How did you make the adjustment from modern back to traditional?

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How did you make the adjustment from modern back to traditional?

Easy. I like moderns too.
 
bluemetalchurch said:
I've tried to go back several times to a traditional knife but I always miss the convenience of the one handed opener. I'm curious how you guys got over that? ... Just curious for those of you who carried a modern folder but now only carry a traditional.
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For me, the "convenience" of one-handed opening was over-rated. I came to realize, A. the modern knives I owned were far bigger than what I needed on a day-to-day basis, B. I never "needed" to open a knife one handed, and C. the thick blades on the one-handers I was carrying didn't cut stuff as well as the thin blades on your common traditional "slipjoint." I remember trying to cut up an apple for my daughter at a playground with a Spyderco Military. It hacked apart the apple and didn't really allow me to quarter it nearly as cleanly as a Case pen knife. That was the last straw.

These days I generally carry a Case peanut and/or SAK, maybe with a Leatherman, and -- if/when I think I might need a larger blade -- my Opinel no. 8 or Victorinox Adventurer get the call.

-- Mark

PS: Truth be told, even though I'd LIKE to live like one of those tough guys in Gerber's Hello Trouble video, I could probably get through life toting only my Victorinox Classic or Leatherman Micra. I suspect that same is true of most of us. :o
 
I'm 52. I've carried a knife I guess since I was 8 or 10 years old. When the one-handed wonder flippers became popular, I jumped on that. Convenient , handy and mostly well made. I can't say exactly when I made the switch back to a more traditional style pocket knife, but probably like everyone else, I carried both for a while. Next thing you know, you reach for the wonder-blade a little less, and then not at all. You realize, you don't miss the extra weight in your pocket and before you know it, your down to a bone handled stockman or jack knife of some kind. I still have some of those modern folders, I just can't tell you where they are stored at the moment. Probably in the bottom of my closet in a shoebox. I just really don't need to use one anymore. All my huntin' and fishin' chores are handled quite capably with one of my Case or Buck knives. I'll never throw off of any man's choice of pocket cutlery, I'm just happy he carries some sort of knife at all. Just my 2 cents of worthless advice, but carry something that makes you happy and makes you appreciate the workmanship involved. Maybe something to hand down to the next generation.
 
bluemetalchurch said:
I would like to carry one blade for an extended period of time. If I were to go to a traditional it would mean the knife carrying in the bottom of my pocket vs. clipped to my pocket as well as two hand opening vs. one hand opening. There would be some adjustment.

Just wanting to hear other's experience if they went through similar.
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BMC,

I find the issue is not 1 hand opening vs 2 hand opening. It is speed of 1 hand opening (combined with a bit of technique).

On the potentially incorrect assumption that you're carrying a large-ish single blade traditional, I find that I can 1 hand open about 90% of the ones I own. It takes practice. Long drives commuting is one place I fidget with my EDC knife. I can 1 hand open and close my Opinel #9 in my sleep at this point. Very natural. Very safe. Just takes a second longer.

Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

If you're interested in multi-blade traditionals, then you have an honest apples and oranges comparison. You have the benefit of multiple blades (if that is a benefit for you - it isn't for me) and so you have a trade-off between that and 1 hand opening.

BTW, the core of the trick is to pinch the blade, push the handle away a bit and hook the butt end on your thigh.
 
I have carried a knife for a long time but I got out of the habit for a while. Got myself a modern folder. Then I got a traditional again in the form of the GEC Tom's Choice Barlow. Carried both for a while. Then I didn't see the need for a blade as big as the modern folders have that is the way I got into traditional knives only. It wasn't that hard. Moderns just don't do anything for me. Just like nearly all cars look like they came out of the same butter mold.
 
When I first started 'collecting' knives in earnest back in the early '90s, most of the new ones I bought were non-traditionals. I was interested in them mainly for the advanced materials and engineering that went into them. The better examples of those didn't disappoint in that regard, and I still appreciate some of them for my current uses. But the truth is, I don't feel like I was ever 'away' from Traditional knives in the first place; they were the very first knives I ever had at all (I'm 54). So, the 'modern' knives that I spent a lot of money on were just a temporary diversion for me. I found out what all the fuss & excitement was about with them, and a lot of the 'mystery' of them, and therefore the appeal, isn't as strong anymore. I've settled very comfortably back into my Traditional knives; and having more realistically compared them to the 'cool' modern ones, I fully appreciate my Traditionals more than I ever would've, had I not explored the other road for a little while. :)


David
 
I do both.

I like the convenience of a mosern folder, but I prefer to have a traditional knife to use on front of people. No one thinks twice when you take out a Victorinox.

Most days I have a Benchmade Griptillian and a Victorinox Farmer or Tinker on me.
 
I hadn't carried a traditional in many, many years, despite acquiring some about 15 yrs ago (some were gifts, the rest were purchased - none used or carried, even now). I'm not wholly sure what sparked my interest, or why I started viewing threads in this subforum; but it happened. I dug out those knives...only to realize that none of them really had what it took to gain pocket space - but the interest was formed.
I started looking - here, at dealer sites, on the Bay, etc - deciding what I liked and didn't; and, more importantly what I would carry. Then I saw the traditional that screamed ME!!

