Looking for a first knife

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nutellarise

Joined
Sep 4, 2013
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Hi bladeforums!

Recently I've been looking for a first traditional knife for myself to carry around.
I've done some research around, and I'm looking for a something with a

slimmer profile, (So i can carry in my pocket easily)
under 4 inches closed,
single bladed (if it has a lower profile secondary one, i don't mind)
carbon steel,
price range of about 35-100$,
and a bone handle, so it will age well.

From some of the research I have done, I've found this:
61ShK-OLsIL._SL1500_.jpg

My only problem with it is that it's a bit large (4+1/4 in), surgical steel blade.


Thanks for helping guys. I have been looking around, but there's just so many options, and I'm overwhelmed.
 
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Welcome to the forums. The GEC #73 pattern may be worth a look for you. Can find them for under $80, and they're worth every penny. Good luck in your hunt, it's half the fun.
 
Look at Great Eastern Cutlery. Any single-blade, bone handled GEC should be under $100, even those in their more upscale Northfield UN-X-LD line. Apart from the odd one in 440C or the Farm and Field Too line (in O-1 tool steel), their knives are made with 1095 carbon steel blades. Whether their upscale Northfield line or their plainer Tidioute line, GECs are of the highest quality.

The #48 "dogleg" trapper is just under 4", and its slim profile make it good for carrying, but still gives you a substantial enough blade to tackle anything you'll want it to.

At 3.5", the #55/#56 is shorter but broader. The #15 Boy's knife has become an instant classic, as has its brother, the #15 barlow (aka Charlow), although the barlow might be harder to find and cost more.

If you don't mind a 2 blade, check out the #92 Eureka Jack. It has a small coping blade secondary, which is an extremely useful blade for opening packages (especially clamshells) and doing fine detailed work. The above knives can also be had with a small secondary (pen) blade, but personally I'd rather have either just the one blade or the 2 blade with the coping secondary than one with a pen secondary.



You can pick up a Case for about half the cost of a GEC, but IMO, it's worth the extra cost of the GEC for the higher quality. Plus, there aren't many single blade Cases in carbon steel available with bone handles unless you find a vintage one.

Queen makes most of their knives in D2. D2 is semi-stainless, which means it requires more attention and upkeep than a regular stainless steel, but is "stainless" enough that it resists developing a patina, which might not be what you're looking for (plus it's very difficult to sharpen, quite unlike simple carbon steels).

Queen makes some carbon steel knives under their Schatt and Morgan trademark, in their "Heritage" series. But from what I've read, it's better to go with a GEC for what you'd be paying.
 
Single blade trapper.... . Case, GEC, Schatt & Morgan. Pick out the prettiest handle ya like.
The Case and GEC may be sharp enough for ya. The Schatt & Morgan wont (...in my experience...).
Sharpen the way ya like it and enjoy!!

PS--Look here: http://www.collectorknives.net/index.html One of the "good guys"...

leroy
 
For slim carry, the Case Slimline Trapper is a good single-blade pattern. There are only two offered in carbon steel currently - in yellow Delrin and dark red bone. Though "dark red" is a matter of opinion.

The GEC single blade #48 Dogleg Trapper is a better quality knife, but all of the ones I have seen that are currently for sale are 440C stainless.

If you don't mind going down to the 3 1/2" closed size range, then you have a number of choices from GEC in single blades with carbon steel. #15 pattern knives are still available from multiple dealers with several choices of the blade type.
 
nutellarise said:
... I'm looking for a something with a

slimmer profile, (So i can carry in my pocket easily)
under 4 inches closed,
single bladed (if it has a lower profile secondary one, i don't mind)
carbon steel,
price range of about 35-100$,
and a bone handle, so it will age well.
Click to expand...

You should check out Great Eastern Cutlery's White Owl models.

And, I should add: Welcome to the coolest little knife (sub)forum on the internet!

-- Mark
 
There's another run of the #48 trapper about to ship so put that one on your list.
The obvious ones that have small pen blade secondaries are the #68 White Owl, #33 Conductor. These are very pocket-able.

Take a look at the #85. It's a bit less than 4" closed. Doesn't fit your 'slim' criteria, but it's an excellent edc.
 
Lots of choices at $100 and under. If looking at GEC, perhaps take a look at the different models suggested above here http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/ and let us know if some of them catch your eye. We can narrow it down further for you then. Btw, the toothpick you linked has stag covers, not bone. GEC's toothpick pattern is the #12 and comes in at 4" closed with a 3" blade, available in 1095 and 440C.
 
