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Find a used Schrade Oldtimer USA on the bay 10-20 bucks and you will have a knife for life:thumbup:
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Inexpensive traditional folders for EDC
- Thread starter csmats
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afishhunter
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American company that has them made over seas. (We are not allowed to mention the company because they are not a contributing dealer on the forums here. )
They own the Rough Rider, Marbles, and Colt brands, possibly some others, as well.
EDIT (a few years after the initial post)
Apparently that company only had the license to manufacture the Colt knives. They gave up the license for whatever reason, in 2016 or 2017.
The carbon steel Colts were re-branded and added to the Rough Rider line.
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The Opinel #9 and (Large) Case Sodbuster are my 2 most commonly carried knives. Light enough to be pocket carried, friendly enough to be used in a restaurant if needed and tough enough for about any task. If you like single bladed knives, I can't think of any I would recommend above them for EDC use. If you want to step up a bit in price, I really like the Buck 500 series and of course, the Case line deserves attention.
+1 on the tip to melt bee's wax in the joint of the Opinel.
I wouldn't shy away from Opinel's 12C27 Inox, nor Buck's nor Case's 420HC (Bucks is excellent and Case's is OK).
This thread needs photos...
Opinel #9 Inox Drop Point & Micra by Pinnah, on Flickr
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr
Buck 500 Duke & Micra by Pinnah, on Flickrgarddogg - I have a few Schrades but they're mint and put away. For what I don't know. My kids, I suppose. A used one would be nice, but my little project is assessing currently manufactured inexpensive EDC's. If I broaden the parameters my wife is really gonna kill me. I mean for real.
fish - Thanks for the info. I like the idea of supporting an American company so it makes me a bit more at ease with my purchase. Thanks again.
pinnah - Nice pics! Did you refinish the handle on that No. 9? That looks real nice.
fish - Thanks for the info. I like the idea of supporting an American company so it makes me a bit more at ease with my purchase. Thanks again.
pinnah - Nice pics! Did you refinish the handle on that No. 9? That looks real nice.
Henry Beige
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That as a very good review of the Case and the Opinel. I carry them both, although my Opinels are 7s and 8s. Opinels have been a staple for me for over 40 years, and they are still one of the best inexpensive folders.
I would second the suggestion to try rough Riders. One of my favorites is the toothpick in sawcut brown bone. It is a little long, but very slim, and rides very well in the pocket. Thee are some smaller versions as well. Of the half-dozen Rough Riders I have tried, only one has disappointed.
Another inexpensive folder I like to carry a lot is the Filmam (or MAM) Tipica, a wood-handled Portuguese friction folder with a liner lock and a broad-tipped sheepsfoot blade. It is the knife I go for first if I need to slice a bagel and spread some cream cheese on it. The handle has flat sides so it rides in the pocket a little better than an Opinel. There are a number of other inexpensive European single-blade folders you might also want to investigate.
I would second the suggestion to try rough Riders. One of my favorites is the toothpick in sawcut brown bone. It is a little long, but very slim, and rides very well in the pocket. Thee are some smaller versions as well. Of the half-dozen Rough Riders I have tried, only one has disappointed.
Another inexpensive folder I like to carry a lot is the Filmam (or MAM) Tipica, a wood-handled Portuguese friction folder with a liner lock and a broad-tipped sheepsfoot blade. It is the knife I go for first if I need to slice a bagel and spread some cream cheese on it. The handle has flat sides so it rides in the pocket a little better than an Opinel. There are a number of other inexpensive European single-blade folders you might also want to investigate.
Thanks Henry. Hopefully my post will be helpful to folks who aren't familiar with those knives or for folks who might want to undertake a project similar to mine. The thing I like about my project is that I can sample a lot of different knives without breaking the bank. This forum has already made it more fun and educational for me, and I thank everyone for that.
I looked at the Tipica and it fits right in with my project and I'll most definitely pick at least one up. It looks to be similar in a lot of ways to the Opinel -- different sizes of otherwise identical design -- but differ in using a liner lock as opposed to the locking collar. There's one that has a blade profile very similar to the Opinels and another with a sheepsfoot blade. I think I'll go with the sheepsfoot model initially just to have some variety in what I'm testing, but I probably won't be able to resist getting the other blade shape as well. Thanks for the tip!
