Is the traditional pocket knife superior to the tactical folder?

anthony cheeseboro

anthony cheeseboro

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Aug 8, 1999
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I'm starting to believe that traditional knives are really superior to tacticals for everyday utility. The number one reason for this is blade grinds. Traditional pocketknives are flatground, making them superior slicers and cutters to many tacticals with thicker grinds. I know that tacticals usually have better steel, but for those with average sharpening skills, superior steel versus superior grind is a wash. What do you all think?
 
I have a few nailnick knives. They use stainless mostly of various grades dependant on the company.

Shrade steel is good at edge retention and resharpening. I have sharpened a lot of that shrade plus and I like it.

The production tacticals are made from some of the same or better materials and the better knives hold an edge as well from my experience.

My victorinox doesn't hold an edge that well on cardboard boxes. It's okay but some of the tactical knives I have tested on cardboard have been far superior in edge retention.

Examples can be given for both sides of the question which would favor one over the other but in my opinion there are too many variables to generalize between the two.

Brownie
 
I think you are referring to the slip joint as the traditional pocket knife. It is, IMHO. My feeling is that the tactical folder is in a totally different class of knives. It is designed for at least back-up self defense as well as other day-to-day knife tasks. That is why it has to "lock-up". Such capabilities are not required of a pocket knife that is going to be used for whittling and other general "round the camp" duties.

Many of today's smaller "tacticals" can also double as traditional pocket knives. There are many superb examples of this that will easily perform both functions.

With so many great choices out there, it's a good time to be a "knifeknut".;)
 
Yes and No

Yes:
-Great blade of thin steel with the efficient flat grind makes them incredible slicers.
-Sheeple friendly.
-Good for most cutting tasks

No:
-I have gotten so used to one hand opening that it is hard to go to a traditional slipjoint- It takes alot longer to open the blades! Also not good in a situation where one hand is occupied (holding something, ect.)
-Pocket retrival takes longer than a knife with a clip, also easier to lose.

I have tried switching from a small Seb to a traditional pattern (swiss army, schrade slipjoint) and went back within a week :)
 
the slip joint is as good as a modern "tactical" folder. A thin carbon steel blade will cut like the dickens and can be maintained with basic benchstones (which are available everywhere). Pulling out a Stockman or Barlow is likely to remind someone of the knife Grandpa carried. Pulling out a Civilian is likely to remind someone of Hannibal. With two or more blades you can have different edges for different tasks, one toothy, one smooth, one like a razor, etc. I've carried one-handers for eight years but as of late I find my pockets filled with slip joints. I'm willing to give up that extra second or two to gain a more versatile knife that doesn't raise any eyebrows. And when I'm walking to the liquor store after dark I have my hand wrapped around the Tinker in my pocket with the reamer/punch sticking inbetween my middle two fingers.

Frank
 
The Tactical Folder IMO, what the tactical brings to the table regardless of the steel is the ability to open quickly with one hand, lock and cut in most any position and still be confident that the blade will not close unexpectedly. In construction, boat handling and military/police/EMS there are countless situations where opening a knife with one hand while hanging on with the other is a handy feature indeed.
 
that is sure something to think about. I almost always carry more than one knife.
 
I usually carry 2 blades- 1 tac knife and 1 Schrade Stockman. For most cutting chores, you can't beat a stockman! Thin steel ground thin will cut very well. Most of the stuff that most cut everyday is paper, string, food packages, etc. Thin is in for this stuff. But I'd hate to use my stockman to build an emergency shelter in the woods (though it could be done) or pry open a wood door jam to free a damsel locked in a bathroom (happenned to a forumite!), fight for my life with, etc. I see tac folders as being able to withstand more impact/prying/having length for tougher cutting chores. For light stuff (which is what most people do), a traditional blade is great.

To cover light and medium chores then, I have my Stockman and my Buck/Strider folder. Good combo if you ask me. Though if possible I'd rather have a fixed blade with me. When I am at home I often grab my custom MEUK and use it. That knife is thin enough for great cutting needs, strong enough for medium duties, and it has a better locking mechanism than any folder out there :)

But back to the issue of folders. If you ever use a knife for tougher chores, or anticipate you needing to use a blade for that, then use a tac folder, or carry 2 knives like I do. 1 for light duties, 1 for tougher duties. It is fun rotating different knives into those slots to see what combos of your knives are the best.
 
I think the "tactical" probably loses 90+% of the time, when it comes to normal cutting chores.
On the other hand, I've got some stuff I do on the job that a slipjoint simply wouldn't survive (proved this recently with my OT stockman:(), and some things that require a relatively long blade, and a handle big enough to get a real grip on.
I carry a Vnox Recruit or OT Middleman all the time, along with a larger folder or fixed blade. The only reason the larger blade sees so much use, is that it's much easier to unsheath a fixed blade, or pop out a clipped folder than to dig around in a pocket for a knife that takes two hands to open before I can use it. The small knife may cut better, but I can get a FB or clipped folder out, make a cut, and put it back, by the time the slipjoint makes it out of my pocket.
Guess I'll just ride the fence. I think both types have their uses, and they're different enough to coexist-I used both today, and have both in the same pocket, right now:p
 
There are 3 separate issues involved -

1) - How does the BLADE cut ? Ie.- dynamics of the blade design / grind etc.

2) How does the KNIFE lock up (or not)? Ie.- slipjoint, liner / integral lock, lockback etc. Hey, how about a fixed blade ?

3) How do YOU DEPLOY THE blade ? Ie.- nail nick = 2 hands, thumbstud, assisted, auto = onehanded ??

I think one will / must find the best combination of those factors to suit one's needs. Not to mention availability. Legality perhaps comes a distant "other" consideration.

