I am in the market for my first EDC slipjoint. I have owned knives from Case and Schrade in the past, but never carried them. I recently was given a Case Congress with Carbon blades from my grandfather who passed away in December. I cleaned and sharpened her up and was amazed at the comfort and cutting ability. I now want to buy a knife that I will carry everyday for all my cutting needs. I have looked at patterns and don't really know what will work best for me. I would probably like a pen blade and one larger blade. I live close to Smokey Mountain Knife Works so that is where I will buy it. I think they sell most brands so I should have a good selection. My only requirement is carbon steel blades. Throw out your favorite pattern and brand if you don't mind for a do it all slippie.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Recommend a first EDC slippie
- Thread starter KFU
- Start date
What will you use it for?
For personal use - I carry a Case tiny toothpick in my wallet everywhere I go for general cutting. Even my wife says it is dinky so it would not scare anyone.
For work - I got myself a secondhand case stockman, it is great at cutting and I really like the feel in the hand. But this weekend I missed the screwdrivers on my old SAK. I was in a foreign city and I needed to tighten up some screws in a patch cabinet, the SAK had a driver head that would have worked and I was looking online for a copy of my old SAK, without a locking blade, on Monday morning (my old SAK is illegal to just carry for no reason here after a ruling about locking blades)
For work it is not enough to like the look, for me anyway, it has to be useful in what I do to make it worth carrying to work everyday.
Tam
For personal use - I carry a Case tiny toothpick in my wallet everywhere I go for general cutting. Even my wife says it is dinky so it would not scare anyone.
For work - I got myself a secondhand case stockman, it is great at cutting and I really like the feel in the hand. But this weekend I missed the screwdrivers on my old SAK. I was in a foreign city and I needed to tighten up some screws in a patch cabinet, the SAK had a driver head that would have worked and I was looking online for a copy of my old SAK, without a locking blade, on Monday morning (my old SAK is illegal to just carry for no reason here after a ruling about locking blades)
For work it is not enough to like the look, for me anyway, it has to be useful in what I do to make it worth carrying to work everyday.
Tam
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2000
- Messages
- 6,684
First off, sorry about your grandfather's passing. It's cool, though, that you got his old congress. I'd love to see a pic. Also, you're right about the comfort and cutting ability of a quality traditional pocketknife. They can't be beat, IMO. :thumbup:
Well, I don't have one (yet), but I know someone's going to suggest it, so let me be the first.
You might consider Case's swayback jack in cv steel and chestnut bone handles. I've seen countless glowing reviews about this new offering from Case. This one is quickly becoming legendary around these folksy parts.Other two-blade carbon steel Case knives to consider would be the amber bone Texas jack, and the chestnut bone mini trapper.
Lastly, if you'd be interested in a carbon steel Barlow, lately I've been seeing some really nice German-made Boker Tree Brand offerings on a popular online auction site.
That's cool, btw, that you'll be able to hand-pick your knife at SMKW. When the time comes, let us know what you pick please.
-- Mark
Buck 303 Cadet stockman
One clip, one sheepsfoot and one spey (shaped more like a pen)
It stainless, strops well sharpens easily and can get razor sharp.
They are inexpensive and impervious to about everything and easy to clean . Heck you can stick them in the dishwasher when they get really foul.
Available in Black sawcut derlin, Yellow derlin, black or red Dymondwood.
If you want carbon then
Case Amber Bone Medium stockman
One clip, one sheepsfoot and one pen
It is carbon so more care is involved. Wipe blades after use to resist pitting and develop patina.
Couple bucks more than the Cadet. Not as resistant to the elements and chemicals as the Cadet. Sharpens a little easier and can get a tad sharper. Blades are a little thinner so is a better slicer for softer materials.
The use of natural materials and carbon in the Case allow the knife to age and mellow.
Both knives have larger siblings if you want something in 4" range
One clip, one sheepsfoot and one spey (shaped more like a pen)
It stainless, strops well sharpens easily and can get razor sharp.
They are inexpensive and impervious to about everything and easy to clean . Heck you can stick them in the dishwasher when they get really foul.
Available in Black sawcut derlin, Yellow derlin, black or red Dymondwood.
If you want carbon then
Case Amber Bone Medium stockman
One clip, one sheepsfoot and one pen
It is carbon so more care is involved. Wipe blades after use to resist pitting and develop patina.
Couple bucks more than the Cadet. Not as resistant to the elements and chemicals as the Cadet. Sharpens a little easier and can get a tad sharper. Blades are a little thinner so is a better slicer for softer materials.
