Large locking traditional folder.

matus

matus

Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
662
So - my needs for a EDC traditional folder should be soon satisfied with the 2015 forum knife and so now I can concentrate on the next topic.

My large-folder-for-outdoor needs were supposed to be covered by 2nd hand Southard Tolk - a really cool midtech knife, but apparently it got lost in the shipping and now I am waiting how this will develop as that was not a cheap knife by any stretch. This has however lead to me reconsidering the options and after I browsed around I found a few larger locking traditional blades that might actually fit the bill for much less $$$.

So - I am looking for a knife that has some 3.5" blade (longer is OK, but not less than 3.25"), single blade folder with a lock of some kind. The blade can be carbon on or not - it should hold some decent edge and not be overly too thick (thick blade is apparently a common denominator in many today's modern knives). Price wise I would like to fit within $200. I am not looking at custom blades. Ideally the lock would be there to keep the operation safe and not a source of blade play.

So - what do you guys recommend?

thanks
 
Sounds like you need a Buck 110. Plane jane models can be had for $40 or less and you can build a really nice one for $200 through Buck's online custom shop.

Jim
 
I've been in your shoes. The Buck 110 is nice and big, if you don't mind belt carry. You can even order a custom 110 from Buck's website with various steel and scale options, and not pay too much more than $100.00. The custom shop does great work. I'm strongly considering another in S30V with black G-10 scales. Here is my old BG-42 in stag from the custom shop.
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The GEC #42 lockback is also very good. Smaller, slimmer and lighter than the Buck 110, with a 3 3/8" clip blade. GEC's 1095 carbon steel is nice and hard. Edge holding is excellent.
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Smith and Son's has GEC making their Mudbugs. They're basically a large lockback sodbuster with micarta scales. Nice long 1095 blade. The bolsterless design keeps the weight down. Slim but long handle design.
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I've held Queen Mountain Man lockbacks. Nice knife. Nice steel. Questionable fit and finish. Strange lockback mechanism. Not sure what to make of it.

Mooremaker carries a large locking sodbuster, made by Bear and Sons. Very questionable fit and finish. Delrin scales. Large carbon steel blade.
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The GEC 23 is worth a look if you don't mind a liner lock. They do that liner lock right with no play whatsoever when open. Also you stated you wanted a thin blade. The GEC has a much thinner blade profile than the Buck 110. The 23 has about the same footprint as the 110, but is a bit lighter.
 
Just wondering, what is the intended use, food, game, bushcraft. It could make a huge difference on which folder will fit the bill...
 
At 7.2 oz the Buck 110 is a rather heavy one (The Tolk that never arrived was 4.7 oz with the same blade length). But yes - the customisation does sound cool and S30V is a decent steel indeed, plus quite some handle material choice.

But I find the simpler and lighter knives more interesting. The GEC #42 looks nice - how large is the blade?

The intended use (a good point indeed): I am not a hunter and I do not fish anymore. So the knife would be use for more general stuff then tracking - maybe prepare some simple dinner, cut some branch and such.
 
matus said:
But I find the simpler and lighter knives more interesting. The GEC #42 looks nice - how large is the blade?
Click to expand...

The #42 lockback's clip blade is 3 3/8". For size comparison, here it is next to a scout knife.

Ylphbonh.jpg
 
The Ka-Bar Dogs Head Coppersmith Large lockback is my favorite in the category followed by the Queen Mountain Man and the Smith & Sons Mudbug. The Coppersmith and the Mountain Man both use D2 tool steel which I prefer to the Mudbug 1095 steel and the Coppersmith has better edge geometry out of the box than the Mountain Man as well as more consistent quality fit & finish.
 
Thanks for the photo and information on the GEC.

The Ka-Bar looks really interesting. The blade is D2 (I like D2 :) ), but seems to have been heat treated to rather low HRC numbers (56-58) - how does the knife hold edge in real life?
 
If you like D2 ... why not take a look at the Opera, by Lionsteel. Available in stag and olive wood handles.

