Photos Is your modern knife traditionnal enough?

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Just to add a final thought to all of this...
Some may ask why I'd draw the line at screw-together construction?
I could post pictures of several knives that are quite obviously Modern, but meets all these "grey-area" requirements.
So to my mind, the broadening of the allowances leaves the door open just a little too far for my liking. They call them Modern Traditional Knives for a reason.

And once again, my disclaimer...
I'm not telling anybody what they should like, carry, or post. I'm just talking about wether or not such knives qualify to be called "Traditional".
I'm also not telling the mods how to do their jobs, it's a hard enough job without knuckleheads like me telling them what they ought to do. 🤣
 
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JohnDF said:
Just to add a final thought to all of this...
Some may ask why I'd draw the line at screw-together construction?
It's because I could post a picture of a knife that is quite obviously a Modern, but meets all the "grey-area" requirements proposed.
And once again, my disclaimer... I'm not telling anybody what they should like, just talking about wether or not such knives qualify to be called "Traditional".
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I think the modern traditionnal/hybrids should be called "gentleman knives"... they are the kind of knives you carry when you suit up... and i think they deserve a subforum like mentionned here earlier. But then again... new subforum, new rules.... if i consider my ZT0460ti a gentleman knife... can i post it on that subforum? Same with all the CRKT CEO look alike...
 
Heimdall82 said:
I think the modern traditionnal/hybrids should be called "gentleman knives"... they are the kind of knives you carry when you suit up... and i think they deserve a subforum like mentionned here earlier. But then again... new subforum, new rules.... if i consider my ZT0460ti a gentleman knife... can i post it on that subforum? Same with all the CRKT CEO look alike...
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It used to be possible for members to set up a discussion 'Group' here, a bit like a mini sub-forum. I set one up, for the precise purpose of discussing these modern slipjoint knives, some years ago, handing it over to another member, Corey Hess. Unfortunately, not long after, there was a software change, and the 'group' function was removed, along with all existing groups. There is, of course, an existing sub-forum to discuss these knives though :thumbsup:

Unfortunately, we get this same discussion, here, at least once a year. Setting up a new sub-forum is something best raised in the Technical forum :thumbsup:

Edit - Actually, having just seen your post in the 'What makes a good traditional Barlow' thread, I'm beginning to think you might just be trolling here. You wouldn't be the first :(
 
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JohnDF said:
Just to add a final thought to all of this...
Some may ask why I'd draw the line at screw-together construction?
I could post pictures of several knives that are quite obviously Modern, but meets all these "grey-area" requirements.
So to my mind, the broadening of the allowances leaves the door open just a little too far for my liking. They call them Modern Traditional Knives for a reason.

And once again, my disclaimer...
I'm not telling anybody what they should like, carry, or post. I'm just talking about wether or not such knives qualify to be called "Traditional".
I'm also not telling the mods how to do their jobs, it's a hard enough job without knuckleheads like me telling them what they ought to do. 🤣
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I think I agree with you, that construction method is more what makes a traditional knife than materials. Along with pattern off course.
Backspring and nailknick, rivets holding it together. As soon as I see torx, I know it´s a modern knife with "traditional" look.
So to answer OP, I think your modern brand new knife is traditional if it is made like a traditional knife, even if it contains modern steel or G-10 scales.
 
Heimdall82 said:
I think the modern traditionnal/hybrids should be called "gentleman knives"... they are the kind of knives you carry when you suit up... and i think they deserve a subforum like mentionned here earlier. But then again... new subforum, new rules.... if i consider my ZT0460ti a gentleman knife... can i post it on that subforum? Same with all the CRKT CEO look alike...
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The term gentleman's knife already exists, and is poorly defined...so nobody would balk if you so labeled your modern/traditional hybrids. You won't get people to accept that this made up class of knives is hereby granted that moniker, especially if it is implied/suggested that the term can't be used for other types.
Typically, gentleman's knives are considered to be small, lightweight, unobtrusive, and classy looking...and, yes, something that can be carried in formal attire. The problem is that some just want to be included, and insist that their Spyderco Military, ZT 0640, Hinderer FullTrack, or CS whatever,  IS their gentleman's knife.
Personally, while my GEC 62 half Congress in stainless steel and birdseye maple is one of the knives I'll carry in a suit, I don't necessarily feel that the name implies a traditional knife - modern, hybrid, or otherwise.
 
Barbababa said:
I remember being lectured in the lambsfoot thred when new to the forum (still pretty new) To me, that said this a serious forum, not facebook
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Sorry for missing this until now :) Always important to read the rules - something that might have avoided the need for THIS thread! :D ;) :thumbsup:

Barbababa said:
My small Hartkopf that usually rides in my coinpocket with the new Lambsfoot. I did a sanding/polishing of the scales since it took to water
https://imgur.com/4ZAi2vG
*edit
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Jack Black said:
Just Lambsfoot knives in this thread please :) Nice work on those scales :thumbsup:
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It's not that I don't give modern folders a good look. And, almost every person at my job that's a knife enthusiast, (and there are quite a few of them now), are mostly modern knife guys.
They show me the knives they carry, and knives they collect. They seem so excited about them, likely the same way I seem to them when I talk about or show them a new knife I've acquired.
I handle their knives, carefully look them over, and always tell them "That's an awesome knife!". But, while they are indeed so often awesome in their construction, they do NOTHING for me. I mean, like I have no desire to have one like them.

