Recs for quality traditionals using high(er) quality materials, fit and finish

SoansoMcMasters

SoansoMcMasters

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2022
Messages
570
I am wanting to continue to expand my collection of traditionals. I am well aware of what Case and Buck have to offer, as well as GEC. What other brands should I be looking at the can match (or be in the ballpark) of what GEC offers, but also have better availability? I tend to use my knives for carving and whittling along with standard EDC tasks. Thanks for all the advice I have thus far received and for any more that can be offered! Ya’ll are hurting my wallet but helping my collection!
 
Peregrin said:
You beat me to it.
Click to expand...
Anything in particular from them that stands out? I saw the very cool Barlow with a 900ish year old castle timber for handle material. Never messed with O1 steel however.

What would you folks recommend as a few knives from them to start looking at?
 
O1 steel is fine (if done properly), some of the older GEC F&F models used it and I liked it more that the 1095 they used afterwards.

You can also look into Rough Ryder Reserve, for slightly cheaper models (or their regular line).

To actually expand your collection I would suggest trying some different style knives like the (fancier models of their range) ones offered by Nontron, Antonini, Opinel, as well as some friction folders, again look for more premium versions if you want them to be comparable to GEC.
 
The Reserves are very good. Some of them are bulky though. In quality, I’d say they’re better than a lot of cases, and comparable to US bucks. I like the better Brother knives a lot too. Quality isn’t always related to price.
 
Trivisa makes modern style slipjoints of really good quality, above Lionsteel & Viper f&f IMO. I have a Brother slippie that is very nicely done as well, although heavy and a bit thick at the edge.
 
Last edited:
J.E. Made knives are super high quality modern traditionals. Titanium and M390 or S35VN typically + often topping that off with stag or micarta. I've owned 2 and the fit & finish / walk & talk has been absolutely top notch on both.

Here is the Checkered Gunstock I have. It's one heck of a knife for the money.
X2Ei7q4.jpg
 
SoansoMcMasters said:
Anything in particular from them that stands out? I saw the very cool Barlow with a 900ish year old castle timber for handle material. Never messed with O1 steel however.

What would you folks recommend as a few knives from them to start looking at?
Click to expand...

I look for Solingen on the tang or shield when I shop for Böker, to ensure that they are German made.
 
Boker, Henckels, Queen, Schatt & Morgan, Robeson, Camillus, Carl Scheiper, Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett, Colonel Coon, Winchester, Kissing Cranes (Klaas), Lionsteel, Moore Maker, Schmidt & Ziegler, Schrade Walden, Canal Street, and many others.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top