How I went traditional and what my collection looks like today.

C

colekmiller11

Joined
Nov 26, 2012
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176
First off, let me introduce myself. I'm Cole Miller, and I'm 15 years old.With that aside, let me tell you about how I went traditional.My collection used to consist of 10-15 of what I would now consider junk or tacticool knives. This included several Gerbers , one or two No-name-pakistan-mades, 2 SOGs, and an M-tech.You get the idea. Then I saw this sub-forum, and the traditional EDC thread. I was hooked.In particular I liked the Case knives.I also liked the fact that many were offered in high Carbon Steel, which is just a personal preference of mine. I decided to give traditional knives a try.The first one I traded for was the Case stockman.I loved it!It reminded me of times of Old. I wanted more.I started looking for traditional knives on the exchange. The process of a collection make over began.The Knives I thought were complete junk I gave away.I kept the bark river I won in a giveaway, and my old Hickory bullnose butcher. The others I traded. This is what I ended up with from those trades. I like my selection. Whadaya think?
First up is a Case XX 62075 Moose(CV). This is my EDC and favorite traditional folder so far.
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Next is a Case XX 6375 Jumbo Stockman (CV)
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Here's my Schrade + USA trapper
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Lastly, Here's my Imperial Barlow. I have a liking for Imperial because my grandpa has always carried one.It's older than him and still going strong.We estimate his is from about 1920.
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Thanks for looking, and thanks Bladeforums for the website and this subforum in particular.
 
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Great knives!
I have to confess a soft spot for the Imperial, just because I've had mine for 42 years :eek: :D
 
Cole, first off I truly see that you are wise beyond your years:thumbup: I think you have an old soul and that my friend is a compliment. I love your collection!!! It's a great collection and those knives will serve you for years to come:thumbup:

Thank you for posting a great story and pictures---please hang around here for a long time, would ya;)

Paul
 
Cole, a great story and an excellent base collection! You're on the right path.
 
I love the knives, Cole, keep it going.
Although I myself prefer traditional knives to the modern, more tactical, one-hand openers found today,
Don't let the cheap knives you listed discourage you from trying some of the more higher value modern folders.
Something cheap like the Spyderco Tenacious to take a feel for more modern blades.

I love traditional slippies much more than modern folders, so I can't complain ;)
 
Hello Cole. That's a nice collection, but the scales on that stockman blow me away. Love the looks.:thumbup::thumbup:

The Imperial barlow brings back a lot of memories, they were so common in my younger day. Low price working tool with nice thin carbon steel blades that take a scary edge. Good stuff there Cole.

Carl.
 
paulhilborn said:
Cole, first off I truly see that you are wise beyond your years:thumbup: I think you have an old soul and that my friend is a compliment. I love your collection!!! It's a great collection and those knives will serve you for years to come:thumbup:

Thank you for posting a great story and pictures---please hang around here for a long time, would ya;)

Paul
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Thank you Sir! That would be a huge compliment coming from anyone.
I think it's a shame that there aren't more young people interested in the old ways.The allure of flashy new (or blacked out) things is just too great for some.
 
jackknife said:
Hello Cole. That's a nice collection, but the scales on that stockman blow me away. Love the looks.:thumbup::thumbup:

The Imperial barlow brings back a lot of memories, they were so common in my younger day. Low price working tool with nice thin carbon steel blades that take a scary edge. Good stuff there Cole.

Carl.
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Thanks!
The scales on the Stockman are Sawcut Amber Bone.They also come in stag, but I like the saw cut better personally.
 
colekmiller11 said:
Thank you Sir! That would be a huge compliment coming from anyone.
I think it's a shame that there aren't more young people interested in the old ways.The allure of flashy new (or blacked out) things is just too great for some.
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i'm with you on that one, i am of about the same age and all but one "knife person" i've met (in person) so far has been a tacticool mall ninja XD. nice to see that there are more traditional loveing youngsters :)

although dont be discouraged to try some modern folders, they make good beater companions to your slippies ;)
 
Great collection Cole! My favorite is that sawcut stockman. What beautiful scales!! Good work my man!!
 
Great knives! Keep ur options open to different patterns and different companies! Welcome to the pride!
 
Wow, at 15 I only had a foreign knockoff Swiss army type knife and a colonial jack. You have quite the collection already. Welcome.
 
Nice going mate.
You've got good taste I can see.
How do you keep them? I use Plano tackle boxes which come in a great many shapes and sizes.
Thanks for showing your collection.
 
meako said:
Nice going mate.
You've got good taste I can see.
How do you keep them? I use Plano tackle boxes which come in a great many shapes and sizes.
Thanks for showing your collection.
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Thanks, I also use a Plano tackle box. I keep my zippo stuff in the top, my knives in the middle 2 shelves and my sharpening stuff sits in the bottom.
 
You're off to a good start. I think you will quickly find that when it comes down to actually cutting things, those traditional knives will cut better than the majority of the tacticool knives on the market today.
 
Finally, someone else here who doesn't have grey in their beard!;) I'm 18 myself and purchased a GEC 42 Missouri Trader in ebony as a graduation present to myself, and I'm loving it. Of course, now I'm looking at a kukri, but thats another story...
 
Already having good taste at 15 is a rarity! Welcome to the forum! Nice collection!
 
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