From tactical to traditional

[Elite_KG]

Alast I found myself eyeing some nicer traditional slipjoints. Picked this one up recently. I'm really liking it thus far.

 

[Coke]

All you need to learn is something like what I'm using, if only you had the mental capacity to be able to use it yourself.

 

[Coke]

I figure Randall handles deserve Randall Mortise tang, though not necessary, I would prefer it..

 

[22-rimfire]

The classic Randall fighter design works and I find the guards to be very important if you're serious about a fighter. One can play around with the ricasso/choil size and often is a personal preference thing.

Grew up with traditionals. My dominant fixed blade "need" then was camping and hunting uses. But I never really found the slippies to be totally lacking for either of these applications. My first fixed blades were fighters and included the Randall M15 and M16 and a few others. This was during what I consider the Rambo era. The problem was I never used them for anything. I still find them to be very cool. I guess my most recent fighter is the Blackjack 1-7 which obviously is a Randall imitation. Still have the use issue, but unlike you I don't feel a need to carry a large fighter as a self defense knife.

About that same time I bought a Vic Tinker as I was going to be traveling and felt it might be very useful. It was. The Tinker changed my edc needs and I have pretty much carried a SAK of some sort since (more than 25 years). The traditional and fixed blade duo is very functional.

I hope this "Attack 12" works for you. What is the blade length on that design? I am assuming about 7.5" more or less.

 

[Coke]

Good points 22...



It's the little things that can often make the biggest of differences.

 

[22-rimfire]

So, when you say "12", you mean blade length as is typical such as my 1-7. I always believed 7-8" was the sweet spot on this kind of design. But the big bowies were certainly larger and were intended for fighting (essentially a short sword).

Good point about the asymmetrical handle. In Randall-esq, I always prefered the border patrol handle. But I see your point about being able to quickly feel which side has the sharpened edge.

I would actually prefer a smaller guard. I just want something that will stop my hand from sliding up onto the sharpened edge and something I can feel quickly.

Added: I never played around with Paintshop Pro. For a while I used AutoCad Lite for engineering drawings as AutoCad was pretty much the standard file type and I wanted to be able to share files on sketches between clients if necessary. Now, I don't do that so much anymore and probably should look at something else that is simplier but functional for scaled drawings that doesn't cost a fortune. The truth is I wouldn't even offer my file to a client unless it was a contractural requirement. Been a few years since I even used AutoCad Lite and I doubt I would be very efficient using it today.

 

[Coke]

Rimfire,

The lengths I quote are all overall length of the blade/knife

 

[22-rimfire]

But can it print at 1:1? That really is the question with scaled drawings.

I agree with what you said about the guards, but since fighting is a minor concern of mine, I lean toward a smaller guard. You see, I carry a handgun often.

You're making me dig out my Randalls and take a fresh look at them. One of the funny things that I observed is that I tend not to like 1/4" blade stock on a knife. A good example is the BK-2. But when I look at the knives designed for fighting, they are often in 1/4" blade stock including my Randalls.

 

[Coke]

22,

It can print to whatever % of scale you wish.

 

[Charlie Mike]

I've definitely passed the point of no return. I've gone traditional.

 

[EntrancedVermin]

Hmm..



Hmmmm......


I see a pattern....

 

[Coke]

Hope you enjoy it, it's not something I would get though... damascus/plasticine... hollywood knives.

 

[d762nato]

AVigil is gonna be building a 14 for me... CPM3V at 1.5" wide and .218" thick.

Can't wait to see this one Matt, I've always admired the 14 and have owned a couple in the past myself. What handle style are you going with?

 

[leghog]

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.

I'm a small knife guy, but I'd be all over that one. Can't wait to see it.

 

[22-rimfire]

I've definitely passed the point of no return. I've gone traditional.

Gorgeous!

 

[gazz98]

Great thread. I myself haven't gone to traditional (I do own a few) and I probably never will. Why? Quite frankly, I just like having a lock for the most part. I found that I have been moving from tactical knives to just carrying a Multitools or SAK (traditional?). Many days I use the pliers or scissors more then a blade. Plus the other tools (namely the screwdrivers) come in handy. The blade on a MT or SAK is enough for me nowadays.

 

[bodog]

There was a time when my grail folder was a bead blast tanto D/A Socom, grail fixed was a Strider BT. At one time, I owned every production Emerson and MT OTF. In this last year, I've carried a large tactical folder maybe less than 30 days.

My "POU" has shifted to thin slipjoint folders and large fixed fighters. Furthermore, I've noticed that each fixed blade I buy is more "traditional" than the last.

I'm now playing with the idea of having a 7.5" Randall 14 homage built in a "super" steel.

Haha, you're getting older. Instead of thinking about fighting you're thinking about what works best for the job at hand. Chalk it up to getting wiser and leaving a voluntarily rough and tumble lifestyle behind.

 

[22-rimfire]

Coke, I appreciate your efforts on the software. I am going to look at it. I have to be able to overlay essentially a border with title block and so forth onto any 2D drawing I do (for work). Draftsight is another program that I am looking into.

SAKs are considered "traditionals".

I have not really figured out what a traditional fixed blade for sure is other than one that does not have a painted blade. I feel sure age has a little to do with things, but more importantly experience and just liking blades.

 

[Coke]

I have not really figured out what a traditional fixed blade for sure is other than one that does not have a painted blade. I feel sure age has a little to do with things, but more importantly experience and just liking blades.

22,

I'm not sure what you mean...

 

[Charlie Mike]

I like to make them too