Man...the options are infinite, especially if you look at the older, used ones. I'm a real sucker for Sodbusters and Barlows myself. Never liked the three bladed Stockmans real well. Not that there's a single offensive quality I could name about them, they just don't click for me. Standard two bladed trappers seem desirable, but they haven't clicked as well as one would hope either.
Going into....Modern retro, I think the Benchmade Weekender and Proper are both pretty neat. Of course, the Weekender has been on sale for a very long time for only $200 or so, but I don't think it's neat enough to jump on it...yet. Buck Saunter and Kershaw Federalist are both nice looking too, though I have zero experience with them. Another really cool option I've seen lately is the Boker Atlas. I hate that it's a China made knife, but I like the looks of it enough that I might just have to get over it and pull the trigger on one. And to me....No talk of traditional folders is complete without the mention of the Douk Douk and the K55 Mercator.
As a knife geek, I can't help but to laugh at myself and my concerns whether my latest uber steel knife is adequate, strong, sharp, enough or whatever when I look back at the knives my Grandfather carried, and even the ones I grew up with. Those old knives hold a magic of their own, but upon reflection, they also make us realize just how darn good we've got it these days. Happy hunting!
