Modern Traditionals....;)

Chambriard knives from France would fit this niche: All stainless construction (no brass, nickel plate, carbon) and a kind of up-dated Laguoile look
 
I reckon the EKA Swede 88 (Masur) falls nicely in here...

P1010023.jpg
 
I think you could count the Case Caliber (Zytel) and black G-10 knives with as-ground stainless blades in this category, as well.
 
jackknife said:
Wouldn't the Buck 301 and 303 be perfect examples of a modern traditional?

They have synthetic scales, stainless steel bolsters and liners, stainless steel blades of good modern Bos heat treat. Yet to look at them, they are without a doubt a traditional stockman pocket knife. The Uncle Henry series of pocket knives by the late Scrade Cutlery company were modern traditionals. Your granddaddy would have recognized them in a instant, yet they were all modern materials, with delrin made to simulate stag to the point it was called staglon.

I think traditional style can be done in modern materials.

Carl.
Click to expand...

BINGO Carl! The Buck 301.

All of Carl's points are spot on. In addition,
  • Buck also switched to a three spring design
  • and they modified the cover attachment mechanism to make the knife easier to fabricate using modern methods.
  • And they switched to an ultra hollow grind, to improve the slicing and edge retention.
  • They thickened the blades to enhance the strength of the pivot.

Essentially, they completely re-engineered the design to provide enhanced manufacturability and performance, while still retaining the look and feel of a traditional stockman. I marvel every time I pick one up.
 
I was thinking Swede 88 too!

Excellent use of modern wood drying and compression methods to make something unique in feel and durability out of wood! Great design too.

Sam
 
My self-modified Buck 301. Spey to pen and lowered sheepfoot by filing kick and lowering spine.

IMG_0633.jpg

IMG_0639.jpg


My best example of "walking the line," my Kershaw Gentlemen's Knife. VG-10 and micarta lockback,
but without thumbstud or pocket clip.

KGFpartial.jpg
 
This Moki also walks the line with VG10 blade and modern-ish blade design.

100_3219_zpsa48407e4.jpg
 
Somebody said walking a thin line. Lanny's Clip, straight up, with a few modifications!

Frame - Waterjet cut Ti with Waterjet Cut Jigging
Blade and Backspring - CTS-XHP Carpenters Steel
Bronze Bearing on Pivot and Teflon Washers
Screw Together Construction

This knife is tough as nails and I use it frequently.

TacticalLanny012-1.jpg

TacticalLanny011.jpg
 
knarfeng said:

Guidelines for defining the "fine line":
Modern materials - OK - we do those anyhow.
Modern shapes - maybe.
Pocket clips - nope
thumb studs or other non-traditional opening devices - nope
Click to expand...

Looking over all these pictures, I'll add a personal (if naive and still-new-to-this) catchpoint: exposed screw heads, save for at the pivot as in scruffuk's EKA Swede 88.

Even if everything else is shiny (Firefly reference), screws in the handle are an instant visual distraction (or point of interest, depending on the context) and move the knife into "other than traditional" for me.

Very subjective, I know.

~ P.
 
As Sam noted in his first post, EnZo knives land in that in-between area of traditional and modern with their designs and materials. I just received a PK70 in curly birch, and it is a really nice knife. Slipjoint, Scandi grind blade with half stops in S30V with a removable pocket clip. I don't have a pic yet, but the birch handles are highly figured, fit and finish is first rate.

EnZo also makes models with single bolsters, no clip and full flat grinds. I'm thinking about getting one of their kits now, though I don't know how much free time I'll have with another 6 credits this semester ;)

And as Will noted:

willgoy said:
Chambriard knives from France would fit this niche: All stainless construction (no brass, nickel plate, carbon) and a kind of up-dated Laguoile look
Click to expand...

A beautiful knife for sure:

thiers.jpg
 
Even with the chestnut bone scales, I thought that the Case Lanny's Clip I got was walking a fine line modernized and traditional. Yeah, yeah, I like my Tribal Spear, but it just seems old timey to me. The Lanny's Clip has really grown on me, once I started carrying it, and I like it, but it is more in the modern realm than the other annual collaborations I own.
 
pertinux said:
Even if everything else is shiny (Firefly reference), ~ P.
Click to expand...

Shiny. Let's be knife guys (and knife gals ;)).

Didn't Jayne have a bowie in Firefly that he talked to?

Firefly-TV-2002-prop-weapons.jpg


Looks like an okay Rough Rider bowie, except for the scallops on the top, and the thick hollow grind.
 
I've had some of John's knives, they look good and perform well. Old timey Kepharts are my favorites, and he does a good job.
 
ptradeco said:
Somebody said walking a thin line. Lanny's Clip, straight up, with a few modifications!

Frame - Waterjet cut Ti with Waterjet Cut Jigging
Blade and Backspring - CTS-XHP Carpenters Steel
Bronze Bearing on Pivot and Teflon Washers
Screw Together Construction

This knife is tough as nails and I use it frequently.

TacticalLanny012-1.jpg

TacticalLanny011.jpg
Click to expand...

Wow !! I have seen the future.
 
I would like to see a traditional pattern with a removable pivot pin. One that you can tighten up with a Torx or something to take out wobble. Remove the blade to clean out crud etc but remain otherwise traditional in every other way. That would be a very interesting knife indeed!
 
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