I looked at the Tipica and it fits right in with my project and I'll most definitely pick at least one up. It looks to be similar in a lot of ways to the Opinel -- different sizes of otherwise identical design -- but differ in using a liner lock as opposed to the locking collar. There's one that has a blade profile very similar to the Opinels and another with a sheepsfoot blade. I think I'll go with the sheepsfoot model initially just to have some variety in what I'm testing, but I probably won't be able to resist getting the other blade shape as well. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks. Yes, I refinish the handles. I sand them with 80 grit. Use a sanding block to flatten the sides and to round off the butt end a bit - just a bit. Stain with Minwax. I like English Chestnut. Top coat with Tung Oil Varnish. Melt wax into the joint. Awfully fiddly things.
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Oh csmats it starts with those seemingly simple Opies and RRs then before you know it Hello Case and GEC, your poor lady wife will have her eyeballs swiveling out of her head. Think i am joking ? I have draws full of Opinels, Laguioles SAKs and that is before i start on the USA made traditional knives.
The Saw Cut line comes with fluted bolsters
Excellent work and quality, with the steel
A higher F&F than a lot of Cases
The steel that reasonably holds an edge is not Case's carbon nor Bucks' SS
It is an amazing light thin long blade
Not for heavy cutting
I sat on my in the bottom of my back pocket
The brass liners bends and puts the blade looking as if it is of center
Does not affect the way the knife cuts
So I never bothered to try to bend it back
Did not sit on a later model
Queen make a Utility knife with the same frame length but a much longer blade in D2, for the same price...
I worked in Brittany for a month renovating a 14th Century farmhouse in 81
They gifted me a #9 Opinel in of course carbon
Still a wicked sharp user
pinnah - Thanks for the info. Flattening the handle just a bit might be good for pocket carry, although I do like the feel of the handle as is. I'll have to think on that a bit. The refinishing looks like a plan for sure, though.
oldmanrunning - I started out only buying nicer knives before embarking on my little project here. I have about 2 dozen GEC's (and counting) and more Cases than I care to count. I have a nice wall-hanging Case display with about half my Case stag stockman collection in it that my wife admires but shudders over how much I paid for each individual knife, nevermind all of them put together (she gets my stag obsession but the 10-dot and pre-1970 tang stamp thing is beyond her). I've also got 2 dozen plus Kabar Dogheads that are about 90% stag with a good sampling of jigged bone pieces mixed in. Then you can throw in all the miscellaneous knives (Buck, Queen, Schatt & Morgan, A.G. Russell, Schrade, Henckels, Bokers, Eye Brand and so on) plus a couple nice and now pretty expensive Marbles fixed blades. Oh, and my kitchen knives that have never even been in the vicinity of the kitchen. And that's before you get to my Spydercos, Esees, OKCs, Cold Steels and various and sundry more modern designs. (Don't even get me started on guns and reloading, cast iron cookware, leather bound books, binoculars, guitars and amps....) That's how my wife got her sixth sense for telling the difference from rooms away between me putzing around on forums and writing emails and such versus me buying stuff.
I started my little project here because I got tired of being picky about actually using the nice knives I wanted to run through my EDC rotation -- you know how it is, they start out mint and you pick one and use it gingerly until it starts showing use marks and then it's okay, but until then it's mildly stressful -- and I got a hankering for just getting a few inexpensive knives and using them with reckless abandon to see how they stack up against more expensive pieces. I'm really enjoying the liberating feeling of it all, and this thread is magnifying my enjoyment and education very much. So thanks again to everyone.
neeman - I'm looking forward to receiving my RR1357. Part of my project is naturally evolving into trying out knives that I never would have considered in the past, and again, I'm quite enjoying the liberating feeling. Also, I've never been a trapper guy (I think the only trapper I might have is a stag Doghead, although there must be a Case somewhere in there too) but the slimline trapper pattern is kinda growing on me the more I think about it since Will Power first mentioned it, the lines and the single blade are so elegant. That Queen in D2 looks real nice.
