slip joints just dont do it for me....

I'm sort of in the same boat, I really like the designs and looks of slipjoints and it reminds me of my grandfather who always has a buck or old timer on him, however I have three problems with them.
1) no lock
2) Edge holding ability of most slipjoint steel, I'm the kind of guy that isn't that enthused about a knife if its in plain ol' S30V, However M390, S90V, Elmax, 3V :thumbup:
3) Difficulty and extra time to open and close the knife.

However I carry a Vic supertinker everyday, though I rarely use the blade because I usually have a 20CP PM2 or M4 Ritter grip in the other pocket, and I did grow up using Vic's in scouts pretty much exclusively. I've also discovered Queen who come mostly in D2 which is more acceptable to me than 1095 or 440, as well as the occasional slipjoints with S60V or ATS-34. I'm actually carrying a Queen Sodbuster today because I'm not allowed to carry a knife that can be seen by customers when at work which basically means anything with a pocket clip which means either Queen Sodbuster, Opinel #7, or ladybug in ZDP or H1. Basically what I'm trying to say is, I really want to like slipjoints, but can't see spending the money on one I want to try out that may not change how I feel about them when I could buy a Manix 2 XL for the same price or less and know for sure I'm going to like it.
 
I've carried. Lot of different knives in my short amount of life, I use to think the same thing, never like slip joints

I personally always wanted something bombproof....well I lost a good benchmade (ouch) and didn't have the money at the time to get a new one, so I carried a case cheetah, and/or a Swiss army knife. I realize then that I didn't need a bomb proof knife and that the slip joints will do anything I need them to.

I still like my bombproof folders better (got a zt 0350) but to this day, the Swiss at knife or case cheetah is still in my pocket at the same time for when I am in places where the ZT would scare the sheeple.

The big thing is getting used to the slip joints once you do that, you will like them better than before (I recommend carrying one for a few weeks and going from there)
 
Most everyone I knew, including myself,carried slipjoints as kids,different times.I got into Buck 110s when I graduated from high school(still love them),and carried one for 4 years in the Marines.When Spyderco came out with the Police model I carried that for a good while.That was the start of my all over the place buying of tactical and combat orientainted knives.Since then I've come full circle and carry mostly slippies everyday.But,I still like to carry one of my 110s,or 112s in a belt sheath to go with my slippy.Under Carls influence,my slippy of choice is the mighty Case Peanut.I consider my Bucks to be traditional though,and shy away from most knives in the tactical realm.Maybe I've just gotten sentimental in my older age and like to wander back in time a bit.:o:D
 
CWL said:
Exactly! I don't know how old you are, but your tastes will probably change over time. If your mom is still giving you knives, you probably aren't too "old".

I know that my tastes have changes over time, at one time, I preferred tactical looking folders, but moved out of that stage to really liking traditionals with bone scales. Used to not understand how people could like those.

Your tastes may change over time, but you can't force yourself to carry or use something that you do not find attractive to you at the present. You don't have to use them, but hold onto them. I do think that those knives that your mother gave you will mean much more to you over time than you'll realize.
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Wiser words were never spoken.:thumbup:
 
In the past week I had an epiphany that suits your situation. I will carry a traditional slip-joint whenever I am in a knife sensitive zone (restaurants, gatherings, etc.) and will carry my Delica or something like it as an EDC, and use it especially when I am working. I might carry a traditional once I get one that I like, as I currently have a cheap, but decent, DE jackknife by Imperial. When I go to formal occasions, I REALLY want to have one of these.
case.jpg
 
lilBIGfoot said:
In the past few years, i have really gotten into knives. And as any good mother would, i get a knife for any occasion that comes up, unfortunately every knife she gives me is a hardware buck, or schrade old timer. Not knocking these brands, or slipjoints at all, they just dont do it for me.

So my question is, what am i missing. I have 2 opinels that i bought from a gun show 3 years ago, no.7 and no.8, and this is the closest thing to a traditional i can bring myself to carry. And are these technically considered traditional?
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traditional yes....not technically American traditional. Perhaps over time you will grow into appreciating them. Slip Joints have subtle qualities that are often beyond the ken of the young.
 
I guess the will go into the sock drawer till i hear them calling my name. I have quite a few spydercos, and i love how light they feel in pocket, even the millie for such a large knife. Great Eastern Cuttlery over at KSF did pique my interest. Might bite the bullet and order one soon.
 
I guess the will go into the sock drawer till i hear them calling my name. I have quite a few spydercos, and i love how light they feel in pocket, even the millie for such a large knife. Great Eastern Cuttlery over at KSF did pique my interest. Might bite the bullet and order one soon.
 
I started with more tactical folders and switched over to traditionals for a while. There are aspects of both I like and I will most likely carry one of each or atleast switch between the styles for the rest of my life.