And how does a traditional knife explain why I can't get excited about a modern style knife?... Simply by it's presence.
It obviously has to do with what my mind is fond of seeing based on my age and experience.

In any case, modern knives can be very well made, have the greatest materials known to man within their build, and yet do nothing, nada, zippo, to tingle my senses.

This latest traditional I purchased made me smile from ear to ear when I received it in the mail 😊

I guess sometimes it really just is what it is.

20220603_160225_(2).jpg20220603_163557_(1).jpg
 
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I know what you mean and I was like that about 20 years ago. For me it’s kinda like the 1940s and 50s vehicles. They have class and they’re not made of tin foil and plastic. Simple in form and functions , sturdy but very stylish. In their day they were the best.

But I do like my modern pickup for the added convenience, comfort of ride, air conditioning, safety and extended maintenance intervals. I can go much farther in a day and not as tired afterwards than if I’d taken the ole 49 GMC pickup. Yea it would have made it but I’d prefer not to do that very often. So my modern vehicle gets to take me far with ease. The ole 49 is for show and tell. Lol.
 
There's already a thread in this forum for traditional and modern knives
There's already a forum here for General Knife Discussion
If someone doesn't know the difference between traditional and modern ... stick around, look around and read
Of course there is a gray area and some folks try to push more and more modern knives into that gray area. Maybe that's what this thread is for (?)
And too, apparently a forum member can start their own thread with their own rules regardless of forum rules and play moderator
 
Some time ago I did wind up buying a Cold Steel XL Espada for my collection. But, I don't really see it as pure modern... Maybe Modern Traditional? Dunno 🤔

I guess in my eyes it seems to have a lot of traditional styling to it. It was inspired by the Spanish Navajas of old, but certainly done with some modern materials and some added modern flair.
So, I guess it was the traditional aspects of it that really shined through and called out to me. In my opinion, they somehow managed to combine the two... So, yes, maybe it does fit into the Modern Traditional category?

Somewhere online I saw this XL Espada where it's owner had the bolsters hand engraved... It really adds a lot of wow factor to it 👍

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Mine is just as I had received it, but having such engraving done to it would be A-Okay with me 👍😊👍

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Here is a picture I found online of a current day made Spanish Navaja in a more traditional form for comparison...

Spanish-Folding-Knife-Navaja-de-Carraca-Very-Large.jpg

And here is a picture of a couple Joker brand Navajas I have in my collection. One can see how the XL Espada does not fall too far from the traditional pattern Spanish Navaja...

20210818-153507-1.jpg
 
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BrotherJim said:
Of course there is a gray area and some folks try to push more and more modern knives into that gray area. Maybe that's what this thread is for (?)
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For me, that's what my responses were all about.
I don't personally need more forums, or threads, or rules, or guidelines... I've got the ones we have pretty well figured out.
I just find it interesting to discuss where people think a knife stops being a true "Traditional" and starts traveling into that so-called "Grey Area".
 
JohnDF said:
For me, that's what my responses were all about.
I don't personally need more forums, or threads, or rules, or guidelines... I've got the ones we have pretty well figured out.
I just find it interesting to discuss where people think a knife stops being a true "Traditional" and starts traveling into that so-called "Grey Area".
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John, I have to agree with pretty much everything you've said in this thread. Definitely nothing wrong with modern knives and modern traditionals, but to me, they're typically pinned construction without the space age materials. Sure, there are a few examples of old screw together knives, but that doesn't seem like it was a standard by any means.

One thing that Peregrin Peregrin once told me was to think of the Porch like Mayberry. Can you imagine what would have happened there if Opie had gotten his hands on a LionSteel Barlow? That could have made for an entertaining episode, figuring out how to sharpen it, amongst other things!
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
It's not that I don't give modern folders a good look. And, almost every person at my job that's a knife enthusiast, (and there are quite a few of them now), are mostly modern knife guys.
They show me the knives they carry, and knives they collect. They seem so excited about them, likely the same way I seem to them when I talk about or show them a new knife I've acquired.
I handle their knives, carefully look them over, and always tell them "That's an awesome knife!". But, while they are indeed so often awesome in their construction, they do NOTHING for me. I mean, like I have no desire to have one like them.

And how does a traditional knife explain why I can't get excited about a modern style knife?... Simply by it's presence.
It obviously has to do with what my mind is fond of seeing based on my age and experience.

In any case, modern knives can be very well made, have the greatest materials known to man within their build, and yet do nothing, nada, zippo, to tingle my senses.

This latest traditional I purchased made me smile from ear to ear when I received it in the mail 😊

I guess sometimes it really just is what it is.

View attachment 1837451View attachment 1837452
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Smiling with you.
 
B1GSHOT said:
A screw is a screw. Metal is metal. A Barlow is a Barlow.
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Except when it isn’t. 😉🤣

ixz7Wvv.jpg
 
If the pins are peened by a machine and not by hand is it still a traditional?

If a knife has a beard comb or bottle opener is it not a multitool?
 
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