Knives you want to like

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Are there any specific knives or general patterns that you want to like or have even tried to like but just don't for some reason?

I just almost bought a Sodbuster jr in CS with dark red bone covers, but I had to stop myself because I knew that I probably wouldn't carry it much if at all.
The dark red bone looks good with a nice dark patina covered CS blade and they really do call to me on paper so I had to try hard not to order order one but was ultimately able to pass.
I think more than anything I've just been itching for another carbon steel pocket knife.

I like the idea of the Sodbuster JR and I have 2 but just don't carry them because I most favor little pocket knives, I have exceptions but for some reason the Sodbusters just don't call out to me when it's time to pick a carry for the week.

I have no explanation for why.
 
Blues said:
I never cared for canoes much...though they are great knives by most all accounts.
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I've been interested in a Case Canoe but it seems the blades always open with a lot of Kant to them which is a deal breaker.
The amber jigged with lined bolsters really speaks to me.
I almost bought a baby butter bean, but I don't like the cut swedge on the main blade.

I guess I am quite interested in the pattern, but Case doesn't make them how I'd want.
 
Any kind of folder where the only or primary blade is a wharncliffe, sheepfoot, or the like. I got one in high school that I used hard for a while and enjoyed it immensely, but I find that I inevitably prefer something with a little belly for general use.

I do love slipjoints like a stockman or Trapper with a secondary sheepfoot that are great for utility cutting every now and then. As long as there's a clip or drop point primary I'm good.
 
oldmanwilly said:
Any kind of folder where the only or primary blade is a wharncliffe, sheepfoot, or the like. I got one in high school that I used hard for a while and enjoyed it immensely, but I find that I inevitably prefer something with a little belly for general use.

I do love slipjoints like a stockman or Trapper with a secondary sheepfoot that are great for utility cutting every now and then. As long as there's a clip or drop point primary I'm good.
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This, couldn’t agree more. 👍
 
Sodbuster Jr's are on my short list of "want to love but can't" patterns. I gifted the last one, which was in spectacular amber bone, to a friend.

Another pattern is the 6318 medium stockman. I don't like the look of round bolsters, and I generally just prefer the Jumbo Stockman.

I think I've decided that I prefer large pocket knives - The 54 pattern Trapper, a 92 Jack, a 75 Jumbo Stockman. I do carry a small knife in my watch pocket on occasion.

Not to mention, I carry a 65 pattern Folding Hunter for a belt knife. I'm a double Case man. Case on the belt, Case in the pocket. Unless I trade the belt knife for a Buck 192, which is my favorite fixed blade.
 
meako said:
Coke bottles and Riflebutt...shaped knives....
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I really like Coke Bottle shaped knives, but the ones I find are either too big to carry comfortably or have a primary blade shape I dislike, so I have to pass them over.

I guess for that matter, I'm not a fan of most spear-point folder blades. To me, they just look like a fat trowel or spatula. I find something with a more acute point (like a clip or drop point) more helpful for my needs. I still keep a couple of SAKs around, but they're not my first choice unless I need some other combination of included tools.
 
Good thread! The variety & richness of patterns in Traditional knives makes for enormous choice. Initially, you may not know where to start (or end...) but with time and using the knives, selectivity kicks in. What suits you in terms of use is extended to aesthetic decisions, taste. This too is important as Traditionals are visually appealing and this factor is one of the pleasures of using them and looking at them!

Not sure that there are patterns ' I want to like' ;) All patterns have their fans and this is correct but some patterns just don't do it and clearly won't do it, even after years of contemplation 🤣

Canoes, no. This is odd as I like double end single-spring knives but they look clumsy, too much bolster going on too .

Conventional Trappers. Hulking, awkward and that huge Spey, uh uh. The Wharncliffe variant is very different and a great pattern, so too the Slimline.

Congress full model. Ridiculous duplication of often short blades, fundamentally awkward in the hand, looks bloated . The 2 blade versions are very different however :thumbsup:

Toothpick. Er....like somebody tried to pimp up a Laguiole but ended up with what looks like a parts knife.

After savaging four patterns that will be on many peoples' favourites list, :D just remember that there are thankfully so many interesting and odd patterns to chose from . You can't like 'em all nor should you .
 
Will Power said:
Toothpick. Er....like somebody tried to pimp up a Laguiole but ended up with what looks like a parts knife.
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That made me literally laugh out loud....

I can't seem to like the canoes, either.... I like the thought of them, but just can't carry one.
I find that I seldom carry a traditional stockman, either.... I seem to have an aversion to "krinked" blades.. the Case sowbelly is a different story, though... it's one of my favorites.

As much as I really like my larger single blades, like the 23, etc, I seldom carry them, as it seems I am limiting myself on "utility" with just the one blade. If I can carry a smaller multi-blade, I'm usually ok with them.

My "hard pass always" would be the elephant toe type knives.... they make absolutely no sense to me at all, unless I was spreading peanut butter for a living...

I seem to have settled on two blade jacks, with the nail nicks on the same side, clip blade main with a pen secondary as my go-to favorite....
 
My list goes on and on. I enjoy looking at just about all traditional knives but several are just not for me. Several times I’ve thought of trying something different only to change my mind.

Ones I want to like but don’t.(Or just haven’t given a chance)

Canoes

Toothpicks

Cigar pattern( not even sure if that’s correct terminology)

SAK classic, just to small for my liking.

Peanuts, once again just to small for my liking ( but I like the little Buck 309, it doesn’t make sense.)

Sow belly knives. They just don’t look right to me but those that have them seem to love them so I often am tempted to try one.

Full size trappers are still in the “I don’t know if I really like them or not.” I have two. I’ve had them for years. I’ll carry them every once in a while. I love the looks of them. For what ever reason I just don’t think they carry as well as a stockman of the same size. Probably just me so I will try again since I already have two,

I could go one but I won’t.
 
meako said:
Coke bottles and Riflebutt...shaped knives....
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Some of my favorites :). Just hard to find them in the sizes I prefer. These seem to be either tiny or Huge, especially coke bottle patterns. Gunstocks are becoming more available though.

I agree with the Toothpicks and the Canoes but I'm not sure I can say I want to like them. They just don't appeal to me all that much. The canoe doesn't look all that ergonomic and the lines don't do much for me. Toothpicks are too skinny, the only one I found I like is the Northfield clip point with the wider blade and handle.

Knives I want to like would be the splitback whittlers and other 3-blade whittlers. Overall they seem to be very popular but the blade selection doesn't really suite my needs and have passed on them despite being the size I like and lots of nice materials, I always fall back to jacks or stockman patterns.
 
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