The use of natural materials and carbon in the Case allow the knife to age and mellow.
Both knives have larger siblings if you want something in 4" range
FLymon
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2006
- Messages
- 4,820
Well, I don't have one (yet), but I know someone's going to suggest it, so let me be the first.
I do have one, and I would say it already has become legend in these parts.
But be forewarned!
That knife will quickly become one of, if not your outright favorite "front pocket" knife.
If you should buy one, and then DO NOT hang out here listening to us all go on and on about the seemingly endless variations, and permutations of literally dozens upon dozens of patterns, and makers, and steels, you could easily be content with that one knife for the better part of the rest of your life.
If however, you choose to come back here and post pictures of your new-found joy and share your personal feelings on the matter (and I hope you do no matter what you choose), that knife may also be your gateway into an obsession, an addiction if you will. There is always room for more Slpjointers here so at least your habit will never have to be indulged alone.
So choose wisely the path you will take, but by all means no matter which way you go, get the Swayback. You can't go wrong with that one.
Wonderful to have a such a reminder of your Grandfather.
Since you are looking for a larger blade and a pen, I would agree about the Case's swayback jack in cv steel and chestnut bone handles
Case's swayback jack in cv steel and chestnut bone handles 3 1/8" .
or the
Case Amber bone Texas Jack 3 3/5",
Look to see what size feels better
Since you are looking for a larger blade and a pen, I would agree about the Case's swayback jack in cv steel and chestnut bone handles
Case's swayback jack in cv steel and chestnut bone handles 3 1/8" .
or the
Case Amber bone Texas Jack 3 3/5",
Look to see what size feels better
I really like the look of that! Is this the one?
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/product.jsp?Mode=Text&SearchText=tony+bose&SKU=CA7007
They also have some Case/Bose knives. They look to be more expensive but I get a discount.
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/product.jsp?Mode=Text&SearchText=tony+bose&SKU=CA7007
They also have some Case/Bose knives. They look to be more expensive but I get a discount.
FLymon
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2006
- Messages
- 4,820
That's the one :thumbup:
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2007
- Messages
- 3,396
That knife is an excellent knife, especially for the $. The Case/Bose collaboration knives are considerably more, even with a discount, I am sure.
Reading your OP, a Barlow came to mind, because it "usually" has a longer main blade & smaller Pen blade.
You know, you probably won't be able to EDC just one knife. Though I have many more, I've gotten to carrying a different knife each day of the week. I'm just saying, it gets hard to just EDC something everyday.
I do like the Barlow pattern. I saw this one and am still drooling although it looks to pretty to use!
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...t=&list=50&range=1&order=PriceDesc&SKU=CA6056
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...t=&list=50&range=1&order=PriceDesc&SKU=CA6056
- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 46,592
Gentlemen, please stop posting retailer/vendor links in this thread.
Either post images of the knife in question or descriptions of the knife/pattern under discussion. (It is easy enough to post images already available on the net.)
If your membership level does not allow for uploading your own images directly to bladeforums then please utilize a free or paid hosting service. There are many options available.
Thank you.
Either post images of the knife in question or descriptions of the knife/pattern under discussion. (It is easy enough to post images already available on the net.)
If your membership level does not allow for uploading your own images directly to bladeforums then please utilize a free or paid hosting service. There are many options available.
Thank you.
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2010
- Messages
- 1,093
I do have one, and I would say it already has become legend in these parts.
But be forewarned!
That knife will quickly become one of, if not your outright favorite "front pocket" knife.
If you should buy one, and then DO NOT hang out here listening to us all go on and on about the seemingly endless variations, and permutations of literally dozens upon dozens of patterns, and makers, and steels, you could easily be content with that one knife for the better part of the rest of your life.
If however, you choose to come back here and post pictures of your new-found joy and share your personal feelings on the matter (and I hope you do no matter what you choose), that knife may also be your gateway into an obsession, an addiction if you will. There is always room for more Slpjointers here so at least your habit will never have to be indulged alone.
So choose wisely the path you will take, but by all means no matter which way you go, get the Swayback. You can't go wrong with that one.
Honestly, I have a ton of knives since I joined bladeforums a few months ago. Maybe 16 or so? I've got benchmade, spyderco, etc etc.
Even though I'm not crazy about the Wahrncliffe blade, and the size might be a bit too tiny...
