Starting a Traditional Venture

2

252chevyboyz

Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
147
Hope everyone has had a good new year so far. I kept telling myself I would wait for the new year to come in before I made the dive into traditional knives. I'll post a small amount of background info on me. I have had several Benchmade's, Spydies, Rats, SAK's, and Kershaw's. With those my 2 main EDC's are the PM2, Mini Grip, and the SAK Classic SD. If your wondering what I may do for a living and what kind of environment my knives are in every day I'll give you a little background on that too. I am co owner in a landscape company and split firewood in my spare time to sell. My knives see a lot of use in landscaping. Usually sharpen with DMT stones, then move to Arkansas Stones, and finally strop with Mother's Polish.

Enough about me though. I have been wanting to make the habit of adding a traditional slip to my EDC. I have been picking up some old traditional knives just to collect from flea markets but want a user though. With me just getting into it I'd like to stick to a budget of $50. I am not totally stuck on SS blades I can deal with the upkeep on Carbon Steel. I also would like to stick with a single blade. If I had to add something I'd like to have a bottle opener but a secondary blade isn't a total turn off. A sheepsfoot blade style would be awesome but am open to other suggestions. Would really like to have a bone handle/scale material but I understand for the $50 range that may not be possible so synthetics are fine too. I have had a Buck Solo for about a week and the quality of a Chinese made Buck has been disappointing. Mainly in the blade grind. I may be spoiled from BM and Spyderco but I do want to stick to USA made traditional knives. I've been scanning some of the vendors and have gotten lost when it comes to where to begin my traditional venture. So I figured I'd ask the experts here in the community and see if could get some advice on where to start. I am keeping a very open mind to different blade styles, blade steel's, and handle materials. I'll post some pics of my collection below.

Thank you for any help in advance,
-Rick

Current Collection of Rescues:

ffdaaa3c5d4603d8bc24d460bae269fb.jpg


Buck Solo:

23d439aa4538f5c71757189c5b74dc61.jpg


7616512db099467ace66e9cd2043bc82.jpg
 
WR Case has a good variety of knives at or below $50. I like Case's stainless 'surgical steel'. I find that knife steel gets plenty sharp and holds an edge pretty good.
Since you've had experience with the Buck Solo I would recommend a Case Mini Trapper, especially the Mini Trapper w/caplifter, also known as the BeerTrap around here. The caplifter also has a screwdriver. I myself am uncomfortable with knives that do not have atleast a screwdriver having ruined many blades in the past trying to use them for screwdrivers.
Finally, Case makes thousands of knives in any week, if your first doesn't seem quite right, send it back to them and they'll fix or replace. Myself, I've never had any problems with Case knives. They are an excellant starting point for entering the world of traditionals.
 
Seconded on Case. They have a multitude of styles, but off the top, I'm not sure if they are producing anything with a sheepfoot main. You might take a look at the GEC navy knife, a#15 model, didn't seem to catch on like some of their patterns do. And look at some TL-29's, or the good ole electrician's knife. You could probably get three for $50, and people do modify the screwdriver blade, sometimes turning it into a small wharncliffe or replacing it entirely with a cap lifter. SAKs are great too, specially in alox, an electrician model or farmer(I think that's the one wit' da saw) might suit you. In fact I would look over all the alox SAKs you can, cause their is such a variety. Good luck, welcome to the porch brother:D
Thanks, Neal
 
Hi Rick,

Keep an eye on the traditional side of the exchange. You should be able to snag a nice Case in the $50 price range. Tons of choices. Sodbuster comes to mind. Good luck.

Keith
 
It looks like you already have a nice start on your traditional options.

If I were going to suggest one for working with, I would recommend the Case Sodbuster Jr in stainless for a good work knife. It was my first traditional for work, and it has served me well, both in brush clearing and in the field as an archaeologist. It is a nice knife to have for when you don't need a fixed blade or large locking knife.

However, after getting into traditionals, I have also found that the scout pattern is very handy for work. I like having the screwdriver/bottle opener, and the awl (AKA punch) is great for many things, especially for changing heads on a weed whacker, and cleaning out similar tools. If you found a harness Jack in your price range that would be a great option for fitting in your pocket, but they tend to be over your price range. I would probably wait on investing in the higher end traditionals until you've decided whether you like working with them. Until then, I would suggest considering an inexpensive scout/camp knife just to try it out.

But for single blade work traditional, you can't beat the soddy.
 
@bt93 @neal70 @arrowhd @abbydaddy Thank y'all for the warm welcome to the porch along with all the help and advice on my new venture. It can be overwhelming looking at hundreds of traditional knives and not being real familiar with them.

I like the sounds of a "beer trap" or mini trapper with a cap lifter/flathead. I do carry a Gerber Shard daily since I haven't had anything else with a screwdriver/cap lifter. The idea of Case's customer service sounds pleasing. Anyone had experience with their CS?

The GEC Navy I could only find in the 90-95 price range. Might be something I look on the exchange for.

The TL-29 is a good priced knife. Anyone had experience with how they hold up blade/edge wise? Saying that people have replaced the screwdriver blade with cap lifter does that mean breaking the knife down or just modifying the existing blade into one?

