Is it still traditional?

[Buzzbait]

There's no way that I'd consider the Bone Collector to be traditional. It just doesn't look like one. The lines are all wrong.

I have a Loveless City Knife. I've always considered it to be traditional, despite the screw construction. The lines are just right.

 

[brownshoe]

See opinions differ. I have the Lonewolf city knife. I don't think of it as traditional because of its unique steel, modern design, micarta covers, jimping on the "wrong side", screws, handle/blade ration and a tang indentation/spring tab for a "kindof" half stop. To me the "lines are just right" because it is a new design, not traditional. Opinions are like...we all have them...

 

[supratentorial]

...To me a traditional is all about the pattern...

I also think the pattern is important part of whether a knife is traditional or not. When a question arises about a knife, the first thing that I'd think is "what pattern is it?" (not what pattern does it claim to be). A lot of modern knives don't really match any traditional pattern. They may be most similar to folding hunters but most really aren't a traditional folding hunter pattern.

But a lot of folks don't know patterns and some aren't interested in learning them. Furthermore, traditional knife makers are blurring the lines with ...untraditional pattern names (e.g. GEC "Viper") ...unusual blade changes (e.g. Wharncliffe blade on a dogleg GEC "coyote")... and grinds that aren't traditional for the patterns (e.g. saber grinds on the GEC 85).

 

[coldmrk]

We consider the pattern to be what defines "Traditional".
PM blade steel can be made into a traditional pattern.
As for screws, it depends on how the fit into the pattern.

Aerospace folks have an old saying about new plane designs and predicting performance, "Look good? Fly good."
In like manner, "Looks traditional? Is traditional."

(obviously the F-117 was the exception that proves the rule.)

Is that looks good flies crappy? Or looks crappy flies good?

 

[Easyrider]

Dean51, I want to thank you for posting the photo of the stockman with screws and for posting the photo of the Benchmade for discussion purposes. As it has been pointed out the Moderators have the final decision on what is allowed as a traditional knife.

I have really enjoyed the discussion on the topic so thank you everyone.

 

[Zidfeldts]

I don't know if Pena Lannys Clips are traditional- I just know that I want one.

 

[Dean51]

Dean51, I want to thank you for posting the photo of the stockman with screws and for posting the photo of the Benchmade for discussion purposes. As it has been pointed out the Moderators have the final decision on what is allowed as a traditional knife.

I have really enjoyed the discussion on the topic so thank you everyone.

Thanks Easyrider, here's another for you.

How about just screws on the handle and hiding the center spring pin under the bone.
This would make new handles easy, especially on bare head knives. No need to split the knife in half just for handles

 

[supratentorial]

Thanks Easyrider, here's another for you.

How about just screws on the handle and hiding the center spring pin under the bone.
This would make new handles easy, especially on bare head knives. No need to split the knife in half just for handles

It's a clever idea. It's about 100 years old so it's definitely traditional!

As an example, see the Miller Bros Surveyor pattern at the top of this image...

 

[Cory Hess]

Very cool knives, Jake. I'm curious, does anybody know what those screws are threading into? Do the liners just have holes drilled through them and the screws are just barely holding by their tips? Do the liners flare out towards the covers and the wood is drilled out to fit this? I'm just curious because it seems like there wouldn't be much room in that knife to have a screw hanging into the well.

 

[Dean51]

Thanks for posting the Surveyor.
I've never seen a production traditional with screws like that and never would have thought it was done 100 years ago.
I would assume they are threaded to the liner. Small screws that aren't stressed would not need much contact area.

 

[supratentorial]

The screws are threaded into the liners. Sorry that I can't post a photo inside the well but the knife was sold or traded.

If I recall correctly, Miller Bros trademarked the use of screws around 1870... so it's around 145 years old.

 

[knarfeng]

Is that looks good flies crappy? Or looks crappy flies good?

It looked weird. But, flew good.

(aerodynamics? It didn't need no stinking aerodynamics. It had computer control.)

 

[Lo/Rez]

I'm using phosphor bronze washers instead of milling the liners and I milled the nail nick instead of using a fly cutter. It will be put together with 1/8" stainless pivots so I will be able to take it apart if need be. Not sure if this is still traditional or not. CPM 154 blade and back spring for the curious.

 

[supratentorial]

Nice work! If you look at the old catalogs topic that's stickied to the top of the forum, you'll find knives that are more than 100 years old and have a similar pattern. So far it is very traditional.

 

[Lo/Rez]

Thanks. It's a Lanny's Clip pattern that Andrew Riley was kind enough to share with me.

Edit to add...ground the blade.

Edit to add.....finished the knife.