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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.
Saks have changed this game for me.
- Thread starter parkourdude
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Very nice hog.:thumbup:
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Yeah, in a perfect world I know what you mean. I love my old Wenger Si, and if I were a perfectly logical person, I'd never carry any other pocket knife. ...
But I've always returned to the old traditional pocket knife of my youth. I don't know why, ...
But it's not a perfect world for me. I like something the SAK's can't give, and I'm not really sure how to even describe it. ...
Very often I find myself torn between my old Wenger Si and my Northwoods stockman. I love the sheer utility of the Wenger, but when I carry it, I miss the feel of the cocobolo wood scales and the looks of the soft try patina of the carbon steel blades of the Northwoods. So sometimes I do the ridiculous. I carry both. I need two knives in my pocket like Sofia Loren needed bigger boobs. But what the hey. I guess we're a bit of a split personality person.
This is a great description of my attitude, which I probably couldn't have articulated myself, so I'm glad jackknife could put it into words :thumbup: For the past 6 months, I always carry a SAK (actually 2, counting a Classic): a Tinker up until a couple of weeks ago when an Electrician took its place. And I think of the SAK as my "working knife"; that's the "utility" or logical part of me. But then I also carry an "American traditional" (actually 2, counting a Peanut I got a couple of months back that is always there now). That knife changes weekly as I give each of my knives its turn in my pocket. I think of the American traditional as a fashion accessory or pocket jewelry or something; that's the "aesthetics" or emotional or nostalgic part of me.
I'm not sure what happened to me. From age 8 to 17, I carried one knife (Colonial Forest-Master) everywhere, every day; for the next 45 years I almost never carried a knife; and since last January, I've ended up with FOUR knives in my pocket every day!
What's the Sophia Loren analogy for that? 
But I'm enjoying the transformation!- GT
I'm not sure what happened to me. From age 8 to 17, I carried one knife (Colonial Forest-Master) everywhere, every day; for the next 45 years I almost never carried a knife; and since last January, I've ended up with FOUR knives in my pocket every day!
- GT
I guess it's like going from being a monk in a monastery and chucking the robes and escaping to a Hooters for beer, burger, and boobs!
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Man, you sure have a way with words, Carl! I'd have never described my situation that way, but that's exactly what I worry about once in a while, that I'm overdoing the knife thing in some kind of overreaction to being away from knives so long. Your phrase is way better with all the alliteration (and the imagery it evokes ). Plus, it made me laugh out loud.
- GT
). Plus, it made me laugh out loud.- GT
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What's the Sophia Loren analogy for that?
- GT
Sophia Loren analogy?
Farmer comes to mind.
batosai117
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The exact same thing happened to me. I've been selling off anything tactical (except my Sebenza I have to save that one) and stocking up on Alox SAK's. I used to always carry a single blade folder with a SAK or MT now I only carry my SAK clipped to my front right pocket
The exact same thing happened to me. I've been selling off anything tactical (except my Sebenza I have to save that one) and stocking up on Alox SAK's. I used to always carry a single blade folder with a SAK or MT now I only carry my SAK clipped to my front right pocket
I've actually witnessed this phenomenon happen. I mentored a young guy in the motorcycle scene some years back, Jason loved any knife with a thumb stud, spydie hole, or assisted mechanism. Wouldn't carry anything like an "Old man's knife." Lost track of him for a few years, then we met up at a motorcycle show/swap meet. Talked a lot, then went to get something to eat at the food trucks. Hotdogs and a Coke. Sat down and I see Jason take out a well used looking SAK to slice open the plastic mustard packs. Red cellidor scales scratched up. I ask him where his tactical wonder knife is, since he always jokingly made fun of my "old man knives" that had to be pulled open with two hands. He shrugs a little self conscious and says he's grown to appreciate the versatility of the SAK's and even traditional pocket knives with multiple blades. Then he drooped the bombshell; he sold his Glock and Ruger mini 14, and now has an interest in black powder guns. He shoots a Ruger old army, and Sharps 45-70 rifle.
I guess it goes with his move from a crotch rocket to a old Triumph Bonniville that he's spent two years restoring. Now in his late 30's he's beginning to appreciate the older stuff. Maybe he'll even have a nice jigged bone Case or GEC one of these days?
I could get by fine with a single SAK. I got along for about a decade with only a Vic Spartan. Now that I realize I use different tools, I could get by better with my Vic Executive paired with my Pioneer. Each has tools the other lacks, and complement each other nicely.
If I added my Buck 301, that would cover heavier, rougher cutting chores. These 3 knives all together cost under $100. That would cover pretty much all of my daily knife needs for many, many years.
But the fact is that I like different knives. Some are always carried, some are rotated in and out. Yes, I carry a modern, too, down in pocket (not clipped). But I've never outgrown my respect and appreciation for the Vic SAK.
