Picking my first slip-joint

[Nick18]

Hello fellow members!

I've always edc'd locking, modern knives and I must say I've been dying to try out having a traditional on me, the thing is, I know nothing about them, so I want to ask all the old timers on this forum : if you only had one knife to edc, what would it be? I thought maybe a peanut was a good pattern to start with, but I do not know how big, small it is, the fisherman in me also like the trappers. I heard Case knives are verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry good, but since money is tight I will probably buy a Rought rider first to test the pattern.

 

[Django.cj]

The peanut is popular around here. I'm not a huge fan personally, it's too tiny in my hand to get a decent grip. I like a nice jack; the GEC Powderhorn Jack is my favorite. Case's trapper is around the same size, maybe a bit bigger.

I like Case. They're not high end, perfect fit and finish; but they're a damn solid knife that will serve a lifetime. They're generally not expensive either.

RR is a great way to test out a pattern.

 

[kamagong]

If I had to make due with a single knife I'd choose a Great Eastern Scout. It's the middle knife in the picture.

It's a good sized knife. Not too big, not too little. Just right.

- Christian

 

[lutejones]

Hey Nick I'll recommend you something between 3 and 4 inches closed and two blades.
Ideally, for me anyway, 3 3/8" to 3 5/8" clip main and pen secondary(or coping/sheepsfoot).
Very easy to carry and very nice all around.
At first when coming from modern folders people tend to buy large (over 4" inches) slippies, but they are way too bulky for me.
Enjoy the trip onto traditionals and be careful with your wallet because there are some very beautiful knives out there.
Mateo

 

[Ernie1980]

I used to only carry locking folders, but then tried a slipjoint and found them to be perfect for light carry and work. My favorite pattern is the sodbuster, they are readily available and easy to open and use. I bought a couple of traditionals that could only be opened by my nail, and they quickly went away. If you are used to lockers (which tend to be easy to open) stick to a traditional that is "pinchable". Just my .02

 

[sierracharlie]

Get a custom from one of the makers here. You will have a few months to a few years to save your money. I like the Swayback Jack, the Wharncliff Trapper, and the Panama Trapper. You can also snag one of the Case Tony Bose knives and be very happy for $200 or maybe $300. You can find bargains in the for exchange section often.

You are in the right place, Nick. Welcome to the Forum.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Try a Case Sodbuster in CV to get the traditional experience, then by a Case Swayback Jack to compliment it, both knives can be had for under a $100 for the pair if ya look around.

 

[pertinux]

Hey Nick I'll recommend you something between 3 and 4 inches closed and two blades.
Ideally, for me anyway, 3 3/8" to 3 5/8" clip main and pen secondary(or coping/sheepsfoot).
Very easy to carry and very nice all around.

If you are used to lockers (which tend to be easy to open) stick to a traditional that is "pinchable". Just my .02

With the above in mind (good recommendations, both), I'd look at Case's Mini Wharncliffe Trapper:

It's a great mid-sized (3.5") do-anything knife. The wharncliffe blade, while technically the secondary, almost feels like the primary blade because it's so easy to pinch open.

Welcome, and have fun.

~ P.

 

[Cap’n Smudge]

I typically carry a small fixed blade and at least one traditional. I had never owned a case knife until this year. In the past I would carry an old, beat to hell and back, schrade OT. Honestly, fit and finish on my old schrade and buck stockmans is better than F&F on the case knives I own. That being said, I sit here typing this with a case SB jr CV in one pocket, a case large stockman in the other pocket. There is a SAK in my coat and a BK 14 in my back pocket. The case knives are solid and I really love the large stockman. It is bigger than my schrade 8OT and my buck 301.

 

[HuntBomb]

Anything from GEC.
3.5-4 inch closed are my favorite slipjoint sizes, although all sizes will get my attention.
My recommendation would be GEC's #76 Outlaw (Gunstock Jack). I have one in coco and it fits perfectly in hand.

 

[colekmiller11]

So I'm not an old timer. But I'm offering my opinion up anyway . I'd go with a Case 6375 Stock man in CV. Now, being one who comes fresh from more modern knives, SS may appeal to you more, but I'd go with CV. And those three blades on the stockman can take pretty much anything you put them up to.

 

[TLARbb]

I like ~P's suggestion of the Case wharncliffe mini trapper. I have one just like the one in her picture and like it a lot. I think the 62032 Texas jack is worth your consideration as well.

Here is a photo of one I used to own. (I sent it to a forum member as a gift.)

But, I have bought another to replace it.

Ed J

 

[whetrock]

A Peanut is a great pattern by all means, and very useful for a number of people. With that being said, given the wide array of patterns in the traditional world, some may or may not be for you. I'd say if you wanted an entry level traditional knife, you might find something a bit more substantial, easier to use at first. I still don't feel like I can use the Peanut as well as a Jack, seeing as I have slightly above average hands. If I was to rid myself of all of my traditional knives with the exception of one, my GEC Tidioute #56 Dogleg Jack would be the one that would stay. Jackknives in general are quite useful IMHO, and not overly specific, I'd go as far as to call them a "Jack of all trades", good for a lot of stuff, but not grand for really anything.

