Pocket Clip a Disqualifier?

rje58

rje58

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I'm curious about what "is or isn't" considered a traditional knife here in the Traditional forum?

My curiosity was initially triggered when a review with photos was posted of the "Manly Comrade", a slip joint folder with pocket clip. It was noted by some, including a moderator I believe, "don't show the side with the pocket clip, in keeping with the Traditional forum."

What about knives like the Case #30024 / 6154LC? "Amber Bone Trapper Lock with Clip and Thumb Stud".

I am sincerely wanting to know. I am NOT intending to start a firestorm or controversy.

Thanks in advance for the clarification.
 
Pocket Clips and Thumb Studs are generally considered non-traditional, regardless of manufacturer.
 
Okay - fair enough. I just wanted to be sure when there are some slip joints, stag handles, traditional manufacturers like Case. It is a little confusing. But if that is the criteria, it is what it is.

Thank you.

rma100 said:
Pocket Clips and Thumb Studs are generally considered non-traditional, regardless of manufacturer.
Click to expand...
 
While they may use traditional materials, pocket clips and thumb studs generally put a knife into the non-traditional category.

Of course I do recall those little bolt-on devices called the "One-arm Bandit" that people use to put on their Buck 110s so they could open them one-handed.
 
How about this; what time period is the cutoff?

My vote is for the mid 70s when things started to mutate.
 
rje58 said:
I have a Case Russlock without the clip. Lock doesn't disqualify from traditional like clip or thumb stud, does, right?
Click to expand...

Linerlocks are a recent development. To me, the Case Russlock is a traditional knife with a couple of modern features. Some may see it as a strictly modern knife because of these traits.
 
rje58 said:
I'm curious about what "is or isn't" considered a traditional knife here in the Traditional forum?

My curiosity was initially triggered when a review with photos was posted of the "Manly Comrade", a slip joint folder with pocket clip. It was noted by some, including a moderator I believe, "don't show the side with the pocket clip, in keeping with the Traditional forum."

What about knives like the Case #30024 / 6154LC? "Amber Bone Trapper Lock with Clip and Thumb Stud".

I am sincerely wanting to know. I am NOT intending to start a firestorm or controversy.

Thanks in advance for the clarification.
Click to expand...

Danke42 said:
How about this; what time period is the cutoff?

My vote is for the mid 70s when things started to mutate.
Click to expand...

From a moderator's perspective, if a regular knife user of the mid 1960's would find nothing out of the ordinary about the design, then it's traditional.

That means large Buck 110-ish lockbacks are in.

Modern locking mechanisms such as Walker liner locks, pocket clips, holes / studs to allow one hand opening are all out. (Traditional liner locks, such as the lock on a TL29, are in.)

We tend to have some tolerance when it comes to fixed blades. But, new designs with features such as glass breakers, are not included in this forum.

We give leeway on materials of construction. So if you have a nice stockman with G10 covers, it's traditional enough for us. Plastics have been used on knife handles since the 1800's. Stainless steel has been used in cutlery since the 1920's, so stainless is OK in traditional also. And even though PM alloys are new developments, that fella in the mid-1960's would never know the difference, so they are OK, too.



 
So that means a Sodbuster with lockback is disqualified as well? I really am getting confused, now.... or just liner locks? including Russlocks...?

BlockPsycho said:
Linerlocks are a recent development. To me, the Case Russlock is a traditional knife with a couple of modern features. Some may see it as a strictly modern knife because of these traits.
Click to expand...

Should the below post be made a sticky, in order to prevent common recurrence of these questions / threads?

knarfeng said:
From a moderator's perspective, if a regular knife user of the mid 1960's would find nothing out of the ordinary about the design, then it's traditional.

That means large Buck 110-ish lockbacks are in.

Modern locking mechanisms such as Walker liner locks, pocket clips, holes / studs to allow one hand opening are all out. (Traditional liner locks, such as the lock on a TL29, are in.)

We tend to have some tolerance when it comes to fixed blades. But, new designs with features such as glass breakers, are not included in this forum.

We give leeway on materials of construction. So if you have a nice stockman with G10 covers, it's traditional enough for us. Plastics have been used on knife handles since the 1800's. Stainless steel has been used in cutlery since the 1920's, so stainless is OK in traditional also. And even though PM alloys are new developments, that fella in the mid-1960's would never know the difference, so they are OK, too.
Click to expand...
 
Lockbacks have been around for many decades. See my post above.
 
No worries. I just wanted to make sure you saw it.
 
Thanks! So do you think your post (above) describing the criteria, should be a sticky? Surely I can't be the first person to ask these questions or start a thread like this?

knarfeng said:
No worries. I just wanted to make sure you saw it.
Click to expand...
 
I'll talk to Gary. Maybe we'll add a tad to the existing definition section in the forum posting guidelines sticky.
 
Thanks, that would be great! I really appreciate your helping me to understand this, and I feel sure it will be helpful to others as well.

The current description as:

"Discussion of classic Hunters, Trappers, Lockbacks, Slipjoints, Skinners and other classic "traditional" designs..."

seems a little open ended, based on the criteria we've identified. I understand that 'other classic traditional designs' covers a lot of things, but it is also open to much interpretation, and conjecture over the amount of leeway that is preferred.

knarfeng said:
I'll talk to Gary. Maybe we'll add a tad to the existing definition section in the forum posting guidelines sticky.
Click to expand...
 
I| have an Enzo 70
It has a removable pocket clip
So it is trad without the clip and non trad with the clip?
Or since it had a clip it can never be trad?
 
Based on what I read, I figure Scagel slots (holes) in blades will be considered traditional? Mr. Scagel died in 1963, so his knife designs predate the 60's. I have a couple of really nice Scagel reproduction folders made by Northwoods, and I use the slots to aid in one-hand opening the knives (sort of like the spyderco holes).
Thanks, Raul
 
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