Looking to buy my first real traditonal

[ItsKYRO]

I have recently gained interest after being in the knife collecting hobby for almost 2 years now for wanting to EDC a traditonal.

Im a bit confused on blade quality with traditonals.

A couple years ago i purchased a RR red pick bone canoe knife i love the way it looks but i hardly use it because I'm afraid its cheap soft steel since it was $10

I want a traditonal that the blade is going to hold up very well and be strong to being used on a normal basis.

I dont care so much about the fine details of the handle as far as quality control of how well it was polished or if theres a tiny gap or any of that, i just want a durable blade (one with 2 blades) that will last me and maybe i can hand down one day, only issue is im on a tight budget around $30 or under.

Is there anything quality i can get and use it like my grandpa used to use his old buck?

 

[WolfyW]

I'd use the heck out of your Rough Rider, not baby it. Nothing to lose, it's 10 bucks. I have a RR Stockman and the steel seems respectable, really.

 

[rdg]

You can still find Schrade USA knives on that auction site. Can't beat their 1095 steel. Case knives are good, I prefer the ones with CV steel. Boker Tree Brand is also good. There are LOTS of choices that are very reasonably priced and of very good quality. Enjoy the journey!!
Bob

 

[hornetguy]

A tough traditional with two blades, good steel? It sounds to me like you are describing a Case trapper. There are three sizes, the standard is about 4 1/8" inches long when closed, the mini trapper is around 3 5/8" closed, then the tiny trapper is, well, tiny.

Unless you want a larger EDC knife, I'd go with the mini-trapper, in CV steel (chrome vanadium, or carbon steel). There is nothing wrong with Case's TruSharp stainless steel, either. You can get any of these for around $40, and they make them in just about every kind of handle (scale) material you can imagine.

There are other two blade designs, but that is a good one to start with.

Keep us posted on what you decide.

 

[cortopar]

Look on eBay and in the Knife Exchange forum here for a used Case or US made Schrade or Buck. Unless you dig holes with it, or try to scrape all the diamonds off a DMT stone, you’ll be good for 10-20 years of daily use... maybe longer.

Should be able to find something you like in the price range you noted.

 

[ItsKYRO]

Look on eBay and in the Knife Exchange forum here for a used Case or US made Schrade or Buck. Unless you dig holes with it, or try to scrape all the diamonds off a DMT stone, you’ll be good for 10-20 years of daily use... maybe longer.

Should be able to find something you like in the price range you noted.

Seems theres mixed opinions on the RR steel. Any ideas as to what the 440A chinese steel they use is good for? Opening mail or can it handle actual tasks like when i was cutting pieces of cabinetry wood out with my Ontario RAT 1 last week? I want to be able to use it but i also want a traditional i can hand down to my kids when i have them one day

 

[WolfyW]

Seems theres mixed opinions on the RR steel. Any ideas as to what the 440A chinese steel they use is good for? Opening mail or can it handle actual tasks like when i was cutting pieces of cabinetry wood out with my Ontario RAT 1 last week? I want to be able to use it but i also want a traditional i can hand down to my kids when i have them one day

When I got mine I twisted up a thick towel and cut through it, then grabbed a 2x4 and made a feather stick. Still razor sharp. Not scientific, I know. Do some Rd vs Case searches on YouTube. Fun to watch. They seem to do ok.

 

[cortopar]

Seems theres mixed opinions on the RR steel. Any ideas as to what the 440A chinese steel they use is good for? Opening mail or can it handle actual tasks like when i was cutting pieces of cabinetry wood out with my Ontario RAT 1 last week? I want to be able to use it but i also want a traditional i can hand down to my kids when i have them one day

I’m not an expert, but do I think a $10 RR is an heirloom knife? Probably not... but an awful lot of relatively poorly made knives are still around after many many decades.

Can you use it daily while you save/consider a future purchase? Sure.

For the majority of knife users (not abusers), I think it would be really hard to “wear out” more than a couple well made knives in a lifetime. Cut responsibly, strop regularly, and sharpen as little as necessary to maintain a keen edge.

Enjoy what you have, and enjoy the hunt for the next shiny toy, err... tool.

 

[WolfyW]

On the topic of heirloom, there's a fairly recent thread on here regarding what knives kids like to inherit. Turns out it was someone's experience that his kids were less interested in perfect specimens and highly interested in the hard used knives. Because those ones held memories. My own teenage daughter is most interested in a Schrade stockman my Dad bought me as a kid in 1981. The tip of the clip has a tiny bend, the tip of the sheep's foot got pried off back then and Dad had reshaped it....but that's the one she wants.

