Looking to the past?

D

dogstar

Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
4,399
I seemed to have gotten left behind in the knife world. Modern, one hand opening, locking, super steel, built-like-a-tank, designer knives don't have any appeal to me. If you hang out in the general forum, I appear to be in the vast minority. I really don't understand why you need a folding pry bar to open envelopes or boxes.

I am a nostalgic person. The past seems like a better, simpler time. The future is scary and uncertain. Tried and true ways need to be maintained; time has filtered out trends, hype, marketing ploys. What is left from the past are the distilled and unvarnished essentials. I read old books, listen to old music, watch old movies. Each generation is full of audacity, hubris, and great minds. The new is more of a recycling of the old than we'd like to believe. Human beings have not really changed, even though our surroundings have. If anything, our lives have gotten softer, not tougher as our knives seem to get. Is there a tougher life than that of the cowboy or mountain man?

I prefer old knives and the old ways to use 'em. Are you guys like me, looking more to the past than to the future? Does your preference in old things go beyond cutlery?
 
I just mostly like good, efficient tools. Traditional pocket knives, especially multiblades, are designed to do the things I normally want a knife for, and they work beautifully. Slender, slim, supersharp blades work far better at my daily tasks than wide and thick one-handers, no matter what the steel or how sharp. When hunting, I always carry a couple fixed blades of different sizes, plus a large one-hand opener in my jacket pocket for the heavier outdoor jobs required. If I go into a less safe area of town, I might clip a tactical in my pocket in addition to the traditional, but never in place of one. Plus, the gorgeous stag, horn and bone handles of traditionals are a lot more pleasureable to me than G10 or carbon fiber.
 
dogstar said:
I am a nostalgic person. The past seems like a better, simpler time.
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Have you by any chance seen Midnight in Paris?

Each generation is full of audacity, hubris, and great minds.
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Including this one. ;)

I prefer old knives and the old ways to use 'em. Are you guys like me, looking more to the past than to the future? Does your preference in old things go beyond cutlery?
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I appreciate and own various items that are made with integrity, both in terms of construction and of the character of those who make them. Some of the methods involved have stood the test of time, others are the result of current ingenuity in applying evolving technology. I do like a hands-on approach, but not to the point of absurdity, and am mindful of many of the ways in which "modern" advances have made my life more pleasant (and in some scarier instances, possible).

There are so many things about traditional pocket knives that I enjoy, and they often evoke a nostalgia in me that I can't pinpoint to prior experience or an identifiable Golden Time. Regardless, I don't project the happy feelings and/or the pleasure of working with my own hands (with the work of others' hands!) into broader generalizations regarding The Past.

I do agree there were certain, previously "default" skill sets born of survival that many of us no longer require, and so often do not learn, and I regret pace and pressure that efficient technology and communication have increased exponentially within my lifetime. It's important to maintain and avail ourselves of natural spaces, to rest our eyes and hearts in places where we can gaze at a horizon and see nothing man-made.

But for me, typing into my wireless laptop by which I connect to people all over the world, I like right now.

~ P.
 
Pretty much what Jeff said above. I do not carry a traditional pattern for the nostalgia of it.

To me, knives are tools. I find the blade shapes of traditionals to be more useful than modern "tactical" blade shapes for most cutting jobs. I do tend to carry a modern one-hander in addition to my traditional. The one-hander will likely have a PM steel blade. The one-hander is for those few jobs that either call for one-hand opening, or require greater edge retention than what I get from my traditionals (Come to the dark side. We have carbides in our steel. Bwahaha.)

Howsoever, if I am only carrying one knife, it will be a traditional pattern.
 
I love my modern folders but a good ole traditional is all I really need.
I've been EDCing a Svord friction folder and I will be for awhile.
Which folder(s) are you looking at?
 
dogstar said:
I seemed to have gotten left behind in the knife world. Modern, one hand opening, locking, super steel, built-like-a-tank, designer knives don't have any appeal to me. If you hang out in the general forum, I appear to be in the vast minority. I really don't understand why you need a folding pry bar to open envelopes or boxes.

I am a nostalgic person. The past seems like a better, simpler time. The future is scary and uncertain. Tried and true ways need to be maintained; time has filtered out trends, hype, marketing ploys. What is left from the past are the distilled and unvarnished essentials. I read old books, listen to old music, watch old movies. Each generation is full of audacity, hubris, and great minds. The new is more of a recycling of the old than we'd like to believe. Human beings have not really changed, even though our surroundings have. If anything, our lives have gotten softer, not tougher as our knives seem to get. Is there a tougher life than that of the cowboy or mountain man?

