Have traditionals become more popular recently?

[meako]

Traditionals have certainly become more popular with me, but I would not presume to generalize that to the world at large. I don't really see many traditionals in use, and of course if someone is carrying a slipjoint folder, I won't be aware of it at all unless it comes out.

I see a lot of pocket clips, and multitools on belts. My son's more hipsterish friends will be carrying Opinels, douk-douks and Marttiinis, plus the odd Spyderco, Benchmade or Leek.

Opinels doukdouks marttinis-OhMy

 

[Mossyhorn]

I'd have to say that traditional knives are very popular right now. This forum is always loaded with new threads and posts. The action in the exchange for traditional knives is very strong.
I got started with serious collecting years ago with traditional knives and an I'm kind of starting to lean that way again.

 

[meako]

CHALLENGE:
should you choose to accept the challenge it will be tacticalky speaking black op deniable
GET SOMEONE YOU DONT KNOW INTERESTED IN TRADITIONAL POCKET KNIVES........dn dn dern ner.
We have the energy.

 

[White Crown]

I got a guy at work hooked on traditionals, wasn't even a knife guy to start with. I gave him a bear grylls compact scout to cut stuff with and he started eyeing my Cases, then my Western, then finally... one of my rough riders. He's 2 rough riders, 3 Colts, and 2 Mora's into it now and still going, after 2 months! Problem is, I know him now

 

[meako]

I got a guy at work hooked on traditionals, wasn't even a knife guy to start with. I gave him a bear grylls compact scout to cut stuff with and he started eyeing my Cases, then my Western, then finally... one of my rough riders. He's 2 rough riders, 3 Colts, and 2 Mora's into it now and still going, after 2 months! Problem is, I know him now

Oh yeaaah.
Well done.
You Sir are a champion.
I'm still languishing in the "he's a knife nut" ranks.

 

[meako]

One of the unforeseen effects of the Internet is that it allows small subcultures to congregate. This creates the illusion within those subcultures that the subcultures themselves are larger than they really are. I think that the number of people carrying knives at all has diminished, and that within the small percentage of the population that does carry a knife the percentage that carries a traditional knife is equally small. I have yet to stumble upon another person in the real world that collects any kind of knife, much less a traditional knife.* The people I know that carry a knife all do so without much thought as to what knife they're carrying and look at me sideways when I indicate that I have an interest in knives.

About six months ago we had a discussion which led me to do a very little bit of research into how many knives various companies were producing. I was blown away when I saw the difference in production numbers between the companies making traditionals vs. the companies making modern folders. If traditionals are becoming more popular the numbers are so skewed that the increases become insignificant.

As has been mentioned above, everything in this post is anecdotal and I have no hard facts. It is very possible that I'm completely wrong about all of this, but the OP asked for our impressions and these are mine.

* I have met other people that collect knives, but only after seeking those people out. I've been to knife shows and people that know I collect knives will give me tips on stores that they find with large knife displays. When I go to these locations I sometimes run into other knuts.

Spot On.well said and true.

 

[pertinux]

CHALLENGE:
should you choose to accept the challenge it will be tacticalky speaking black op deniable
GET SOMEONE YOU DONT KNOW INTERESTED IN TRADITIONAL POCKET KNIVES........dn dn dern ner.
We have the energy.

Oh, I do it all the time.

But since it's someone I don't know, maybe someone no one knows, who's to say?

Inestimably Black Ops deniable.




~ P.

 

[jackknife]

One of the unforeseen effects of the Internet is that it allows small subcultures to congregate. This creates the illusion within those subcultures that the subcultures themselves are larger than they really are. I think that the number of people carrying knives at all has diminished, and that within the small percentage of the population that does carry a knife the percentage that carries a traditional knife is equally small. I have yet to stumble upon another person in the real world that collects any kind of knife, much less a traditional knife.* The people I know that carry a knife all do so without much thought as to what knife they're carrying and look at me sideways when I indicate that I have an interest in knives.

