I feel what you are saying regarding the switch from tactical to traditional. Granted, I am looking more towards "modern traditional" such as Mnandi, Flicker from Richard Rogers, Spyderco Roadie as my POU favors low maintenance slicers which are urban friendly. Just wish the traditional market was larger and had companies like ZT, Spyderco, to regularly pump out nice designs.
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From tactical to traditional
- Thread starter Charlie Mike
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I think many knife enthusiasts follow a similar path, starting with a modern OHO or tactical, but then see the beauty of traditionals.
I've seen a similar progression among military history buffs, who often start with World War Two or Vietnam War (Maybe because a relative fought in one of those) and then as their knowledge grows find themselves becoming interested in the Napoleonic era, Civil War, or Greco-Roman era warfare. (That was my own path; I read every book on World War Two my junior and senior high schools had, then moved into the Napoleonic wars and the American Civil War when I joined the Army.)
I've seen a similar progression among military history buffs, who often start with World War Two or Vietnam War (Maybe because a relative fought in one of those) and then as their knowledge grows find themselves becoming interested in the Napoleonic era, Civil War, or Greco-Roman era warfare. (That was my own path; I read every book on World War Two my junior and senior high schools had, then moved into the Napoleonic wars and the American Civil War when I joined the Army.)
I think part of the attraction to traditionals is that they are not manufactured on a mass industrial scale, but in limited runs by small manufacturers.
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Oh man,,, That is just insanely beautiful. The 14 is officially my top Grail.
I do love that sub hilt CM.. so nice
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As I've gotten older I realized that
1) Realistically I will never need a knife for self-defense. Never came close to needing one for that purpose and I've been in bad neighborhoods all over the world.
2) A small non-tactical knife suits all my day-to-day purposes. I have never had to abuse a knife.
3) I've become more interested in more aesthetically pleasing handles like mammoth, snakewood, etc.
4) High quality trumps quantity.
YMMV.
1) Realistically I will never need a knife for self-defense. Never came close to needing one for that purpose and I've been in bad neighborhoods all over the world.
2) A small non-tactical knife suits all my day-to-day purposes. I have never had to abuse a knife.
3) I've become more interested in more aesthetically pleasing handles like mammoth, snakewood, etc.
4) High quality trumps quantity.
YMMV.
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Well put Locutus, for me it's about scratching an itch. I had to get a few automatics to find out it's not my thing.
I read hundreds of posts and articles about a big chopper versus an axe, so I figured I may as well find out for myself. Now I know when I like to use my Gransfors, and when I want to use my battle mistress.
for the past few months that 7 to 8 inch classic fighter bug has bitten me, we'll see where it takes me.
Cheers
I read hundreds of posts and articles about a big chopper versus an axe, so I figured I may as well find out for myself. Now I know when I like to use my Gransfors, and when I want to use my battle mistress.
for the past few months that 7 to 8 inch classic fighter bug has bitten me, we'll see where it takes me.
Cheers
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Thanks--agreed! But that is the model 16 SP1--the model 14 is a little stouter and equally stunning. I've found that Randall's stainless (and O1 for that matter) hold up just under regular use.
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AVigil is gonna be building a 14 for me... CPM3V at 1.5" wide and .218" thick.
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Interesting thread ...
Really speaks to natural selection, evolution, and the constant circle back to fundamental design elements
GOOD STUFF
Coke, great illustrations showing the subtleties.
Then there's advertising 101, change for the sake of being new, different, therefore somehow implied to be better :-(
Really speaks to natural selection, evolution, and the constant circle back to fundamental design elements
GOOD STUFFCoke, great illustrations showing the subtleties.
Then there's advertising 101, change for the sake of being new, different, therefore somehow implied to be better :-(
I agree with what a lot of others have said about aesthetics, but there's another point to consider as well: performance.
Traditionals are just plain better than a lot of moderns at doing everyday carry type chores. They have thinner blades with less behind the edge, so they slice better, and steels like 1095 and 440c are easier to strop and/or sharpen to get to a razor edge.
The other realization I think a lot of people have is that no folding knife, however "overbuilt," can compare to a fixed blade for hard use. Sure, you can thump on a Strider or Hinderer, but there are a ton of parts to wear or outright fail no matter how overbuilt they are. Why not get a good Bark River for half the price? You're getting better quality for less, and theoretically it SHOULD fit your POU better. Of course, the majority of people who buy overbuilt knives are just using them for EDC, which they are not well suited for.
