I never understood the need to choose between traditional and modern designs; it's a knife, not a woman and you can have more than one.
Amen, brother!
I grew up in a time where we still carried small folders to school. No waving it around, but probably about a quarter of us carried something in our pockets to cut those nagging things that needed to be cut from time to time. I always had a knife in my pocket.
Started in construction, and carried various CASE folders. Settled on a large copperhead, and carried that for many years. The BUCK folder came bursting onto the scene, and it was a helluva knife, but too big to be comfortable for me. However, it quickly became a jobsite staple. I stuck with my copperhead. As I moved up the ladder from being a laborer, I didn't want to carry something in my pants that looked like I was carrying a piece of rebar. The CASE was big enough that it wore two white spots on my front pockets of every single pair of blue jeans I owned where the bolsters sat while carrying. I thought I looked a rube and frankly didn't need a big knife as I became a cub superintendent.
Onto smaller knives. I bought my first mini canoe, which really hit the sweet spot. Plenty of blade, both large and small. That little knife did every thing I needed it to do and more. It rarely left my pocket except when in need of a fresh edge (weekend tool maintenance). Later I bought several small knives of all variety, and liked some of them, but gave others away.
But I also have a few knives of the modern one-hand opening variety. They have their uses and moreover they work. I use and carry all types and don't fret about it one bit. The way I see it the only thing that is universally traditional about knives is that at one time or other, people everywhere used to carry them. So when I see another person carry a knife I get a little excited. The type of knife is a small matter. The important thing is that I have encountered a kindred soul that recognizes the utility and age old wisdom of keeping a sharp, cutting tool close at hand.
- Christian
I do, too. I can buy a knife that I can use for knife work, and all other manner of things that knives
shouldn't do very inexpensively. I have no attachment to my RAT 1, etc., and they see all the bad things that a knife shouldn't be used to do. But they are a hard use utility tool, (honestly, I don't want to cut wet, sandy, fiberglass load strapping with my DB Barlow or CASE peanut) and can easily be brought up to working condition. I admire the fact that I can clean up my hard use knives with charcoal starter, then put a new edge on them and then a drop or two of oil on the joint and I am back in business. That being said, I always carry a small traditional in tandem for "knife only" work.
I have always gotten a kick out of being somewhere and pulling out my knife to cut my cigar, sharpen a pencil, cut open a box, etc., and have someone ask me about it. I love it if they pull any knife out of their pocket that they are proud of, regardless of make or model. And I know we will have a lot to talk about if I see a knife that has been beat to hell and back but still has a nice, clean, polished edge on a well worn blade. That's a knife guy. We are likely to be friends right off the bat.
Given one style of knife, I would certainly go with a traditional. But thanks to the powers that be that we don't have to do that!
Robert
so I bought a Swiss Champ and hung it off my belt 24/7. As an IT guy it was useful for some of the tools in computer repair and it never raised an eyebrow. The only other knives I bought up until last year were some sort of SAK, and then I rediscovered Case because of their BSA series. Then I was idly web surfing one night and discovered the Trapperlock. Simultaneously one of the watch sites I visit had an off-topic discussion on one handed folders. That's how I discovered Benchmade, Spyderco and Kershaw.