I have one here and it is a nice lockback folder. Not the 100% traditional style though - a nice knife nevertheless.
 
Hi Matus

How about an Opinel? They are locking, light weight and come in a variety of sizes!
For the money they are fantastic.

Cheers

Paul
 
I am aware of the big Opera from Lionsteel, but I somehow ignored it. I just looked at it - I am not crazy about the hollow grid as I prefer flat or better yet, convex one. But it is an interesting knife.

Opinels somehow leave me cold (design, feel in hand). I sharpened two (one stainless once carbon) and the steel felt (in my hands) just OK - I had hard time putting a decent edge on them with water stones (I otherwise have no problem to get shaving sharp edges on my kitchen knives).
 
matus said:
Thanks for the photo and information on the GEC.

The Ka-Bar looks really interesting. The blade is D2 (I like D2 :) ), but seems to have been heat treated to rather low HRC numbers (56-58) - how does the knife hold edge in real life?
Click to expand...

Those number might suggest that they are heat treated for optimal toughness rather than edge retention but in use and sharpening I don't notice any difference in the Kabar D2 and the Queen D2, which is heat treated by Peters to 58-60 HRC. Personally I would like to see folders like these pushed to the 60-62 range as I enjoy the art of sharpening and they aren't what I consider hard use knives but, as they are, they still have noticeably greater edge retention than GEC's 1095.
 
I just checked out Canal Street's website. The 440C micarta Squeeze looks pretty sweet. Pricey, but sweet.
 
I would expect a decently treated D2 steel to have better edge retention than 1095 which is a very simple carbon steel. I actually have kitchen knife in D2 (Hitachi calls it SLD or SKD11) and it is around HRC 62 - 64 (I do not recall exactly). At this hardness the edge holding is phenomenal, but the steel would chip on tougher task (not the case with kitchen knives).

I you want to try a really hard and sharp knife in D2 steel then check out Yoshikane SLD kitchen knives. But I would recommend the cheaper Yoshikane SKD knives (2 or 3 different lines - all clad with stainless steel) that are made out of SKD12 (A2) steel. I have their Santoku Hakata and it is absolutely incredible knife.

But back on topic. I am halfway sold on the Ka-Bar (it is even available in Germany AND for reasonable price), but are there other knives I should check out?

EDIT: the CSC Squeez looks interesting - the one with Micarta hanles has 440C blade, but one one with Chestnut D2 - I am going to have a closer look.
 
maybe check out some of a.g.russell's folding and locking traditional knives. (his personal brand that is) case full sized copperlocks can be found at reasonable prices,but it is nice to handle the particular model you're interested in for f&f. you don't mention if buying american is important but there are some nice pieces out there if ya look. the gec farmers lock #99 is also nice,and someone has the o1 nife-brite version up for sale right now on this very forum. (old timey knives etc. site) good luck and have fun looking
 
I'm astonished that you find Opinel's carbon or Sandvik difficult and unsatisfying to sharpen. Very few knives will cut a large apple or a Cantaloupe melon as cleanly or decisively.:confused:

Seems to me you should look at the GEC 23 a hulk of a knife without the Buck's excessive weight. Too big and heavy for my pocket, I don't see the point of pocket-knives you need to carry on a belt actually. The 23 liner-lock is a fine item for those who do like a big knife.

If you change your mind about having a smaller locker then GEC's 73 liner-lock version or their 99 Wall St offer a lot of handle choices plus the Wall St comes in Spear, Clip or Wharncliffe blades.

One of my favourites in the Traditional locking genre is this Queen liner lock Teardrop in D2 with Carved Stagbone but this too is under your size specs but not undersized:D:D

IMG_0316.jpg
 
GEC's #42 is very nice; as is the #23 pattern. Below is the Bull Lock version of the #23. I'll add a pic of my Buck 110, since it's such an oldie/goodie:
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#23 with a liner lock
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#42 Missouri Trader
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Buck 110, custom shop
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