Modern materials in tradtional knives

[SubSpace]

One of the reasons I favor traditional pocket knife patterns over modern tacticals is the link to the past. To the days of my grandfather. To a time when life may not have been easier, but perhaps it was simpler. Slower.

My EDC is a CV peanut in chestnut bone, but it's one of four nuts in my collection. I've got a stag damascus that sees special duty, and a blue bone tru-sharp that was a gift. But while at the Case/Zippo factory I purchased a black g10 peanut with as-ground tru-sharp blades.

It's a sweet little knife, but it got me thinking--

Is it traditional?

G10 is a modern handle material. And the blades, being stainless, would not have met my grandfather's standards. I was just wondering how you all thought of modern materials like g10 being incorporated into traditional patterns. I've even seen peanuts with VG-10 steel from Japan. Would that be traditional?

Either way, I love my little g10 peanut. But I'm still carrying the bone CV.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I think G10 is the modern answer to delrin (and delrin the answer to the preceding 'synthetic'/bakelite/celluloid), in terms of it's widespread availability and acceptance as a handle material for traditional pocketknives. And I also believe, had excellent stainless alloys like VG-10 been available, they would've been enthusiastically embraced by makers way back when. The 'old' stainless steels weren't very popular for good reason, even though 'stainless' steel itself is almost 100 years old. So long as the basic pattern & design remains faithful to it's roots, I have no problem calling a G10-scaled and VG-10-bladed peanut 'traditional'.

A large number of modern 'traditional' customs, many of which get a whole bunch of (well-deserved) recognition is this very forum, are made with these same 'modern' materials. I think that speaks volumes.

 

[Railsplitter]

I like modern materials on traditional knives. Times are always changing and I see nothing wrong with a few updates here and there. As long as the patterns themselves and materials like Stag, Bone, carbon steel, etc. remain an option I think it's great that we have these other choices.

I have one of those Black G10 Peanuts and I think it is an outstanding little knife. I very much like the overall look and feel of it. There will come a day when the Black G10 Peanut is long since discontinued and then it will be traditional if it isn't already.

 

[kc custom]

I think G10 is the modern answer to delrin (and delrin the answer to the preceding 'synthetic'/bakelite/celluloid), in terms of it's widespread availability and acceptance as a handle material for traditional pocketknives. And I also believe, had excellent stainless alloys like VG-10 been available, they would've been enthusiastically embraced by makers way back when. The 'old' stainless steels weren't very popular for good reason, even though 'stainless' steel itself is almost 100 years old. So long as the basic pattern & design remains faithful to it's roots, I have no problem calling a G10-scaled and VG-10-bladed peanut 'traditional'.

A large number of modern 'traditional' customs, many of which get a whole bunch of (well-deserved) recognition is this very forum, are made with these same 'modern' materials. I think that speaks volumes.

Aside from the above statement we could go to the moon and back with personal preferences
Ken.

 

[JAB]

Have a look at this thread for some views on the matter.

 

[jackknife]

G10 is a modern handle material. And the blades, being stainless, would not have met my grandfather's standards. I was just wondering how you all thought of modern materials like g10 being incorporated into traditional patterns. I've even seen peanuts with VG-10 steel from Japan. Would that be traditional?

Sure it would.

I don't think that the materials alone make a traditional pocket knife. If that were so, then a tactical one hand opening knife made from carbon steel and jigged bone handles would fit the bill. But it don't. For about 25 years, my edc was a Buck 301 stockman. It had black saw cut delrin scales and stainless steel blades. But it was a very steriotypical stockman. It would have been recognized as such by any 1880's cowboy, and that's the test for me. If it looks like something my great granddaddy would have recognized, then it must be a traditional pattern.

I can't remember who said it, but there was a semi famous quote about art. It went something like; "I don't know how to describe it, but I know it when I see it."

That's kind of how I feel about traditional knives.

Carl.