Interested in Traditional Folders...what do I need to know?

RocketFoot

RocketFoot

Joined
Apr 15, 2024
Messages
370
Hey guys, I have been enjoying pics of traditional folders lately...to the point that I want to add some to my collection! Problem is, I know nothing about them! I do know that I would like to start off easy and try a quality but inexpensive traditional to see if they are for me or not! As far as styles that I like, I am attracted to the Great Eastern Cutlery knives with the wide blade and shields/banners on the side (I think one was a #36 Sunfish?) but they seem to be expensive and hard to find! I also ran across Rough Ryders which seem to have all kinds of styles but priced too good to be true? So what do you think? Can you give me some ideas of what to look for and quality but affordable knives to buy? I only have one traditional right now and it is an old Barlow handed down from my Grandpap!



 
Hey Rocketfoot.

As far as new goes....

There's a tractor supply out that way. Stop in and check out some Case knives and see if anything catches your eye.

They never have a huge selection, but they always have a few and you can actually see and handle them. It'll give you an idea of size and you can see what you like.
 
RickHuf said:
Hey Rocketfoot.

As far as new goes....

There's a tractor supply out that way. Stop in and check out some Case knives and see if anything catches your eye.

They never have a huge selection, but they always have a few and you can actually see and handle them. It'll give you an idea of size and you can see what you like.
Click to expand...
I didn't even think of Tractor Supply! I will swing by and check them out!
 
Rough Ryder is a decent brand. The fit and finish on the ones I have is good. At the prices, you can spend 100$ and get a good group of knives to try out different styles to see what you like.
 
For price, the rosecraft and RR seem to be good value. If you're wanting to try things out and not break the bank, those are a good jumping off point. GEC is close to the top of the hill for quality in production knives, but with a price point to match.

You can also find older brands like Schrade Old Timer and Uncle Henry offered on ebay and such. Hard to go wrong with an older brand...
 
RocketFoot said:
I didn't even think of Tractor Supply! I will swing by and check them out!
Click to expand...
Yeah it was worth the trip for me just to see the few Case knives in person. Plus it's just a cool store.

In addition to the other suggestions, how about Sheffield? A. Wright makes some great traditional patterns in a variety of blade styles and cover options.

Boker is great as well.
 
I second the choice of A Wright, a superb English knife reasonably priced. Rough Rider is also foreign made and they are so inexpensive that they are a worry free edc. The traditional patterns are really accurate imo. Understand that each knife is slightly different and handling the knife is important.
 
with cheaper Sheffield knives try to check them, or have someone check them for you, before you buy them.

There are various lower cost knives from France, Spain, Italy as well. And some expensive ones.

Boker can be good value too, depending on where you buy from, or offers.

Case has several low cost knives, like their classic Sodbuster knife. Buck has the 110 classic model, for a low cost classic, and some stockmans etc.

Be careful if you want stainless knives as a lot of traditional knives also come in non-stainless steel.

Rough Rider, Rosecraft are also good value and decent.
 
As far as I remember, Marbles is similar to Rough Rider, possibly the same company. They are OK.
 
Rocket, I've got one Marbles Ram Horn knife, a sowbelly, and it's a good one. Go for it!

b9fc69X.jpg

M7Ayb1e.jpg
 
RocketFoot said:
I also ran across Rough Ryders which seem to have all kinds of styles but priced too good to be true?
Click to expand...
Rough Ryder/Rider are very good knives.
THEY ALSO HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY that is good if you are NOT the original purchaser.

SMKW (owner of the Rough Ryder, Marbles, (as of a few years ago) Queen (but not Schatt & Morgan), and Novelty Knife, among others, stand behind the Warranty.
I had to get two Marbles replaced under warranty, one was over 12 years old, due to a broken backspring. $6.99 full retail or less for each. I sent them an email with photos. They sent me a replacement of the same knives, postge paid. They did not want the broken knives.

