Recommendations for a noob please.

A

Applejacks

BANNED
Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
548
Hi. Looking for a new edc. I usually carry a Wenger SI and a tactical folder like a Russell Featherlite. I am looking for something that is not a tactical 'flipper', but something more traditional two handed opener.

Criteria?

- U.S., Japan, or Swiss made.
- Not thick. (I have an old Buck that was handed down to me and it weighs a pound and is an inch thick. I like something that I can drop in my pocket with a slim profile)


Thats about it. I would like something that has a blade with some belly on it.. and not pencil width thin.

I really know nothing about traditional folders. Thanks.
 
There are so many different kinds of traditional knife shapes, it would be impossable to make a suggestion. Twp blade or three, congress or barlow?

What you should do is try to find out if there is a taditional knife collectors club in your area. They are listed in the back of alot of magazines like Knife world. Go to a few of their knife shows and talk to the collectors and try some of the knives out in your hand. I can gautentee ya, old knife guys would love to talk to a newbie and contribute to your education. Pick up some of the knives and get a feel for what some of the patterns feel like in your hand. A barlow won't feel lile a stockman, and a sodbuster won't feel like a congress. You may find you have some definate likes and dislikes after handling some of the different knives. It's like cars and the age old Ford vs Chevy thing. (Of course anyone with any sense goes Mopar!:D)

If you just want to take a plunge, you can take a look at the Case offerings and try one. There are some models available in CV ( a very good carbon steel) with most of thier knives available in a stainless they call true sharp. Not bad, very much like what you are used to on your Wenger SI.

For edc, I think 3 1/4 to 3 7/8 closed lengh is a good pocket knife, with 4 inches on the outside of being comfortable in the pocket unless you wear Big Smith overalls every day.

There is also the U.S. made Buck 301 and 303 series knives, and Boker knives.
 
Sounds like you need a slim line trapper, Case 61048 or 31048 if you want the yellow handle.
 
Check out the Case Copperlock. Not much bigger than a slimline trapper, but more substantial blade. Traditional look, but it does have a lock for the blade. It's one of my favorite patterns, specifically with a wharncliffe blade. Good luck and let us know what you end up with
 
Go check out Case's website, I believe it's www.wrcase.com . Go to pocketknives, and go thru the pages and find out what handle material you like then open that up to see all the different patterns available, and see if any of them catch your fancy. Then, if you can, find somewhere that sells Case, so you can handle the ones you like. You never know, you just might fall in love with a four blade congress, at the very least you'll get a good Idea of what kind of patterns there are out there.

You might also look into sodbusters, if you want a single blade. Not sure if there is one available in a handle material you like, but Case's sodbuster Jr. just might be what your looking for.

Personally, I like the two bladed jacks, like Case's small texas jack in CV and Amber bone, and the peanut, probably the CV with red bone.

It is a good idea to go out and handle what the knives you are interested in. For example, I thought I wanted a peanut, or stockman, but once I handled them, I realized that the peanut was a lot smaller than I was thinkging, I still like it, but it just wasn't what I was looking for, and I didn't like how the one blade on the stockman stuck out so far. Then I found that the texas jack was juuust right.
 
How about a Queen Teardop Liner?
D2 comes frankly blunt though....nice looking knife.
 
You guys are the best!! Thanks alot. Checking out all the recommendations. I am liking all that were suggested. Stagman, liking that Copperlock alot. Stingray, good suggestions. Thanks. Its tough finding a place near me that carries any of these knives.. or any knife at all. Willgoy, thanks. I am checking those out too. I am loving the classic looks.
 
I think I like regular wood... any thoughts on the Queen Mountain Man??? It looks really nice and like what I was searching for.
 
Good knife certainly but it's quite large.
Could try a Schatt&Morgan Mountie in Sambar Stag too:D
 
Eww, didn't realize it was large. Hoping to keep the whole thing at or around 7". Well check them out, thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top