Modern folder fans, experiences giving slipjoints a try?

When I carry one of my modern folders, I almost always have a traditional in my other pocket for regular duty. They are classical, practical, and non tactical.
 
I grew up with slipjoints, still have my old SAK, but I was VERY happy when better designs came along.

I do love seeing some of the custom made stuff though.
 
Well, I carry a small fixed blade pretty much religiously... So to me most one-handed modern folders have an unnecessarily thick blade stock for my needs. They're generally trying to replace a fixed blade knife in a folder pattern. I prefer my small fixed blade for that, but slipjoints have a practical superiority in the area of blade thickness: They're just excellent slicers. So I like to carry some variety of slipjoint along with my fixed blade.

Unfortunately, it does leave me with kind of a lack of need for any modern folders, a lot of which seem really cool lol
 
A few examples of modern slip-joints.

049_zpsd677ebd5.jpg

sanrenmu9054mucgp_zps8fe8d6f8.jpg

004s_zpsccee5733.jpg

srm4107sux_lp_1_zpscc765f56.jpg

magnumm3_zps11ad8bf6.jpg

magnumm2_zps98585c92.jpg

Plenty of modern designs to choose from in the slip-joint from small and inoffensive to the large and scary.
 
Last edited:
I grew up with traditional knives and as a result I have a natural comfort level with them in terms of their functionality and use. Nail nicks don't bother me one bit...part of being a traditional knife. Not really looking for speed. But I also find moderns quite useful as well and I do like the easy opening functionality, choices of many of the newer steels, and so forth available with moderns. So, I generally carry a modern and a slip joint all the time (normal daily wear clothes).

With traditionals, my favorite pattern are Trappers. I like the two blades (use one mostly and have a sharp spare). You don't have to buy GEC. There are less costly brands. But on average, you won't find a better made factory slip joint than a GEC.

I tend to like larger slip joints and as a result, the price tends to range from $100-$130 for traditional materials with GEC or even Queen. For example, I just purchased a S&M (4.25" closed) Gunstock Jack with stag. I love the feel of this knife. But it is sort of add to the pile thing as my regular GEC carry knife is a #42. I substitute #42 for my ZT or Native 5 from time to time and carry it in a leather pocket slip. Pretty much talking the same sort of size for me whether it be modern or traditional. I almost always have a 111mm SAK in my pocket along with the other knife. It gets used the most and abused at times. I feel naked without my SAK.

My suggestion is to think in terms of carrying two knives after you make the traditional step. Keep the convenience of the modern.... go with the flow and see how you like things.
 
SadSappySucker said:
I've tried. I do carry a sak almost everyday as a back up. <snip> 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.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree with you about the Charlow's. There is something very American and classic about a well made barlow knife and the Charlows made by GEC are a great example. Charlie has varied the blades and scales so much with different runs that if they were available, there is a great amount of variety. I have one of them unlike many over in the traditional forum that have more. Mine is a yellow camel bone which I thought was kind of different and different with classic materials is appealing to me. The "problem" I have with them is that they are generally 3.5" closed length and I like a larger slip joint. Hence, my Charlow just sits in it's box for me to fondle from time to time. Yeah, you should pick up one and scratch that itch.

The Northwoods Madison Barlow is more to my liking in terms of using. Have two; one jigged bone and one ivory.

As far as the SAK goes, mine is primary and the modern is the backup. I cut 90% of everything I cut with a single SAK.
 
I just can't get into them right now. I understand the aesthetic beauty, higher end materials and craftsmanship etc. But I am not there at the moment. Overall I prefer something tougher and more rugged\utilitarian. Who knows what the future will bring. I know for a fact that my taste in cutting tools has changed\refined over time. So I have to keep an open mind in this regard.
 
I carry a slipjoint and a Lockback daily. Most are Barlow's, Jack's , Stockmans or SAKS. made by Case,Imperial, Saber, OT, Cutco and Sak. Slipjoints were all I carried till the 1990s when I got my only Spydeco lockback.
 
