, unbelievably people friendly, unbelievably cheap, small and light. Legal wherever I travel. Question has to be, why wouldn't I? :)

sakhand.jpg
 
I'm with Pomsbz except I carry a Tinker. I use the additional tools on the Tinker more then I do the knife. It is small discreet and slices like crazy. I rarely need one handed opening for the things I do however I will say I carry a Leatherman Wave for my work (mainly for the pliers) which has 2 OHO knives and the Tinker after hours and on the weekend.

I think it mainly depends on peoples needs, if I was in the construction trades I would probably want a Spyderco Manix 2 LW in a CTS BD1N steel but I really can't justify it for my daily needs. Besides all that I just love my Tinker too much not to carry it over a modern knife. Too each their own but for me it is a SAK all the way.
 
Pomsbz said:
Everything I need, nothing I don't. Unbelievable cutter, unbelievably stainless, unbelievably people friendly, unbelievably cheap, small and light. Legal wherever I travel. Question has to be, why wouldn't I? :)

sakhand.jpg
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Yeah... I thought Vics were toys years ago (aka kid's knives). They are styled after the traditional camp/scout knife and then the approach was taken further with other tools. I tried one for an extended trip out of the country for work. I depended on that knife a great deal and the bottle opener was heavily used due to public drinking water concerns. Got back and returned to my old ways. Then in the 90's I went back to a SAK and one has been part of my regular carry since. Two layer SAKs rule! They are too handy not to carry one.

I know I could easily switch to a small classic traditional knife for cutting or a modern. But those tools on Vics are just too handy and convenient. Try one out if you haven't and carry two knives... a small and larger folder. If the Vic is handy to access, I found that I always grabbed the Vic to cut things unless it was a bigger job. Eventually I accepted the practical reality of things and 80-90% of the time I only carry a Vic. The second knife now is often a small fixed blade or the original one hand knife.
 
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22-rimfire said:
Yeah... I thought Vics were toys years ago (aka kid's knives). They are styled after the traditional camp knife and then the approach was taken further with other tools. I tried one for an extended trip out of the country for work. I depended on that knife a great deal and the bottle opener was heavily used due to public drinking water concerns. Got back and returned to my old ways. Then in the 90's I went back to a SAK and one has been part of my regular carry since. Two layer SAKs rule! They are too handy not to carry one.

I know I could easily switch to a small classic traditional knife for cutting or a modern. But those tools on Vics are just too handy and convenient. Try one out if you haven't and carry two knives... a small and larger folder.
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The new Lionsteel Jack (full version) with has been tempting me as a 'posh' version of my SAK Spartan but just in the past few days I've been using the small screwdriver on the can opener and the awl constantly while doing hobby stuff. That and the small blade for gunky hard work leaving the main blade for food. I think it's working hard to prevent competition for pocket space. :D

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In light of that, the idea of carrying a single blade never mind a modern wouldn't even occur to me. Simply too limiting.
 
I like that LionSteel with the tool. My only problem with them is that they get a bit chunky in a two-layer/two blade format and I know I will go with the SAK anyway.
 
I was about 10 when I got my first Hardware store Barlow. I have both modern and traditional knives and usually have one of each on me. Been edcing a fixed blade a lot also. I just love knives.
 
This is a great thread.

First off, old school style slip joints are actually still relevant, and practical.

I just ordered a Microtech Ultratech. Nothing particularly practical about that knife. I simply have wanted one since about 2008.

My Swiss Army Knives are some of my most favorite knives in my collection. And I have owned many knives over the last decade. Most of which are modern folders.

Each style knife has a place. Slip joints usually will cut like a laser, and typically, are easy to sharpen. Obviously this depends on the knife and steel used.

I usually carry a SAK, paired with a modern one handed folder. Sometimes I'll throw a Case Sodbuster in CV in my pocket, also.

My one handed folders usually have harder-to sharpen steel. Also, they tend to scare the sheep. So for cardboard cutting duties, the nod usually goes to the slippie. For times I don't have a free hand for whatever reason, or food prep, the nod goes to my one hander. Usually a PM2, Ruike, or Cold Steel.

My incoming Microtech's role? Not sure yet. I have lusted after one for years. But honestly, a regular slipjoint is honestly more practical. And a one handed folder is better for self defense and for getting dirty.
So, the irony is, my $25 SAK is more useful than my incoming $265 OTF. My point in this is simply this; old school slip joints are very much still relevant and practical. I use one every day, and I am not an old man. I am 31 years young.
 
If the steel choice on an "old school" slip joint bothers you, you can easily get a something like a Lionsteel slipjoint with M390. Me, I'm comfortable with 1095 and Vics stainless for the most part. I don't mind sharpening a knife, but I don't like to be forced to sharpen a knife in the middle of a job. Hence, more than one in the pocket (or in my pickup) works. They are there to use if I need them.
 
Even in a slipjoint pocket knife, I normally carry a SAK; they're just SO much more useful than a knife with blades only. (so I guess I'd go with scout pattern in an old timey one)

...but when I do carry old-timey, it's because of the nostalgia factor - They remind me of my grandpas and great uncles. When I take the knife out and look at it, it takes me back 35 years, reminds me of warm moments long gone. It reminds me that in the old days, men didn't carry flashy things and overthink things. They just had something simple, but of good quality.

Side Note: What I find interesting is that there are now knives in traditional patterns, but made with modern materials. For example, Lionsteel with their barlow-shaped knife that has G10 or micarta scales, and modern steel blades. How interesting that they embraced the modern materials before Victorinox did! Because of that, there is suddenly a good reason to carry a traditional American pattern over a SAK!
 
Kabancheck said:
Very interesting theme for me. Shame but l don't have any experience with traditional knives in this description of the “classic traditional”. Yes, I have, love and use SA knives in all types, I have a 110 Buck in my collection (who doesn’t), but I never held in my hands a multi blade slip joint. I think the the reason is that in my area this type of knives never was “traditional” we always had some kind of Swiss type slip joints with one blade and several instruments or single blades. So for me this type is an American classic traditional knives :)
Thanks to this topic and all comments that was given I really want to try it, it remains only to decide which knife to start with )))
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A Case Mini Trapper or Canoe are nice introductions.
 
I love my Traditionals although as of late I’ve made a full circle back to modern/ flippers and I won’t use the Tactical word lol. But traditionals will always be in my collection.
The craftsmanship , the feel in hand, the bone handles and variety the jigging and the smell of the old school oil and materials :) The snap of the blade wether it be a half stop or not.
There will always be a place in my heart and collection for traditional slip joints.
 
My edc is one of several modern locking folders or an auto in right pocket. Traditional style fixed blade in modern materials on the belt, right side. In the other pocket is a Leatherman Micra. ALWAYS. A lot of tool in a small form factor.

This is, of course, only if I am going to work, or the bank, or Walmart, a wedding, or some other place where I'm sure to be around people.
 
Pomsbz said:
The new Lionsteel Jack (full version) with has been tempting me as a 'posh' version of my SAK Spartan but just in the past few days I've been using the small screwdriver on the can opener and the awl constantly while doing hobby stuff. That and the small blade for gunky hard work leaving the main blade for food. I think it's working hard to prevent competition for pocket space. :D

lionsteeljack1.jpg


In light of that, the idea of carrying a single blade never mind a modern wouldn't even occur to me. Simply too limiting.
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I think I'll get the 3 tool olive wood, but if it had a punch on it too then it would be a no brainer.
 
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