The thing I don't like about that regal stag line by case is the extra bolster in the middle of the handle. To me its just 2 more bolster edges for the fit and finish to have gaps and not fit right.
 
Any of these three would be terrific!

Jacks_zps9bf1da42.jpg~original


Find them at this BladeForums member dealer: http://www.collectorknives.net/greateastern2.html
 
Try a good old case peanut. They are great little slicers and they're not particularly expensive. I would recommend a cv blade, they sharpen up beautifully and generate a good looking patina pretty quickly. You might think them too small initially, but you'll be surprised how much knife is in the sub-three-inch frame. Just ask any member of Carl's Cult.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1378411023.932885.jpg

Apologies for the hasty phone pic.

Paul
 
My recommendation for a slim profile EDC is a Case canoe with chrome vanadium (CV) steel. 2 blades, but very thin. Will acquire a patina with time. However, my own Case canoe has been displaced by a GEC Charlow single blade. I own a bunch of Case and GEC. The Cases come sharper, and cheaper, than the GECs. My grandfather only carried Case knives. But the GECs are special. In the past year, I've bought zero Case knives, and 11 or 12 GECs. But if slim or small profile in the pocket is desired, get a Case with CV blades.

I humbly differ with Joey about the regal stag. I have a Case Regal Stag canoe that I traded for...has never been carried. It's a beauty, but it's so nice I can't bring myself to use it... So it just sits in my desk.
 
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BTW, your condition is known as cultripenia, or defectum cultris, a lack of knives. After you have reviewed all our opinions and chosen your therapy, please post again and let us know your choice, and how it's working out. You may need more than one form of treatment.
 
GEC's #73 is a great choice, but I found that the #42 (Trader or Trapper, though in you case the Trader migh be more to your liking) is more comfortable in hand. This may be due to my large hands; yet, despite the Trader's 4 1/4" length (closed) it carries very comfortably. I have one in Copperhead jigged bone and I love it. I have the Trapper in cocobolo and it is difficult deciding which to carry; the #76 pattern is very nice as well, and smaller--it's secondary pen blade does not hinder one's grip at all. Mine is with stag scales, and I am not sure if I've seen it with bone. But... in all honesty... lately I have not been able to choose any of these very, very fine knives over my #23 Pioneer--single blade with liner lock, ebony scales. Love it; though it is bigger than what you specified, it carries very well. Have fun making your choice--you'll love what you get, but will likely by more anyway! That's the best part!
 
I know more about modern knives, so this is for if you change your mind about the traditional knife
Well, I would recommend the Kershaw leek or benchmade mini griptilian - http://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-Mini-Griptilian--1721 - (if you're willing to spend more). I know that neither have bone handles, but Kershaw leeks come in stainless steel handles and the mini grip Has Valox handle scales which are pretty darn tough.

The leek has a 3 inch straight, flat blade known as a Wharncliffe style blade. It has outstanding penetration, but cutting may require more movement. The Leek is a spring assisted knife, so I would check your knife laws where you life before you buy it to make sure it's legal. It opens very fast and locks with a basic liner lock. Also, the leek comes in tons of different model, so be sure to look around a bit before you buy it. As for steel, it comes with 14C28N which is a decent steel for the price. I've seen people sharpen it to a mirror edge, so it can take a wicked edge and hold it for a decent amount of time

The mini griptilian is one of the more popular knives on the market and is a high quality 2.9 inch folder. It has the famous benchmade AXIS lock which is often considered the best knife lock on the market. It has a 154 CM blade which is a higher end steel, taking a great edge and holding it for a while. The mini grip opens easily and is non assisted so you can have it in most if not all states. Like the leek, it comes in tons of shapes and sizes.

I just reread your description of the knife and realized that you want a traditional knife. Well, I guess I'll post this anyway if you want a good 'modern' folder too
 
How about a GEC 85 EZ-Open? Not too bulky or heavy, lot of handle to get hold of and er, it looks superb.
 
Thanks for the help guys!
I've been leaning towards getting a #68 white owl, or a #33 conductor. I have also been looking at the #66 serpentine jack, but I can only find it in 3 blades.

Does anybody know where i can look for knives online other than knivesshipfree/collecterknives/oldhundredcollectibles

I tried tsaknives, but their prices are too high for me.

I've decided that I'm going to be getting a chestnut cv peanut already, but I want a GEC knife as well.
 
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