I like to have a variety. My two main "modern" pocket knives I'll carry are a blue Endura and a buck vantage. I've mostly switched to small fixed blade carry for work purposes( izula, bk24) just because it's easy to pull it out of the sheath, cut box open, resheath. But I also keep a case medium stockman in my right pocket for other small tasks. I use it to cut fruit and such. But it's just nice to have whatever option. My daily carry just depends on what mood I'm in. You don't have to spend a whole bunch of money for a good usuable slipjoint. I think my case was like $35. And you can find old slipjoints on eBay for $10. My other favorite is a kingston slippy I found in a pile of junk at my great grandpas house.
 
I grew up with slip J's , but with the advent of lockable knives with a clip and fast deployment came along , I don't use them much anymore. I always admired 4" stockmans and have some of those I bought in the last few years , but they never made it into the rotation much.

Where I live , it's pretty much impossible to find a good quality slipjoint in carbon steel , tool steel , or of any substantial quality except for the ubiquitous Bucks you see in clampacks ( 300 series I believe.) The 301 is the one I would use if I was going to go that route.
 
I never give a slip joint/non locking knife a thought. I personally never see a need for one. But buy and carry what works for you&#55357;&#56397;&#55357;&#56397;
 
Last edited:
They're definitely useful, I was cutting up boxes with my modern the other day. Insert any ____ modern, this time around it was the large sebenza I just got. That was fine and dandy for the cardboard, then I had to tie up. I was cutting up twine with the Sebenza and felt foolish. I put that away and rotated in the pen blade of my whittler traditional. It was more appropriate for the job. Screw the one knife philosophy, I have too much fun rotating different styles of knives for various jobs.

PS the single bladed trapper is my favorite pattern of all traditionals. It's literally a do it all knife!
 
I grew up with slipjoints as well. I still have a Schrade large stockman I bought in the 80's and a SAK in my hiking bag (mostly for the saw). I don't carry them anymore, even my keychain knife locks and is one hand opening.
 
Growing up the only Lockbacks we saw were Buck 110 and that is a lot of knife. I understand the under 40 crowd loving those Lockbacks since they come in all shapes and sizes the past 20 years.
 
I see no reason not to enjoys the benefits of both slipjoints and modern folders. Indeed, I own and often carry both.
 
When I first got into knives, I ignored traditionals. I got one as a throw-in during a trade, and it was all downhill (or uphill?) from there! I now have more traditional knives vs the so called modern knives, though I use both and almost always have one of each one me. For example, right now I have a butterbean and a Benchmade 940 in my pocket.......
 
The appeal of flicking open a modern folder with a little thumb pressure and the flick of your wrist is very intoxicating and fun to do! Although working in an office is not the best environment for that kind of deployment so I have started researching and buying some slip joint knives and really starting to appreciate carrying a knife that is not going to scare someone when I open it in an office setting. So I now have a Opinel #8 in my desk drawer for my daily apple and will be carrying my newly purchased Northwood Indian River Jack to work. Guess it just boils down to what you use a knife for daily verses what kind of knife you enjoy owning just for the joy of owning. Just bought a small Buck Vantage Pro.
 
i got one as a gift from my dad, its a knife he had for a long time and handed it down to me, its nothing special as he didnt have much money when he got it 40+ years ago but it of course has lots of sentimental value which IMO is far more valuable than a knife with "real" value.
I did carry it for a week or so as well as a few days now and then. The main reason i dont carry it is im afraid of losing it, the second is its just too difficult to use. I grew up on knives that can be easily opened and closed one handed. If i try hard and pay attention i can open it one handed but its hard to do and dangerous.
I hope one day i can pass it down to mine or my brothers kid if either of us have any. I think that would be the only reason i would buy one, to use it as an heirloom. they are classic and the design will always be appreciated by any true knife enthusiast. I dont think a tactical knife would have the same appeal generation after generation. But me personally a really nice quality fixed blade would be my preferred heirloom knife
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top