About six months ago we had a discussion which led me to do a very little bit of research into how many knives various companies were producing. I was blown away when I saw the difference in production numbers between the companies making traditionals vs. the companies making modern folders. If traditionals are becoming more popular the numbers are so skewed that the increases become insignificant.

As has been mentioned above, everything in this post is anecdotal and I have no hard facts. It is very possible that I'm completely wrong about all of this, but the OP asked for our impressions and these are mine.

* I have met other people that collect knives, but only after seeking those people out. I've been to knife shows and people that know I collect knives will give me tips on stores that they find with large knife displays. When I go to these locations I sometimes run into other knuts.

Cory, you're a genius!!!!!

No kidding, Cory as hit a very important nail right on the head. We aficionados of anything can get to thinking that we are far larger and more important than we really are because of the internet. In reality, we're still just a tiny percentage of the rest of the real world. A microcosm of a much greater population with a skewed view. No matter if it's a knife, gun, motorcycle, car brand, the internet has opened up lines of communication between aficionados of that thing to wear they wear unaware of the other aficionados sharing their obsession. The internet has skewed our view of the real world in this case.

With so few people even carrying a knife these days, our numbers in the traditional knives may be so small as to be actually shocking. The sporting goods stores and gun shops I go in almost never have any traditional knives, but the knife case is filled with Spyderco and Benchmade tacticals as well as cheaper knockoffs from Asia.

All I can think of is the line from Henry the V, "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers."

Cory, Great post!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Will Power]

For some of us, they've never been out of fashion, style is immortal...

Obviously, the SFO dynamic has created interest and particularly where it can concern selling on for profit, this can always be a magnet of interest - for a while. Very true that the internet may give people the false feeling that out there there are millions of Traditional enthusiasts, unfortunately not, but fortunately it is more possible to exchange ideas and experiences. The fact is,that in my non internet life I know NOBODY who is interested in Traditional knives, some of my friends have approved of the look of some of my knives but they have not gone further. It's a bit like prisoners in cells banging on walls to communicate in code with each other, the virtual collecting thing I mean

Thanks, Will

 

[sogflash]

Except for the SAK style knives I had as a kid, about all the knives I bought when I grew up were modern.

I always liked wooden handles and bolsters on my knives, and that might partially be why I like traditionals. Then a few years ago I bought my first GEC and started using this part of the forum more. This part of the forum is also really friendly

At least for me traditionals have become more popular. SFO's seem to command a high price on the secondary market, so supply must be lower than the demand.

Fortunately I was able to buy a TC sheepfoot barlow a few years ago directly from Charlie. If I only could get my hand on a #77 spearpoint barlow to go with it...

 

[kamagong]

One of the unforeseen effects of the Internet is that it allows small subcultures to congregate. This creates the illusion within those subcultures that the subcultures themselves are larger than they really are.

Lol...reading the threads here you'd think that the barlow knife is making a comeback. It certainly seems that way with how quickly the TC barlows sell out and their high prices in the secondary market. The thing is, I'm willing to bet that a majority of all the TC barlows ever sold are owned by members of this forum, a miniscule number in the overall scheme of things.

 

[rockgolfer]

Lol...reading the threads here you'd think that the barlow knife is making a comeback. It certainly seems that way with how quickly the TC barlows sell out and their high prices in the secondary market. The thing is, I'm willing to bet that a majority of all the TC barlows ever sold are owned by members of this forum, a miniscule number in the overall scheme of things.

I'll take it one step further and say that a huge percentage of the sfo Barlows sold are being kept pristine as merely an investment for profit down the line.

Things have certainly picked up in this corner of the net and you can't get knives like you used to. I liked it when they were easy to find and inflation was not a huge factor.

 

[Modoc ED]

Not everybody is keeping them pristine Jeff.

