Modern folder fans, experiences giving slipjoints a try?

chickenfried

chickenfried

Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
1,065
Yeah I know there's a forum. But of course they'll say I should buy a traditional slip joint.:p

I own slipjoints, a couple of SAK's. Can't go wrong with them especially when great deals are so easily found. But for more expensive knives I usually go with modern designs. Just feel you get more bang for your buck. Edge retention is important to me, I like a knife that just keeps on cutting. Convenient one handed use is also something I appreciate. More corrosion resistance is nice too.

But slipjoints appeal to me aesthetically and there's a part of me that's attracted to good old timey things. Still use a fountain pen and an automatic watch. Looking at a GEC trapper in 1095 with burnt stag or maple. 440C is an option with some GEC knives but hard to find in a model I like.

It just seems like I don't have a practical/logical reason to get one. It's more of an emotional choice. And you know sometimes reality can give your imagination a smack down:p. So looking to hear from others that had similar thoughts and how it turned out for you.
 
Nothing wrong with a knife based on aesthetics, but I know any good traditional is also a very practical. They do pretty much the exact same things as a modern folder so... both types are quite practical indeed.
 
chickenfried said:
It just seems like I don't have a practical/logical reason to get one. It's more of an emotional choice.
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Welcome to BladeForums, the land of impractical purchases haha.

Seriously, if all you have to go on is aesthetics, then that's reason enough in my opinion. I love my modern folders, flippers, framelocks, tantos, etc. But a well made, good looking traditional knife has it's own personality, style and uses. For instance, I love carrying an assisted-opening ZT, but I almost ALWAYS pair it with a 2014 GEC BladeForums Stag Jack (much love, Erik!).

If you're interested, and if you've got the funds, I say give it a shot. You may just surprise yourself.
 
chickenfried said:
Yeah I know there's a forum.
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Well, you know this is "General", not "Modern". You talk of all knives here right?
chickenfried said:
It just seems like I don't have a practical/logical reason to get one. It's more of an emotional choice. And you know sometimes reality can give your imagination a smack down:p. So looking to hear from others that had similar thoughts and how it turned out for you.
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Lottsa practical reasons for slipjoints.
Usually better slicers
More harmless gestalt
Easier on pockets
Often more comfortable in hand

Just off the top of my head.

Did I mention more harmless gestalt? Just about an hour ago I was in a store waiting for the clerk to see if he could order something. People milling around. I noticed a ragged nail and calmly took a tiny slipjoint out of my watch pocket and leisurely fixed it. That feeling's pretty sweet the first few times you do it.
 
Poor communication on my part. I'm still probably going to muck it up trying to explain what I meant. I don't mean that TSJ aren't useful knives, heck in some cases that thin blade would be better. But IMHO say at a $120 price point if I add up all the pros and cons between the two the TSJ would seem to be the less practical choice to me.

RedLynx said:
Nothing wrong with a knife based on aesthetics, but I know any good traditional is also a very practical. They do pretty much the exact same things as a modern folder so... both types are quite practical indeed.
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True, I would like to own quite a few quality slipjoints, but often the prices move me to buy a few others instead.
 
chickenfried said:
Yeah I know there's a forum. But of course they'll say I should buy a traditional slip joint.:p

I own slipjoints, a couple of SAK's. Can't go wrong with them especially when great deals are so easily found. But for more expensive knives I usually go with modern designs. Just feel you get more bang for your buck. Edge retention is important to me, I like a knife that just keeps on cutting. Convenient one handed use is also something I appreciate. More corrosion resistance is nice too.

But slipjoints appeal to me aesthetically and there's a part of me that's attracted to good old timey things. Still use a fountain pen and an automatic watch. Looking at a GEC trapper in 1095 with burnt stag or maple. 440C is an option with some GEC knives but hard to find in a model I like.

It just seems like I don't have a practical/logical reason to get one. It's more of an emotional choice. And you know sometimes reality can give your imagination a smack down:p. So looking to hear from others that had similar thoughts and how it turned out for you.
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the good news is that it is not an either/or type of decision. you can have both!

seriously though, i like and carry both. there are obviously times where having a OH opening knife is beneficial.

i won't bother speaking to all of your points above. ultimately, you won't know if you like them (and find them useful) until you get one.

as you know, the traditional subforum here is quite active. it seems like you have "the itch." so, find one you like and try it out. if you don't like it, or find it's not for you, you should be able to sell it on the exchange for not much of a loss.

EDIT: you would have to upgrade to gold membership to sell.
 
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I've tried. I do carry a sak almost everyday as a back up. I love my opinel and buck 110, but I just can't seem to get into those more traditional slip joints. I really want to love them, but I can't get my self to detach from the modern amenities like locking blade, quick deployment, and pocket clips. With that said if the timing was right and I had the chance to grab a charlow in ebony I'd do it in a heart beat. There is just something about that knife.
 
I like slipjoints quite a bit.
But when I see the giant prices, I go for high end moderns for the same price.
 