I prefer old knives and the old ways to use 'em. Are you guys like me, looking more to the past than to the future? Does your preference in old things go beyond cutlery?
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My friend, we are going to get along just fine :)

I am an extremely sentimental person and my attachment to 'traditional' styles is a reflection of that in myself. I feel somewhat humbled to be using patterns like these and even more so when they are from a time when I was non-existent (I have an Ebony Teardrop Jack inbound, pictures to come!). In all actuality, there is more I would like to share that I cannot immortalize on paper the the moment. I'll just say that these knives hold a special place in my heart, remind me of the good parts of my childhood and evoke emotions in me that have been long forgotten; this in itself is strange, as I reminisce about my childhood merely as an 18 year old.

Maybe I should just copy/paste my response to pertinux's giveaway thread for a better understanding of my postion...
 
dogstar said:
I seemed to have gotten left behind in the knife world. Modern, one hand opening, locking, super steel, built-like-a-tank, designer knives don't have any appeal to me. If you hang out in the general forum, I appear to be in the vast minority. I really don't understand why you need a folding pry bar to open envelopes or boxes.

I am a nostalgic person. The past seems like a better, simpler time. The future is scary and uncertain. Tried and true ways need to be maintained; time has filtered out trends, hype, marketing ploys. What is left from the past are the distilled and unvarnished essentials. I read old books, listen to old music, watch old movies. Each generation is full of audacity, hubris, and great minds. The new is more of a recycling of the old than we'd like to believe. Human beings have not really changed, even though our surroundings have. If anything, our lives have gotten softer, not tougher as our knives seem to get. Is there a tougher life than that of the cowboy or mountain man?

I prefer old knives and the old ways to use 'em. Are you guys like me, looking more to the past than to the future? Does your preference in old things go beyond cutlery?
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I'm right with ya the whole way, bud!

If somebody invented a time machine, but it only went one way, and were looking for a volunteer to go back and observe and leave notes, I'd go back to the 1940's and 50's in a heartbeat. A simpler time with a slower moving world that still had some values. A 1950 Chevy fastback with a three on the tree. Guns that were well machined blued steel and walnut. Music that you could really dance with a pretty gal close. Drug stores had soda fountains with real Coke. Airplanes still had propellers and you got got dressed up to travel because it was a big deal. A man's word was still respected and trusted.

I confess that I have finally reached an age that I don't understand the new generation. I don't understand why they need a "hard use" knife for a suburban office cubicle life that is 100% easier than their grandfathers. I like old style knives because they make me slow down, and appreciate the moment of opening it and using it. In all my life, I've never been in a fast draw contest with my knife. If I'm going to a dangerous place, I make arrangements to carry a firearm, or at the very least one of my stoutest blackthorn sticks. I ain't getting in any knife fights, I'll leave that for the mall ninjas.

My bone handle knife reminds me of a time when people didn't hibernate in their home, but sat on the front porch and talked with their neighbors. You walked around your neighborhood and you knew your neighbors.

And I guess if I found myself in 1954, I could try to find Lizzy and save her from herself.

Carl.
 
Who says you can't own and enjoy traditional knives as well as more contemporary knives. I love and use both and at times carry both varieties in conjunction with one another.
 
Very well said Carl, I too would go back if givin the chance. It is horrible how individualized and rude our society has gotten. Moving from CA to AR I have seen alot. The south is getting away from its grace as well. Its a shame really. When everything was made here we cared. Now we dont supply ourselves, and we are suffering because of it.




Edit: I did not mean to offend anyone in any country. I am mearly talking on an economical standpoint for the united states. On a knife forum I know.....now back to your regularly scheduled program.
 
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whetrock said:
Who says you can't own and enjoy traditional knives as well as more contemporary knives. I love and use both and at times carry both varieties in conjunction with one another.
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You can own whatever floats your boat. But I never was attracted to the new stuff. Just never did anything for me. My personal taste is just stuck in the 1950's. I guess sometimes you just like what you used in your coming of age era.

Carl.
 
Old is new sometimes. I've never before seen a production folding knife in steel advertised as O-1. Yet it's a traditional.

I grew up using traditional carbon steel folders. Usually Imperial, and cheap stuff like Ideal. I couldn't afford Schrade and Buck knives as a kid and could only drool when I looked at the cases at the hardware store.

The hardware store is gone. Knives aren't carried and sold everywhere, even the "dime store" ( now gone too). Now I shop on the internet and hope I like what I get.

I have both modern and traditional folders now including in stainless steels, which I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole up through my 20's and into my 30's when I found modern steels and knives in Spydercos.