 

[mnblade]

I've always edc'd locking, modern knives and I must say I've been dying to try out having a traditional on me, the thing is, I know nothing about them, so I want to ask all the old timers on this forum : if you only had one knife to edc, what would it be? I thought maybe a peanut was a good pattern to start with, but I do not know how big, small it is, the fisherman in me also like the trappers.

To give any sort of recommendation, we need to at least know what general size you're interested in. There's a HUGE difference between, say, a peanut and a full-sized trapper. Also, what sort of pants do you generally wear. Jeans most days, or do you work in an office and wear dress pants?

-- Mark

 

[jackknife]

To give any sort of recommendation, we need to at least know what general size you're interested in. There's a HUGE difference between, say, a peanut and a full-sized trapper. Also, what sort of pants do you generally wear. Jeans most days, or do you work in an office and wear dress pants?

-- Mark

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

The kind of knife you will like best will very much depend on who you are, what you do, and how you usually dress. A suit in a city working in an office is vastly different than a delivery truck driver in the suburbs or rural route. To start off anfd get the general flavor of a traditional pocket knife, start off with a two blade jack in the nieghborhood of 3 and 1/2 inches closed. This can vary from 3 1/4 to 3/7/8th like Buck 301 stockman. Which by the way, is a great knife. Buck makes a stockman pattern in 3 7/8 and a bit smaller 3 1/4 for the 303 cadet. Extremely good working knives.

Something in the mid 3 inch range and not over 3 ounces is a good place to start.

Then there's the European traditionals. The Douk-Douk, Opinel, Mercator K55, Patadda's, and the sodbuster pattern that comes from Germany and eastern Europe a couple hundred years ago. You can go a very long way and not find a better knife than an Opinel. Insanely light weight for their size, sturdy, and you can use it either as a friction folder or lock blade. And very few knives cut like an Opinel. There's a zillion traditional patterns, and they all work great.

Carl.

 

[black mamba]

I agree with pertinux and TLARbb on the Case Wharncliffe mini-trapper. Unfortunately, I don't think Rough Rider makes one that you could try for less money than the ~$50 the Case costs. But RR does make a lot of different medium stockmen (3-9/16" closed), which have not only the clip and sheepfoot blades, but also a spey or pen blade. They have a particularly pocket friendly profile as they have nearly sunken joints. Here are some of mine.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

jackknife is right, it really depends on what you want.

I'll give you my two cents. A Case Yellow CV Sodbuster Jr will run you about $25 shipped if you look and is a fine cutting knive. The blade will patina and it carrys pretty well. Peanuts, Alox Cadets, Canoes, etc might carry a little easier, but the Sod Buster is a good and inexpensive knife.

Opinels are cheaper and work great too. A number 8 is a good size one.

 

[Brian.Evans]

I used to carry this knife almost every day. It was my favorite knife. It cut a lot of airbag tethers, seatbelts, an occasional pant leg on duty. It never failed me once. Now that I'm making knives, I mostly only carry what I make.

It's an Imperial EO Jack, made 1936-52. Bone covers, carbon steel. It gets razor sharp easily.

Nick, I know what it's like for money to be tight. Today my daughter had surgery. I carried her peanut and a very special Opinel given to me by a very special man I consider a friend. That Opi was given to me at a very dark time in my life. It is my Rough Dirt Road knife. At the end of every dirt road is a field of flowers.

Long way to say it, but if you want this vintage, American made piece of beauty in steel, email me your address. It's yours man.

 

[300Bucks]

Guys as an exclusive collector to two companies I try to stay out of these threads, UNLESS someone like Carl says something I will help finish. So, yes for a first timer a good'ole American made 303 in one of its four handle forms would be a great first folder, do anything starter, and won't cost an arm and a leg. Of course I always favor the ole black sawcut scale because it is the definition of 'tough'. The others are ok also. You can find them all over even in marts. If they are in bubble packs shake them around and look it over close to get the best of the bunch. If this idea is just not going to happen then I would say a nice small sodbuster from a store or get a nice TL-29 off ebay. Mr. Sawcut Buck considers Mr. TL-29 to be cousin in the 'Tough" family. (Post Script the free Imperial would be good also, great scales)

300Bucks

There are overseas contract Bucks and American made Bucks, these are the newer scaled American 303 versions, Mr.Sawcut is just off screen

 

[jc57]

I'm a Case fan myself. So many patterns and handle styles to look at. Prices for new Case knives range from $30 to $60 depending on pattern and handle materials. If you want to save money you can go with the yellow smooth delrin, or blue, black, or brown jigged delrin handles. I personally prefer bone or stag, though the yellow delrin is so classic that it works for me too.

The knives that Pertinux and DLARbb posted pics of are pretty close to ideal for general daily pocket carry, both for size and utility of blade. The Small Texas Jack is a little slimmer and lighter than the Mini Trapper.

Here's my Small Texas Jack, which is currently my EDC and has been pretty much since I got it:

Here's the Mini Trapper: