Well, it's been two weeks since I got my Buck Solo, and I have to say, I have all the knife I need. I have always been a traditional multiblade slippie type guy. Stockman, Peanut, and my favorite, the Canoe. I've had others as well, like pen knives and Trappers, and was never really into single blade knives. I own a Sodbuster Jr, but never really carry it. However, I was out shopping a couple of weeks ago, and was looking at the knives. My daughter picked out a Buck Solo, and I thought "What am I going to do with that little thing?" LOL. This from a person who owns a Peanut! Haha. Anyway, she really liked the red wood handle on it. I figured, ahh why not. So I bought it, and took it out of the package. It was nice and thin, small and pocketable, but just long enough to fit my hand comfortable. Ok, might be worth a carry. Two weeks later, it has been in my pocket and handled everything thrown at it. My main fear with single blades was if it loses it's edge when using it, I'm screwed. Having two or three blades means more sharp edges to cut with. However, that hasn't been the case. I've used the Solo day in and day out, cut envelopes, rope, food, boxes, and even used it on a fishing trip, and it hasn't let me down. A strop or two on my pants, belt, or hand and it's good to go. Granted, it helps having a good user steel like Buck's 420HC, but it has really surprised me. Also, since it has only one blade, it is really comfortable to hold, as there are no other blades folded up in the handle, and it is extremely light, since there is less steel. I'm convinced. Single blade slippies work. They handle well and carry well. Just thought I'd post my surprise thoughts on carrying a single blade slippie.
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One bladed Slipjoint review.
- Thread starter Voltron
- Start date
Coyote, it has no half stops, but it has a very smooth opening. Unlike my Buck Trio, this one has that classic slippie..... dead spot? I don't know what you call it, the space between opened and closed where the spring tension isn't really there? My Trio feels like it's pulling to close almost all the way to the open position. This one doesn't have that. It feels like a safe knife. And yes, you can pinch it open. However, I have small fingers. If you have big hands and fat fingers, it might be a little harder. Spring tension is about the same as a Vic. Not too hard, not too lazy. Just right. Feels like a really good EDC. I know Jackknife has said his father did everything with his Peanut. I feel secure in the knowledge that this guy can do just about anything I need it to. I put the Peanut in my pocket today, and switched it out. While it is shorter then my Solo, it is also heavier and bulkier. The Solo, with one blade, is a bit slimmer then the Peanut, but NOT TOO thin. One problem I always had with the Vic Cadet is that it feels too thin. The Solo is just about perfect for my hand. Dalee, I figured I have other knives, so if I don't like a single blade, then I'll just carry the others. However, I tried it and was sold. I would handle them if possible before buying. You know how it is, not every knife is for everyone. Not plugging, but if you want the red wood, I think that is exclusively at Bass Pro. However, the regular wood handled ones can be found everywhere. Great little knife.
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Glad you are happy with your new Buck... :thumbup:
I only have one slip joint that is a single blade. A Schrade 194OT. I really like this knife. I have never worried about it only having one blade, but then again if I'm going to be away from home, I always have at least one spare
Out of all the slip joints I have now, or had in the past, I've never owned a Buck.
I don't really know why, because I have other Bucks and they are great knives.
I only have one slip joint that is a single blade. A Schrade 194OT. I really like this knife. I have never worried about it only having one blade, but then again if I'm going to be away from home, I always have at least one spare
Out of all the slip joints I have now, or had in the past, I've never owned a Buck.
I don't really know why, because I have other Bucks and they are great knives.
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Thanks again Voltron! I have a Peanut, and while I don't mind the small size, I don't care for the half-stops and necessity of using the nail nicks.
I also have a Buck 55, which is really a great little knife! Blade is centered in the liners when closed, and no blade play either way when open and locked. It's smooth operating and a beautiful knife. The only thing I find inconvenient is when I'm finished cutting, I like to close a knife one-handed using my pants leg, and the lockback design of the 55 doesn't let me do that.
I think I'll be getting a Solo!
I also have a Buck 55, which is really a great little knife! Blade is centered in the liners when closed, and no blade play either way when open and locked. It's smooth operating and a beautiful knife. The only thing I find inconvenient is when I'm finished cutting, I like to close a knife one-handed using my pants leg, and the lockback design of the 55 doesn't let me do that.
I think I'll be getting a Solo!
