Looking for a small traditional slip joint.

C

Cosmo7809

Joined
Dec 4, 2008
Messages
1,163
Hey guys, I am looking for a small traditional type slip joint.

Ask me anything about Spyderco and 99% of the time I could help ya out... but when it comes to traditionals I dont know squat. I went onto Case's website and was overwhelmed with the choices. I do recall hearing and seeing the name "texas toothpick" form EDC threads and videos.

Living in NYC I'd like something small and non locking yet has a very classy look to it.

I have about 90 knives(60 being Spyderco) and its time that I get into some of the more traditional knives that I can throw into my pocket when running to the store or etc.


If you would be so kind as to name a few brands and models that are small in size and could easily be carried in watch pocket and not alarm non knife people.




Thank you, Chris
 
Anything Buck. Small, traditional, well made, and reminds a lot of people of the one their Grandpa/Uncle used to have.

Scan the flea markets for anything Case, Barlowe, or Schrade.

Spyderco makes slippies, now; best of both worlds....?

Also, Victorinox or Wenger. Almost universally recognized as "sharp tools", not "knives".
 
While not the latest slippie to join the fold it is one of my favorites and a classic. Case Swayback Jack. Excellent craftsmanship, cool traditional styling and just damn useful.

sb1.jpg


sb2.jpg
 
Can you be any more specific? I ask because there are simply so many choices. Do you have a preference of steel (stainless or non-stainless). How many blades were you interested in? Do you plan on doing any specific types of cutting with this knife? Are you looking for natural or synthetic handle material. Are there any size requirements etc...etc...etc. More details will get you better answers. :D
 
bigmo66 said:
While not the latest slippie to join the fold it is one of my favorites and a classic. Case Swayback Jack. Excellent craftsmanship, cool traditional styling and just damn useful.

sb1.jpg


sb2.jpg
Click to expand...

You will not find a better traditional for the price.
Excellent suggestion.
 
Shorttime said:
Spyderco makes slippies, now; best of both worlds....?
Click to expand...

While they do... and I own several it does not satisfy my traditional needs.

Morrow said:
Can you be any more specific? I ask because there are simply so many choices. Do you have a preference of steel (stainless or non-stainless). How many blades were you interested in? Do you plan on doing any specific types of cutting with this knife? Are you looking for natural or synthetic handle material. Are there any size requirements etc...etc...etc. More details will get you better answers. :D
Click to expand...

As far as steel I am not picky, anything will do. I think one blade will be my best bet as my role for this knife will be nothing crazy. Throw it in the pocket and have it there for those little cutting jobs during the day. I do like MOP and some other fancy inlays but I am not dead set on those. Bolsters are nice but again, not a necessity. And for size, small... Nothing larger than what a watch pocket will comfortably hold.




Thank you for the replies so far!
 
In that case, it's Case!

I've got my eye on one of those sway back gents myself. Very nice.

Now if only they came in black G10...
 
I am looking at the Case Peanut... Being my doggies name is Peanut, might be a good match :D

Seems like there are alot of options for scale material.
 
A barlow is a good choice. Many are only about 3 1/2" closed but the blade is a decent size. They look old timey and I think they are non-threatening.
Here's my old Schrade:
DSCN0977.jpg

And here's a newer Queen Dan Burke:
DSCN0003-1.jpg
 
You want real quality?

Look at Great Eastern Cutlery's range. For a small one, try the No.25 or 33 patterns. Many choices of handles, mostly carbon, some stainless all desirable. Then there's the bigger ones too....
 
you might want to post this on the Traditional forum too (sorry if you have, I couldn't spot it:)), there are lots of knowledgeable people there. I personally like the knives offered by Great Eastern cutlery, they also produce under the names of Northfield and Tidioute. Also look at Queen and Canal Street Cutlery, you can't really go wrong with any of these, it's just a case of choosing! If I like the look of a knife I'll Google the name adding 'forum' to the search and looking in 'images'. This usually brings up pic's other people have posted on forums, helping you get a better impression of the knife. Now the box has been opened....
 
Case Sway Back jack, chestnut, with CV blades if you love a really sharp edge and know how to obtain/keep it.

Victorinox Alox Pioneer or Cadet. Great steel, very slim, useful as the day is long.

Victorinox Explorer Plus if you prefer the red scales with the toothpick and tweezers. Bigger/thicker than the other two but a real powerhouse of tools.

Regards.
 
Case Peanut is a good choice as is the Swayback Jack. I'm a big fan of GEC (Great Eastern Cutlery) as well. The #33 Conductor is a good choice imo. It has a single spring but 2 very useful blades. It's 3 3/8" closed with a 2.5" main blade. The 2nd one below is the one I carry with me everyday to work downtown. The ones with acorn shields below are 440c, the others are 1095.
IMG_1918.jpg
 
Perhaps a Case Baby Doc? The Peanut or Swayback Jack/Gent are also great options from Case... but take a look on the Great Eastern Cutlery website if you have a taste for premium traditionals. GEC offers loads of different patterns and scale materials to choose from--I've been drooling over their website for quite some time now... :D

Another +1 for Victorinox alox models as well.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!
 
This is a GEC pattern 25. I like it a lot. It fits easily in the watch pocket jeans have.
DSCN0753.jpg
 
An original USA-made Schrade Old Timer is just the thing to start with. The new ones (post-2004) are imported, but the originals are common on the secondary market and quite affordable, depending on the model. Case knives are nice too, but sorry to say the quality is not as consistent at these:

8OTcomparison.jpg


DSC_2181.jpg


106OT.jpg


Looking for something current production, the best deal around today are the German-made Boker traditional knives. I've purchased several recently and the quality is very good, especially considering the price.

Bokers.jpg


Something a bit nicer and higher grade, I recommend Schatt & Morgan's File and Wire series, and knives from Canal Street Cutlery. Great Eastern is highly regarded as well, but I have no personal experience with them.

Happy shopping!
 
Lots of economically priced models from Case and Buck. I have the aforementioned swayback jack, and a swayback gent, and both are great knives. Lot of knife in such a small pkg.
 
I searched 'Boker Tree Brand' on evilbay several years back and found several vendors for the Solingen, Germany made 'classic' slipjoints - still available in carbon steel, too. I already had a couple of German-made Puma slipjoints bought on closeout locally - and a Buck 301 I had for years. When the Bokers started to arrive - I was returning to my childhood. Then, a fellow here offered me his old Boker - it was a great kindness - and was the same model as the one my late Dad had carried in the 60's, when I went off to college and then the Navy. All in all, the Bokers won me over! I wasn't through... At 60, I thought it was time to try a 'Case knife'. Four Case knives later, I'm back to Boker classics! Look over any of the 'classic' Boker Tree Brand models... you can't go wrong! Oddly, they will likely be less expensive than a similar Case - and come sharper and more functional! Case makes 'collectible' knives now.

Stainz
 
Chris,
you already got some great suggestions I guess (Case Peanut or Swayback jack, GEC @25, and so on).
Honestly, I think that, even though you may not have super specific requirements, you sure have your personal taste, and the planet of traditional knives is probably "richer" (in choices) than you might think.
My suggestion is that you take some time and read some threads in the Traditional subforum, starting with the "What traditional knife are you totin' today?" thread. You will sure find what you are searching for.

:cool:
 
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