How "traditional" is your collection?

I have quite a few modern one hand openers but it seems that my collection is getting more and more traditional style knives all the time.
 
I have to admit, I have a huge fondness for both traditional and modern blades. I tend to avoid the "tactical" label as I view it largely as a marketing gimmick more than anything. However, the "tactical" term has become, more or less, the label by which many associate modern blades so it makes sense to use it, I suppose.

Regardless, I have many that can be labeled as either traditional or modern and I often carry a combination of both. Traditional knives tend to encompass the charm and beauty one associates with natural materials and detail oriented craftsmanship where modern blades tend to lean more towards function over frills, though no less beautiful depending on one's specific tastes.
 
kamagong said:
That's what I'd hoped. Sometimes though those preferences are so vocal that it seems almost judgmental. Glad to see I misread things.
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Some are not judgemental, but some are. It's a spectrum of opinion; you did not misread anything. In general, this forum is not that tolerant when it comes to certain subjects, one of them being tactical knives.

I have some traditional knives that are tactical. My favorite is the long, mid-lock lockback, banana trapper, AKA toad sticker. A true traditional pattern, with what some call a modern lock (the mid-lock) but isn't. I have a Queen/Winchester version that snaps open one handed as good as any Benchmade or Emerson.

For non-traditional tactical knives, I fancy Benchmade, Spyderco and William Henry. Yes WH :)
 
My grandfather, (born 1902) was a farmer for most of his life in rural Michigan. He may have been the most traditional person I have ever known and a man who wanted the very best for his family and himself, whenever possible. Early in his life the best car to him was a Packard, so he drove a Packard. When Packard was no longer producing cars, he bought Buicks. In his later years he purchased a new Buick every couple of years because he could and that's what he thought was best.
Grandpa carried a quality pen knife daily. As an avid fisherman he had a knife specifically made to clean fish. He used a fixed blade knife annually to prepare venison and geese for his family's table. He used a hatchet processing chickens and a stockman for hunting pheasant, quail, rabbit and squirrels.
Grandpa often said, "Use the right tool for the job." So even though Grandpa was definitely a traditionalist, his desire for the best and the right tool for the job would have enable him (if he were here today) to embrace modern knives. He would have known modern knives can have advantages, while still enjoying the traditional pocket knives of his youth.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and I am like him in many ways. Over 95% of my knives may be traditional but I have experienced the advantages of moderns for certain cutting tasks and they will mostly likely always be a part of my small accumulation. I agree with Grandpa, use the right tool for the job.

 
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redsparrow said:
My grandfather, (born 1902) was a farmer for most of his life in rural Michigan. He may have been the most traditional person I have ever known and a man who wanted the very best for his family and himself, whenever possible. Early in his life the best car to him was a Packard, so he drove a Packard. When Packard was no longer producing cars, he bought Buicks. In his later years he purchased a new Buick every couple of years because he could and that's what he thought was best.
Grandpa carried a quality pen knife daily. As an avid fisherman he had a knife specifically made to clean fish. He used a fixed blade knife annually to prepare venison and geese for his family's table. He used a hatchet processing chickens and a stockman for hunting pheasant, quail, rabbit and squirrels.
Grandpa often said, "Use the right tool for the job." So even though Grandpa was definitely a traditionalist, his desire for the best and the right tool for the job would have enable him (if he were here today) to embrace modern knives. He would have known modern knives can have advantages, while still enjoying the traditional pocket knives of his youth.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and I am like him in many ways. Over 95% of my knives may be traditional but I have experienced the advantages of moderns for certain cutting tasks and they will mostly likely always be a part of my small accumulation. I agree with Grandpa, use the right tool for the job.

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It sounds like your grandfather was an amazing man, the type we could use more of these days. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful little collection, by the way.
 
pmew said:
Christian, if we weren't particular about it, this sub forum wouldn't exist and we'd all be in the general forum. Personally I have no prejudice just preference. And my preference brings me here [emoji4]

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Well said Sir!
 
So you asked two questions. I will answer those.

Curious, do you own any "tactical" knives or do they just not interest you?
Yes, I own some modern-design one-hand opening locking folders, if that's what you mean by tactical. I like them just fine.

Which knife in your collection is the closest to being "tactical"?
Zero Tolerance 0566, I suppose.


Edit: Sorry, I see that you asked a 3rd question in the title of your thread, that I forgot to answer.

How "traditional" is your collection?
Approximately 92% Traditional.
 
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Pàdruig;16716008 said:
It sounds like your grandfather was an amazing man, the type we could use more of these days. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful little collection, by the way.
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Thank you Pàdruig.
Grandpa was amazing. A hard working family man with common sense. Strong, kind, quiet, a true gentleman who through example led his family, to those things in life which are of the utmost importance.
 
