Show me your humble, rough-and-ready traditionals!

[rune1279]

So I was reading over this thread and noticing (other than a seemingly universal dislike of lady leg knives ) a lot of folks didn't like stainless, or delrin or other synthetics on their traditionals.

It struck me as kind of odd, because when I look back at the traditionals folks were using when I was growing up (before the pocket-clipped OHO thing took off) my dad and my uncle both carried 300-series Bucks. One grandfather carried a carbon Case with some dark composite handle, and I'm told the other carried mostly Old Timers, which are also delrin/carbon. Not a fancy knife among them, but then they were not afflicted like folks 'round here are, either.

While I have certainly developed an appreciation for exquisitely-jigged unicorn bone and whatnot as a result of reading this forum, I still have a real soft spot for that kind of knife that 'one knife' folks carry -- simple, tough, well made, and without pretense:

So am I the only one? Like the title says, show me your humble, rough-and-ready traditionals, the silent pillars of your EDC that you like even though there's really nothing all that special about them...

--Mark
(This thread may well turn out to be five pages of yeller peanuts, for all I know ...or it may turn out to be far less than that -- asking a bunch of knife collectors to show off their unremarkable knives may not be my best idea...)

 

[knarfeng]

Stainless steel and Delrin. Working knives like the ones I grew up with. You are talking my language. Some of these have non-stainless blades, but the covers are all Delrin or other plastics.

 

[Groove]

This beauty was "rescued" from an old Air Force toolbox.

I like the yellow Bucks quite a bit, super tough, no nonsense.

And my #6 Opinel that I find myself choosing more and more.

 

[Doug Add]

I can't take credit for putting this 6344 HE stockman through its paces, as I just obtained it last summer from another BF member, but it is reminiscent of the hard use knives I abused as a boy, and the take-anything-thrown-at-it pocket knives carried by my grandfather and great uncle (who both took me on many adventures when my age was still in single digits).

I carried this Victorinox Fieldmaster for over 25 years, and it tended to a wide variety of tasks on various job sites. Last November I finally replaced the cellidor handles that were cracked and broken in many places with new nylon handles.

 

[paulhilborn]

My humble WORK knife is a USA Schrade #125OT. Carried this while working Construction/Landscaping back in my teens---a looong time ago!!!

It was a multi purpose tool, knife, pry bar, hand spade and hammer, remember I was in my teens

I have others so I'll have to dig into my picture archives:thumbup:

Paul

 

[kamagong]

LOL. The use of delrin and other synthetics on knives is a fairly recent development, historically speaking. Ebony and stag, though considered premium materials now, have long been used in working tools. We're not talking about pearl or ivory after all. True, they won't tolerate abuse and neglect as well as MOTS, but they are still very robust and durable and will last as long as the blade given a modicum of care.

- Christian

 

[Grateful]

Here are a couple of my plain jane carbon steel and delrin users. Boker jigged black delrin trapper and a Case Yellow pen knife.
Jim

 

[rockgolfer]

 

[paulhilborn]

Likin the F&F Lockback Jeff, first impressions?

Paul

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I just got this one in trade. GEC Bullnose.

Here's my Sodbuster Jr.

Got a few others... Klein and Camilius Electrician's knives and a Sodbuster Sr., but no pics right now.

 

[notthatsharp]

Used this pic a couple of times now, but I reckon it's the best I have, and it's too dark outside to take a new one. Here it goes again, my trusty squirrel:

 

[rockgolfer]

I really like it(minus the slight rock lock). It is a great length and completely disappears in my back pocket. Going to use it on some steak here in a few to break it in. Took a very aggressive toothy edge on my arkansas stones yesterday afternoon :thumbup:

 

[Hammer67]

I still have a real soft spot for that kind of knife that 'one knife' folks carry -- simple, tough, well made, and without pretense.

So am I the only one?

Agreed! And all of my "simple, tough & well-made" trad knives can be seen in the, "What Traditional Knife Are Ya Totin' Today?" thread. Not a shelf queen in the lot. But sorry - none are made out of that new-fangled composite stuff or fancy stainless steels, either....

 

[screened porch]

I have an embarrassment of riches, when it comes to unpretentious knives. See what i can find offhand.
Buck, Schrade, Utica.

 

[rune1279]

Stainless steel and Delrin. Working knives like the ones I grew up with. You are talking my language. Some of these have non-stainless blades, but the covers are all Delrin or other plastics.

Hoo -- talk about getting off to a good start! What is that one in the middle column, between the Old Timer and the yellow Buck?

My humble WORK knife is a USA Schrade #125OT. Carried this while working Construction/Landscaping back in my teens---a looong time ago!!!

It was a multi purpose tool, knife, pry bar, hand spade and hammer, remember I was in my teens

It's a heck of a knife, then -- almost all the knives I had when I was that age got ..."used up"

In fact, the Wenger shown here followed me home from the junk shop because it reminded me of the one that I carried in college.

The Imperial is arguably the ugliest knife I own, but it's the Barlow handle pattern done as a linerless, lightweight shadow. It may or may not last, but it has its place. The Buck was actually my Uncle's, given to me as a gift, and the Case and Schrade are part of my usual assortment of workaday pen knives.

--Mark

 

[knarfeng]

What is that one in the middle column, between the Old Timer and the yellow Buck?

--Mark

Mark, you have a sharp eye. That's a 'Cold Steel large stockman' with "Carbon V" blades made by Camillus.

 

[rune1279]

LOL. The use of delrin and other synthetics on knives is a fairly recent development, historically speaking. Ebony and stag, though considered premium materials now, have long been used in working tools. We're not talking about pearl or ivory after all. True, they won't tolerate abuse and neglect as well as MOTS, but they are still very robust and durable and will last as long as the blade given a modicum of care.

- Christian

Certainly true. It's a matter of generation, I think. Old Timer advertised themselves as 'A knife like Granddad's' even though they were a delrin handled knife and at the time, their customers Granddads would have had bone, most likely. OTOH, for me the delrin Old Timer is not just a knife like Granddad's, it is literally what Granddad carried. From my perspective a bone/MOP/ebony/stag knife is an exercise in quality and craftsmanship for its own sake, well beyond what is necessary for just making a good tool.

I do not mind that at all, really. The world desperately needs more gratuitous exercises in quality and craftsmanship, and if they come in the form of a tool that is, itself, an invitation to go out and undertake some gratuitous craftsmanship of your own, then that is double-bonus awesome in my book.

Even so, it turns out I like a knife like Granddad's just as much as I like a knife like great-great-Granddad's.

--Mark

 

[Hammer67]

The world desperately needs more gratuitous exercises in quality and craftsmanship, and if they come in the form of a tool that is, itself, an invitation to go out and undertake some gratuitous craftsmanship of your own, then that is double-bonus awesome in my book.

Here, here.

 

[Modoc ED]

Delrin and Stainless Steel - Case 3347

Saw-cut Delrin and Carbon Steel - Schrade 80T

 

[pinnah]

This. Occasionally my Buck 500 finds it's way into my pocket. It's my "bling" knife. But this Opinel #9 finds it's way into my pocket nearly every day. It's an insanely tough knife and perfect for dealing with both wood and food. I use it in the kitchen all the time. Fits my hand perfect and the blade shape and grind have ruined me for just about anything else.


opinel-9 by Pinnah, on Flickr