I'm THAT guy: need some recommendations

Fire Beard

Fire Beard

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Sep 1, 2013
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Hello everyone. This is my first post in the Traditional sub forum, so go easy on me!

Before I state my guidelines for what I'm looking for, I'll give you a bit of info about my carry habits. I like to carry a modern style blade of some sort, clipped to my right front pocket. And I always carry my Case Copperlock deep in my left pocket. The case is red jigged bone and is from 1998. It's very well made and quite beautiful. I nearly lost it the other day, and while searching for it I realized how much I love it. So glad I found it!

That experience really got me thinking about getting another traditional, and lately I've become quite fond of them and would love to add another nice one to my collection. Being fairly new to this type, I've come to y'all for advice.

My guidelines:

Must lock! Lockback, russlock, bull lock, etc.

3-3.5" single blade. Im not picky about the steel as long as it's good quality. I love the patina that carbon steel gets. Not currently interested in knives with multiple blades.

Handle material: I love micarta. Also like wood, stag and carbon fiber. Again, not too picky as long as the quality is good.

Price range: $75 - $175 give or take. Not afraid to pay for the upper end if it's something I like.

And finally, I'd like your recommendations on a nice leather slipcase I can carry in my pocket.

Thanks for reading!
 
Welcome to the traditional section. There are a bunch of great guys that hang out here.

Take a look at the the GEC Northfield 72. Plenty of handle options and their 1095 is great for a traditional knife. It is a lock back and even in stag it will not break your budget. They are about as high end as you can get without going to customs.
 
Take a look at some of the ka-bar dog's head knives, don't know why but I feel like recommending those as I have always been a fan of those and plan to add one to my collection one day.

Personally I am a big fan of this one
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/KA...-3-inch-Plain-D2-Blade-Root-Beer-Bone-Handles

D2 is semi-stainless as how most people refer to it, another words it's almost considered a stainless steel. So good luck on getting that patina unless you really try for it.
 
Howdy fellow red beardian, since you already have a copperlock and enjoy it, you might give the mini copperlock a try. I believe those are 3 5/8 closed, so not too much bigger than your 3 1/2 guidelines and I believe they have one is CV as well.
 
Thanks for the great replies so far guys! And to my red-bearded brother: I actually have a mini copperlock, a new version, but it's very off-centered and I don't carry it. To be clear: when I said 3-3.5" I meant blade length.
 
Some great suggestions already. I don't own one myself but the GEC 72 seems to fit the bill. There's also the GEC 73 which can be had as a liner lock You might also check out the GEC 23 Bull lock for a bit more old fashioned and novel lockup. Another possibility if you wanted something to bridge the gap between modern and traditional would be the Case Trapperlock, which can be had in CV with a variety of scale options and it even has an abominable thumb stud (Mods please note: I am not recommending this one just acknowledging its existence). Last but not least (but probably the least expensive) is the GEC Farm and Field Farmer Lock. Its a nice comfy lockback spear blade. Have fun.
 
In the same cathegory, you might want to take a look at the Queen Mountain Man (lockback version) and the Canal Street pinch lockback (which is slimmer than the GEC and Queen, and probably feels more like your beloved Case).
Oh, and welcome! :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
I'm a modern blade guy, but I too LOVED my 98 red jigged bone pocket worn copperlock. I sold it 6 months ago when I thinned my herd.
Since then I been eyeing the #47 gec viper sway back jack. Unfortunately it doesn't lock so not much help. However I would recommend you go GEC. I think from what I've read (alot) they seem to satisfy!
 
I have a GEC #72 with the spear point blade and ebony scales and I love it.
image.jpg

A Buck 500 would be a good choice if you don't mind stainless.

Jim
 
Besides those already mentioned, there's the GEC #42 Lockbacks which are bigger than the #72s but not as big as the #23 LL or Bull locks. There's also supposed to be another run, how far out in the future I don't know, couple of months maybe, of #42s in 1095 and 440C per one dealer's GEC schedule. Also, GEC is working on a lock back version of a large sodbuster called the "Bull Buster". This one is probably also a couple months out.
 
Thanks again for all of the great suggestions, guys! I ended up getting a GEC Northfield 72 (hemlock green jigged bone), along with a leather carry slip. Should be here Monday, and I'm pumped for it!

Due to these great recommendations, I've found a few others that I feel I must have. I can see this becoming a pretty slippery slope! After focusing on modern folders for so long, I find myself wondering why I've been ignoring the great world of traditionals.

This is a great subforum, you guys rock.
 
Fire Beard said:
I ended up getting a GEC Northfield 72 (hemlock green jigged bone), along with a leather carry slip. Should be here Monday, and I'm pumped for it!
Click to expand...

Nice. :thumbup: I'm anxious to hear what you think. Please report back.

Fire Beard said:
Due to these great recommendations, I've found a few others that I feel I must have. I can see this becoming a pretty slippery slope!
Click to expand...

You're toast! :p

-- Mark
 
OK, see...this really is getting out of control. I went ahead and just bought another GEC. This one the Northfield #23 Bull Lock in Cocobolo. This was directly from 2Dead's mention of the large sized 23, so....thanks, brother!

I'm done. For now. Thanks again to all of you for the suggestions; I now have two quality traditionals on their way. I'll update this thread with some pics when they arrive. Thanks again to all.
 
:thumbup: No problem :D

Of course, I just now remembered I forgot to mention another... The #65 Ben Hogan lockback / #64 Babylon special is as long as the #23 but a narrower frame. Here's a pic I took a while back before I got a #42. Top to bottom is a #23LL, #65, #72, #73LL, and another #73 based knife.
 
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2Dead said:
:thumbup: No problem :D

Of course, I just now remembered I forgot to mention another... The #65 Ben Hogan lockback / #64 Babylon special is as long as the #23 but a narrower frame. Here's a pic I took a while back before I got a #42. Top to bottom is a #23LL, #65, #72, #73LL, and another #73 based knife.
Click to expand...

Wow! Beautiful collection, man. Good to see the 72 and 23 in the same picture for size comparison, too.
 
Canal Street Pinch. Made with D2, 3.5" and comes in lots of handle options fron wood, micarta, stag, bone, carbon fiber, and kirinite.
 
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