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- Jan 7, 2003
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My single blade worries gets larger when it comes to fixed blades. Often used harder, (much harder) than my slipjoints. I carry a stone nerby while hunting and fishing and more knifes nerby when construktionworking. I realy like singlebladed knifes for their ability to pinch open. Im a southpaw and some multiblades is a little backwards to open. I most often use my indexfinger nail to open my multiblades. When used to that its just as simple and puts the knife direktly in working position.
Nice that it was your doughter that bought you that new favorit pocketknife. A heirlom has entered the rotation, with time and use its one of the family treasures.
Bosse
Nice that it was your doughter that bought you that new favorit pocketknife. A heirlom has entered the rotation, with time and use its one of the family treasures.
Bosse
Go for it, c711. Keep in mind, though, it's not as big as the Buck 55, but it IS larger then the Peanut. And Nirrebosse, LOL, my daughter didn't buy it (she's three years old), but she DID pick it out, so yes, this has some sentimental value and I never thought about it, but you are right. An heirloom HAS entered the rotation. How cool is that?
Ya know, if you really think about it, the single blade slip joint just may be the real classic design pocket knife of the ages.
The first folding knives back in the Roman days were a single folding blade to tuck in a toga someplace. In the middle ages there were specimens I saw at the British Museum in London that were just a thin single blade folded into an antler and held by a single copper pin/pivot.
All the times I was stationed in Europe when I was in the army, I'd say that the vast majority of knives I saw being taken from pockets and used in day to day life were of the single blade type. From small to not so small. Pen knife size to large Navaja's. Douk-Douk's, Opinels, Mercators, wood handle sodbusters, some sheepsfoot and spear point bladed Otto-Messer's with wood handles. Some Laguiole's here and there in South Eastern France. In fact, the only multiblade knives I clearly recall seeing in any kind of numbers were sak's. And if there was ever a hard working knife, it has to be the sodbuster!
I think the great number of knives out there working for a living are of the single blade type. Heck, in this country the single locking blade is king, and according to the son of a friend who just got back from Iraq, everyone carries a tactical knife of some sort. Benchmade, Spyderco, Buck, whatever.
A single blade can get the job done. Look at it this way; if it gets dull, go get a cup of coffee, and when your done, sharpen your knife on the mug. And theres always a car around.
Somehow our fathers, (or in you young guys case grandfathers,) went off and won WW2 with MLK knives and TL-29's that had only one real knife blade. If it got dull, they sharpened it.:thumbup:
Yeah, a single blade pocket knife can get it done. All you have to do is go make the memories with it.
The first folding knives back in the Roman days were a single folding blade to tuck in a toga someplace. In the middle ages there were specimens I saw at the British Museum in London that were just a thin single blade folded into an antler and held by a single copper pin/pivot.
All the times I was stationed in Europe when I was in the army, I'd say that the vast majority of knives I saw being taken from pockets and used in day to day life were of the single blade type. From small to not so small. Pen knife size to large Navaja's. Douk-Douk's, Opinels, Mercators, wood handle sodbusters, some sheepsfoot and spear point bladed Otto-Messer's with wood handles. Some Laguiole's here and there in South Eastern France. In fact, the only multiblade knives I clearly recall seeing in any kind of numbers were sak's. And if there was ever a hard working knife, it has to be the sodbuster!
I think the great number of knives out there working for a living are of the single blade type. Heck, in this country the single locking blade is king, and according to the son of a friend who just got back from Iraq, everyone carries a tactical knife of some sort. Benchmade, Spyderco, Buck, whatever.
A single blade can get the job done. Look at it this way; if it gets dull, go get a cup of coffee, and when your done, sharpen your knife on the mug. And theres always a car around.
Somehow our fathers, (or in you young guys case grandfathers,) went off and won WW2 with MLK knives and TL-29's that had only one real knife blade. If it got dull, they sharpened it.:thumbup:
Yeah, a single blade pocket knife can get it done. All you have to do is go make the memories with it.
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Being semi-retired, I've certainly come to the point in my life where a single blade knife is all I need. I've got an old Buck 301 Stockman that's about 35 years old. Used and abused it around the farm for many years. The main clip blade is broken off - probably used it as a pry bar. The point of the sheepsfoot is broken off - probably used it as a screwdriver. The spey is still intact - only used it for castrating pigs. The only sharpening it ever got was on the grinding wheel in the machine shed, but it cut twine on hay and straw bales, scraped whatever needed scraping, and castrated enough little porkers to make BLT's for everyone in the state of Iowa.