Traditional:
Small size (disappears in pocket)
Thin blade
Doesn't scare people.

Tactical:
ONE HAND OPENING (this one is bigggg for me if I could find a good traditional thats one hand opening I would be in heaven)
Feels more solid in hand.
Better for self defense (Hope to god I never have to use it for anything more then a tool)
 
Don't feel bad, Alan. I have quite a few quality slippie's that my dad gave me (all Case) but I still won't carry them. I'm WAYYYY too rough on a knife and use them for wayyy too many things they're not intended for to carry a slip joint. Then again, for me, nothing beats a fixed blade.
 
I find that traditional knives are both very "public-friendly" but also tend to be carried by "advanced users." I think that the smaller blades, lack of locking mechanism, two handed opening, etc. are all hurdles for inexperienced and experienced knife users alike if they don't deliberately carry such a piece to build up that experience. Moving from tacticals to traditionals is sort of like taking the training wheels off of a bike when it comes to the technical aspects of their use that you suddenly have to start considering and thinking about. Eventually (after about a week of carry) most knife folk will have adjusted to them to the point of comfort, though not mastery--that comes with continued familiarity, of course!

This is also not to say that modern folders don't have their place or that they're in some way inferior to traditionals, but rather that you will likely come to appreciate them if you give them the chance and allow yourself to adjust to their differences. I EDC a Case Swayback, Cold Steel Pocket Bushman, and an ESEE Izula. Three VERY different knives, and I get good use from all of them depending on my situation and environment. :)
 
Personally I just can't think of anything a "traditional" knife does that a "modern" one doesn't. I've rarely seen a slippie that was sharper than my flat ground spydie, nor can I think of a single thing that a slippie does that my spyderco doesn't. Maybe they are a little more "classy" but I'm at a point in my life that I could care less about what people think of me or who I scare by pulling out a big ass blade, it's not illegal, maybe they're just ignorant for being scared of a guy USING a knife.

Now if i worked a desk job, maybe I could justify carrying a classy traditional, but i don't, so i wont.
 
Jarrett2k said:
Personally I just can't think of anything a "traditional" knife does that a "modern" one doesn't. I've rarely seen a slippie that was sharper than my flat ground spydie, nor can I think of a single thing that a slippie does that my spyderco doesn't. Maybe they are a little more "classy" but I'm at a point in my life that I could care less about what people think of me or who I scare by pulling out a big ass blade, it's not illegal, maybe they're just ignorant for being scared of a guy USING a knife.

Now if i worked a desk job, maybe I could justify carrying a classy traditional, but i don't, so i wont.
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I can think of something your Spyderco doesn't do (or is that two somethings?):p;)

IMG_1949-1.jpg
 
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Meh, I'll pass. I have no use for three blades when one does the job just fine. If that doesn't work i have an OK necker on my belt, as well as a Ranger RD6 (basically just used as an axe and a crowbar, lmao)
 
Jarrett2k said:
Meh, I'll pass. I have no use for three blades when one does the job just fine. If that doesn't work i have an OK necker on my belt, as well as a Ranger RD6 (basically just used as an axe and a crowbar, lmao)
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Well, I wouldn't worry too much. I don't think he was trying to convince you to buy one; rather, just showing you at least one thing that a slipjoint does that a modern one-hander doesn't commonly do. They're also typically lighter and smaller which can make them more convenient to carry, depending on where one is going and what they might decide to wear that day. They also offer better shapes for whittling and can make finer, more precise cuts when carving, due to their smaller blades.

If you don't need one, by all means, don't carry one.
 
I think for now my opinels are filling the 'traditional' void in my life. Still classy and elegant, wickedly sharp. And slightly different, definitely a conversation starter. But as far as slippies go, i carried a victorinox for awhile, and i just want feeling it. Ill check out some more picture threads, might find something that tickles my fancy.
 
I often carry an Opinel No.8 on days when I feel it'll be handier than the Case swayback.
 
Most of the manufacturers that make slip joints also offer lockback knives as well. GEC's #72 pattern, Canal Street's Pinch lockback, and Case's Copperlock are just a few examples. They have the traditional styling with a blade that locks and is easier to open. They also make linerlock knives, but these have a backspring in addition to the lock which makes them harder to open than a lockback.

You may in time come to appreciate slip joints if you become more comfortable using them. If not, it isn't worth worrying about. There are plenty of other types of knives available to choose from.
 
I don't much care for the handles on modern knives. They limit me to 1 or 2 grips with their guards and finger grooves. When I whittle, I like the freedom of grip traditional slip joints give me.
 
I'd recommend a Mini Copperlock. Large enough to satisfy your "folder" itch, but slim, pocketable, thin blade and fairly sheeple friendly. And it locks, which is an overrated feature, IMHO.
 
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