oldmanrunning - I started out only buying nicer knives before embarking on my little project here. I have about 2 dozen GEC's (and counting) and more Cases than I care to count. I have a nice wall-hanging Case display with about half my Case stag stockman collection in it that my wife admires but shudders over how much I paid for each individual knife, nevermind all of them put together (she gets my stag obsession but the 10-dot and pre-1970 tang stamp thing is beyond her). I've also got 2 dozen plus Kabar Dogheads that are about 90% stag with a good sampling of jigged bone pieces mixed in. Then you can throw in all the miscellaneous knives (Buck, Queen, Schatt & Morgan, A.G. Russell, Schrade, Henckels, Bokers, Eye Brand and so on) plus a couple nice and now pretty expensive Marbles fixed blades. Oh, and my kitchen knives that have never even been in the vicinity of the kitchen. And that's before you get to my Spydercos, Esees, OKCs, Cold Steels and various and sundry more modern designs. (Don't even get me started on guns and reloading, cast iron cookware, leather bound books, binoculars, guitars and amps....) That's how my wife got her sixth sense for telling the difference from rooms away between me putzing around on forums and writing emails and such versus me buying stuff.
I started my little project here because I got tired of being picky about actually using the nice knives I wanted to run through my EDC rotation -- you know how it is, they start out mint and you pick one and use it gingerly until it starts showing use marks and then it's okay, but until then it's mildly stressful -- and I got a hankering for just getting a few inexpensive knives and using them with reckless abandon to see how they stack up against more expensive pieces. I'm really enjoying the liberating feeling of it all, and this thread is magnifying my enjoyment and education very much. So thanks again to everyone.
neeman - I'm looking forward to receiving my RR1357. Part of my project is naturally evolving into trying out knives that I never would have considered in the past, and again, I'm quite enjoying the liberating feeling. Also, I've never been a trapper guy (I think the only trapper I might have is a stag Doghead, although there must be a Case somewhere in there too) but the slimline trapper pattern is kinda growing on me the more I think about it since Will Power first mentioned it, the lines and the single blade are so elegant. That Queen in D2 looks real nice.
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I'm another guy that will recommend Rough Rider. At first coming from modern folders I would turn my nose up at the RR brand because of my experience with inexpensive modern tacticool imports such as Mtech, Tacforce and others like them. Kershaw was as low as I would go with modern folders and I guess I thought of them as about the same quality in modern folders as Case's more standard knives are for traditional patterns. But after so many people here on the porch spoke highly of the RR I quietly ordered a trapper. It came in the mail and I tore into it with sharpening stones set up and ready to go. The first problem was, no sharpening needed. This thing came hair popping sharp out of the box. then I grabbed a flashlight turned off the house lights turned the flashlight on and to my surprise no light escaped anywhere. Next I shook the blades up and down, side to side opened and closed. Surprise again no blade play. Centering was not dead on perfect but no rub. And I can't complain any because the Northfield #25 Easy Open Little Jack in my pocket right now is the same way. And it cost over 10 times as much! Now I am certainly not saying the RR is as good as GEC oh no no no. But now after considerable experience with Rough Rider I have found they handle all my EDC task, hold an edge well and sharpen easily. So I am saying IMO they are not just good knives for the money but just plain old good knives.
This is my RR trapper I've been talking about And the GEC I kind of compared it to. Both knives are users and a little dirty. It's 1 AM and I have to get up in 5 hours so I will clean and repost them tomorrow.
This is my RR trapper I've been talking about And the GEC I kind of compared it to. Both knives are users and a little dirty. It's 1 AM and I have to get up in 5 hours so I will clean and repost them tomorrow.
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r redden - My RR1357 should be here in a couple days and after all the testimonials in this thread my interested is mighty peaked. Funny that you should mention the GEC #25 Little Jack Easy Open because one of the current production in burnt orange jigged bone is my newest EDC for the office. I favor smaller/shorter knives for work because they carry easier in slacks/business casual attire and the smaller size doesn't raise any eyebrows in an office environment. The #25 is actually the biggest office EDC I carry but I just couldn't resist, it's such a nice knife. I've actually already had a couple office mates ask to handle it and tripped out on it because it's so old timey. When I get home from work and change into jeans as well as on the weekends is when I switch to the 3.5 to 4 inch primary EDC's.
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I really like the Rough Rider Canoe. I have one in the Painted Desert acrylic, and I just got this one in Armor Hide bone. The photo really doesn't do it justice. Now if I could only find a Moonshiner Series Canoe!
kamagong
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So you addressed your uneasiness about using nice knives by deciding to spend even more money? Hahaha...it would've been much simpler to use the ones you are already had.