All things being equal - ie.- the blade cuts well, I'd rather have a knife that locks in the open position, not in the closed position, no closing bias (ie.- like lockbacks and slipjoints) and can be opened (and closed) one-handed. Whats legal in my area are liner locks and integral locks. Thats what I use and have quite a number of.

But in a SERIOUS situation, nothing beats a good tough fixed blade.

Its the whole package, and whether or not you can lay your hands on it, when it counts, that really counts.

Just a few thoughts. Cheers. Jason.
 
I have a liner lock folder which I don't think could be called a "tactical" folder. These are usually big, heavy folders with large blade.
My pocket knife has a 4" blade, slim and pointed, yes, but its main use is the everyday chores of the office / home.
It has one hand opening, tip-down carry clip (I don't care for tip up carry, it's just plain dangerous) and liner lock. Can be opened and closed one handed with extreme ease and has excellent cutting capabilities.
 
I own a few slipjoints, but prefer a tac folder for EDC.

My first priority in an EDC is ease of withdrawal/opening, and closing.

That said, I find opening and cutting more enjoyable with a slipjoint.
 
I think I would have to disagree.

I will agree with you that many slipjoints have great edge geometry, and that MOST modern "tactical" folders do have thick spines and thick edge bevels.... BUT, the reason I disagree with you is because it isn't too hard to find great quality modern "tactical" folders that have exceptional edge geometry. Especially many of the Spyderco models like the Calypso Jr series, the Dragonfly and even non-flat ground blades like the Endura, Delica etc. have great edge geometry. I would contest that any of the Spyderco's I've mentioned above would rival the slipjoints I've seen and owned in terms of edge geometry and cutting performance.
 
Another nice thing about pocket knives is people can not see that you have one like they can with a knife that is clipped to your front pocket.

It's much easier to lie about not having a knife when a non-knife person ask you if you have a knife they can use when it's not clipped to your front pocket for everyone to see.

Edited to answer the question:
Is the traditional pocket knife superior to the tactical folder?
Click to expand...

For my EDC knife, yes.
For what I use a knife for daily the pocket knife is superior to the tactical knife.
 
I think it all depends on the job and the attitude of the sheeple in the area. There are places that nobody would care if you used a Bowie knife to open your mail. Then there are the places that would ban nail files. Some people view a tactical folder as threatening but do not find a stockman offensive.

I normally carry a stockman and a tactical folder for work along with a multi-tool. I have found that some people find a multi-tool even less offensive than the stockman. IMHO this is soley because of the word "tool" being in the name. "Tool" is less offensive than "knife" in some circles.
 
I like the smaller pocket knives (slip joints with nail nicks) but in general, a larger blade of 3.5 to 4 inches is IMO a more serviceable blade. As to blade geometry, cutting ability, I don’t think any can find fault with the BM 710, Sebenza or a host of others that would fall into the one hand/tactical type blade. I have several autos that have a blade that will work well for most daily cutting tasks. The BM 5000 and MT Amphibian come to mind.
I personally like the idea of carrying a 4" blade that will handle any cutting chore. In my mind, this includes a locking blade.
I also find the S30V, ATS34, and CM154 more convenient. Edge holding, corrosion resistant ECT.

Nothing can replace a fixed blade for rugged duty.

BOTOH, I have a little bitty SAK in my pocket also.
 
One big advantage of traditionals is combining diferent blades in a single knife. The blades in a stockman compliment each other, straight edged sheepfot for utility, long pointed clip for slicing, short thin spey with good belly for skinning and push cuts, other examples would be SAKs, boy scout knives and multitools.

Of course if the task calls for a big strong blade a tactical folder will do fine.
 
Anthony - I don't think you can beat one hand opening. It isn't really necessary all the time, but then again, electronic locking on an automobile isn't really necessary, but it is a damned fine convenience and in fact, is superior to manual locking systems, especially if you have a forgetful wife.

Grinds can be done anyway on any kind of knife profile, so it would be unfair to say that traditional folders have a lock on the flat ground market. It just says thats that in general, producers are going to sell more tactical knives with sexy hollow grinds (Sal Glesser admits as much) as tactical knives with flat grinds.

I think that "tactical" folders, main drawback for utility is their very deep blade profiles. Most traditional folders that come to mind have blade-length to blade-height ratios that make them IMO more useful than most "tacticals" which have tend to have quite tall blade profiles, making turning cuts virtually impossible and guarantees that they will split you material before it will complete a cut.
 
I agree that one hand opening is an addictive convenience. Also, locking blades are much. Still, I argue that the main drawback of tacticals is that most have been designed to be tough or aggressive over being practical cutting tools. I think a good example of this would be knives like the Buck Striders, even the small spearpoint Strider has a blade that I think is too thick for real world cutting.

Even though I have some reservations about tacticals, I know that some are really great. I love the BM 921, both of its blades have wonderful cutting profiles. I think that the Spyderco Military is a great design for actual cutting as is the Delica. All Chris Reeve and Bob Dozier knives, with their high hollow grinds, are great cutters. I think that my Obenauf Mini Model 2 is great also.

That said, I think that there are way too many knives with cool looking hollow grands that look aggressive, but are actually much less useful in the everyday world than an a $10 knife like a Schrade Pal Old Timer or an Victorinox SAK Recruit or Bantam.
























That said,
 
You know, when I was a kid, I carried a utility and a box cutter. As a biker in the 70's, I carried a folding hunter in a belt sheath. When multitools came out, I carried one of them instead on my belt. I tried carrying a tactical for a while in town, but I never seemed to need it except in the bush. Now I'm back to a utility (Vic Farmer + a little Swiss tech tool) and the box cutter and they work just fine (the box cutter is the lender).
 
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