Fading popularity of traditional knives

Horsewright said:
So waaaay back on page ten I said I would read all this and get back. Best Arnold voice "I'm back". OK, so are traditionals fading in popularity? Hmm lets ponder that.... a bit while we wander around the shop and see what I've got to do....today and tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow.

....And everybody wants me to make slip joints too! Are traditionals fading in popularity? Not from my perspective. In fact I'm banking on them not, literally.
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Great pictures by the way! I just didn't feel they were necessary for my comments. Are you planning on making slip joints now? I think the custom/handmade slipjoint market is very strong. I am always wanting one of the customs. So, for me, I would choose the traditional over the modern for the handmade knife any day. But the question for me is "Will I use the knife?" Many of my slip joints never get used and being handmade just makes it a more difficult decision when I have plenty to choose from.

I think the slip joint market is actually getting stronger and not fading. In the case of Case, I think they're profitable, but I suspect Zippo may be having problems since smoking is on the serious decline here in the US. The Spydie revenue number is probably way way low. You can create $500K annual revenue with a staff of under 10 people easily if the business is running well with good cash flow.

The owner at New Graham knives in VA mentioned to me that his online sales of slipjoints far exceeds his sales in his store. Since about 2010 or there abouts, we are in the midst of a serious changing consumer market in terms of how we buy things, especially fairly expensive things and hard to find things.
 
I attend 3-4 large knife shows a year. If you go to the shows, and walk by 100 tables full of knives, I would guess over 80% are traditionals. That is what people are buying, and selling, and trading at the shows. Seems Traditionals are still doing quite well.

I do know that the Blade show, and the SHOT show both have a lot more tactical/modern styles available. But nearly every other knife show is majority traditional.
 
I am encouraged by the ratio of traditional to modern knives in my locale. The general store sells SAKs, a few Buck slipjoints and a good number of Taylor Schrades alongside more modern folders, mostly Buck. As best I can tell,they move fairly well.

On the belts of many,I see trappers. Booker,Case and Schrade all highly regarded. Carbon steel for the old cowboys and whatever they sell at the general store for the others. More common than any pocket clips are multi tools however.

I carry a modified Case Muskrat along with a Leatherman Wave. The Muskrat is a joy to use and the Leatherman saves trips to the toolbox. Simple as that. Homestead chores, carpentry, trucking, trapping, woodcutting and hunting, these will be on my person. Lounging around I may remove the Leatherman from its sheath.

All this being said, my small town of around 400 people, north of 60 degrees and largely First Nations is about 40 years behind the times. Chip seal highway and gravel roads, general store, rarely in a hurry, regular community suppers, living off what the land provides and we like it that way. And our knives reflect that.
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Rookie82 said:
I attend 3-4 large knife shows a year. If you go to the shows, and walk by 100 tables full of knives, I would guess over 80% are traditionals. That is what people are buying, and selling, and trading at the shows. Seems Traditionals are still doing quite well.

I do know that the Blade show, and the SHOT show both have a lot more tactical/modern styles available. But nearly every other knife show is majority traditional.
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That has been my experience as well. I think tables at BLADE are too expensive for your typical slip joint seller or maker (or they're too busy if they're a custom guy) other than the manufacturers like GEC, Case, and Queen in the recent past.
 
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[QUOTE="jmarston, post:
I carry a modified Case Muskrat along with a Leatherman Wave. The Muskrat is a joy to use and the Leatherman saves trips to the toolbox. Simple as that.

oMIz8xy.jpg
[/QUOTE]

You seem to have it figured out! I might need to look into adding a leatherman.
 
I prefer traditionals more and more. For collecting. I appreciate history, craftsmanship, warm handles. I collect regional knives. Obviously they are traditionals.

But for cary my go to is Victorinox. Something 84-93mm frame, 2 or 3 layers.

SAKs are just much more practical. Very good balanced stainless steel. And quality is very predictable. I think swiss knives with all their history are traditionals too. And no one can stop me from making custom scales of warm natural materials.

Moderns? Not my cup of tea anymore.
 
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Thanks regards the pics 22-rimfire 22-rimfire . I apologize if ya misunderstood me and my intent with the pics. The pics weren't posted in response to your statements, merely to establish my perspective, my opinion, in answering the OP's question of: "Are Traditionals Fading in Popularity?". I was trying to show through those pics that as a traditional knife maker I'm pretty darn busy. Traditionals don't seem to be an endangered species in these parts. Those pics aren't just today, thats pretty much every day, around here, the never ending treadmill as my brother calls it. Yes I'll be making folders, probably sooner than later, the wife hopes for late Oct, we'll see...... Anyhoo btw I always read your responses, not only in this thread but throughout BF, I have found them worthwhile.
 
I liked your pictures. I just felt they weren't necessary for my comments. So, I chopped them out of my response. I agree with you and I was interested to hear if you were going to start making folders. I like your stuff!
 
Horsewright said:
Thanks regards the pics 22-rimfire 22-rimfire . I apologize if ya misunderstood me and my intent with the pics. The pics weren't posted in response to your statements, merely to establish my perspective, my opinion, in answering the OP's question of: "Are Traditionals Fading in Popularity?". I was trying to show through those pics that as a traditional knife maker I'm pretty darn busy. Traditionals don't seem to be an endangered species in these parts. Those pics aren't just today, thats pretty much every day, around here, the never ending treadmill as my brother calls it. Yes I'll be making folders, probably sooner than later, the wife hopes for late Oct, we'll see...... Anyhoo btw I always read your responses, not only in this thread but throughout BF, I have found them worthwhile.
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I'd love to see you make folders! Make sure you make some tough, barebones, practical ones for us poor hardworking folks as well as the high-end fancy ones ;) By the way, purchased one of your tethered pocket sheaths for my Trapper and I love it. Nice work.
 
Thats the plan at least right now jstrange jstrange Single bladed trappers and no bolsters is whats on the menu, at least at first. Got standing orders for about 20 already. Should be out grinding, not typing, did I mention I run a ranch too. Neck deep in alligators but paddling like a big dog. Thanks, glad ya like that.
 
Just finished reading the whole thread:thumbsup: Thank you all for many well thought posts.

I would say traditionals are not fading popularity at all. More and more people at knife forums are turning their interest to traditional knives. And it is very good.

But "traditional" is not materials, type of steel or something. "Traditional" is spirit. Spirit of adventures, pride and craftsmanship, history.

Using advanced design or materials would not lead to loosing this spirit. I realy like vintage looking knives, watches or cars made with contemporary technologies. Classics never dies.
 
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Horsewright said:
Thats the plan at least right now jstrange jstrange Single bladed trappers and no bolsters is whats on the menu, at least at first. Got standing orders for about 20 already. Should be out grinding, not typing, did I mention I run a ranch too. Neck deep in alligators but paddling like a big dog. Thanks, glad ya like that.
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That sounds perfect. How does one get in on this action?

So as not to completely derail the thread, I will put in my two cents. I go through phases where I carry traditionals, then moderns, and sometimes even both. Sometimes I miss the easy opening and closing of moderns, although when it gets right down to it, I don't really need fast one handed opening for the uses I put a knife through. No matter what phase I am in, I always appreciate the nostalgia and tradition of traditionals and I always believe they are the nicer looking of the two options. There is just something about the look, feel, and style of an old knife. With that's said, I think there is plenty of room in this hobby for both styles.
 
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Horsewright said:
Thats the plan at least right now jstrange jstrange Single bladed trappers and no bolsters is whats on the menu, at least at first. Got standing orders for about 20 already. Should be out grinding, not typing, did I mention I run a ranch too. Neck deep in alligators but paddling like a big dog. Thanks, glad ya like that.
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That is precisely like the TA Davison I own. I prefer two blades, but I'm flexible especially with handmade stuff. I would add a leather slip with your distinctive western flair to it.
 
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Case shares the market with GEC, Buck and a small handful of others.
Benchmade has to share the market with Spyderco, CRKT, Zero Tolerance, and a whole host of others.
If it's Trads vs Moderns, you'll have to look at more than just one company.
 
jmarston said:
my small town of around 400 people, north of 60 degrees and largely First Nations is about 40 years behind the times. Chip seal highway and gravel roads, general store, rarely in a hurry, regular community suppers, living off what the land provides and we like it that way. And our knives reflect that.
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Sounds wonderful. Livin' the good life.
 
JohnDF said:
Case shares the market with GEC, Buck and a small handful of others.
Benchmade has to share the market with Spyderco, CRKT, Zero Tolerance, and a whole host of others.
If it's Trads vs Moderns, you'll have to look at more than just one company.
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True, but i just picked a couple of the bigger companies. Case comes to mind when you think of traditionals and Benchmade and Spyderco seem to be the more popular moderns. Buck is a little of both and mixes in Chinese. You might be right, if you had all the totals for all modern knives sold, might be more than all traditional knives sold. But Case and Buck seem to stack up pretty well against companies that are known for and sell mostly modern knives if the profits and revenues listed are correct.
 
Nothing like being fashionably late to the party! I just wanted to advise you guys to track down and listen to episode 5 of the Guys Talk Knives podcast. It's entitled "Are traditional pocketknives going away?" Quite an enjoyable chat.

-- Mark
 
Horsewright said:
Thats the plan at least right now jstrange jstrange Single bladed trappers and no bolsters is whats on the menu, at least at first. Got standing orders for about 20 already. Should be out grinding, not typing, did I mention I run a ranch too. Neck deep in alligators but paddling like a big dog. Thanks, glad ya like that.
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Put me down for a Stockman.... when you get there ;).
 
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