Help me start a newbie's guide to traditionals!

[moejartucci]

Hello everyone, I am new to traditional knives but am pretty experienced on the modern side of folders. I spend most of my time on reddit but there is not much traditional content over there. I have a maroon linen micarta beer scout on its way!

I'd like to compile some information on brands and models so that newbies like myself can have an easy transition from modern folders over to traditionals. If you guys could chime in on a few questions I have maybe we can get a good amount of info on here and sticky this.

1. Favorite brand?
2. Favorite model?
3. Brands to avoid?
4. Great knives at $20, $50, $100, and $200 budgets?

Thanks in advance to everyone who shares some info! I'm going to add some info that I know already and please correct me if I'm wrong.

FAVORITE BRANDS:
GEC
Northwoods
Case
Victorinox

FAVORITE MODELS:
Beer Scout

BRANDS TO AVOID:


GREAT $20 KNIVES:


GREAT $50 KNIVES:


GREAT $100 KNIVES:
GEC Beer Scout

GREAT $200 KNIVES:

 

[KBA]

Welcome to the porch. :thumbup:

There is actually a thread on the first page discussing "brands to avoid."

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1466483-Traditional-Brands-To-Stay-Away-From

My suggestion would be to take your time and read the threads. Use google search focused on BF to research previous threads that pertain to your questions. Try some older knives that you can find cheaper to try out patterns. Remember my favorite knives you may actually hate, price is relative to what someone will pay, and we all like pictures.

Above all buy what you like and use it how you want.

 

[fishcakes]

You can get rough riders and some case and bucks new for $20 or under. You can also get old imperials, hammer brand, colonials and schrades for around the same price.

As for patterns, the peanut is a pretty big deal around here. Tiny knife, lots of cutting power

 

[Henry Beige]

A year and a half ago, I was a newbie to traditionals. Still am in a way, but I know a lot more than I did then, and I learned just about all of it in these pages. Immerse yourself. I started with Jackknife's tales of the peanut, which drew me in and gave me a feel for the sensibility here. There is a lot more to be learned, here and elsewhere.

 

[boy&hisdogs]

USA made Old Timers are a great starter and everyday knife. They stopped making them here in 2004 but they can still be had on ebay lightly used for around $15.

They're a bit plain but it's nice to have a recent production carbon steel knife at that price point. Much of the China/Pakistan made stuff is crappy stainless.

Another neat thing slightly outside the box are the Rough Rider kit knives. They send you the parts, including a ground and heat treated blade. You just pin it, sand it and sharpen it. You can also get different handle materials and use the supplied ones as a pattern for your new ones.

They come in a few of the most popular traditional patters. I've done a few of them, and price wise they run about the same as a completed RR, well under $20.

 

[Northwestcut]

YES moejartucci! This is exactly what I've been looking for!

 

[GABaus]

As for favorite brand I will say of the traditionals I own so far i would rank them in order of most to lest liked case, opinel, United Rostfrei(garage sale find), rough rider, buck(I only own a 385), and chinese made Schrade(with some blade modification the first to may switch) the verdict is still out on GEC but it is definitely above buck.
as for favorit models I would once again ranking from most to least favorite case peanut, 108OT, opinel #5, GEC 15 navy knife, UC772, RR406, IMP16S, buck 385, 33OTY, 834UH, and 18OT (not all my traditionals, but you get the idea)
Although I do not have any traditional manufacturing brands to avoid, I would say that you need to personally inspect any china made Schrade before purchase(I do not have experience with american made)
for <$20 I would advise both the 108OT and the opinel #5
for approximately $50 knives I would say the Case peanut is a wonderful knife
for approximately $100 knives i would say the GEC 15 navy knife is a good knife
(I do not own any knives close to $200)

 

[t.willy]

I don't know about $200 but Jim Dunlap has some beautiful Gentleman's folders for $295 they come in several Carbon fiber Handles such as. Lightning strike / Electric Blue/ and Red Lightning Strike. I don't know if the Dealer I saw selling them is a member here or not so I can't list it but if your interested in one just give me a shout. BTW I don't know Jim at all I just thought they were a great looking Hand made traditional knife at a very good price. Good luck and welcome to the porch

 

[afishhunter]

Rough Rider to try various patterns without breaking the bank.
If you like a particular pattern, you can "upgrade" to a "better" brand if you want. However, Rough Rider is a good knife that can do anything a more expensive knife
can ... with the possible exception of taking a patina, since Rough Riders are mainly fitted with stainless steel blades. They do have a couple Ti coated carbon steel knives though.