sales corner ?

R

Ram

Joined
Apr 3, 2003
Messages
65
Hello everyone,
Why is it that I never see any "traditional folders" in the exchange
corner ?

Ram
 
I think this place in general is into the tactical/one hand opener/lock blade thing rather than traditional slipjoints. There are a few guys into both and even less that don't do the tactical/modern thing at all. It was a while and a bit of a fight before we even got a traditional area in the forums. A lot of people said there was not enough interest to warrant one. I tried a lot of the new knives and steels that everyone raves about, but came to the conclusion that a carbon blade slipjoint suits me best. I think I am definately in the minority here. I would love to see more slipjoints, but I think that just is not the big thing here.
 
True, most are into the one-handed tactical. I am too, to a certain extent. I lean more towards sj's. The older I get the more I do lean towards them. Many on the forum are more of the "younger crowd". For whatever reason, they think thy're cool? Self-defense? Whatever it may be that's what most the crowd seems to be. The older I get the more I lean towards the sj's as that's why I grew up with. I remember in the mid 80's when one-handers started to be known, other than in the custom circle, that it took many years to catch on. At first most, including me, thought they were pretty ugly and big and would be more cumbersome to carry (which they can be!! prime example the benchmade 710). Now what we have is most major knife manufacturers produce many patterns of one-handers. Nothing wrong with that. The only part that saddens me is when you see less sj's being produced. It all comes down to "supply and demand'. They are in the business of making money, and this trend is what makes money!!! I, personally, really like sj's. Reminds me of sitting on my Grandma's porch, steps whittling. Visiting Grandpa's farm. Going on camping trips, hikes, hunting trips, etc. etc. etc. For me there are many memories associated with using them.

I remember for many years I carried a case yellow trapper in CV for squirrel hunting. That blade turned ever solor in the rainbow before it was retired.

With all that said I am glad there is big interest in knives these days. It was never like it is now!!! :)
 
Gosh have we become the old timers? When I go to an auction or show and see and old honey bone handled knife done by an old maker it just makes me more excicted than the last find. Nothing I like better than to spot one on a table among the new flash and open it up and find Tidioute or Kane, stamped on the tang. It doesn't happen very often but when it does I feel like a treasure hunter discovering the mother load. The best part is that the next table maybe holding even a better find. Having collected knives now for 30 years I have acquired a quick eye. I can scan a table in a matter of moments and then move on. I always ask if they have any of the "good stuff" behind the table as this is quite common. My collection has ranged from 700 to about 100 now. Although the quality and rarity has inceased significantly. Relations no longer buy new cheapies for gifts anymore, knowing that "if it aint old then don't buy it". Last weekend at an estate auction I found a CASE BROS Gowanda NY razor strop. I thought I had the bid won a minor $5, imagine that, then when it ended I found that someone bid via written bid and I did not realize it because I was listening for other bids verbally. He got it for $7.50. Now I am not really into straight razor items to much, but just to find something like that was really great. Unfortunately it didn't come home with me. OH WELL. maybe the next sale will have that CASE Warren, Pa or Baldwin Jamestown NY that I have been looking for for a very long time. Thanks for letting me gab.
 
Hey PA, I am clear over the other side of the state near Philly. If I ever get out to Erie to go fishing, I would love to see your collection.
 
HEY!

It would be great to talk Cutlery with someone who understands it. :D You can't imagine, " then again maybe you can" how bored :yawn: some of our guest get when I haul out my collection and say "look at this old Brown Brothers pearl handled pocket knife" and they yawn or tell my wife to call the hospital because my eyes are looking funny. :eek: Get in touch with me when you come for some fine steelhead fishing. Unfortunately I never got into but plenty are. Thanks

P.S.

Look for those old manufacturers, hardware and import Pennsylvania related knives for me. Plenty from the Phila area I don't have yet.
 
Will do PA. I don't get out to the flea markets like I did a couple years ago though. The good one around here closed then. I heard the smallmouth fishing on Erie was really good, so I plan to get out there one of these years.
 
I think I am getting old to because I seem to be leaning toward the SJ's more these days. Wait !! I am only 36 !!!! Thanks again and I sure wish there was more activity on this forum. I am too new to be much of a contributor :( .

Ram
 
Hey Ram, I just turned 33 so don't feel too bad. Some of us just appreciate how things used to be done. Especially when those things worked just fine. I never did see how the $300 plus Sebenza I had was any better for most things than the $50 some odd dollar stockman I had before it. I traded the Sebenza away and I don't miss it at all. Titanium frame, one hander with special alloy steel, but you couldn't whittle a ball-in-cage or chain with it as well as with a carbon steel stockman. It didn't open my mail any faster or cut open boxes or my food any better.You don't NEED a lock on your blade if you are using it right anyway. All these carbon fiber, one handed, locking bladed, wonder steel knives are cool; but I don't think they can do much a well maintained slipjoint can't do as well or better. I don't go in for the whole folder as a fighter concept really. I understand the arguments for it, but it just does not seem a good idea to me.
 
Wow ! Nice to know that I am not the "young-one" in the group like always !
You know, I too have a Sebanza and have stopped carrying it because I enjoy looking at a nice Stag SJ more than the Sebi. Dont get me wrong, when I first got the Sebi it was the cat's meow !! Now I am thinking of selling it to get me a nice custom SJ :D I know that the Sebi group will probably hang me on sight, but oh well life goes on. I also collect vintage watches just because I like to look at the craftmanship that went into those little machines ! Many times while looking for watches at flea markets, I would find an old SJ and it would make my day ! So, I have a bag full of "tactical folders" in my safe and a Stag Canoe in my pocket !

Ram
 
Yeah, don't get me too wrong, the sebbie was a fantasticly built knife. But I never felt it had soul, and like I said, it didn't do much my favorite slipjoints couldn't; and for detailed whittling it was not very good. Plus when you pull out a slpijoint, no one gets scared or defensive. I would pull out the sebbie and even though it is not as tactical looking as say a Benchmade, people were more inclined to look at it as a weapon. Slipjoints have soul and do all I need a knife to do. I like have muliple blade on a knife too. One to cut food, one to whittle, one for cutting tape or boxes, etc.
 
I know what you mean Bobwhite!!! Personally, I think that one-handers, for the most part are ugly and obtrusive. I have made some one-handers in stainless polished bolsters and jigged bone (yellow, honey, black) and stag in the past. Other than that I think they are ugly, only my opinion. I do have a camillus dominator that I like, but I prefer to carry a SJ. They bring back too many memories for them not to be sentimental to me.
 
I'm another old guy... and I seem to be in good company here.

I like the comment about new 'tactical' one handers having no 'soul'. Exactly.

Phil
 
I have tried a couple of times with very little interest. The stuff was posted at very fair prices at least 30 to 40 % of what they were bringing on ebay. (Anyone could have picked them up for resale.) A couple of Sunfish I had here went for almost twice as what I was asking for here when I did put them up on the auction site.
 
Bastid said:
I have tried a couple of times with very little interest. The stuff was posted at very fair prices at least 30 to 40 % of what they were bringing on ebay. (Anyone could have picked them up for resale.) A couple of Sunfish I had here went for almost twice as what I was asking for here when I did put them up on the auction site.
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Gus, post that Bose Dr. knife and you'll see some interest :D

Ram, is there anything in particular that you're looking for? If so, email me, or post a WTB. There is always stuff going around that never makes it to the forums.
 
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