I usually stick with moderns but got myself a Northwoods Hawthorne clip point and a GEC #48 Improved Trapper. They're nice. Wish the blade stock was thinner on the Hawthorne, actually. I do like the way they look. I don't like the steel (1095). People say it's got character with the patinas, it's still certainly functional, easy to touch up; that's all true. But compared to the stuff I'm used to it's just kind of a letdown in every aspect.

My Spyderco Air is lighter, cuts better (thinnish stock + flat grind), opens with one hand, still doesn't scare people, and locks. The M4 steel is more corrosion resistant, holds a better edge, and still touches up easily on the white sharpmaker rods. Apart from aesthetics (which are really very good on the traditionals, better than the Air, especially the improved trapper IMO) I just have a hard time reaching for one of the GECs when the Air is right there.

And my Mnandi looks even better, but I've had trouble getting a decent edge on the sharpmaker and am a little hesitant to throw it on the edge pro, hah. But that's another issue.


I guess my take on it is that if you like the aesthetics, history, and tradition of them it can still be enjoyable to mix your moderns up with a traditional or carry one of each, and they're less likely to scare people if that's an issue for you. But for me personally, the performance is kind of an issue, especially the steel available in most productions. I understand custom makers are more willing to work with more moderns steels, but that's above my price range.
 
I agree with Skywalker. I had those knives early on...and now I like folders. I have purchased a couple within the last year or two, but gave them away to friends or relatives...
I'm a frame-lock kind of guy...
 
Thanks I've got my heart set on a GEC if I decide to pull the trigger.
davek14 said:
'Bout $60, D2 steel, BF dealer.
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The GEC #48 trapper or furtaker are the ones I'm considering. I know I could just buy one and release it back in the wild if I don't like it. But I'm trying to tone down being such a horse trader. Realized I would've been just fine sticking with the first nice knife I got a Benchmdade 690 or any number of great knives since then. Then I thought about what pp, shipping, and ebay fees have probably cost me over the years:p.
Skywalker31 said:
I usually stick with moderns but got myself a Northwoods Hawthorne clip point and a GEC #48 Improved Trapper. They're nice.
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For me it works like this. Slip joints to use around the sheeple, modern folder for everything else. Except in the case of an SAK, where I may need to make use of a bottle opener, awl, file, etc..
 
Meh. Carried a SAK or traditional until October of last year. When I realized there were knives out there that opened using a more efficient and less annoying system than a nail nick, were designed to better fit in my hand were much more robust, could be clipped to a pocket instead of jumping around, and used more resilient steel, I made the switch. Sure I'll still carry a SAK if I might need another tool, but I'm not going to go back to traditionals because there's no benefit whatsoever. I have no problem with people who do prefer traditionals, but I'll argue to my last breath with anyone who makes a case for their superiority for reasons outside of aesthetics and personal preference.
 
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I have and use both modern designs and slipjoints. Often I carry one of each at the same time.

I grew up using slipjoints, modern one-handers not yet having been developed. Switched over to one-handers when they became available. I've mostly switched back to slipjoints because I find it handy to have multiple blade shapes, each optimized for a different cutting chore and with the option of different edge angles. But I still find it handy to have a knife that I can open with one hand. So I often carry both.
 
I'm in the group that will happily carry one of each. Of course I like the few production blades that blend more modern touches and materials into traditional patterns. The G Sakai Fieldman Trekking Tool gives you some nice versatility with SAK style tools, good cutting efficiency with a nice, thin main blade, and great edge retention since said blade is made from ZDP-189. I got the model with wood scales, so it's also fairly handsome and often a conversation piece. That said, I would have a very hard time carrying it as my only option, because I'm deeply in love with the convenience a pocket clip and thumbstub/hole/flipper offers.
 
I have several slip joints, a few of course going way back. I think "everyone should own a couple," especially people who collect. A few examples I would never get rid of would be my Buck 110, probably my small 108 OT from back when Scrade was also Walden, they had good steel, and I was in high school. And of course my SAK's.

I, too, now prefer the modern folders both aesthetically and functionally. It's typical progression---some things really do get better.

There is something in the beauty of the pure and simple physics of a Reeve lock....even a Walker lock too. To go from friction folders to those....no wonder the moderns are so popular.
 
Many slipjoints aren't expensive compared to high end knives, but they can be pricey. It all depends on what you get. This one was around $90, but it has African blackwood covers, 2 blades, nickel silver bolsters and shield (pinned, not glued), and a number of other touches that make it cost more. GEC has some videos on how they produce knives. A lot of the steps are done by hand. They aren't cranking these out on CNC machines or automating most of the processes. There's a lot of work done by hand, and in the US that costs money.

P1000574.JPG


Gorgeous knife, always a pleasure to carry and use.
 
Today I carried an acid washed SMF, a Buck Vantage, a Case 6375 large stockman, a Case Backpocket and a Spyderco Mule on my belt. I like both modern and traditional folders. I think a traditional custom is a better buy than most of the modern ones as you can get one by a fairly famous maker for around 500 whereas you see mid techs by makers of tactical folders for more than that. YMMV
 
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