New to traditionals, not new to knives. Help me find my first.

humblerodent

humblerodent

Joined
May 28, 2011
Messages
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Hello all. I am just starting to get interested in traditional slipjoints after a long and frenzied period of collecting and using modern locking folders. One of the things that has kept me from interest before is the materials commonly used in slipjoints. I don't like jigged bone at all, but more important is the blade steel. It seems the most popular production makers use either a 420 or 440 stainless variant, HRC usually between 54-56, or a high carbon steel, 1095 or similar.

If I do get a traditional, I want a more modern high-performance stainless or semi-stainless (ATS-34, 154CM, D2, etc). I would also like ebony handles for my first. Closed length I'm looking at anywhere from 3.5"-4". Patterns that have interested me so far are cattleman, stockman, sowbelly. Blades I'm looking at Clip point, sheepsfoot, and spey, but definitely at least having both clip point and sheepsfoot.

Fit and finish are important to me, and I'm willing to pay for them (to an extent). My budget is $500, but I'd like to keep my first under $200 until I see how much I like the style.

Basically, this knife is perfect:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/996254-Ebony-Sowbelly

but out of my price range. Are there any production knives that would fit my criteria before I contact a custom maker?

Thanks so much.
 
Considering your requirements on steel, I would take a look at the Case/Bose collaboration knives.
For example, if I remember well, this year's Lanny's Clip is available in ebony as well.
Otherwise, maybe a custom.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Many Queen slipjoints use D2 and are available in a variety of patterns and handle types.
 
Would you consider African Zebrawood instead of ebony? If so, Queen may be worth looking at as they do D2.

GEC has a bunch of offerings in both Ebony and 440C.

Something to consider... One of the traditional aspects of traditional knives is their use as working knives and with that, a tradition of blades that are easy to sharpen on the job. Some materials are junk, to be sure. But many folks find that traditional steels like carbon steel and some stainless like 420HC (Bucks is especially good and heat treated in the 58-59 range, iirc) take a great edge and sharpen easily. 440C is definitely a step from those but harder to sharpen. I think of it more of a hunting knife blade, myself.

Custom or quasi-custom may be an option for you for this reason.
 
GEC #53 Cuban some in 440c, most in 1095, and they have all kind of scales. They are very well made. I have a #53 with ebony in 1095 that gets very sharp and keeps it for along time. Well under 200.
 
Queen's Schatt and Morgan File and Wire Series have ATS-34 blades.
 
Case has made some with 154 CM:

casebarlow.jpg
 
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