Do any of you have any experience with this pattern from Canal Street? I know it's a large, single-blade, linerlock folding hunter. I like big single blades and the fact that it locks. I recently started carrying a Buck 110, which I like very much, but I do want something a bit different in the same vein, if that makes sense: Large traditional-style locking knife, carried on the belt in a pouch. Any feedback is appreciated.
And while I'm asking, I've been eyeing GEC's line intensely the past few weeks. Any input as to a first knife from them?
What are you looking for to be different?
IMO, the Buck 110 is an absolute icon of American knives. This is so much the case that any brass bolstered lock back is often referred to generically as a "Buck knife". Not suggesting you just stick with a stock 110, but just noting that you're already carrying the knife that created and legitimized the large folding hunter type knife and in that vein, I sort of see everything else as a variant or also-ran. So, it depends on what you're looking to go beyond the basic 110.
First, if you like the basic 110 but want to push it further, Buck offers really nice custom 110s with a large range of different blade materials and scales options. There's also a thriving cottage industry of Buck 110 modifiers and customizers whose work runs the gamut from the sublime to the utterly atrocious. All of this to say that if you can imagine an ultimate 110 in your mind's eye, I'll bet you can find 5 custom shops that already offer it. In any event, I know that Puma, Boker, Bear and Sons and just about everybody else in the world makes something similar to the Buck 110/112s. I don't care how good they are, I'd rather carry the original they are attempting to copy and if I wanted to tweak it, I'd look to get a modified Buck. But that's just me and not you.
Second, if you like the basic 110 style but are looking for carbon steel, you might be able to find an old Schrade 7OT or Ka-Bar folding hunter with carbon blades. Getting really hard to find them though and the prices on the US made Schrades are going up.
Third, if you're looking for a locking folder in a different pattern, I think you're on the right track with that Canal Street. Somebody else mentioned the old Schrade Old Timer 125OT (carbon, saw cut derlin) and Uncle Henry 127UH (schrade+ stainless, stagalon) liner locks. IMO, those established the pattern that the Canal Street is drawing from. I prefer lock backs but really, I think the 125OT style pattern is just fantastic looking. Go with your heart on that. I consider that Canal Street to be the "keeper of the flame" on that pattern and would rather than 1 Canal Street than 10 of the current Schrades.
Lastly and doing my best John Clease voice, "And now for something completely different..."
If you want a big folding locker and if you have a bit of DIY gumption, you might take a look at the Opinels in the #9 and 10 sizes. They're very light, slice like crazy and are much tougher than their light weight would have you believe. Out of the box, these knives are crude. Expect to need to polish out the grind marks on the blade and modify (sand, carve, reshape and refinish) the handle to suit your taste. These are great users and once modified and/or finished up, they always impress other knife folks. They have a simple, straight-forward and honest charm about them.
In the picture below, you will see my beloved Buck 110 and right below it, is a modified Opinel #9. I refiled the Opinel's stock clip point blade to a drop point and used a sanding block and sand paper to thin and shorten the handle as well to add the easy-open shape. As you can see, it's almost as big at the Buck 110 and definitely more blade than my Buck 500 (bottom). I rotate different knives in my pocket but the Opinel #9 is pretty always on me. A similarly dressed up #10 would be really interesting and another step bigger.
Lockers by
Pinnah, on Flickr
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