What is Tactical anyway?? I have 3 Moderns: BM Mini Grip in Yellow, very well made competent knife, uninspiring though. A Spyderco Bryd of some kind, Skylark perhaps? Inexpensive, functional, tool-like. A Sanrenmu(??)Wharncliffe liner lock, cheap to buy but NOT cheaply made, thick Wharncliffe blade, one of the crowd.

I would not buy any more of these not because they are poor or bad knives but they move me not at all. If I look at a screwdriver, I think function. With these it's the same, fact is, it's a bore, bore, bore! :rolleyes:

Traditional or Old School knives offer function, individuality AND aesthetics. The latter is my wow factor and what keeps me constantly absorbed by them. Some knives certainly ARE more equal than others :D And yes, this is the Traditional not General Forum.

Thanks, Will
 
I would say that my growing collection of about 100 knives is 60% traditional and 40% modern. I don't personally view any of my knives as "tactical," but I'm sure that some people might. I have my share of Spydercos, Cold Steels, Kershaws, etc. And I really like many of those knives and carry them often. However, most of my purchases these days are traditional knives. Modern knives were my gateway to traditionals. I'm always going to love my Spyderco Delica, CRKT M-16, Kershaw Skyline, and many others. But traditionals are where my heart is. I truly love them. Having said that, I received a Kershaw Crown today. [emoji4] And a Buck 373 in brown jigged bone. There is enough room in my life for both moderns and traditionals. I suspect as time goes on I'll lose interest in buying moderns. I already have most moderns I'm interested in. Traditionals are another story! There are so many awesome traditionals out there!


Alex
 
I break my knife collection into three broad categories: knives I can talk about in this sub-forum, knives I can't talk about in this sub-forum (which includes such innocuous things as the Case Trapperlock - which sports the forbidden thumbstud), and kitchen knives.

I would need a definition of the word "tactical" as it pertains to my knives, or else someone who knows tactical when he sees it to classify each one for me.

Case Trapperlocks?
Kershaw Chive and Leek?
Boker KeyCom, WharCom, and Hyper?
Spyderco Delica?
Benchmade Mini Grip Sheepsfoot and Griptilian drop point?
Zero Tolerance 0770CF and 0566?

That pretty much covers my non-slipjoint knives.

The only truly combat-oriented knife I own (which is what I think the word tactical means) is a Gerber Mark II I bought back in 1979. It is a dagger and truly designed as a weapon and nothing else.

If a Benchmade Griptilian and ZT 0566 are considered tactical, then add those to that side of the ledger.
 
This is an interesting thread for me. I was a pretty serious collector about 20-25 years ago. Went to shows, started a collectors group, met guys like Darrel Ralph, Johnny Stout, Allen Elishewitz and Warren Osbourne and more. I had a number of liner locks with and without thumb studs, but I would call any of them tactical. Unfortunately, I had to stop acquiring and sell a few knives in order to get through kids/bills, etc.

Interestingly, going back even further, I was born and raised in Olean, NY, home of Kabar and Alcas and very close to Bradford, PA. I grew up with Case knives and always had a couple around. I still have a few Case knives. I really never saw them as collectible when I was younger. I guess I associated a knife collection with premium, fancy etc..

So, now 20+ years later I am resuming collecting and without even thinking about it that much I have purchased a couple GEC, a Case Bose and just ordered a Davison.

So, to answer the question, in short order my collection will be probably about 70% traditional. I do have a couple SAK's a couple Spyderco and two Bokers that I would say are modern but not "tactical" . I also have about a half dozen Opinels which are, of course, very traditional. I buy those because I tend to lose them overboard once in a while.
 
Most of my collection are just novelty knives ( aka cheapo assisted folders from the flea market )
But as for my actual users most of them are traditional.
My two least traditional users are a buck 482 and a sog seal pup.
 
I have no problems with the newer styled or modern knives , I just prefer a style that a person of my age can relate to and that is traditional slip joints like these
.

Harry
 
Wow! We might be near the same age Harry, cuz I can relate to all of them. Nice group shot sir!
 
Harry, that collection is absolutely breathtaking!!!

My collection consists of about 45/55 between traditional and modern folders. Although that ratio is changing rather quickly with traditional outnumbering modern. I have 12 traditional, not counting those currently inbound (5). These consist of equal amounts of GEC, S&M, and Case. My modern collection is 5 ZT (the ZT0200 is my personal favorite for a large modern knife), 1 Hinderer, 1 Bad Monkey, 2 SOG, and 5 Spyderco. This is not counting the 2 fixed blades that I have (plus 2 inbound).

Looking at these numbers makes me think that perhaps I should thin out the modern herd a little. My interests have turned mainly to traditional knives now.

Update: Make that 6 inbound :D
 
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