I have a question for you tradiional lovers

I.N.F.K

I.N.F.K

Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
1,896
I've always been interested in traditional knives. I love the wood, bone, steels, blade styles, etc... but there has always been one thing that has always kept me from carrying a traditional folder as my main carry, and that is...how in the heck do you all deal with reaching down into the depths of your pocket fumbling around trying to reach your folder? I keep a lot of crap in my pocket because I like to have it "just in case", so having a traditional folder just seems impractical to me, when I need to get my knife out and cut something real quick. Right now i'm carrying a Benchmade 550 Griptilian in my pocket because I can get to it without having to jumble things around in my pocket. However around my keys I have a Camillius "Blue" Cub Scouts knife that I keep for whittling and other things. Sure it takes me two hands to get it off my keys, but it also takes me two hands to open it. That is unless you all have developed some kind of technique for opening a traditional folder one handed that i'm completley oblivious to. Seriously, how do you all do it?

Long post so here's a pic
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My traditionals that I carry are big enough that I have no problem telling them from all the other junk in my pocket. I carry a 111mm two layer SAK every day and other traditionals when I feel like it.

If this is an issue, consider a pocket sleeve that you can slip into a back pocket and they are pretty handy there.
 
I know it may sound trite, but it's not as torturous as you think. IN fact, it may give you a moment to slow down and think about what you are doing. In my life, and I'm an old fart on social security, I've never had to pull a knife with any speed like the modern one hand wonders like to think is needed. Somehow, I've carried a knife for a lifetime without getting in a quick draw situation, in spite of two distinct incidences of needing it in an emergency. One involved a sneaker lace of a little girl caught in an escalator, and the other was a car wreak that had a person hanging upside down in a burning Datsun 210. In both cases I just took out my pocket knife and cut what I had to cut. The other things is, I know what my knife feels like, and I don't have any trouble telling it apart from the Fenix flashlight or pencil in that pocket.

Try carrying one for a month without carrying your modern knife. I think you'll find the one hander much over rated. And having a second blade in the same package is nice.
 
Get a decent size knife with a lanyard. Slip that thing in your back pocket and you're good to go. As far as speed, I've yet to be in a situation where spit seconds would make a difference. Plus, the history behind traditionals is way cooler tha moderns.
 
I keep mine in the pocket with my wallet, so just wallet and knife in the one pocket making it easy to grab. They do make a few varieties of one handed traditional slip joints if that peaks your interest. Case (and many others) make a "one armed bandit" blade, although I don't own one so i can't comment on how well it works, but it looks very effective!
 
Not to completely go for the shameless plug here, but I started making these for the same reasons you stated. I really tried to use the knife next to the wallet method but got quite close to loosing a few on a few occasions. Not to mention the fact that my flat rear might have something to do with there not being enough filler against the wallet and knife in the pocket to keep it from turning sideways.
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I've never had a situation where I needed to pull out my knife with lightning speed, even if I did I usually keep my knife in the right front pocket by itself so retreiving it is pretty easy...
 
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I also can't recall having had an absolute need to do my cutting via a one-handed opening technique. My traditional folders (the only pocket knives I carry) are in the 3.5" range closed. I've had no problem retrieving it from my pocket, opening it and performing whatever cutting I need to do.

As said, give it a try and as you go through your trial period pause (each time you use it) to examine whether you truly need to do it one-handed? I'd guess that a major percentage of the time the answer would be "not really".

These old fashioned folders have an appeal that hearkens you back to an earlier time, when life was hard but yet much simpler than it is today. I've lost all interest in modern folders. I find these old classics a pleasure to carry and use. I don't feel handicapped in the least.
 
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Sounds like I don't have your worries. I carry a wallet, a phone and a traditional pocket knife. I've never been in a situation when I have needed to cut something so quickly that I couldn't use two hands to open my knife. I don't suffer from pocket clutter either. I don't see the point in living life on a 'what-if' basis and don't carry flashlights or paracord or a lighter (I quit smoking about 5 years ago) or a mini pry-bar or a seatbelt cutter or a multitool or anything else. Just a personal thing. If you need to be equipped then that's fine, I'm not chiding you, it's just not something I feel the need to do. I carry my traditional knife because it's a joy to use and I take pleasure in having a small and un-aggressive slipjoint in my pocket.

Those are my answers, I'm sure you'll hear many others in here. Love your whittling :)

Paul

Edit: I forgot, if I'm driving I carry my keys too.
 
I tend to carry the large stockman knives (four inches/thereabouts)...no problem reaching for it in a jiffy. If I'm carrying something smaller (at work), it's still a stockman but smaller, and it's distinct from my keys, so no problem.
 
