How tough is the average traditional folder ?

[midnight flyer]

Thank you all, I appreciate the input. I really see little reason not to go this route now. It will be more or less coming full circle as these were what I carried as a youngster. But back then, every farmer had one in his pocket. I will simply use a more robust tool for a heavier application.

Matching the tool to the job is important as it is with any kind of task. Thankfully, no one says we have to carry only one knife! Here is a great thread on this very subject:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/980449-Traditional-and-Modern-pairings

I always carry two knives now and have for several years. The only time I don't is on the weekends when I am not at work. I feel much better using a large, capable knife for heavier tasks than I do one of my traditionals. The heavier built knives are used for all the nasty, dirty tasks as well as the heavy cutting tasks. My traditionals are used for the rest of cutting chores as a knife should be used, as a slicing tool.

The ability of the traditional patterns to take some really good use as a service tools is well proven, even by me to myself. It is finally cooling off here down south, and I can start carrying one of my favorite old knives. It is a 4" CASE copperhead jack that I have had since 1976! I carried this knife when I started in the trades along with a couple of others, but this one is the only one I have had this long. It has cut everything imaginable on a job site, camping trip, hunting trip, etc. as it was the only large folder I had for many years.

I have had many traditional folders over the years by Boker, Buck, Kershaw, Eye, and most of all CASE. All have worked for years on a job site, and none have ever failed.

Even with my colleagues that seem to think of a knife as a screwdriver, light pry bar, sometimes cutting tool, a scraper, and so on... I haven't seen a quality name traditional fail. When abused, yes. But the old working patterns will stand much more practical use than many would believe when used as designed, as a knife.

Robert

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I would go with Nessmuks trio personally, but while I haven't had any issues with my traditionals, I haven't pushed any of them too hard. Looks like I have something to do during downtime from repairing the fence this weekend if the rain isn't too bad. Get some shavings with my Tidioute 73 and see if I can get a fire lit in the rain...