Going Retro??

W

will62

Joined
Oct 18, 2002
Messages
372
After 21 years in the military I have started to retire the tactical folder and go back to the knives I grew up with. Daily carry is now a Case Sodbuster Jr or a Buck 301 stockman. Nothing like carrying a well made basic knife.

All of the fancy tactical types have a limited appeal now, however there is still a tactical clipped in each of the cars for emergencies.

A slipjoint is more people friendly when you have to use one in public and more likely to start a conversation. Most of my clients are older and do not understand the newer knives. My favorite comment is that knives are for cutting not prying from some guys in their seventies.

When I was a kid most of the men carried a stockman or a trapper and it did everything they needed. Deer season would bring out some larger knives but a few would field dress using what they normally carried.

What have we lost by going to knives that weigh a lot and can be used to pry or are capable of cutting through a car door?
 
Welcome Will! You will find quite a few folksy folks here that will agree with your statements! Thanks for serving for our country as well! Much appreciated!
 
Welcome, Will. I know the feeling well.

Once I retired from federal law enforcement after twenty some odd years I too returned to the knives that were my first love...(and haven't looked back much).

I still have most of the "modern" knives that saw me through those years and several customs as well, but there's nothing like a traditional knife in the pocket.

You're amongst fellow travelers here.
 
Will, I was in the same boat, 21 years between military and law enforcement. I think going the "tactical" route is just part of the biz. I appreciated them and still do but mostly as "tools of the trade". Now I have found the joy of "traditionals". I think it has something to do with getting back to your roots? I don't know but I do know I enjoy them and the folks over here are great.
Thank you for your service.
Dan
 
Welcome to the folksy place, Will.:thumbup:

To answer your question, I think we've lost a great deal. It's okay to advance things, but don't forget to look back to remind yourself where we came from.

Carl.
 
Hi,

Pry with a knife?:eek: Isn't that what screw drivers are for?:D

Every once in a while I dig out and carry one of those new fangled folders. But at the end of the day I always come back to my slip-joints. They just seem so much more right for me to carry.

So welcome! And light and set a spell and relax. Just watch out for your wallet. These guys are some of the biggest enablers you'll ever meet!:D

Dale
 
Welcome to the front porch of traditional knife pattern collectors, pull up a rocker and enjoy a laid back Folksy atmosphere, check out the stickies at the top of the forum, they're a big help when postin' here.

So tell a story, ask a question or just lurk, although we would love to hear what ya gotta say.
 
Modern knives are great but they are materials and looks... Traditional knives are... Much more. Welcome to the best subforum in the BladeForums.
 
Wellcome.
I think you will like it here as many of us share the liking of the traditional patterns and appritiate their cutting abilityes and their easyness of use.
I like the idea of clipping the "prybars" into the cars, The type of knife is probably good in case of an accident and is good enough for many things if kept close. I like to have my slipjoints and traditional lockbacks piled up in my equipment drawer together with my handmade fixedblades and dont feel comfortable having them spread around. This dont go for carpentarknifes and folding prybar type of knifes witch make them easy to locate on places where they may come to use in case of emergency.
Cant help but being curious what you work with these days?

Bosse
 
I know it may be heresy around here, but I carry both and find they complement each other very well. :)

Welcome aboard :thumbup:
 
So-Lo said:
I know it may be heresy around here, but I carry both and find they complement each other very well. :)
Click to expand...

It's not heresy if you accept that different tools do different jobs. I have a slip joint in my pocket because it's good for 99% of my daily cutting tasks, but the sharpened pry bar is never that far away. On the other hand, slicing an apple with an 1/8" thick blade is like tightening a hex bolt with needlenose pliers. It might work, and if you've only ever held pliers you might even think it works well, but you can do better.
 
will62 said:
After 21 years in the military I have started to retire the tactical folder and go back to the knives I grew up with. Daily carry is now a Case Sodbuster Jr or a Buck 301 stockman. Nothing like carrying a well made basic knife.
Click to expand...

Amen, sir!

will62 said:
When I was a kid most of the men carried a stockman or a trapper and it did everything they needed. Deer season would bring out some larger knives but a few would field dress using what they normally carried.

What have we lost by going to knives that weigh a lot and can be used to pry or are capable of cutting through a car door?
Click to expand...

A: A lot.

I have one Spyderco left and it's going up for auction soon. Given my lifestyle, there's nothing (and I mean nothing) that my traditionals and SAK can't handle. In my opinion, a nice thin-bladed slipjoint just cuts better. And if there IS some huge "tactical" type job, I'll pull out my Schrade LB7 or Case fixed blade.

Welcome to the coolest knife subforum on the web, will62. And as has been mentioned already, thanks for your service.

-- Mark
 
Yep, retro blades, retro guitars, and retro music.
Even though I train in blade combatives, a slippie is my go-to for EDC utility.
 
I too carry both traditional and a large tactical folder. I still have 333 days to go in Law Enforcement before I retire. For me the tactical comes in handy when in duty gear,because it's difficult to reach into a pants pocket for a knife with all that stuff on. I clip one where I can access it. But...my stockman is always in my pocket. Welcome to the group.
Paul
 
There is no 'perfect' tool, but there are some better for situation.
Pry with my stockman or TL-29 only to save a life. But that is why I carry folding miltary shovel in both vehicles. It will pry on a door edge or knock out a window and even did a hole......

300Bucks
 
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