Carbon fiber on a traditional knife?!

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When I pick up a traditional I want to be reminded of the past, a connection to history. When the times were slower, people were less consumed with technology, and the mind set was just, well, different. I have nothing against carbon fiber but it just doesn't trigger that nostalgia. It doesn't seem historical. Of course this is only my subjective opinion and preference. Just thought I would share.
 
I find the different patterns very eye-appealing, same as I do with laminates like pakawood. There's not question of getting a strong, lighter-weight product as the end result.
 
deskil said:
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Maybe not a purely traditional rendition of the Case Backpocket, but at 4 5/8" closed and 2.2 oz., with only seven parts, in total, to make the knife, it's a triumph of engineering design because of the superior, non-traditional material used in the making of it. As light as a feather and as solid as a rock. I can't argue with success.
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Is it the just angle, or did you manage to blue that blade? Either way, I really like that knife.
 
KBA said:
When I pick up a traditional I want to be reminded of the past, a connection to history. When the times were slower, people were less consumed with technology, and the mind set was just, well, different. I have nothing against carbon fiber but it just doesn't trigger that nostalgia. It doesn't seem historical. Of course this is only my subjective opinion and preference. Just thought I would share.
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Nicely said! But with that in mind I still have one carbon fiber traditional knife, but that is out of 15 knives. I generally prefer stag and nice woods to any other traditional knife material.
 
NAB said:
Is it the just angle, or did you manage to blue that blade? Either way, I really like that knife.
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It's just a combination of the angle and lighting, but yeah, the knife is definitely a keeper.
 
I'm sure at one time folks thought Delrin was heathen and modern. Yet most appreciate a sawcut Delrin scaled Old Timer with a nice patina on the blade. Case yellow handles? Not exactly natural material. Queen Delrin Winterbottom scales, also from back when the big threat to U.S. knife makers was the cheaper knives coming in from Germany in particular and Europe in general. I also have an old Cattaraugus fixed blade from back around the 30-40s that has a hard rubber grip.

I love nice bone and stag, even some nice wood, but I'm not that big on wood handled slippies. Celluloid, Corian, and acrylics don't grab me much on traditional slippies, but I have seen some I really like and have had a few. I also rarely find carbon fiber attractive in most any application though in some car and motorcycle customizations it looks all right, but has to be really mixed in well. Then again, not everyone thinks the things I like are all the good looking for fit their idea of something. There are even people who abhor a patina or honest pocket wear on a traditional, or a traditional at all? I know, sounds crazy, but it's true.

So the CF slippies may be traditional patterns, but not so traditional scales today. Micarta still gets some people saying not it isn't though it's been used for decades. However, today's CF scales on traditional patterns may just become part of the myriad of scale materials that future folks will refer to as "traditional" material then.

Want an inexpensive, but very usable mix of old and new? I picked this up out of pure curiosity. Titanium coated, carbon steel blades, and G10 scales. A Colt CT591 trapper.



A surprisingly good knife for under $20 and one that made me more appreciative and receptive to G10 as a scale material. Maybe not a nicely patina'd, bone scaled trapper, but it is certainly a nice knife that would make a fine workhorse of a knife. Just without the nice patina and scales worn warm and mellow you would get from a carbon bladed, bone scaled trapper.

So why not carbon fiber if you like it and it makes you want to carry a traditional pattern. It may bring more people to these very useful slippies and patterns to discover how very viable they are for daily carry and what outstanding cutting tools they still are.
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
I'm sure at one time folks thought Delrin was heathen and modern. Yet most appreciate a sawcut Delrin scaled Old Timer with a nice patina on the blade. Case yellow handles? Not exactly natural material. Queen Delrin Winterbottom scales, also from back when the big threat to U.S. knife makers was the cheaper knives coming in from Germany in particular and Europe in general. I also have an old Cattaraugus fixed blade from back around the 30-40s that has a hard rubber grip.

I love nice bone and stag, even some nice wood, but I'm not that big on wood handled slippies. Celluloid, Corian, and acrylics don't grab me much on traditional slippies, but I have seen some I really like and have had a few. I also rarely find carbon fiber attractive in most any application though in some car and motorcycle customizations it looks all right, but has to be really mixed in well. Then again, not everyone thinks the things I like are all the good looking for fit their idea of something. There are even people who abhor a patina or honest pocket wear on a traditional, or a traditional at all? I know, sounds crazy, but it's true.

So the CF slippies may be traditional patterns, but not so traditional scales today. Micarta still gets some people saying not it isn't though it's been used for decades. However, today's CF scales on traditional patterns may just become part of the myriad of scale materials that future folks will refer to as "traditional" material then.

Want an inexpensive, but very usable mix of old and new? I picked this up out of pure curiosity. Titanium coated, carbon steel blades, and G10 scales. A Colt CT591 trapper.



A surprisingly good knife for under $20 and one that made me more appreciative and receptive to G10 as a scale material. Maybe not a nicely patina'd, bone scaled trapper, but it is certainly a nice knife that would make a fine workhorse of a knife. Just without the nice patina and scales worn warm and mellow you would get from a carbon bladed, bone scaled trapper.

So why not carbon fiber if you like it and it makes you want to carry a traditional pattern. It may bring more people to these very useful slippies and patterns to discover how very viable they are for daily carry and what outstanding cutting tools they still are.
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Great post!
 
I see many extremely beautiful slipjoints in this thread. Truely 'eye candy'. What I don't see are 'traditional' folders IMHO. Where do YOU draw the line if a line even has to be drawn? Carbon steel, wood, bone, antler or horn?????? Delrin or celluloid? Acrylic or plastic? I have no idea! I simply go by one rule....would my grandpap have had one. Born in 1899. But I'm not actually one to define these. I'm simply happy to go my own way.
 
I've surprised myself with the modern materials. I fully realize that celluloid and other synthetics were used decades if not centuries ago, so they certainly qualify as traditional. The thought of modern micartas and carbon fibers intrigued me; they look great and wear like iron, so what's not to like? I bought this new Cody Scout with micarta covers, a beautiful knife, light and tough.

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The problem is, I just can't bond with it. I thought it would be the "nuts" for an EDC, but after carrying it a couple days it did nothing for me. There just is not the warmth and draw that natural materials have. I was looking forward to the maroon micarta Dixie stockman from GEC, but again, just couldn't pull the trigger. Jigged or rough textured natural cover materials are my favorites, and in synthetics, the sawcut delrin is good for me. I guess I'm showing my age!
 
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