This swayback jack I've had now for a week...it is so nice that as I have mentioned in other threads, I am considering getting rid of the rest of my knives. I just don't need em. I was considering purchasing a Sebenza for EDC because they feel so nice...and I realize this swayback is a different animal...but the quality of it is so high, I think it has derailed my sebenza purchase. It's just so rock solid and stout feeling. I am considering buying a second one just in case this one ever breaks, and not ever purchasing anything else unless it matches or exceeds the quality of this knife.
-Freq
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2007
- Messages
- 3,396
I'm not sure a Damascus blade knife would make for a good EDC. For a "Sunday" knife or dressing up, maybe, but not sure I'd want one to use all the time. I'm assuming you're looking for an EDC/EDU knife, right?
Personally, Queen & Schatt & Morgan make a nice Barlow. The Queen's in D2 blade steel, too, so it's a higher end steel. GEC's Barlows are very good & stout, but on the small side (At 3" closed). I think they have a version in 440C, but they make 2 others in their excellent 1095 steel.
Personally, Queen & Schatt & Morgan make a nice Barlow. The Queen's in D2 blade steel, too, so it's a higher end steel. GEC's Barlows are very good & stout, but on the small side (At 3" closed). I think they have a version in 440C, but they make 2 others in their excellent 1095 steel.
Bowden, you say you're looking for an edc slippy. Before rushing in and buying what looks good, ask yourself some questions.
What kind of clothing do you wear most of the time you'll be carrying this knife?
What kind od work atmosphere do you have, office, field work?
Both of these can have a huge import on what will be comfortable to carry. For example, a Barlow will do well in jeans, or even kacky or Dickies style uniform or work pants. But will feel like a boat anchor in dress pants if you have to wear coat and tie.
On the other hand, something like a peanut or minitrapper may ride well in dress pants, it may be totally overwelmed in the field, or too small if you have big hands.
It's great to live that close to Smoky Mountain Knifeworks that you will get to try out the feel of different knives. If you find yourself torn b etween two knives, I always have a rule of thumb to go with the slightly smaller one. Most times you don't need as much blade as you think. A medium Texas Jack is a great all round knife, as is otheres. Find one that suits your life and dress style. It's fun to buy a couple to try them out.
You can't have just one, you know. Be for warned.
What kind of clothing do you wear most of the time you'll be carrying this knife?
What kind od work atmosphere do you have, office, field work?
Both of these can have a huge import on what will be comfortable to carry. For example, a Barlow will do well in jeans, or even kacky or Dickies style uniform or work pants. But will feel like a boat anchor in dress pants if you have to wear coat and tie.
On the other hand, something like a peanut or minitrapper may ride well in dress pants, it may be totally overwelmed in the field, or too small if you have big hands.
It's great to live that close to Smoky Mountain Knifeworks that you will get to try out the feel of different knives. If you find yourself torn b etween two knives, I always have a rule of thumb to go with the slightly smaller one. Most times you don't need as much blade as you think. A medium Texas Jack is a great all round knife, as is otheres. Find one that suits your life and dress style. It's fun to buy a couple to try them out.
You can't have just one, you know. Be for warned.
Jackknife, I don't wear a suit and tie anymore so jeans and khakis would be the usual dress attire. I agree about the size issue. After carrying locking knives for years I was surprised that the old slippie cut better with the tasks I do everyday. I have been trading out the tactical knives I don't use anymore and have put alot of thought into what knives I really need. I have narrowed it down to a larger custom Bushcraft, a few select custom edc fixed blades, my favorite locking folder(Spyderco Paramilitary), Becker BK7 for chopping. My only other need is some slippies. I recently found a SAK farmer which I love and want to add the swayback and a Barlow.
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2010
- Messages
- 2,199
Bowden, I think that the Case Swayback Jack with Chestnut and CV blade would be the way to go!! Because it can be your EDC with whatever you wear or whatever kind of work you do. I own my business with my Dad, and I have to do all kind of different things in a work week, We sale Commercial
& Industrial Elec. Supplies, I cut small pvc boxes , small wire, and I cut regular
boxes and even myself everyday and the Swayback Jack and Gent is two of the knives I carry all the time. But I just got a Case/Bose Dog Leg Jack
and it's one of the best knives I've had the pleasure to own.
I hope this helps?
Jason
& Industrial Elec. Supplies, I cut small pvc boxes , small wire, and I cut regular
boxes and even myself everyday and the Swayback Jack and Gent is two of the knives I carry all the time. But I just got a Case/Bose Dog Leg Jack
and it's one of the best knives I've had the pleasure to own.
I hope this helps?
Jason