Question for those who carry a slip joint...

[whetrock]

I've owned myriad of modern folders, a Lg 21 Sebenza, and a ZT 200 to name a couple. The blade profiles that are exhibited by a number, if not most modern folders, are well, not just real useful for the stuff I need to do on a daily basis. Thinner, and short sheep's foot , and spey blades, or coping and pen blades, are ideal, for opening packages, skinning, and whittling. Multiple blades are nice to have. But in the end Aesthetics play a large role in it, but the utilitarian value traditional folders possess, isn't realized fully, until you carry one for a long period of time. I started out with them, swore them off once, and came back to them. They just work. The profiles, and patterns are venerable and proven. They are most likely not going to fail you if you use them for their intended purpose, unlike people abusing their "hard use" folders, which are destined for failure, at one point or another even though they're being used within the scope of their intended useage. Folders aren't fixed blades, and it's foolish to try and use them as such. Slipjoints suite me fine for what I use my folders for. As do some modern folders, but most don't cut the mustard for me anymore.

 

[herisson]

Because it does everything I want and I may have a chance to convince the Police it is not a WEAPON. They may still take it from me but, at least, I won't get charged. So... the very best choice for EDC. It's Europe over here...

 

[LX_Emergency]

Because high carbide steels have low edge stability compared to low carbide steels. They do not do well at low edge angles or very thin grinds. Wear resistance isn't the end all be all of steel attributes.

I carry traditionals because they work, look great, and don't scare people.

tell that to Mr Bose. ... he seems to like working with 440V

 

[fergusontd]

I carry my 301 Buck for the extra blades if necessary. The lock backs are generally 1 blade and if you would happen to break it would be out of a blade. ftd

 

[Lycosa]

I carried my AG Russell Cowboy for a tad but I NEED a pocket clip.
And, I will not put a pocket clip on a traditional folder.
rolf

 

[jc57]

A slipjoint handles all of the cutting needs I tend to encounter in my daily life, and I like the looks and feel of them. On those occasions when I have some cutting chores that make require something sturdier I have a few modern locking folders that I can use, but for my daily pocket carry a small slipjoint suffices.

 

[cchu518]

AS far as utility drawer blades go. My Opinel has replaced everything. I kid you not. Just try one and you will know what I mean. I rounded off the tip on mine. It is rather plain Jane admittedly. But it cuts and slices like a fillet knife. I haven't had any modern folder that slices better than this thing from mini grips to ffg spydercos.

 

[midnight flyer]

I carry a traditional pattern because the work. I mean that literally.

I am a blue collar guy and have carried a traditional pattern since I was a kiddo, starting a little over 50 years ago. All the way from then to now, there hasn't been a time where a traditional pattern hasn't been my "go to" slicing tool.

Think of all the jobs a knife has to do in the hands of a working contractor and that is the normal duty day of my knives. Over the last few years I have developed a habit of carrying a larger, less expensive knife to use as for more unpleasant chores. Still, over the 30 years preceding that development my traditionally styled folders did all I ever needed or wanted them to do with no problems.

They have been around for centuries because they have a proven track record of performance and usefulness. I think it has been a recent development to realize we might have to use our knives to cut ourselves out of a downed aircraft, chop through a car hood, baton a log, or place our very lives on the reliability of our knives (you know, if the SHTF comes).

In the old days, we used to use them for knives and didn't think much of it after that.

Robert

 

[GronK]

I normally carry a modern clipped to RF and slippy LF with coins and keys. I was in Kohls the other day buying shirts. At the register the cashier had a scratch-off card to determine the discount. I pulled out my GEC houndstooth with red pick bone covers and (unopened) used the back of the blade to scratch it. The reaction of the cashier and folks in line? "Wow, that's pretty! What is it?", much different than if I had whipped out my E4W. From now on if I'm not hitting the woods or biking in questionable areas the modern will get left home. The side benefit is my jeans will last a lot longer!

 

[cchu518]

I call BS on that one midnight! If I have to cut a log I'm going to use a gas powered chainsaw or an axe. Batoning was just invented by bored Americans to de-evolve and have some fun, keep themselves entertained in this modern world!

I'm totally ok with that of course but let's just call a spade a spade. Do you think some pioneer in 1810 would ever use an Axe if he had a Stihl chainsaw lying around and some good old petrol? He would laugh at us modern folks.

I carry a traditional pattern because the work. I mean that literally.

I am a blue collar guy and have carried a traditional pattern since I was a kiddo, starting a little over 50 years ago. All the way from then to now, there hasn't been a time where a traditional pattern hasn't been my "go to" slicing tool.

Think of all the jobs a knife has to do in the hands of a working contractor and that is the normal duty day of my knives. Over the last few years I have developed a habit of carrying a larger, less expensive knife to use as for more unpleasant chores. Still, over the 30 years preceding that development my traditionally styled folders did all I ever needed or wanted them to do with no problems.

They have been around for centuries because they have a proven track record of performance and usefulness. I think it has been a recent development to realize we might have to use our knives to cut ourselves out of a downed aircraft, chop through a car hood, baton a log, or place our very lives on the reliability of our knives (you know, if the SHTF comes).