I purchased that knife, and it has been in my pocket much of the time since. I've since purchased 4 more traditionals that seemed to have what it takes; but only one of them gets used/carried...not because I bought the others as collectibles - quite the opposite, actually, they were purchased as users - but they are just plain ol' difficult to open, so I don't bother. I'm currently deciding whether to keep them just because I like them; even though I'd decided not to purchase non-users. (My argument, obviously, would be that I intended to use them, lol)

Honestly, had that first one I bought been a single blade, I probably would have looked no further.
I'm interested in the 2015 forum knife, and I've accepted that I'll probably purchase a custom from one of the makers that posts; but after that I could easily be content with what I have.



Wait - did I just say that???
 
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Well, I decided to pull this one out of retirement. It's a bit bigger than what I would carry at the office but I wanted to give carrying a slip joint a go again.

IMG_20150716_111238_zpslrkbgeno.jpg
 
I have to say, after reading your posts in this thread it occurs to me that maybe you're just not a slipjoint kind of guy. If you find yourself missing your modern knives when you carry a slipjoint, maybe the modern just makes more sense for you. I've found myself in a similar position when I got it in my head that I wanted to carry a stockman and again when I decided that I was missing out by not carrying a TC barlow. So many people love those knives that there had to be something to it that I just didn't get. What I found was that if I had my trapper and one of those knives on me I always went for my trapper first. It's just more comfortable to me. I've decided to stop fighting it, and it's worked out pretty well for me. I have three slipjoints that I really enjoy using, and a bunch more that are just kicking around that I'll play with once in a while but never see use. It might just be that you are a modern folder for use and slipjoint for fondling type. There's nothing inherently wrong with that. I love the idea of driving around in an old pickup truck with a bench seat, crank windows, and a three-on-the-tree shifter, but when I have a wife that doesn't drive stick shift and three kids to lug around a truck with four doors, automatic transmission, and air conditioning is just more practical. I doubt that I'll ever be able to stop my head from turning every time one of those old pick-em-ups drives by, but I am content to know that it's just not for me at this point in my life. Maybe some day. You might have the same thing going on with slipjoints. Maybe I'm way off base, I'm not a licensed psychologist and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express. :o Either way, I hope that you find a carry that works for you and keeps you happy. Let us know how that sodbuster works out. :thumbup:
 
Admitting I cared more about nostalgia and good looks than I let on :p. The only thing my slipjoint is truly better at is not scaring scaredy cats. I shouldn't be giving a hoot about those folks anyway...
 
Fairly easy transition to be honest. They are both sharp cutting instruments. I have normally carried one of each then when my hospital started frowning on knives clipped to pockets I just strictly carried traditionals.

I still have an old Benchmade 960 that I carry off business hours and just ordered a 485 to possibly replace it.

I don't think it is a black or white issue.
 
bluemetalchurch said:
... but I always miss the convenience of the one handed opener. I'm curious how you guys got over that?
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Others will speak for themselves, but I have no occupational or hobbyist need for one-hand opening. Even with the few thumbstud knives I have, I open them two-handed.

Why? Two reasons, really.

Flicking a knife open one-handed signals to every ordinary person in sight that you are up to no good. This is cultural programming, deeply embedded in everyone thanks to movies and TV. Nothing you can say or do will change this reaction. On a job site, it doesn't happen because everyone's doing it, and the occupational need is understood by all. But in general society, it's a very different story.

Second reason is mechanical. I can't help thinking that the SNAP, as the blade comes to rest and locks up, is putting stress and wear on a mechanical joint. No matter how well built the knife, I'm always aware that snapping it open is using "consumable," namely the mechanical strength and tolerances in the locking joint. There's only so many snap openings the mechanism will withstand before it needs a trip to the garage or is broken. The user is snapping something open that will last longer if not snapped open. It's as simple as that.

So that's where I'm coming from with respect to one-hand opening. And while the knives I own are not all traditional, I treat them as if they are.
 
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Cory Hess said:
I have to say, after reading your posts in this thread it occurs to me that maybe you're just not a slipjoint kind of guy. If you find yourself missing your modern knives when you carry a slipjoint, maybe the modern just makes more sense for you. I've found myself in a similar position when I got it in my head that I wanted to carry a stockman and again when I decided that I was missing out by not carrying a TC barlow. So many people love those knives that there had to be something to it that I just didn't get. What I found was that if I had my trapper and one of those knives on me I always went for my trapper first. It's just more comfortable to me. I've decided to stop fighting it, and it's worked out pretty well for me. I have three slipjoints that I really enjoy using, and a bunch more that are just kicking around that I'll play with once in a while but never see use. It might just be that you are a modern folder for use and slipjoint for fondling type. There's nothing inherently wrong with that. I love the idea of driving around in an old pickup truck with a bench seat, crank windows, and a three-on-the-tree shifter, but when I have a wife that doesn't drive stick shift and three kids to lug around a truck with four doors, automatic transmission, and air conditioning is just more practical. I doubt that I'll ever be able to stop my head from turning every time one of those old pick-em-ups drives by, but I am content to know that it's just not for me at this point in my life. Maybe some day. You might have the same thing going on with slipjoints. Maybe I'm way off base, I'm not a licensed psychologist and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express. :o Either way, I hope that you find a carry that works for you and keeps you happy. Let us know how that sodbuster works out. :thumbup:
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You could be on to something or maybe I just haven't found the right slip joint. Only time will tell...

This one seems to be different than the rest. My new Rat:

IMG_20150718_112814_zpsnhvkuerj.jpg
 
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