- Joined
- Mar 7, 2014
- Messages
- 937
I'll weigh in because I want to.
I agree with Cory Hess.
I used to work in a saw mill and when strapping and packing sleepers and so forth we used a green plastic strapping which was reinforced with some kind of polymer thread in the centre. Not the soft plastic sort most of you are probably thinking of this stuff is tough. I would never, ever be able to cut it with a slip joint without busting the blade. Cutting geometry is one thing, the thinly ground carbon blades of a stockman or anything smaller are just too small to handle that pressure. Perhaps a sodbuster or a large trapper might have, I don't own either pattern so I can't say. My modern folders were the only thing I felt comfortable cutting that stuff with.
I don't consider cutting down a fridge box to be hard use. It's cardboard against a knife, that's a test of edge retention not the knife's construction.
My use of knives back then tended towards the harder end of things, which is precisely what modern folders are designed for. From material selection through to construction methods they are just stronger. The argument for a traditional construction slip joint is not that it is as strong as a modern folder but rather that it is SUFFICIENTLY strong for most purposes, which it is.
HOWEVER
Slip joints are still perfectly acceptable for most folk's edc blades. THere's nothing wrong with them if you use a knife for lighter cutting tasks but if you want to lean on something and use it as a tool without concern go fro the modern folder.
I will never not own a slippie. They're frankly too gorgeous and fun for me to not own.
P.S
There are very man photos of busted up traditional knives on this forum which were the past work tools of tradesmen. Many folk would buy a cheap knife, beat on it and replace it. Peened joints and pins just aren't as strong as threaded ones and will develop lateral play regardless of the quality of the build, it's just metal fatigue and happens with use. Wheterh that's decades of light use or a year of frequent use is the only question.
I agree with Cory Hess.
I used to work in a saw mill and when strapping and packing sleepers and so forth we used a green plastic strapping which was reinforced with some kind of polymer thread in the centre. Not the soft plastic sort most of you are probably thinking of this stuff is tough. I would never, ever be able to cut it with a slip joint without busting the blade. Cutting geometry is one thing, the thinly ground carbon blades of a stockman or anything smaller are just too small to handle that pressure. Perhaps a sodbuster or a large trapper might have, I don't own either pattern so I can't say. My modern folders were the only thing I felt comfortable cutting that stuff with.
I don't consider cutting down a fridge box to be hard use. It's cardboard against a knife, that's a test of edge retention not the knife's construction.
My use of knives back then tended towards the harder end of things, which is precisely what modern folders are designed for. From material selection through to construction methods they are just stronger. The argument for a traditional construction slip joint is not that it is as strong as a modern folder but rather that it is SUFFICIENTLY strong for most purposes, which it is.
HOWEVER
Slip joints are still perfectly acceptable for most folk's edc blades. THere's nothing wrong with them if you use a knife for lighter cutting tasks but if you want to lean on something and use it as a tool without concern go fro the modern folder.
I will never not own a slippie. They're frankly too gorgeous and fun for me to not own.
P.S
There are very man photos of busted up traditional knives on this forum which were the past work tools of tradesmen. Many folk would buy a cheap knife, beat on it and replace it. Peened joints and pins just aren't as strong as threaded ones and will develop lateral play regardless of the quality of the build, it's just metal fatigue and happens with use. Wheterh that's decades of light use or a year of frequent use is the only question.