In the old days, we used to use them for knives and didn't think much of it after that.

Robert

 

[Mink]

I can't add much to the reasons already given, so I will add pics.

 

[Fanglekai]

tell that to Mr Bose. ... he seems to like working with 440V

S60V is out of production IIRC. Just because a well known maker uses a steel doesn't change metallurgy or physics. High carbide steels have lower edge stability than low carbide steels at lower edge angles. Take the edge on an S60V knife down to <10 dps and very thin behind the edge and it will chip out due to low edge stability. Look at the Spyderco Nilakka in S30V for an example of this. There is also a thread about a guy who took his Gayle Bradley and thinned out the CPM-M4 steel to a low edge angle. It chipped and wasn't stable. However, you can reach stability by increasing the angle enough to maintain edge stability, but that angle is going to be higher than it is for low carbide steels.

This doesn't mean that one steel is objectively better than another for every situation. It simply means that there are many traits that have to be taken into consideration. S60V at 18 dps might work great in a particular design. In general I think slipjoints are great in a low carbide steel with a low angle. The thin blade stock makes them a poor choice for "hard use" so it's better to take advantage of their geometry and use them for slicing. Low carbide steels have better edge stability than high carbide steels at low angles, so they are a good choice for many slipjoint patterns.

 

[GronK]

I call BS on that one midnight! If I have to cut a log I'm going to use a gas powered chainsaw or an axe. Batoning was just invented by bored Americans to de-evolve and have some fun, keep themselves entertained in this modern world!

I'm totally ok with that of course but let's just call a spade a spade. Do you think some pioneer in 1810 would ever use an Axe if he had a Stihl chainsaw lying around and some good old petrol? He would laugh at us modern folks.

I call BS on you calling BS. He made one passing mention of batoning and you're off and running. Overreact much?

 

[akadave2]

I have a whole lot of modern one hand opening knives, Hinderer, Benchmade, Strider, Chris Reeve...lots. Most of the tactical style knives have thick blades and regardless of how sharp you get them (shaving at least) they dont cut as well as a smaller thinner much mor scalpal like blade of a slipjoint. They have their uses but for fine delicate work, slipjoints are the way.

 

[coop1957]

What I like about a traditional knife is the additional time that I have when deciding how to cut something.
Ghandi said about modern conveniences "There is more to life than making it happen faster."
As I get older I agree more with this philosophy.

 

[me2]

I carried a Stockman for the versatility. Each blade was sharpened differently. The spey was at around 22 degrees per side, the clip blade was about 17, and the sheepsfoot was about 10. Each blade was used for different things, though the clip was the general purpose blade.

 

[RetiredGuns]

I made it 20 years in the Corps with a slippie & a fixed. Didn't know what a modern folder was until I found this forum. My ratio is 20:1 slipjoints, but a one-hander in my job does come in handy. I look forward to weekends when I get to stare at and choose what slippie to slip into the pocket!

 

[22-rimfire]

I have carried modern folders. I went though that phase. The rest of you just haven't figured out yet that you don't need anything else unless you anticipate using your knife as a weapon. Using a knife as a weapon is one of the last uses I envision, but I know young people like to fantasize about that aspect. They will learn. Knife fights are something to be avoided at all costs, even your pride.

I can see the utility of a one hand opening knife. Opening a knife in real life doesn't have to be fast for me. Yeah, it's fun to flick open the modern folders and I went through that stage.

Slowly but surely, I have been moving back to slip joints. I will still occasionally carry a Spydie Delica. But it is not really necessary to me. I love Vic SAKs and I am developing a real affection for slip joints made by Great Eastern Cutlery. Yeah, I have Case and other brands as well. Carrying one of GEC's larger Trapper patterns now. But I just can't loose the SAK that I have carried for the last 20 years everyday. I lost my trusty SAK in South America and spent hours walking around the city looking for a replacement SAK. I doubt I would feel that way about a Spydie or ZT. Price is not really the issue. It is function.

 

[leghog]

For those who carry a slip joint as a primary blade: Any specific reason for doing so, other than aesthetics or nostalgia? Just curious.

Because other options are much larger than what's truly needed day to day. I carried the knife below daily for about ten years (excepting the few days here and there it was misplaced), and day to day I never needed more knife. Day to day I don't need to stab people, cut a 55 gallon drum in half, chop a tree down, or dress a deer. For those tasks I'd use a tool better suited for the task.

For me, 93mm SAKs, Sod Buster Jr. types, and Trappers are large knifes and are worn on a belt.

I too have a few modern folders/autos. One got a workout for a few years, and it really shows it, but they are never carried. They were "cool" when I got them, but they really aren't. Not to me anyway. I need to get rid of them as I'm sure someone will find a use for them.

 

[Virre87]

I carry a slip joint when i go to the city since thats the only kind of knife a cop can find on me and i might be able to talk myself out of a ticket, anything with a lock is ment for shanking people around here...