I think the magic combination is a well-ground traditional (or modern that works like a traditional, like a Mnandi) for EDC tasks, and a smallish fixed blade for hard use. I don't carry my fixed blades every day and they usually ride in a bag instead of on my person, but that combination works fine for me.
Traditionals are just plain better than a lot of moderns at doing everyday carry type chores. They have thinner blades with less behind the edge, so they slice better, and steels like 1095 and 440c are easier to strop and/or sharpen to get to a razor edge.
The other realization I think a lot of people have is that no folding knife, however "overbuilt," can compare to a fixed blade for hard use. Sure, you can thump on a Strider or Hinderer, but there are a ton of parts to wear or outright fail no matter how overbuilt they are. Why not get a good Bark River for half the price? You're getting better quality for less, and theoretically it SHOULD fit your POU better. Of course, the majority of people who buy overbuilt knives are just using them for EDC, which they are not well suited for.
I think the magic combination is a well-ground traditional (or modern that works like a traditional, like a Mnandi) for EDC tasks, and a smallish fixed blade for hard use. I don't carry my fixed blades every day and they usually ride in a bag instead of on my person, but that combination works fine for me.
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I started with 'traditionals', simply because that's all there were at the time. The most modern design back then, in terms of folders, was maybe the Buck 110.
I personally like, carry and use both 'modern' and 'traditional'. I don't like the word 'tactical' for knives, as to me it seems a bit pretentious. But I'm really picky now about what I'll buy or carry. The 'modern' knives I like all have good, thin edge geometry, such as my CRK large Insingo or small Inkosi, or my Spyderco Military or FFG Delica. They cut every bit as well as most thin-bladed traditionals.
And as for 'traditionals', the only ones I carry lately, and which I've been carrying and using for decades anyway, are Vic SAKs. Some might not consider SAKs as traditional, but they are. The basic models at least predate the Buck 110, which is considered traditional, by many decades. I have MANY more uses on a daily basis for an SAK than I do a stockman, trapper or 2-blade pen knife.
I do own some 'tacticals' that have blades that are way too thick or have blade/edge geometry that are unsuited for my uses. I've tried some, and they just don't work for me as tools. It's been years since I've had any interest in buying any more of those.
Jim
I personally like, carry and use both 'modern' and 'traditional'. I don't like the word 'tactical' for knives, as to me it seems a bit pretentious. But I'm really picky now about what I'll buy or carry. The 'modern' knives I like all have good, thin edge geometry, such as my CRK large Insingo or small Inkosi, or my Spyderco Military or FFG Delica. They cut every bit as well as most thin-bladed traditionals.
And as for 'traditionals', the only ones I carry lately, and which I've been carrying and using for decades anyway, are Vic SAKs. Some might not consider SAKs as traditional, but they are. The basic models at least predate the Buck 110, which is considered traditional, by many decades. I have MANY more uses on a daily basis for an SAK than I do a stockman, trapper or 2-blade pen knife.
I do own some 'tacticals' that have blades that are way too thick or have blade/edge geometry that are unsuited for my uses. I've tried some, and they just don't work for me as tools. It's been years since I've had any interest in buying any more of those.
Jim
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I am floating around in the same boat!
The only knife I have left that is not a slip joint is my Insingo (It will always be my go to EDC)
I have slowly sold everything else, and the rest of my knives are all slip joints, either Customs or GEC/Northewoods.
Just can't get tired of classid knives that are not only functional but timelessly beautiful...
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Here is what was in my email... Thanks to Coke... I need to learn computer drawing... This will be my 14, with a higher grind referenced in the last page.
Traditionals were designed in a time where more people used their knives frequently. So they had to be effective in what they did. Those people typically did not wail on those knives either.
While I can appreciate the looks of modern/tactical knives to a degree, I've found many to be all form and little function...and the vast majority to be ergonomic nightmares. I never bought into the idea of a "hard use" tactical folder because they'll all fail under moderate abuse a fixed blade
While I can appreciate the looks of modern/tactical knives to a degree, I've found many to be all form and little function...and the vast majority to be ergonomic nightmares. I never bought into the idea of a "hard use" tactical folder because they'll all fail under moderate abuse a fixed blade