Jim
If I added my Buck 301, that would cover heavier, rougher cutting chores. These 3 knives all together cost under $100. That would cover pretty much all of my daily knife needs for many, many years.
But the fact is that I like different knives. Some are always carried, some are rotated in and out. Yes, I carry a modern, too, down in pocket (not clipped). But I've never outgrown my respect and appreciation for the Vic SAK.
Jim
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Hi, my name is Maverick and I have recently contracted a case of A-pox. As a young child and a Boy scout I thought SAK's were about the most useless thing in the world next to maybe a butter knife. At least not when compared to a "Rambo" knife. I mean at age 8 everyone knows that if you are going to survive on your own for weeks on end in the jungle known as your backyard, you needed a hollow handle Rambo knife with a wire saw and a fishing kit.
As a long time carrier of one handed opening knives in my 20's that were necessary for my job I then took the next logical step........tactical.
Fast forward into my mid 30's and I woke up one morning realizing that things just aren't made they way they used to be and I wanted to yell at the kids to turn down that crappy music and get off my lawn. While I was busy looking for the hose to spray them with I stumbled across an old two bladed Imperial knife tucked away in my tool drawer that my grandpa had carried. I immediately felt a irresistible draw to it and spent many hours cleaning it, polishing it, sharpening it, and wondering about where it had been and what it had seen. Was it with him on the Navy ship during WWII? Was it in his pants pocket when he married my grandma? The possibilities were endless. Nestled next to it in the drawer was my old scout knife. I figured while I was at it I might as well put an edge on that one too. Apparently I have honed (pun intended) my sharpening skills a bit since I was playing jungle in the backyard because that SAK took an edge that was hair popping scary sharp. My curiosity in SAK's was piqued, and through a round about way I ended up here, discovered Alox, and the Swissbianco website and the rest as they say is history.
As I type this there is a alox bantam in my pocket (very under-rated knife btw, get one) an electrician in the truck, and a pioneer harvester in route from Canada. Trust me, there will be plenty more very soon!
As a long time carrier of one handed opening knives in my 20's that were necessary for my job I then took the next logical step........tactical.
Fast forward into my mid 30's and I woke up one morning realizing that things just aren't made they way they used to be and I wanted to yell at the kids to turn down that crappy music and get off my lawn. While I was busy looking for the hose to spray them with I stumbled across an old two bladed Imperial knife tucked away in my tool drawer that my grandpa had carried. I immediately felt a irresistible draw to it and spent many hours cleaning it, polishing it, sharpening it, and wondering about where it had been and what it had seen. Was it with him on the Navy ship during WWII? Was it in his pants pocket when he married my grandma? The possibilities were endless. Nestled next to it in the drawer was my old scout knife. I figured while I was at it I might as well put an edge on that one too. Apparently I have honed (pun intended) my sharpening skills a bit since I was playing jungle in the backyard because that SAK took an edge that was hair popping scary sharp. My curiosity in SAK's was piqued, and through a round about way I ended up here, discovered Alox, and the Swissbianco website and the rest as they say is history.
As I type this there is a alox bantam in my pocket (very under-rated knife btw, get one) an electrician in the truck, and a pioneer harvester in route from Canada. Trust me, there will be plenty more very soon!
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The Pioneer is a real nice SAK, great for giving you really useful tools but no clutter of barely used tools.
BUT - it does lack a couple of useful items.
The biggest improvement to a Pioneer in your pocket/sheath would be the addition of a Victorinox Rambler on your keychain, or maybe a Victorinox Manager if you have a need for a pen.
Pioneer + Rambler = just about all daily SAK needs covered.
You gain the Phillips screwdriver for small screws such as found on some modern gadgets.
You gain scissors that may be small but still work great.
You gain a pair of tweezers, I used mine just the other day when I got a small metal sliver in my palm that I preferred to not have.
You gain a toothpick, sometimes you really do need one of these - not always used as a toothpick.
You gain a small blade, can be good for opening a box without getting tape gunk on your main blade.
You gain a nail file, even us men sometimes need to take care of our nails.
Could the Pioneer + Rambler be the perfect SAK combination?
I think that maybe it could be!
+1 on this!
The only reason I am changing my EDC from an Explorer to a black Pioneer with red shield is because I have a Manager on my keys!
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Awesome testimonial. Can we get some pics of Grandpa's old knife??
You bet. Here's a link to a thread I posted when I was looking for help in trying to restore it to usable condition.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1188413-Rusted-Folder-Needs-Some-TLC?highlight=maverick299
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I actually carry a manager around my neck! This combo has worked too well.
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Thanks Maverick, cool story and neat to have his old knife. Glad you were able to bring it back to life :thumbup: