First traditional purchase

fatherhudson · May 11, 2012

Alright, I am looking to purchase a new pocket knife and would like some recommendations. I have a few ideas about what i like but i've only just started looking at traditionals so my tastes might be pushed one way or another. This would be a knife that was carried in my pocket everyday and used for basic cutting tasks. At this point I don't like any one style over another.

A few things I'm looking for (none of them are absolute deal breakers):
- less than $60
- nothing too big. 3 inches closed sounds about right, smaller is fine. 4 inches closed is the max size.
- carbon steel blade
- I don't like the look of imitation bone/antler. synthetics might be ok if they look nice. Wood would be my first choice.
- I don't think i need lots of blades. I've nothing against multiple blades but i'd prefer a slimmer knife with 1 or 2 blades over a beefier one with 3 or 4 blades.
- I've nothing against a locking blade but i could go either way.

I know this is a pretty broad set of desires but if you have the time please share a knife or two you like that fits my criteria. pics always appreciated.

Thank you for your time

kamagong · May 11, 2012

Check out Great Eastern Cutlery. They make some of the best production slipjoints today. You can find a wood handled #73 Scout for right around your budget.

- Christian

fatherhudson · May 11, 2012

the #73 scout is a little too beefy looking for my taste. I'd prefer a sleeker look. GEC knives look great, my only complaint is that i don't like all the graphics and lettering they put on a lot of their blades. I can get over it though.

reader1 · May 11, 2012

I agree with Christian that GEC makes good knives with generally excellent fit and finish. Some of the larger GEC s have very strong Pulls, but smaller knives & the 72 and 89 are very soft Pulls, which I like.

There is an occasional complaint on BF about F&F, but I have more than 20 GECs from #25s to #89s. I have not yet had an F&F problem. I cannot say the same for Case or Queen, but the Case Tony Bose Stamped SBJs always have excellent F&F.

AG Russell has a good spread of sizes, quality and price (a $25 small Barlow), but they may be sourced from anywhere. The Plus for AGR (and Phil Gibbs) is that every knife is inspected before they ship, and they stand behind their goods.

Mike H.

Enjoy your adventure.

thejamppa · May 11, 2012

Case small Texas jack might be your alley... Syntheticks have stainless steel blades though

mnblade · May 11, 2012

In the <$60 price range, there are a lot of Case CV knives to choose from. Given your size preference, I'd say go for a peanut of yellow-handled pen, Texas jack or a swayback jack.

Let us know what you choose ..... and welcome to the wild, folksy world of traditionals.

-- Mark

odd · May 11, 2012

I suggest rounder styles. I recently bought a Buck 373 (small stockman type style) to ease myself into traditionals. There is nothing "wrong" with the knife fit and finish wise and I like the three blades. My only complaint would be that its is kind of "Squared off" and chews my pockets some.

pinnah · May 11, 2012

I've not seen nor handled them, but the Bear & Sons 4th Generation series offers a good selection of knives with carbon blades with walnut or yellow Derlin scales. Well within your price range. Utica cut co would be another option.

Do you like to tinker? If so, for $60 you can buy 4 Opinels in different sizes. Very crude knives out of the box, but if you are willing to sand and refinish the handles and possibly polish out the grind marks on the blades, they clean up to wonderful users. Here are a 9, 8 and 6. Top 2 were modified to be drop points.

opinel easy opens by Pinnah, on Flickr

DrPenguin · May 11, 2012

If a slim profile is important then a single spring knife might be in order. I know I prefer them for EDC. Getting one with 2 blades is not a problem. And the carbon steel won't be either.

Off the top of my head you might want to look at the Case mini copperhead (hard to find in carbon steel), any of a number of pen knives made by lots of manufacturers, or the GEC White Owl. This last one comes in a couple different woods and is an absolute joy to carry but it is going to run you over on price $10 to $15 bucks. You can go to google and search for pen knife and probably get a lot more suggestions than you'd want and then look at the pics to see what you like.

Good luck,
Will

richstag · May 11, 2012

Not giving a suggestion because I feel its a broad request, but most of the etches on the blades polish right off with flitz. Until I knew this I did not buy a GEC.

retired city cop · May 11, 2012

well, i recognize you do not care for traditionals with multiple blades but try to re-consider that. i personally carry a case med. stockman as edc and it carries wonderful in the watch pocket on most jeans. have also carried this same knife in dress pants pockets and it is just as comfortable.

in closing, brother, best of luck in making your final decision!

brian

avoidspam · May 11, 2012

OK, check out the GEC #48 Slimline Trapper pattern in cherry wood. They are 440C stainless but beautifully finished. I'd be very tempted if I didn't already have a similar knife in that pattern....

Sam

Humppa · May 12, 2012

retired city cop said:
well, i recognize you do not care for traditionals with multiple blades but try to re-consider that. i personally carry a case med. stockman as edc and it carries wonderful in the watch pocket on most jeans. have also carried this same knife in dress pants pockets and it is just as comfortable.

in closing, brother, best of luck in making your final decision!

brian

100% agreed! You cant go wrong with a medium stockman. You have a couple of bladeshapes to choose and later you´ll know which one you like best (sheepfoot is great

)

It feels right in jeans or any dress pant (or jacket). If you don´t like 3 blades, you should check out jackknives. There are a lot of them in the orbit.

I hope you´ll find yours and post how you like it.

Kind regards
Andi

TLARbb · May 13, 2012

Look at a mini copperhead from Case:

Here is a photo with a mini copperhead, single spring, two blades, 3-1/4" closed along side a mini copperlock which is 3-5/8" closed with a locking clip blade:

Also, look at the medium (also refered to as small occasionally) Texas jack at 3-5/8" closed with clip and pen blades:

This one in Tru-sharp and olive green bone.

or a swayback jack (or gent) available in a multitude of variations;

The white owl is a very pocket friendly little knife. I only have one of those to show:

Must not forget the peanut. Here's a Case version:

Really, there are lots of possibilities out there for you consideration.

Ed J