SAKs: traditional or not?

[Doug Add]

I believe they are mostly all of there own breed. Are the non locking style blades traditional....yes! Are the tools more in the multitool group....yes! So i believe its best to let a sak be a sak and a traditional as a traditional. If you feel it is...that's the right answer......if you feel its not......that's the right answer. This is all just how I feel about it. :thumbup:

My thoughts precisely. My Vics are in a class by themselves.

 

[neeman]

SAK is traditional
To think otherwise is a cultural bias coming from an American view of slipjoint knives

And then the question is when does a modernized design cease to be traditional

 

[pinnah]

SAK is traditional
To think otherwise is a cultural bias coming from an American view of slipjoint knives

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

And then the question is when does a modernized design cease to be traditional

Great question, probably worth it's own thread. Here's an example. The Buck Ecolite 112 made with Paperstone handle. I say traditional but..

 

[jackknife]

SAK is traditional
To think otherwise is a cultural bias coming from an American view of slipjoint knives

And then the question is when does a modernized design cease to be traditional

I think cultural bias is always going to be an influence. While a two blade jack may be traditional to an American old fart like me. a moderately large friction folder with a flame shaped blade will be perfectly traditional to a shepherd in the hills of Sardinia. To a Frenchman an Opinel will be traditional while in Finland a sheathed puuko is the norm. In many cases, we are a product of where we came from.

Carl.

 

[quattromori]

I think cultural bias is always going to be an influence. While a two blade jack may be traditional to an American old fart like me. a moderately large friction folder with a flame shaped blade will be perfectly traditional to a shepherd in the hills of Sardinia. To a Frenchman an Opinel will be traditional while in Finland a sheathed puuko is the norm. In many cases, we are a product of where we came from.

Carl.

Yes Carl...and indeed, in many cases, when we meet things that belong to other traditions, sometimes we see them as modern, or weird. Now, my little knowledge of the traditional knife world keeps my horizon wide enough. But when I first showed my yeller Buck 303 to a cousin of mine in a village of the inner part of the island (and asked for his thoughts), he said it was nice, very modern, and pretty weird for the fact it had three blades
So yes, where you are standing does matter alot.
From my "European" point of view, SAK's are traditionals, and, at the same time, they're a class of their own.

Fausto

 

[GRIM 62]

To me they're more traditional than not.But,I'm with those that think SAKs are in a class of their own and deserve that distinction.-Jim

 

[CWL]

Any knife design that is older than me, I consider a "traditional"!

 

[Modoc ED]

SAK is traditional
To think otherwise is a cultural bias coming from an American view of slipjoint knives

And then the question is when does a modernized design cease to be traditional

I agree with your statement and don't think there is a ready answer to your question.

I'm glad to see you are once again including your location. I wish everyone would do so. To me, someone's location, if known, enhances/explains the views they have.

 

[Halfneck]

Any knife design that is older than me, I consider a "traditional"!

Kind of how I see it. I got my first SAK (Victorinox Spartan I believe) when I was 10 years old. Loved having a dedicated screwdriver as I'd broken the sheepsfoot blade on 2 different Schrade stockmen. Carried a Victorinox Huntsman 15 years later in the Army. But I do have to say SAKs are a class unto themselves. My Victorinox Red Alox Farmer - Traditional. My Victorinox Bundeswehr One-hand Trekker - not so much.

 

[wouldestous]

i would have to say yes, swiss army knives are traditional even if they are also more than 'just a knife'.

 

[neeman]

Any knife design that is older than me, I consider a "traditional"!

I hope you are very old then ....

The Soddie is an old pattern, but we know it thru Case

The more recent 38 pattern is a 4 5/8" clasp style jack knife that goes by the name Sodbuster.
.....These were introduced by Case between 1965-1969

The Buck 110 lockback is also from 62

So traditional and if they are older than us, is not a factor

 

[sitflyer]

SAK, Scout Pattern, to me these two have always been in a class of their own. Definitely both are traditional, and yet both transcend being just a knife.