The top (barlow knife) and bottom (boys knife) knives have been passed on to Sarah (pertinux) but I still have the middle pitted (radio/caplifter knife) knife.

 

[Comeuppance]

Lacking any statistics or any real way to acquire them, I'm still under the impression that traditional knives are at least gathering more attention in the knife community. There seem to be just that many more slipjoints in, say, the "just pix of knives" thread in general discussion. That may just be me noticing them more because of a recent increase of interest on my part, however.

Not knowing the general history of traditional knife sales, being so new to such things, I would ask:
- Has there always been such a demand for upcoming models? Pre-orders on certain sites seem to disappear quickly, and hotly anticipated models sell out almost immediately. Is this higher demand than usual, or is it just the norm for limited-production knives?
- Has there been a recent increase in quality or materials being used? From what I've gathered, Schatt & Morgan just recently started using CPM154, which gives me the impression that they are doing well enough that they can use more "premium" materials.
- Has the custom slipjoint market picked up at all? I haven't been on the typical custom resale websites in a while, but an increased demand and market for custom slipjoints could easily represent a increased overall interest in the genre.

I hope that they become more popular, and I hope that we will start seeing more manufacturers and established manufacturers turning out quality traditional knives. I picked up a Spyderco Roadie as an impulse purchase of eBay on the cheap ($30!) and it has become my dedicated "screw it, you swim with the keys knife." It's of very good quality, with a nice pull, no gaps, a centered blade, and no play, easily pinchable, and I found it immediately useful the day it arrived (yesterday!). That shows, at least, that Spyderco has the capability of making what I think most of us would consider a mighty fine slipjoint. Their mandatory Spydie-hole, however, may cause some consternation - but that doesn't preclude other manufacturers like Kai, Gerber, and others from producing some quality traditional knives.

The issue, I think, is that they need a market to sell to. Niche markets can support a few businesses, but try pitching such an idea to a large corporate board... People like "cool", and until there's a trend towards "classic" or "refined", I don't know if there's going to be any particularly fast increase in demand or supply.

DISCLAIMER: This is all just me hypothesizing, of course. If you find my statements to be neck-deep in ignorance and unjustified assertions, you should know that I kinda think they are too.

 

[rockgolfer]

Not everybody is keeping them pristine Jeff.

The top (barlow knife) and bottom (boys knife) knives have been passed on to Sarah (pertinux) but I still have the middle pitted (radio/caplifter knife) knife.

I did say a huge percentage ED, not all

I love seeing used knives and should just single out 1 specific example as most sfo's and some regular release options by some company's are finding the same after market success capitalists are looking.

 

[Modoc ED]

I did say a huge percentage ED, not all

I know you did Jeff. I just wanted to show to what extent some of those knives are used. You should have seen them before I cleaned them.

 

[arizcowboy]

Traditionals have certainly become more popular for me. I started collecting traditionals a little over a year ago and now they are larger than my modern collection. I would probably have to blame Charlie and his TC/SFO offerings.

 

[meako]

Oh, I do it all the time.

But since it's someone I don't know, maybe someone no one knows, who's to say?

Inestimably Black Ops deniable.




~ P.

What is?

 

[meako]

AAAAAHHHnnGG!
whatsamadda Cody?
EEaaRrrNgg! I missed out on the lousy, stinkin' latest run of Charlows.There gettin' too popular see,way too popular. I gotta go to the chair-
so's I can be ready on line for the next run of SFOs. Nuiiueerrr!

Maybe ya shouldn oughta a drunk all that red wine last night.
Shaaddaap!

 

[mrknife]

AAAAAHHHnnGG!
whatsamadda Cody?
EEaaRrrNgg! I missed out on the lousy, stinkin' latest run of Charlows.There gettin' too popular see,way too popular. I gotta go to the chair-
so's I can be ready on line for the next run of SFOs. Nuiiueerrr!
Shaaddaap!

theres a new batch?!