Best "traditional" folder under $30?

What's a good "traditional" folder under $30?

I was thinking along the lines of Case, Camillus, etc. What about the $20 or less ones from Smokey Mountain?

TIA,
DaveH
 
What do you consider traditional? Try the Buck 110 folding hunter. It is $32.99 at www.knifeworks.com, probably similarily good prices at other internet dealers too.

-- chang the asian janitorial apparatus

[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 01-30-2000).]
 
R

Ryan Meyering

Joined
May 4, 1999
Messages
534
I just bought a couple of Ka Bar 1095 slipjoints from Knifecenter for about $20 - $25 each. 1095's a lot better than the "Solingen stainless" stuff that seems to be used in most factory slipjoints, and they were pretty sharp out of the box. Camillus has some imitation tortise shell slipjoints that also have 1095 steel, but it's a limited edition and prices are more like $50.

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
Schrade folders are pretty good, at least the traditional ones. I wouldn't go for the Cliphangers, they're pretty rough, but the Old Timer and Uncle Henry slipjoints are good users. Not too fancy though; they're made of high carbon steel, and discolor very easily and chronically. Takes and holds a good edge though. You can pick them up just about anywhere too, Wal-Mart and K-mart both carry them.

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Just because I talk to myself does not make me crazy. Now, when I listen to myself, that makes me crazy.
 
I agree that Schrade makes a quality multi blade folder for under $30.As was said before stay away from the cliphangers or for that matter any liner lock by Schrade. The locking mechanism is made from steel that seems thinner then a piece of paper they are an accident waiting to happen.
Bob
 
The Buck 110 or Buck Lite seem to be solid but heavy knives. My 110 has never unlocked during use or with the spine wack test. Edge retention might not be quite at of 440C or ATS-34 but it is very easy to sharpen.

Will
 
Dave, here is where I bought my last traditional folder, a 5" Parker Edwards lock back, (similar to a Buck 110) Damascus blade and Stag scales for $50.
Bruce Voyles, has a nice selection in a wide price range, you may see something you like, take a look, http://www.jbrucevoyles.com/knives.htm
 
Last time I checked, Wal-Mart had BUCK 110's for $25 plus sales tax but, no shipping
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If your definition of "traditional" goes beyond lockbacks and multi-bladed folders, checkout Columbia River - solid values.

Sid
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Knife dealer

[This message has been edited by Sid Post (edited 01-30-2000).]
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

I did make it to Walmart today. They had lots of multitools, a whole range of SAK's, the aforementioned Shrades. I looked at some models they had, I ended up with a "Ozark Trail" marked Imperial Ireland, Very inexpensive ($5) because I still wasn't sure.

The Kabar's sound good, I probably need to find a store with a better selection, OK a real "newbie" to this type of knife question. Do the blades get easier to open over time?

DaveH
 
To tell you the truth, Sears/ Craftsmen makes a pretty good knife. My first knife was a 3.25" craftsmen stock knife. It came sharp, I used the hell out of it whittling and chip carving and it stayed sharp for quite awhile. At 9 I wasn't good enough at sharpening to get it shaving sharp but it took a usable edge.They hold up to abuse to. My Dad used to carry the same thing only an older model, he cut everything with it including steel bands. The blades developed quite a bit of play, after a long time and a lot of abuse. But it held up really well if you consider what it was used for. They used to have a lot of different styles, now the only one I've seen for ahwile is similar to a buck 110. They have some multi tools too.
If the knife you bought is a slip joint (non locking) then the answer should be no the blades won't get much easier to open. a little bit as the knife is broken in, but because of the design, there is as much spring tension holding the blade closed as there is holding the blade open. You want a good amount holding it open so you have to deal with a good amount holding it closed.
Unfortunately unlike everyone else here I haven't been real impressed with the quality of schrade. I bought my dad an old timer stockman for christmas and it wasn't near the knife the craftsmen it was supposed to replace had been. The blades were extremely thin and brittle, and didn't sharpen very easily. It was dull out of the box too.My mom picked out a Schrade extreme series or something lockback for my brother. Tried not to let her but she had it bought before i could say anything. The fit and finish sucked.The plastic imitation zytel is also brittle, I seriously doubt it would survive a fall on hard ground. The blade was again extremely thin and brittle. This one does sharpen good and hold an edge ok though. The black coating wore off right away and the action keeps getting stuck. I could have gotten a buck the same size and style for $10 less and it had a heavier blade, wood handles with brass liners,nickel silver bolsters, and a smoother action. I don't plan on buying another schrade ever.
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !

