First traditional

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wivo9

Joined
Sep 28, 2013
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I recently got a wengner standard issue and I'm really impressed with it.
I started my knife addiction not really digging traditional, and slip joint but I'm finding myself really digging them.

Can you guys give suggestion for my first when I come down to the states?
I'd prefer a single blade but I'm open to anything, under 150$ if possible.

Thanks
 
No brainer for an EXCELLENT single blade: GEC's 73 pattern in woods,bone,stag and horn. Just the right size in my book for comfortable carry and meaningful use.

Thanks, Will
 
There is the case peanut! If your looking for a small slipie its the way to go! Another goodie is the slimline trapper. I've been eyeing that for awhile.

- Jacob
 
GEC for sure. In that price range there are tons of great options. Collectorknives.net is normally where I start.
 
You might as well have asked everyone what their personal favorite knife is. There are so many options that it is nearly impossible to give you a good suggestion. Now, if you were to look through the what are you carrying thread and pick one or ten that speak to you and then come back and get opinions on them, that would be easier.

That being said, TC Barlow. :D
 
Single blade to me is the GEC #15 Boys Knife (barehead, take your pick of Spear or Clip-point blade), the GEC #55 Hounds Tooth (Spear or Wharncliffe blade) or if you like a softer pull and a thin blade that is a pure slicer and tapers from bolster to tip as well as spine to edge, the Canal Street Cutlery Half-moon Trapper. The first 2 are 3.5", the last is 3.75". I have these and each gets very high marks here on BFC.

Oh, and the #15 has carbon steel bolster/liners with a 1095 blade. The #55 is has regular nickel silver bolsters/liners with 1095 blade. The new Half-moon Trapper has stainless steel bolsters/liners with a 14-4 CrMo Stainless blade (similar to 154 CM), and a stronger pull than the previous generation.
 
willgoy said:
No brainer for an EXCELLENT single blade: GEC's 73 pattern in woods,bone,stag and horn. Just the right size in my book for comfortable carry and meaningful use.

Thanks, Will
Click to expand...

I agree with Will. Here's a pic of a couple 73's:

 
The #72 is about an eighth inch longer than the #73, but has a back lock and a long pull clip blade in the Northfield line.
This one is in red stag, one of my favorites.

RS_MHLB_zps5f1d79cd.jpg~original

c5a93808-a0ed-4a52-a5a7-58d97e187531_zpsf7bfee2a.jpg~original
 
black mamba said:
The #72 is about an eighth inch longer than the #73, but has a back lock and a long pull clip blade in the Northfield line.
This one is in red stag, one of my favorites.

RS_MHLB_zps5f1d79cd.jpg~original

c5a93808-a0ed-4a52-a5a7-58d97e187531_zpsf7bfee2a.jpg~original
Click to expand...

THAT is a beautiful knife!! I love those red scales.

Here's a nice slim suggestion, the Northfield #79 with a spear/coping blade combo.



 
Another vote for Great Eastern Cutlery, for the price you listed you can obtain just about any of the patterns available. I own an 85 and it has yet to leave my side except a brief stint with my case sbj (only a couple of days).

They are knives of an exceptional quality.

My #85
IMG_20130422_163409_378.jpg
 
If you're coming from the world of modern flippers, I think there are two distinctions worth noting.

First, modern flippers constitute essentially a single pattern with comparatively minor variations of lock styles and blade shapes. With traditionals, there is a huge variety of patterns. Just huge. And they have very different characters. More so than the differences among moderns.

Second, owing to their association with work and field sharpening, traditionals tend to be associated with easy to sharpen steels like 1095 and mid tier stainless. So, you can get great knives without the costs associated with super steels.

I would think that most of us on this forum have gone through scads of patterns before finding the one or few that work best for us. My suggestion would be to spin through the "what are you carrying" thread. Perhaps instead of spending $150 for 1, maybe spend $50 per and get 3, or $30 per and get 5. Later, you can drop big bucks on a grail after you've sorted what pattern is yours.

Or you might find that a $15 knife is the best.
 
Great Coco and Ebony (or BW ?) on your knives Yote! I don't have any Coco knives, I need to right that wrong:D

Let's hope the OP drops back in with his reactions..

Regards, Will
 
willgoy said:
Great Coco and Ebony (or BW ?) on your knives Yote! I don't have any Coco knives, I need to right that wrong:D

Let's hope the OP drops back in with his reactions..

Regards, Will
Click to expand...

Thanks Will! (Ebony) ;)

The 73 pattern makes for such a handsome knife. Great lines and aesthetics all around. Nice profile with the blade open, straight line from the backspring through to the blade spine. Classic and very useful blade shape. Handle that's a little wider at the butt end making for a great feel in-hand and contributing to the overall flow of the knife.

-Keith
 
I'm really digging the design of the GEC 72,73.
The more I'm looking, I don't mind a 2 bladed design but I'd like to keep it overall slim.
How are the ergo on the #79?
Also does anybody have the model 55 in spear point?
 
Really nice! Really impressed with the polished blade.
I fell in love with how thin the blade on my wenger SI and the slip joint,
How thin are the blades on 73?
 
In the price range your talking the options are many. You could go a little different route though. You could get two or three less expensive knives from manufacturers like Case or Old Timer in several patterns. This way you can find what fits your tastes and uses best. When you determine what your particular tastes and uses are then you can get a more expensive knife like a GEC.

Just some food for thought.

Chris
 
wivo9 said:
Really nice! Really impressed with the polished blade.
I fell in love with how thin the blade on my wenger SI and the slip joint,
How thin are the blades on 73?
Click to expand...

I don't have a calipers or micrometer to give an exact measurement, but from feel & eyeball the blade on the 73 is a tad bit thicker. But I can say the 73 slices & cuts every bit as smoothly and effortlessly as my Vic Soldier (pretty much the same knife as the Wenger SI).

One side note worth mentioning is that the GEC 73's have fairly stiff backsprings and they can be a little tougher to open than most traditional knives. Some people find that a plus; and some don't like 'em at all. Some call them "nail breakers". If that's an issue for you, consider a 72 lock back like black mamba posted (except you'll never find one in Red Stag like his ….. but you get the idea ;))
 
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