I still prefer tool steels when I can get them. O-1, W2, 52100, cruwear ( used to be vascowear from vasco pacific) but I do have some pretty high performing stainless steels. Oh yeah," Made in japan" doesn't have quite the same connotations now.

Joe
 
dogstar said:
I seemed to have gotten left behind in the knife world. Modern, one hand opening, locking, super steel, built-like-a-tank, designer knives don't have any appeal to me. If you hang out in the general forum, I appear to be in the vast minority. I really don't understand why you need a folding pry bar to open envelopes or boxes.

I am a nostalgic person. The past seems like a better, simpler time. The future is scary and uncertain. Tried and true ways need to be maintained; time has filtered out trends, hype, marketing ploys. What is left from the past are the distilled and unvarnished essentials. I read old books, listen to old music, watch old movies. Each generation is full of audacity, hubris, and great minds. The new is more of a recycling of the old than we'd like to believe. Human beings have not really changed, even though our surroundings have. If anything, our lives have gotten softer, not tougher as our knives seem to get. Is there a tougher life than that of the cowboy or mountain man?

I prefer old knives and the old ways to use 'em. Are you guys like me, looking more to the past than to the future? Does your preference in old things go beyond cutlery?
Click to expand...

Thank you for this thread. It´s nearly the same I think. Just something to add... knives are my biggest hobby. But there are others - mostly to do with any other tools. I like old tools to restore them and getting them back to use. I found an old Stubai metal-sheet-scissors at a fleamarket. Pulled the trigger at bout 0.50 €. These things cost new about 25,00 €.

But pocketknives in traditional style are my daily tools. I don´t have any (really any) need for a one-hander in super-steel and don´t need a prybar to cut an apple or opening the mail. I like the way the traditional things look and feel. I think, there´s more spirit (and even soul) in them. Especially when seeing them aging while I work with them.

I use them everywhere - on my building lot at home, in the woods, on duty (on the road), etc etc... They´re just great to use.

Kind regards
Andi
 
A lot of kindred spirits here...
I dislike the way stainless just sits there, doing nothing. A good carbon blade will grow old with me, I get wrinkles, it gets some pitting, I go grey, it turns dark. And one day my grand kids and my clients' grandkids will inherit the knives I made and the ones that look old will be the ones they treasure, the ones that are still shiny new will get thrown in the kitchen drawer.
 
Nothing wrong with liking what you want to like.

I was initially drawn to slipjoints for their beauty and variety. "Tactical" knives were all starting to look alike. After a while, I figured I oughtta take these slipjoints out of the knife roll and carry them, instead of the one hand openers. After using them everyday, the big tacticool clunkers have gotten a little cumbersome. I have come to prefer thinner slipjoints to other modern thicker folders. I still have a few one hand openers though. I haven't found that "one knife for the rest of my life" shangri-la, but I am still having a good time looking for the "one".

Y'know what, it might just be a slipjoint!
 
Tiaan Burger said:
A lot of kindred spirits here...
I dislike the way stainless just sits there, doing nothing. A good carbon blade will grow old with me, I get wrinkles, it gets some pitting, I go grey, it turns dark. And one day my grand kids and my clients' grandkids will inherit the knives I made and the ones that look old will be the ones they treasure, the ones that are still shiny new will get thrown in the kitchen drawer.
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Bingo, you hit the nail right on the head there; carbon steel matures as you do.
 
Even though I do like some modern things knives included I'm pretty old fashioned in my ways and openions!
 
I'm just glad the young guys still carry knives. There does seem to a difference in the mindset of the tacticool buys/users. It's a weapon that can baton through a brick. Those knives will come in handy if we're surrounded by rampaging 55 gal drums and the occasional rude car hood.

That said I remember seriously wanting a bug Rambo knife right after seeing first blood. Never got one, couldn't afford the buckmaster back then.

Let them use the fancy assisted knives, they'll come around eventually in their 40's.

FWIW - I carry a modded CRKT M16 (in addition to a slipjoint) when doing home remodeling. It works very well as a pry bar and it's very well built.
 
A few years back, I bought a Glock and really like it, but there's nothing wrong with my old Walther P-38.
 
Lycosa said:
A few years back, I bought a Glock and really like it, but there's nothing wrong with my old Walther P-38.
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I really like my SIG P228, but it is my only sa pistol. I have three revolvers and shoot better with them.

As for looking back, I guess I do to some extent. After all I do most of my writing with fountain pens, several of them made in the 1920s. I am obviously not opposed to modern technology, as I am typing a message to an internet board on a laptop computer, and I enjoy uploading photos of my knives taken with my son's digital camera.

While it is true that one of my favorite knives is a Kershaw Leek, I tend to gravitate toward the ones that look more like this:

6232Jul12d.jpg
 
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