Modern Traditionals....;)

If an artificial intelligence robot could make knives using traditional materials and methods, and no human input, is that more traditional than a single human craftsman using modern materials and methods to make a knife by hand?

I think a lot of this “what is traditional” is based on aesthetics and very parochial opinions.
 
Elgatodeacero said:
If an artificial intelligence robot could make knives using traditional materials and methods, and no human input, is that more traditional than a single human craftsman using modern materials and methods to make a knife by hand?

I think a lot of this “what is traditional” is based on aesthetics and very parochial opinions.
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Good point. Once we start defining exactly what makes a knife traditional, then we can debate the minutia right up until our kids change the entire definition for us.
 
lambertiana said:
Who makes the Fällkniven folders? I heard that they are made in Japan, and if the quality is what you say, it makes me wonder if they are made by Moki.

The only reason I don't have any yet (besides a U2) is the price. One day...
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From what I've read Fallknivens are all Japanese made. The steels, VG10, 3G, CoS are Japanese per some internet sources. Fallkniven used to state country of origin but no longer. When they did they said Swedish design and testing, Japanese super steel and construction.
 
Here's some debate material. Both traditional but both very modern
dm0ZtvN.jpg
 
brownshoe said:
From what I've read Fallknivens are all Japanese made. The steels, VG10, 3G, CoS are Japanese per some internet sources. Fallkniven used to state country of origin but no longer. When they did they said Swedish design and testing, Japanese super steel and construction.
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This is probably correct; but they are still marking many patterns (the ones it would make most sense were Japanese) "Sweden" on the blade with no indication anywhere else to the contrary.
 
RayseM said:
I pretty much agree with all of your post here JohnDF. That this thread is called Modern Traditionals....;)has bought the postings some slack and it has been fun to see some of the TRADITIONAL "cousins" being posted.

On the subject of screws/traditional though :rolleyes: and at the risk of being a nudnik, I don't understand how the kind of screw is a factor. Weren't TRADITIONAL knives held together with pins and so isn't any screw is an upgrade to modern? Just sayin' that in my totally subjective and humble opinion I would not pass on a knife as Traditional if the scales were held on with torx, all other considerations being indisputably traditional to my father's and grandfather's days. :thumbsup:

Ray
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This is exactly how I see it. I wouldn't have posted the Fällkniven GP in any other thread on this subforum. But modern traditional - at least to me - means some more degrees of freedom (here the liner lock) while still being true to the spirit of traditional knife designs.

But I apologize if I offended anybody with my post.
 
RayseM said:
I pretty much agree with all of your post here JohnDF. That this thread is c.alled Modern Traditionals....;)has bought the postings some slack and it has been fun to see some of the TRADITIONAL "cousins" being posted.

On the subject of screws/traditional though :rolleyes: and at the risk of being a nudnik, I don't understand how the kind of screw is a factor. Weren't TRADITIONAL knives held together with pins and so isn't any screw is an upgrade to modern? Just sayin' that in my totally subjective and humble opinion I would not pass on a knife as Traditional if the scales were held on with torx, all other considerations being indisputably traditional to my father's and grandfather's days. :thumbsup:

Ray
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Miller Brothers used screws to hold the scales on some of their knives, and they stopped making cutlery in 1926. Screw construction dates back quite a long time.
 
To paraphrase Justice Potter Stewart, I may not be able to define it, but I know a traditional knife when I see one.

Most of us will agree that a slippie made in the 19th century is a traditional, while a Sebanza 21 is not: in between those extremes it becomes a subjective decision because there is no one universal definition of 'traditional pocket knife'.

That's what makes this thread so much fun, seeing what we individually consider as fits the definition.
 
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Case in point on what makes a knife 'traditional', the mark side of this Case oozes traditional,
221005_221009.jpg

Flip it over though and you'll find a pocket clip, enough to outlaw it on this subforum. That's a modern traditional to me, and if it were to catch on then at some point becomes traditional, period. Brings to mind another luminary by the name of Darwin.
 
knifeswapper said:
They do look Moki, but some are marked Sweden and some are not marked. A bit like the Bluegrass Cutlery bit - not sure we'll ever know exactly what is done where.
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All Fällkniven knives are made in Japan. The folders by Moki and the fixed knives by Hattori.
When it is written SWEDEN on the blades, it refers to Fällkniven HQ and not to where they are made.
A bit confusing maybe, but Eric Hjortberger explained that they declare country of origin in the customs declaration according to US laws.

Regards
Mikael
 
Mikael W said:
All Fällkniven knives are made in Japan. The folders by Moki and the fixed knives by Hattori.
When it is written SWEDEN on the blades, it refers to Fällkniven HQ and not to where they are made.
A bit confusing maybe, but Eric Hjortberger explained that they declare country of origin in the customs declaration according to US laws.

Regards
Mikael
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There are several solutions that would be clear for end customers. End customers don't see customs declarations. Many times if it seems like brands are withholding particular information; customers wonder what else they are withholding. But this is good information.
 
knifeswapper said:
There are several solutions that would be clear for end customers. End customers don't see customs declarations. Many times if it seems like brands are withholding particular information; customers wonder what else they are withholding. But this is good information.
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Fällkniven AB has always been upfront with information, when I as an endconsumer has been asking questions.
Let us remember that FK is a small Swedish brand on a worldwide market.
I think it is up to the distributors to inform the dealers and the dealers job is to inform the endconsumers.

Regards
Mikael
 
knifeswapper said:
This is probably correct; but they are still marking many patterns (the ones it would make most sense were Japanese) "Sweden" on the blade with no indication anywhere else to the contrary.
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European laws allow to say a product is "made in" a country as long as there is a certain percentage of added value (more than 50%, can vary with the product) made in the said country. This allows some German makers and probably French as well to stamp "made in Germany or "made in France". The sizeable difference being that the steel does not come from Japan...
A clue : "made in Europe" most of times hides it is made in Turkey, which is not exactly in Europe...
 
Jolipapa said:
European laws allow to say a product is "made in" a country as long as there is a certain percentage of added value (more than 50%, can vary with the product) made in the said country. This allows some German makers and probably French as well to stamp "made in Germany or "made in France". The sizeable difference being that the steel does not come from Japan...
A clue : "made in Europe" most of times hides it is made in Turkey, which is not exactly in Europe...
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Fällkniven AB has not marked their blades with "made in Sweden".
They have never been made here.
The first F1's were made by Linder in Germany.
Production of the knives then moved to Japan.

Regards
Mikael
 
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