5K Qs
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I concur wholeheartedly, vonrichthofen! :thumbup: I've managed to accumulate 10-12 canoes, the majority being Rough Riders. Do you have a photo of your Painted Desert canoe? From the vendor pics I've located so far, I can't quite figure out what it looks like. I was looking at the RR Armorhide canoe (among others) just this afternoon!
- GT
I got my Rough Rider RR1357 today and I must say it's a very, very nice piece in all respects, right down to how sharp it came -- every bit as sharp as the Sodbuster Jr. The weight is very close to the Sodbuster, just a little bit heavier probably due to the bone scales and the liner lock. Fit and finish is very good with some minor flaws -- teeny backspring-to-liner gaps (versus no gaps on the Sodbuster) and slightly rough scale-to-bolster transition -- but overall for a $10 knife the fit and finish is just flat out remarkable. The blade is well-polished (although not quite as nice as the Sodbuster) with not even the barest hint of wiggle when open; the grind is distinctly even along the entire edge on both sides; the match strike long pull is perfectly executed; the jigged bone is even on both sides in color, thickness, and jig pattern; and the grooved bolsters are perfect in every way. The liner lock is also very positive, springing all the way to the opposite liner and giving real confidence that it won't accidentally slip and release the blade.
I can't wait to put it through its paces this weekend. I'm going to work the edge hard and cut lots of cardboard and whittle lots of wood because I'm really curious to see how well it sharpens up. But my initial impression just handling it out of the box is how on God's earth can they put something together this nice for just $10? If it holds up to the workout and sharpening I'll probably buy a dozen or so for the hands-down nicest $10 gifts anyone would be ecstatic to receive. I like the pattern as it is but the execution plus the positive liner lock push it over the edge to truly amazing.
I also got my Filmam, but instead of the Tipica (sheepsfoot) I got the Iberica because it's about the same size as the Opinel No. 6 with a nearly identical blade profile and I decided I wanted to compare them more closely side-by-side. It came sharper than the No. 6 but still needed to be sharpened. It had a definite v-grind unlike the hollow ground No. 6 so I took it to the Sharpmaker 30 degree compound side and got it pretty sharp, but it wouldn't get as sharp as the No. 6 (it feels about how sharp I get Case Tru-Sharp with the same amount of work). It's some kind of stainless steel as opposed to the carbon steel of the No. 6. If anyone has any info on the Filmam stainless I'd be much obliged (the description from where I purchased it only says "German stainless steel"). Funny thing, even though it's stainless the blade has a few stains on it out of the box that look very much like what you get on carbon steel with usage -- kind of greyish blotches. They disappear with oil but come right back when the oil is wiped off. No biggie, just thought I'd mention it.
The handle is slightly smaller than the No. 6 and flat-sided so it rides better in the pocket but doesn't feel as good in my hand. The liner lock seems positive but it's not full-length and I can't tell how it's attached to the wood. For the intended uses of a light duty knife like this it'll probably hold up fine, but overall the knife in general feels even lighter duty than the No. 6, and I like the design of the Opinel collar lock better. On the other hand, the Iberica is just small enough to serve as an office EDC that will ride well in my business casual attire at work so I could transition it to that rotation.
So I have four inexpensive EDC knives to play with this weekend that cost me only about $50 in total: the Case Sodbuster Jr. CV, the Opinel No. 6 Carbone, the Rough Rider RR1357, and the Filmam Iberica. Can't wait!
I can't wait to put it through its paces this weekend. I'm going to work the edge hard and cut lots of cardboard and whittle lots of wood because I'm really curious to see how well it sharpens up. But my initial impression just handling it out of the box is how on God's earth can they put something together this nice for just $10? If it holds up to the workout and sharpening I'll probably buy a dozen or so for the hands-down nicest $10 gifts anyone would be ecstatic to receive. I like the pattern as it is but the execution plus the positive liner lock push it over the edge to truly amazing.