You mentioned the GEC #36(?) Sunfish pattern. I don't have one, however, I do have three of the Rough Rider large Sunfish.
IMG_20240702_080007.jpg
The acorn shield was my first. I used it to carve/whittle a piece of seasoned oak for a lock mortise on a replacement cabinet part in the sleeper of the expedited box truck I used to drive.
It did not need sharpening during or after that task.
The white and green Zombie Nick are sleeve boards.
The stockman shown for size comparison is a pre-2004 Old Timer 8OT at 4 inches closed.

Suggestion: Forget the "Elephant Toe"/"Baby Sunfish" at 3 to 3.5 inches closed.
I had one, and everyone I've spoken to with one have the same issue: Around a "7" pull on the primary blade, and a "HAVE to open the primary, pry the secondary up enough to get a grip with pliers or vice grips to open the pull of around "30" (on scale of 1 to 10 🤯) on the secondary.

IMHO, the sunfish is best carried loose in the bottom of the pocket. It does not "print" in the pocket of light weight business trousers, and because it is so tall spring to spine, can't go sideways in the pocket.

MARBLES also makes one.

As mentioned above, Rough Ryder/Rider are a fantastic way to try differen patterns without bankrupting the bank.
SUGGESTION: If possible, get new. The equal end sunfsh shown above set me back $9.⁹⁹ plus tax and free not Prime Amazon shipping, in 2011.
A guy on You Tube bought one identical to mine off the big auction site for a review a couple years ago.
He bragged he "stole it" for "only" $60.⁰⁰ plus shipping! 🤯
Other discontined patterns have also gone up. The "A Stroke of Luck" canoe cost me under $10 (another Amazon buy with free shipping by the seller) when new. They currently sell for $20 to $25.
WHEN you decide you like a pattern, you can quote-unquote "upgrade" to a much more expensive quote-unquote "better" brand, if desired.
(BTW, regarding the 3 blade 2 spring Stockman pattern: CASE claims "Blade Rub comes with the pattern" and is not covered under their warranty. None of my ten Rough Rider/Ryder 3 blade 2 spring stockman have blade or liner rub.)

The Classic Carbon, Classic Carbon II series, and a few others come with T10 carbon steel blades.
The knives with Stainless are all 440A.
All 60 odd Rough Rider/Ryder's I have, have an excellent heat treat.
They WILL take and hold an accute 10° per side/20° inclusive edge with no "micro bevel".



I have Rough Rider/Ryder's (they changed the spelling to "Ryder" a couple years ago.) in several patterns, including Moose, Canoe, Barlow, Trapper, 4" closed and larger Stockman, "Work Knife" (like the Case "Sod Buster"), "Half Hawk/"Loom Fixer", and Marlin Spike.
All but the Stockman have a "5" pull ("same as the pull on the Victorinox Swiss Amy Knives) on all the blades.
The Stockman have a slightly lighter "Buck 301-ish" "3" to "4" pull on all the blades.
The backspring's ONLY job is to prevent the blade from opening when not in use, anf from flopping partly closed between cust/slices when in use. The backspring does NOT "lock" the blade open. A "heavy" pull is NOT necessary.
Personally, I prefer the "light" pull of the Buck 301 and 303 to the pull on the average Swiss Army knife.
I've never had a desire to fight my knife to open it ... especially when fingers are cold and/or wet.
 
Last edited:
calm said:
As far as I remember, Marbles is similar to Rough Rider, possibly the same company. They are OK.
Click to expand...
Yep. Same company. Like the old Colt knives, an "upgraded" version of the comparable RR, with different covers.
(In 2018 when Colt left the cutlery market, several of the Colt line, including the "Buckshot Bone" series and the black G10 with Ti coated T10 carbon steel blade series, among a few others were moved unchanged (other than tang stamp and possibly the shield) to the RR line.)
 
Try some of the Buck 300 series. I carry a 307 large stockman everyday. It has 3 blades and is large enough for my XL/XXL hands to grip and use. The 301, 303, and 305 are quite popular also, but I don't have those.
 
I've owned half a dozen or so Rough Riders and they were all quite good for the money. They're an inexpensive way to try out patterns to see if you might want to get a nicer brand later on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top