Best traditional pocket knife maker...

abiggs

abiggs

Joined
Jan 6, 2007
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I'm just looking for a little advice here. I recently have been getting interested in the traditional side of knives. My question is, who makes the best, and also best for the dollar, traditional slipjoint. I have several Case knives, and they are great. I have four that I swap in and out of my daily rotation, and have a few others that are just to pretty to get dirty. Who makes a decent folder that won't break the bank?
 
A lot of good makers of slippies right here on the forum. And STR does customizations of different knives. Search on slipjoints and see what you find.

James
 
I think that you would be hard pressed to find anything better than Case,I did pick up a trapper from Canal Street Cutlery recently that I really like.:thumbup:
 
As far as production knives go, I agree that Case and Canal Street are very good. Ive had great experiences with all my Case purchases. I have one Canal Street product, a 3 blade Cannitler and am very impressed with it. It came with a very stout, well ground main blade. The two smaller blades, a pen and a coper are both thin and razer sharp.
 
Boker makes traditional carbon steel slipjoints that offer good quality at a very reasonable price.
 
I think Iwould go with Case for a couple of reasons. They seem to combine the widest number of different patterns, handle materials, overall fit and finish. Plus, if there is a problem, you can send it back to Bradford and they will make it right. If years from now you have worn the knife down, they can replace a blade, or replace a broken scale. There's a heck of alot to be said for factory/customer support like they have. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
right off i'd have to go with case. Of late the fit and finish seems quite good and they have a wide selection. Price is reasonable,American made,just about any pattern you could want,good customer service, and readily available. Another plus if you lose it not a really big deal, lose a $150 custom and you'll cry like a little girl. ahgar
 
I'll recomend case as well. I own three of their knives and I am very happy with each one.
 
any of the brands already mentioned and let me add Queen to the list as well.
 
I agree. IMHO Queen stands head and shoulders above the rest both in their own brands (Queen and Schatt & Morgan) and in their contract knives (e.g. high-end Bluegrass and Mooremaker). Queen's knives' fit and finish are unsurpassed at their price points and Queen also offers vintage patterns that are available from no other maker.

The only "knock" on Queen's knives that one hears consistently is that they tend not to be very sharp as they come from the factory. To me, that is a minor problem since I tend to sharpen new knives to my specifications no matter what their factory edges are.
 
I agree with Jon on the Queen Schatt&Morgan, and contracted knives. ie. Winchester,Mooremaker, They even made the High Quality Ridged that came out what? Two years ago. I have several hundred Case knives they are good but not as beefy or old Fashioned looking as the Queen, Schatt & Morgan. The only down fall is the edge,well I can put one on it, for the money Schatt,is Premium IMO....
 
I've had mixed results from Canal Street. If you get one of their sub-par knives, you'll wish you spend your money elsewhere. If you get one of their good ones, you'll be thrilled.

My recent Queen is pretty to look at, but the edge sucks, the backspring is very stiff, and there's a bit of blade play.

Haven't bought any Case knives lately, but I've never gotten a terrible product from them.

The very best traditional pattern I've bought in the last few years was an AG Russell Swing Guard, made in Germany by Boker. If that's typical of Boker's quality, I'd have to vote for them as the 'best'.
 
I have to vote for Case.

Just throwing support to a company in my home state.

I don't just live here, I also own and use Case Products.:thumbup:
 
I bought 3 CS blade Bokers last month and I am pleased with them. I don't think that there is a bad choice between Case, Queen, and Boker.
 
555 said:
I have to vote for Case.

Just throwing support to a company in my home state.

I don't just live here, I also own and use Case Products.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

You might want to check your map. Titusville is in Pennsylvania, too!
 
John Schedel said:
You might want to check your map. Titusville is in Pennsylvania, too!
Click to expand...

True,

Case was the pride and joy of the EDC in this part of the state.

They were what I grew up with and was the knife to get.

They seemed to sell them at every hardware store.

I just was voting for one, just because of the good memories that I have had with Case, nothing more than that.

Don't get me wrong, I'll never Dis Queen or the others listed above because I really like all Folders, and always have.

Call it a weakness.:)
 
I'm from PA

And maybe this will help.

Knives have been made at the factory of Queen Cutlery Company of Titusville Pennsylvania for over 100 years. It is arguably the oldest and last American Cutlery that truly continues to produce knives in the same way as they were produced there when the factory opened in 1902; traditional bench-made American cutlery.
Click to expand...

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/queen/index.php
 
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