New to Slippies.

Jax718

Jax718

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Joined
Jan 19, 2008
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I am new to Slip Joints for the most part (had a few when I was a kid) and wanted to know what companies make the best production knives? I am familiar with Case knives and have owned a few, I have heard of Queen and Boker but don't know much about them. I am looking for quality in terms of fit and finish, blade steel & handle materials, and attention to detail. I am starting to prefer the traditional folder more and more and would like to start with a few production pieces before exploring the customs but Im not sure what companies are most reputable with good quality. Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Coonskinner said:
You can also troll the Bay for vintage Schrades.
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vintage camillus too, buck makes some good slipjoints too...
Schatt & Morgan, GEC, Canal Street
Hard to beat case though, nice selection of patterns and handle materials, mostly stainless with a few offering is CV
good luck
ivan
 
GEC, hands down.
Fantastic materials and workmanship, for a good price. A #73 single blade is a good place to start!
 
Ag Russell has an excellent selection of slipjoints from various makers in his web store. Also Boker makes very nice knives in both stainless and carbon steel.
 
Everyone's made some great suggestions.

I think, 1st, you need to figure out what you want to spend, then work from there. Most here, myself included, will suggest carbon steel blade slippies.

If on a budget & you want 2 or more blades, I'd suggest Case, Boker, Buck (Certain ones), & I'm sure I'm forgetting others. Another one I forgot are Henckel red shields. I believe those are made by Boker & are their carbon blade versions. I had a Whittler of theirs & it was very good.

If you are willing to spend a little more ($50+ or so), then some of the German brands (Made in Germany with carbon blades) & Queen.

Up from there (Say, $50-100+), then GEC, Schatt&Morgan, A.G. Russell, & some others.

Of course, once you really get into them, then there are some very good makers on this Forum, & some are very reasonably priced, IMHO.

Good luck & enjoy.
 
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A guy I work with got the bug. his first buy was a Case Copperlock in barnboard bone. He's into wood carving so his next knife was a Case Ducks Unlimited peanut. He loved that knife until I showed him GEC. He did some loking around and bought a small barlow in bacote wood. It's by far his new favorite.
 
Lots of great suggestions already. A lot depends on how much you want to spend...
There are way to many quality knives available to narrow it down to just one knife. Besides that, after you buy one , you will buy another :D

If you do decide to pick up a Schrade, make sure that it is an original.
After the company closed and another company took over the name, production of Schrades went overseas.
The originals used 1095 carbon steel, as well as some stainless steel.
The 1095, and the way the blades were ground made these a slicin machine IMHO.

If you do decide on a Schrade, visit the Schrade subforum in the Manufacturers section You can find out anything you want to know about them there. Buck and Boker also have a subforum in the Manufacturers section

Enjoy your search, it will be a lot of fun. Don't forget to post pics of the one you decide to get
 
Vintage Old Timer by Schrade would be my choice. A 34OT or a 8OT would be a good slippie and they can be found on the bay in unused condition.
 
if you're going to jump into slippies check out the gecs. the quality equals any of the oldies & surpasses all modern makers. you can go to gun& knife shows & look at whats available. remember that a knife can be awful pretty & cut like a wet biscuit.
 
Thanks for all the info guys, I am looking at a couple from GEC and Schatt & Morgan, and one Case Select. Does anyone know if the Case Selects are worth the extra price? I will let you know what I decide on.:thumbup:
 
I'll give another nod to Buck. Their American made 300 series are great, relatively inexpensive, working knives. And from what I've heard, the Chinese 370 series is great too and offers more patterns than the American made series, but I've yet to have a chance to try one out.
 
Jax718 said:
Thanks for all the info guys, I am looking at a couple from GEC and Schatt & Morgan, and one Case Select. Does anyone know if the Case Selects are worth the extra price? I will let you know what I decide on.:thumbup:
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I can't comment on the Case Selects as I've never had one, or heard much feedback about them. However, Case does make some collaborations with T. Bose that are terrific. I think most are ats-34 steel and fit and finish is suppose to be right up with a lot of customs...
They are a little hard to find, but they do pop up once in awhile
 
i just recently bought my first slippie. i did alot of research in here before i bought anything. i knew i wanted carbon steel with full flat ground blades, impeccable fit and finish, and less than $200. i wound up getting a GEC and frankly other than a desire for a damascus Case i don't see myself straying from this brand. all the hype is well deserved.
 
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