Linerless slip joints

Morrow

Morrow

Don't make this weird
Joined
Apr 11, 2007
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These have been showing up a lot lately. I would like other opinions on them. I have no intention of bashing makers producing these and would hope others refrain from that as well. I hope the guys making them quickly sell every single one and I mean that.

I'm having a hard time warming up to linerless slip joints. They look cheap to me. My opinion is based on aesthetics only...not functionality or durability. I have no doubt these knives will cut great and are capable of being built plenty strong to survive years of use.

I guess I'm being stubborn but when I think of a custom or handmade slip joint....it has to have liners.

What do you fine upstanding folks think about these?
 
Not a big fan of them either. While I do appreciate lightweight knives, I still like a little heft for my own blades. A shadow knife with liners, like the KHnutbuster, is pretty much perfect. IMO a linerless knife goes too far when it comes to light weight, at least for me personally.
 
I agree that they look better with liners, but everything I've seen indicates that they are just as durable without them and cost a lot less to make.

Todd Davison has been making a bunch of linerless knives lately, hopefully he can give us some of his thoughts.
 
wagglebee said:
I agree that they look better with liners, but everything I've seen indicates that they are just as durable without them and cost a lot less to make.

Todd Davison has been making a bunch of linerless knives lately, hopefully he can give us some of his thoughts.
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I've seen some from Ray Laconico, one from Kerry Hampton and some other makers that are slipping (get it? :p) my mind at the moment. Hopefully we'll hear from them. I don't believe any of them would sell a "bad" knife. I'm sure I'll learn a few things when they chime in. :)
 
I personally have not made any liner-less slipjoints and very few shadows. I happen to LIKE bolsters! I do think liner-less have a place in hand made slipjoints. When Micarta, G10 , carbon fiber are used as frame materials, these knives are more than strong enough, even without liners. In my mind and eye, a well made liner-less slip does not come across "cheap", Perhaps spartan, or simplistic yet elegant would be better terms. Variety is the spice of life, I say the more variations to choose from, the better the slipjoint collecting community will be.

Respectfully,

Ken Erickson
 
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Im sure your right morrow. They wouldn't sell a bad knife. And for EDC I am sure they are perfect, you know where the most they will do is break down a box. However, I, like you, much prefer then to have liners. Like Kamagong said, a shadow pattern with liners is perfect for me.
 
morrowj_98 said:
I've seen some from Ray Laconico, one from Kerry Hampton and some other makers that are slipping (get it? :p) my mind at the moment. Hopefully we'll hear from them. I don't believe any of them would sell a "bad" knife. I'm sure I'll learn a few things when they chime in. :)
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I didn't know that Kerry had made any.
 
A linerless knife can be made in less time than the same knife with liners. the knifemaker can therefore sell it at a lower price. the knife will perform just as well the same knife with liners. this allows buyers to acquire and enjoy a custom folder for a lower price. great for everybody, especially those with limited funds.
as with every custom knife, some people will like how it looks, others won't.
that's personal preference, not a drawback.
a linerless Micarta handled folder is an AGR innovation from the 1980s(?).
i bought what i think is the first linerless offered here in BF. March 21 2008, Ken Coats 4.3" Shadow Linerless Toothpick, red linen Micarta. (it was Ken's 11th post in BF). since then it has seen a lot of use, and as with any knife that always works well for you, i like it now even more than when i first got it.
don't let linerless hold you back.
roland
 
My experience with linerless folders includes the Gerber LST of the '80's (I had one in orange as a teenager, man I wish I could find one of those again!) and a Boye Cobalt folder. They were lockbacks, not slipjoints, but still they took a real beating and I never had a problem with rigidity or the joint.
 
There were some linerless knives made in days of yor. These most often had metal scales so liners seemed somewhat redundent.
 
smiling-knife said:
There were some linerless knives made in days of yor. These most often had metal scales so liners seemed somewhat redundent.
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A good point. Who wants to make me a slip joint with titanium scales? :)
I would be okay without liners for such a knife. :D
 
I ve EDC'ed a pair of the Al Mar ultra lite Falcon and Eagle linerless slipjoints for years. Used them hard and have no gripe at all. Actually bought another when one was lost.--KV
 
A black micarta linerless toothpick is a pretty elegant looking knife. I'm a liner and bolster kinda guy but some of the linerless slippies are beautiful knives.

Regards

Robin
 
kvaughn said:
I ve EDC'ed a pair of the Al Mar ultra lite Falcon and Eagle linerless slipjoints for years. Used them hard and have no gripe at all. Actually bought another when one was lost.--KV
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They made those models as slip joints? I've only ever seen them as front locks.
 
My son and I have a couple of Dowell's that are linerless, they work great. Both are micarta.
 
From my point of view, it's a question of the look and heft of a knife, a linerless knife doesn't interest me therefore. You can't change the scales either:D:eek:

That said, the Opinel is one of the all time genius knives (it's not a slipjoint or a custom obviously) but it is a very effective and brilliant knife without liners. a hollowed out handle no less:thumbup:
 
I'm not familiar with these, any examples other than the Kerry knife linked above? (nice knife btw)
 
JB in SC said:
My son and I have a couple of Dowell's that are linerless, they work great. Both are micarta.
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I didn't know he made any linerless knives. Got any link or some pics? I'd like to see them.
 
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