I also got my Filmam, but instead of the Tipica (sheepsfoot) I got the Iberica because it's about the same size as the Opinel No. 6 with a nearly identical blade profile and I decided I wanted to compare them more closely side-by-side. It came sharper than the No. 6 but still needed to be sharpened. It had a definite v-grind unlike the hollow ground No. 6 so I took it to the Sharpmaker 30 degree compound side and got it pretty sharp, but it wouldn't get as sharp as the No. 6 (it feels about how sharp I get Case Tru-Sharp with the same amount of work). It's some kind of stainless steel as opposed to the carbon steel of the No. 6. If anyone has any info on the Filmam stainless I'd be much obliged (the description from where I purchased it only says "German stainless steel"). Funny thing, even though it's stainless the blade has a few stains on it out of the box that look very much like what you get on carbon steel with usage -- kind of greyish blotches. They disappear with oil but come right back when the oil is wiped off. No biggie, just thought I'd mention it.
The handle is slightly smaller than the No. 6 and flat-sided so it rides better in the pocket but doesn't feel as good in my hand. The liner lock seems positive but it's not full-length and I can't tell how it's attached to the wood. For the intended uses of a light duty knife like this it'll probably hold up fine, but overall the knife in general feels even lighter duty than the No. 6, and I like the design of the Opinel collar lock better. On the other hand, the Iberica is just small enough to serve as an office EDC that will ride well in my business casual attire at work so I could transition it to that rotation.
So I have four inexpensive EDC knives to play with this weekend that cost me only about $50 in total: the Case Sodbuster Jr. CV, the Opinel No. 6 Carbone, the Rough Rider RR1357, and the Filmam Iberica. Can't wait!
Henry Beige
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You have made a really interesting selection of knives there, or maybe I just think it interesting because it tracks my own taste. I will be curious to see where you go from here. For a while, I was buying a variety of Euro folders. Then I got diverted by Rough Riders and some other traditionals by Case and Buck.
The Rough Riders are like candy, and I can afford two or three a month, even on my limited retirement income. Most are pretty decent, some are quite good, others not so much. Either way, they are such pretty shiny things that it is hard to be too critical.
The Rough Riders are like candy, and I can afford two or three a month, even on my limited retirement income. Most are pretty decent, some are quite good, others not so much. Either way, they are such pretty shiny things that it is hard to be too critical.
Henry - Great minds think alike! Seriously, it's no surprise that some individuals will naturally have similar tastes. Also, you're the one who put me on the Filmam which I appreciate because it's a real neat knife -- I actually carried it at work today. It's still a tad long for what I like in my slacks pocket at work but the ultra lightness made up for it. My wife spent her early childhood in Brazil so when I told her it was a Portuguese knife she perked up and wanted to see it and handle it. If she was at all into knives she probably would have absconded with it. I'll break it out when we're having wine and cheese to cut the cheese (wait, that didn't sound right, did it?) and the bread and fruit; she'll like that. Anything to appease her when it comes to my knife buying habits....
I have to figure out how to post pictures because in addition to handling my RR1357 last night I pulled out a Case 3147 SS (edit: it's actually a 6147 SS because bone, not synthetic) in antique jigged bone for comparison after my post. The only differences pattern-wise are the liner lock and square bolsters on the RR1357 versus round on the 3147. The 3147 cost four times as much (and was a decent deal at that) but the RR1357's match strike long pull and grooved bolsters really make it stand out when they're side-by-side. Admittedly the jigged bone on the 3147 is noticeably nicer but the RR1357 with its very positive liner lock unquestionably holds its own in the overall comparison. I never would have imagined that from Rough Rider before this thread, so once again thanks to everyone. I like learning and discovering new things.
I have to figure out how to post pictures because in addition to handling my RR1357 last night I pulled out a Case 3147 SS (edit: it's actually a 6147 SS because bone, not synthetic) in antique jigged bone for comparison after my post. The only differences pattern-wise are the liner lock and square bolsters on the RR1357 versus round on the 3147. The 3147 cost four times as much (and was a decent deal at that) but the RR1357's match strike long pull and grooved bolsters really make it stand out when they're side-by-side. Admittedly the jigged bone on the 3147 is noticeably nicer but the RR1357 with its very positive liner lock unquestionably holds its own in the overall comparison. I never would have imagined that from Rough Rider before this thread, so once again thanks to everyone. I like learning and discovering new things.
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Rich - That WEB stag barlow caught my fancy, too. My little project here is for the least inexpensive versions of the knives I'm sampling but I think I might not be able to resist that little barlow in stag. I have a real, real weak spot for bare end stag handles. I think I might just have to pick one of those up....