Do you mess with all types of knives or just traditional?

Do you mess with new and traditional knives both?

  • Traditional only

    Votes: 20 17.1%
  • Both equally

    Votes: 23 19.7%
  • Mostly traditional but some modern

    Votes: 63 53.8%
  • Mostly modern but some traditional

    Votes: 11 9.4%
  • I carry a modern but it’s just a tool man.

    Votes: 9 7.7%

  • Total voters
    117

JM2

Basic Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2013
Messages
2,196
Title says it. I went though a phase of my modern knives, but I just don’t care for them. I never had abandoned my traditional knives, and alway have carried a regular pocket knife even when I carried a one hand opener.

Those one handed openers always seemed better in print than they did practicality wise. Now I just don’t even mess with them.

Don’t have much use for the modern fixed blades either. Give me a Bowie or a buck for that use.

Anyone else with me in this? Or do the majority of folks in the traditional forum play with those new fangled critters too?

Post script

I request no modern knife pics here please.

I specifically put this in traditional because I’m interested in if other traditional enthusiasts are also modern users or enthusiasts. Or, like me, generally don’t use them or have them.
 
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I like traditionals better but I do have some moderns. I think a lot of modern knives are pretty over rated, with blades too thick to cut well and uncomfortable square slab handles. Plus they're pretty soulless. Modern fixed blades can interest me more sometimes. Honestly for the most part I just think that a lot of modern "tactical" kind of knives are an answer to a question that I just wasn't asking.
 
I probably own 20 traditional knives for every 1 modern, but I use both, depending on the job at hand. There just isn't much charm to modern knives for me, so owning several in excellent modern steels is all I need or want. But with traditional knives, there is plenty of charm and variation to keep me interested in many, many different patterns and materials.
 
I own many, many knives and have a lot of both kinds. I would say my GEC collection is far larger than any single brand of my modern collections but honestly, I enjoy the beauty, history, and craftsmanship of Traditionals so that's why. However, when I need something I'm going to beat on, I turn to a modern folder. Stronger, tougher materials, and I don't worry about getting say, a Cold Steel scratched up or even lost if that happens. You just buy another, and put in your pocket. The same (usually) can't be said for Traditional knives, where there's so much variation. GEC and Case both have that particular aspect to them. You can buy two knives, same cover, of any given run, and they'll look different, the action might be different, the jigging, etc., coloration, etc. That's why I enjoy them, but if you lose it, it can be difficult to source another. I also enjoy wonderfully made moderns, because they have a quality all their own as well.

I just like knives. :D
 
I have all but maybe one or two of the modern folders I want/need to carry for the foreseeable future in my life. I do it mostly for convenience.
But I much prefer traditionals and carry at least one every day. Building that rotation is what excites me more these days. I’m also big on edc/hunt/camp/ride style fixed blades :thumbsup:
 
Long story short, I love traditionals, but mostly carry a modern folder or a small multitool. They are easier to clean up and I won't hesitate if there's a need to actually use them. And no worries about damaging covers from natural materials.
 
Traditionals "only" at this stage of my "life".
I tried a couple "modern" knives a while back. Didn't care for them. I don't  need one hand opening (yet) and I determined I loathe pocket clips.
I also found them uncomfortable after 08 ~ 10 consecutive minutes use; way too skinny mark --> pile sides. Biggest dislike though, was/is no multi-blades.
 
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Interesting responses thus far. Thanks everyone for sharing.
 
Working certain jobs has taught me that it is best to have a fixed blade or a one-hand-opening knife available for emergency situations.
Sometimes things can happen quickly and you don't have time to dig in your pocket and use two hands to open your knife.
So, I usually carry both when going on adventures, but mostly use my Traditional for mundane cutting tasks.

Some examples of situations I've had that made me glad to have a "quick knife'...
Team Roper's hand stuck in a dally, and you have to run to cut him loose before he loses fingers.
Pack Horse team going over a cliff, and you have to cut lead ropes to save as many as you can.
Rope tangled around cattle and your horse, better cut him loose before he cripples himself.
Horse rolls over and pins a rider, and you have to cut the saddle loose to let the horse up without further injuring the rider.
Sometimes you have to act fast and sometimes you only have the use of one hand.
Moderns aren't just for Mall Ninjas.
 
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100% traditionals.

I used to only carry modern folders because that's kind of the default pocket knife these days, but eventually I realized I didn't actually like them that much.
I gave my dad the favorite carry of my modern knife days, dumped the rest on my cousin, and never looked back.
 
I went all-in practical/ tactical starting about 1980, with the exception of SAKs and the original Leatherman tool.

Late 2018 I received a gift from family, a Boker Boxer. More traditional than prac/ tac. And that was the start back into traditionals.

I mostly prefer traditional knives these days, but have a few prac/ tac knives. As John mentioned above - sometimes a small fixed-blade or a folder that can be opened with one hand have a place and are a better choice.
 
I'm not in the trenches fighting zombies, or seeing how long I can survive on an iceberg in the Arctic Ocean. In reality, my knives don't see a ton of use. I work an office job. So my knives need to be visual appealing, and to me there is no need to depart from traditionals only.
 
I was all traditionals until about 2 years ago. Now I have 4-5 moderns that I really love. I almost always have one of them clipped IWB and a traditional in my pocket. Generally use my traditionals for most things because they look better to me with use and handling, and so I do what I can to further that cause. If my moderns “aged” as nicely I admit I might be in a different camp. All subject to change the next time the wind changes direction…
 
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