[This message has been edited by Matt Shade (edited 01-30-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Matt Shade (edited 01-30-2000).]
 
Schrade at one time made Craftsman pocketknives for Sears.The saw cut Delrin scales were a dead giveaway.I'm not sure if its still them or Camilius now.
Bob
 
I wasn't going to say any thing about my El cheapo knife, but I guess i will...I have a Schrade Imperial lock back that I paid less than eight dollars for at Walmart; it is marked Ireland on the blade, package said it was "high carbon steel", not stainless, some sort of hot molded plastic scales, hollow stamped bolsters, lock up was rough as a cob, but smoothed up with oil and lots of working in. the blade is superbly flat ground spine to small secondary bevel, and sharpens easily to a razor edge, yes, it does not hold that edge forever, but the edge responds to the butchers steel extrememly well. The blade has darkened considerably, but does not seem particularly eager to rust. In my book a properly made cheap knife, where you have to work with a lesser grade of steel, is best heat treated to this sort of edge. Very useable and practical. I am amazed at the quality of the blade grind, and finish of the blade too. Which, again, is as it should be, all the quality there should go into the BLADE, not the handle. Very good value.
 
If traditional means 'natural' or 'natural look handles' vs. skeleton or 'high tech' grabbers, check out Browning. They have some nice stuff for good prices. Had one, kept a good edge, easily sharpened/honed... gave it to a friend when I was bit by the Spyder
wink.gif
. It did have a thumb stud vs. thumb nick though...

Cheers,

RLR
 
The Craftsmen knives I'm talking about didn't have delrin handles. It was stabilized wood.The blades were marked sears stainless too, not schrade plus stainless or high carbon steel. That was about 8 years ago so they might have been contracted out to different companies a couple of times now.I remember sears having a bunch of Schrade knives the last time I was in there. They may not even make them like the one I had anymore
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
I always carry a traditional folder in my left pocket. I recommend the Case, German
Eye, Hen &Rooster, and Kissing Crane (I just
ordered 6 of these from Mike). They can all
be gotten from net dealers for $30 more or less, and they're great values. I don't like the lock-backs - the regular kind are the way to go. Oh, by the way Matt, I have an old
Craftman 3-blade jigged bone folder that I've
practically worned out; very high quality.
 
Matt
I just checked Levine cause I started getting curious and he lists Craftsman as being made by Camilus,Ulster and Schrade. So it could very well have been that yours wasn't made by Shrade but one of the others.
Bob
 
Don't forget the Kershaw Wild Turkey. Not the new skeletonized one, but the original with Sandalwood scales. They will be more than $30 but less than $50.

Jim
 
Case makes a few knives that retail $30.00 or underI carry[have been for years]a 31048 slimline trapper in yellow.Kind of on the long side but I love it.
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have a"knife"day
 
I like the carbon steel Old Timers (some are stainless), and some of the older and similar Schrade models too. Some of the fancier makes don't seem to always walk and talk or hold an edge as well, I certainly haven't tried all of them, even though they're often nicer to look at. I have the impression that the Old Timers might be a bit harder than some of the other makes, as they seem to be slightly harder to sharpen and yet the steel appears to be a simple carbon steel per an elemental analysis on a SEM (scanning electron microscope) that a friend peformed. The larger stockman can be had for around $20 at places like Walmart or Sears, and the medium stockman for less than $20. I also like the discontinued trapper with the caps and bolster as well as the muskrat, even though I don't and probably won't carry either - they're just fun to play with, especially the very thin, slightly flexible blade on the muskrat. If nothing else the Old Timers are an affordable way to try out different patterns. Still, I keep looking for the green handled Remingtons, the carbon steel Kabars, the well priced Case, and most of all older ones hidden away in some corner or dusty display case.
 
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