 

[Wowbagger]

(one with 2 blades)

I would recommend saving up a bit more and getting a Case Trapper.
The more I use them and the more I keep buying other knives the more I come back to the Trapper.
If you want the "whole experience" get a CV blade which will tarnish and or rust. We like to call it "Patina".
Only a very few of the Case knives come with the CV blade (high Carbon with a touch of Vanadium). Not that it is better than the stainless but it is more authentic or traditional and I like sharpening them more than the stainless blades because they let go of the bur a little easier.

The Dark Red Bone handled ones are available in the CV steel as are a few others.
Personally I remove the second blade because it is in the way of my grip but I prefer the handle shape and size over the single blade Case knives of similar size.

Here are a few photos. You won't be able to get the Genuine Stag knife in your price range; it is about $100 but the synthetic, Delrin handled ones can start down in the high thirties if you really shop around. I just ordered a Sparxx handled one for in the mid $40s. That is one like the white handled knife shown below.

This one is Stainless Steel or "Surgical Steel" and shows the two blades just before I removed the less pointy Spay blade.


Lots of handle scale colors and materials from very traditional like the Stag above to the white Sparxx below and many more even more out there.


Here is the patina starting to build up on this CV blade


The trapper is a bit weighty so you may or may not want to carry it in a belt pouch (I do).

 

[JohnDF]

I want a traditonal that the blade is going to hold up very well and be strong to being used on a normal basis.

I dont care so much about the fine details of the handle as far as quality control of how well it was polished or if theres a tiny gap or any of that,

You want a Maserin Plow Sodbuster.
It's around your price range, decent enough construction, and good D2 steel.
It's only a single blade, but in your price range it's going to be tough to find a two blade with higher quality steel.

 

[Old Biker]

If Your not afraid of going wading in the bay, there are a lot of good USA made knives available used, for not much money. Here are some examples. Cost 22, 20, 10, 10, and 7 to 10.

They all have decent blade steel, and all sharpened to shaving sharp without to much difficulty.

O.B.

 

[Boxer .45]

If I only had thirty dollars to spend, I'd get s Case Mini Trapper. I'm not the biggest Case fan (except vintage), but the mini trapper is a good sub $40 knife. I've seen several around $35.

 

[The Shatz]

Can't go wrong with case you won't regret it

 

[B.F.U]

Rough Ryder blades are generally 440A and are very well heat treated in my experience

 

[spyderg]

The RR I’ve been carrying lately in “440 razor sharp steel” holds a better edge than my Gec’s. It’s nowhere near in regards to F&F but as a user it’s great. Case makes a good knife but can be a little hit and miss. I’ve got 3, one has got some wiggle, one has poorly done transitions and the other poor dye job on the bone. Still like all three but worth mentioning.
If I were you, I’d use the RR until I had enough saved up for a GEC. They sure make a nice looking well made knife.

 

[black mamba]

If you prefer carbon steel, the most bang for the buck are slightly used USA Schrade Old Timers, with some patina and staining. Used but still full bladed examples go for half what the minty ones in their original packaging sell for. If you prefer stainless, the same goes for USA made Uncle Henrys. Whether carbon or stainless, these knives have great heat-treatments with very good edge holding and toughness.

 

[ItsKYRO]

Tons of great responses, thanks everyone.

Im going to use and abuse my RR until i have a little more spending money and go from there. I'll be down in SMKW next month so we will see what happens lol.

Im used to in the newer non traditonal knives if you saw a 440A chinese knife its likely a gas station knife vs i use S30v mostly. Seems like steels are just a bit of a different world over on traditonals. Appreciate it!

 

[solphilos]

From reading your posts I get the impression that your over thinking the steel thing, which is to be expected if your coming from the world of modern folders.
The quality of modern knives is most often judged by how much abuse it can handle or how far a user can push it. If this mindset is taken into the world of traditional knives you will be left wanting.
As far as edge retention/steel toughness goes you can find all the same steels in traditional knives as you can in modern folders, though budget may be the limiting factor here.

As was already stated even your ten dollar RR should easily hold up to normal use, even some harder use, within reason.
If I were in your shoes I'd probably go with a full size Case Trapper; you get two blades, one can be kept razor sharp and one reserved for harder use.

IMO too many people over think the quality of various knife steels and their edge retention. In real world use this stuff doesn't really matter all that much if you ask me.

 

[LastRodeo]

You can continue to use that RAT along with your traditionals. Many of us have and use both (as well as carry both at the same time).