I no longer use a grinding wheel to sharpen my knives, and if the job calls for a pry bar or screwdriver, I get a pry bar or a screwdriver. My farm days are long behind me now. I figured there must be an easier way to make a living, so I used the G.I. Bill to get an education. Worked as an accountant for about 12 years until sitting in an office drove me completely nuts; finished out my working years as a truck driver.
Anyway, right now I'd have to say that the Case Sodbuster Jr., CV with yellow handles of course, is my favorite knife. Single blade slipjoint, no half-stops, pinch open, close on pants leg. Don't know it's in the pocket until needed, and when needed does everything asked of it. And it actually carries pretty nice in khaki's or dress pants, too. Having said that, though, I've been looking for something a tad smaller and a little more refined to use for "dress", and I'm thinking a Solo just might be it!
I no longer use a grinding wheel to sharpen my knives, and if the job calls for a pry bar or screwdriver, I get a pry bar or a screwdriver. My farm days are long behind me now. I figured there must be an easier way to make a living, so I used the G.I. Bill to get an education. Worked as an accountant for about 12 years until sitting in an office drove me completely nuts; finished out my working years as a truck driver.
Anyway, right now I'd have to say that the Case Sodbuster Jr., CV with yellow handles of course, is my favorite knife. Single blade slipjoint, no half-stops, pinch open, close on pants leg. Don't know it's in the pocket until needed, and when needed does everything asked of it. And it actually carries pretty nice in khaki's or dress pants, too. Having said that, though, I've been looking for something a tad smaller and a little more refined to use for "dress", and I'm thinking a Solo just might be it!
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I can confirm that this is still the case. Myself excluded, I can't recall ever seeing anyone use a multi-blade slipjoint other than a SAK (unless, of course, you count multi-tools).
The Solo is the knife for you, my friend. Unnoticeable in the pocket, handy and useful, and really pretty to look at. A great "non life on the farm" type of knife to carry around, as well as a classy bit of pocket jewelry to have in dress pants. One of the things I have learned on this forum as well, from reading Jackknife and others' stories, is the advantage of being unnoticed, inconspicuous. With people being afraid of EVERYTHING nowadays, it sometimes, to me, feels awkward using a Soddie Jr, a medium stockman, or a 91mm SAK. While not really "big" knives, they are big enough to elicit stares and glares from those around you. "Why do you have a weapon on you?" While many people have the "I'll carry what I want, regardless of what others say" mentality, this has always been a concern for me. I DON'T want people to be alarmed at me carrying a knife. I want to be as low profile as possible. PLUS, by carrying a small knife, I am doing two other things as well.
1)I am showing folks how handy a little pocketknife can be in everyday life.
2)I am testing and developing my own ingenuity, because this little guy is all I have to handle any cutting chore that may come along.
Our grandparents got along with a small pen knife or Peanut, and I STILL see them carrying them today. My wife's family is pretty folksy. Pipe smoking, car fixing, camping/fishing outdoorsy/do-it-yourself type guys. They have very little need for a computer, nor would they want to sit at a computer desk to use one anyway. If there's a day off, to the lake or woods they go. I've been hanging around them these past couple of months, and to a man, they all have some sort of small pocket knife with them at all times. Nothing big, nothing scary. No locks, no frills. Case, Buck, Schrade, Camillus, Imperial, Old Frost. These are the brands I see in their pockets, and their knives are VERY well used, let me tell you.
Anyway, that's why I like small knives, and the Solo is my current favorite.
Of course, I have been diagnosed lately by a prominent doctor with a rare, incurable disease. I believe he called it "gottahavemoreknives-itis", so I am not sure if the Solo will do forever, but.... well, there you go.
LOL.
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I'm totally 100% convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Solo is the absolute last knife I will ever, ever need to buy!!!
But, I am a little worried that I may have caught a touch of that same "itis" that you've been diagnosed with, Voltron! Not sure, but I suspect hangin' around the Traditionals Forum may have something to do with it. While I'm certainly no doctor, it would appear that it's a pretty common disease around these parts!
By the way, thanks everyone for the posts here - I WILL be getting a Solo, soon!
But, I am a little worried that I may have caught a touch of that same "itis" that you've been diagnosed with, Voltron! Not sure, but I suspect hangin' around the Traditionals Forum may have something to do with it. While I'm certainly no doctor, it would appear that it's a pretty common disease around these parts!
By the way, thanks everyone for the posts here - I WILL be getting a Solo, soon!