My right front pocket has a pocketknife and bills. Left front has keys and coinage. I've been doing it that way so long, I don't have to think about it. I confess I often also have a modern folder clipped to a pocket, too. It's not so much that I need to access it quickly, but opening it one handed is helpful when the other hand is busy holding what needs to be cut.

Lately though, I've been leaving the modern folder at home more and more. I've been carrying a GEC #15 easy open jack, and a Buck Lancer (305). Between the two I have a big enough and small enough blade to do anything I need.
 
It can also matter if the knife tends to stay in a certain spot in the pocket. Sometimes less is better even if it's deeper in the pocket IF it is usually sitting in about the same spot. In my right front pocket I have a Ronson torch lighter, a Case Mini-Trapper, (sometimes folding money, lol), my main motorcycle key by itself and a tube of Chapstick (if I have a watch pocket the single key and Chapstick go in there) and this key setup.



It's a little crowded in that pocket.

However, since my knife usually sits in the same spot down in my pocket I can plunge my hand in and pretty well find it quickly 99% of the time. Occasionally, I might need to dig a little if things have twisted around, but by and large it's no problem finding it. I'm also picky about how things ride in my pocket. I don't like large bulges or things that poke me.

Another option though is as noted. Get a pocket slip or make one. It's sort of a small pouch, usually thin leather, with a lanyard running up to the belt. You put the knife in the slip pocket and the the end of the lanyard is looped through either a belt or belt loop. Sort of like drawing out a pocket watch by the chain. No reason you can't have a little pouch and carry a slippie as a neck knife either.

You could also carry a single blade Grandaddy Barlow. I find that when I drop one in my pocket it sort of alings along the outer seam of the pocket and rides well. It's big enough just sliding your hand in it's not to hard to find it.

I haven't carried a lock blade, OHO, or pretty much anything with a clip in years. I did find that I started thinking more subtly and in advance about cutting something instead of going, "Oh! My hands are full and I need to cut this."
 
I see some great ideas, and I might try what jackknife said about carrying a traditional for 1 month. But just for the laugh here's what i carry daily;
Right side pocket
1. modern day folder ranging from 3.5 to 4.25 blade lengths.
2. zippo lighter
3. spare change
4. pill capsule

Left side pocket
1. Fenix PD-32
2. chubby ball point pen (I have meat paws for hands)
3. leather bound note pad around 6inches tall and 4 inches wide
4. gum

Right side back pocket
1. Wallet

Left side back pocket
1. handkerchief

Belt
1. phone
2. maybe my Buck 110
3. keys

So yeah, that's quite a bit. I could probably down size the note pad to a 50 cents one, but I like one with a bit of class to it. Also I tried the back pocket idea with a Buck 110 and it would always either come out with the wallet or it would fall on its side.
 
Most of my pants are 5.11 brand, and they all have a dedicated pocket just for folders. That said, I've never been in a situation where I had this burning need to rapidly deploy a knife from the confines of a pocket, and assuming this need is based on self defense, then that's why I always have a S&W J frame in my right hand pocket, which is devoid of coins, keys, and whatever else will mar my handgun. Same with a knife, I would never consider sharing my folders in a pocket full of change, keys, etc.
 
I don't have a problem finding stuff that is in my pockets - done it the same way everyday for years - works for me. OH
 
Hence my penchant for 25s, works in the watch pocket for me....
 
Left front pocket, folding knife. Right front pocket, lucky rock/worry stone, and some change, maybe (although I hate change and try to never have any). Left rear pocket, wallet. That's it. Never needed more, and I'm 57.

Chris-
 
I.N.F.K said:
I see some great ideas, and I might try what jackknife said about carrying a traditional for 1 month. But just for the laugh here's what i carry daily;
Right side pocket
1. modern day folder ranging from 3.5 to 4.25 blade lengths.
2. zippo lighter
3. spare change
4. pill capsule...
Click to expand...

There ya go. Just swap the traditional for the modern and let the slippie find it's place in your pocket. As noted above, I carry more than you listed in my right pocket.

I also carry one of those aluminum wallets in my left pocket along with another knife. At the moment it's a SAK Tinker in the left along with a bandana and it's riding well. For the last few weeks I'd been carrying a Case Mini-Trapper in one pocket and a Case Medium Stockman in the other. No worries and no hassle getting to either.

You've got the right idea by following Jackknife's suggestion.
 
Old Hunter said:
I don't have a problem finding stuff that is in my pockets - done it the same way everyday for years - works for me. OH
Click to expand...

Ditto. I carried a traditional pocket knife for years before pocket clipped knives were available. Finding it in my pocket has never been a problem.
 
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