The Case Sodbuster Jr. looks appealing too. I have seen a lot of them in the traditional picture threads.

Something like a alox SAK would be a multipurpose knife for sure. Maybe something like a Tinker or something similar.

Wow though so many choices getting started. Looks like a might be slipping down a bigger slope than I thought getting into traditional knives. I've found my 2 "modern" knives at least for now so I dont mind slipping down the mountain side a little ways 😀 Anyone have pics of said knives after some usage?

Thank you again,
-Rick

T2 Tappin'
 
Wurrwulf (Shawn) posted a picture in the Case old to new thread a couple of pages back a picture of his Case Beer Trappist. Really nice jigged bone with a long clip and screwdriver, caplifter combo.
 
@joeradza thank you for pointing that out. Just found the one Shawn posted. Looks like a really nice knife. That is an option for sure. That would fit the bill almost perfect with a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot style blade. Might have to sacrifice blade style for the price range though

T2 Tappin'
 
Maybe a Case Mini Copperhead? They make a version with a Wharncliffe main blade and a Pen secondary blade. Should be able to find one in bone within your budget. Pattern number 62109W.

There are a few folks on here that own them and they seem to really like the pattern.
 
Case also makes a Mini Trapper with a single Wharncliffe blade. Pattern number 3107W for the yellow synthetic in your choice of carbon or stainless steel. Pattern number 6107W for a bone handled version.

The yellow synthetic is also available with an Easy Open notch should that strike your fancy.
 
I have 3 suggestions which I think will fall inside your price limit.

1. Queen Cutlery No.69 Workhorse Barlow. This comes in Sheepfoot carbon, US made but has delrin jigged handles. a tough, inexpensive but decent worker.
2. Buck 303 Small Stockman. These are U.S. made, all stainless construction. I know you prefer single blades but this is compact and has 3 blades, Clip, Sheepfoot, Spey. You can find these with no problem on the 2nd hand market too. A knife that is tough and dependable.
3. Rough Rider Half Hawk. These are very decently made Chinese knives good stainless too. This particular model has many different handle options including bone. Large Sheepfoot and Pen secondary. Well worth a look.

Here's the Queen Barlow

IMG_3381.jpg


Thanks, Will
 
Just took a look at the Wharncliffe version looks like it may be a contestant. How do you think it would hold up to EDC use with such a fine tip?

@railsplitter thank you for your help and pointing out those three versions with Wharncliffe blades

T2 Tappin'
 
@willpower thank you for the reply and the help.

That Queen Cutlery No. 69 is a very nice looking traditional. One of the more appealing Barlow's I've looked at. That is on the list as a contender for sure

T2 Tappin'
 
252chevyboyz said:
Just took a look at the Wharncliffe version looks like it may be a contestant. How do you think it would hold up to EDC use with such a fine tip?

@railsplitter thank you for your help and pointing out those three versions with Wharncliffe blades

T2 Tappin'
Click to expand...

Personally, I prefer a Sheepsfoot over a Wharncliffe blade but I like both. I almost always have some type of a Stockman in my pocket that has a Sheepsoot blade. I do carry my Case/Bose Norfolk (way out of your price range) with a Wharncliffe main blade periodically and I get by just fine with that blade.

Having no experience in the Landscaping business, I can't accurately comment on which blade would be more practical but it seems to me that both types would be useful. As you mentioned, I suppose it depends on how hard you use the tip of the blade.
 
GEC 47 Hayin Helper new a little more than $50 but less than a PM2 or a Mini Grip you see them pop up on the exchange for around $50. 1095 steel not stainless but just keep it wiped down on your pants a little mineral oil on the blade your all set. After they develop a patina they're pretty well self protecting. They come in a Hawkbill pruner or Sheepsfoot also have a two blade.


krgmX1R.jpg
 
victorinox electrician - scout pattern with regular and wharncliffe blades, opener and screwdriver

Case has several bone sodbusters, if you want to go that way, think they are all ss. Some older ones are cv.
 
Last edited:
@railsplitter wow yea those Bose knives carry the custom price tag. Really nice knives though. I'm sure you do get what you pay for with those knives.

@rredden that GEC 47 looks really nice. Very nice actually. Might be something I invest in once I get further down the slope I'm currently slipping down haha.

@abcdef I have had my eye on the victorinox patterns. The sod buster jr has been a steady eye catcher also

T2 Tappin'
 
The #47 Randy(R Redden) suggests would be great for your tasks,if you find the right price. I completely forgot to mention the SAK florist/pruner knife(same thing, I think) it's a single blade sheepfoot you can pickup for less'en half your stated price point. And I just checked, I was wrong a pruner is different. It has two blades , a spear and a small hawkbill, but comes in alox, whereas the florist is an actually nice, slightly rough polymer(plastic probably) handled knife. I guess I keep coming back to the Swiss Army knives because there is such a variety of them, and they fit pretty slim in the pocket if they have two springs(4 tools-usually). But Abbydaddy's Scout idea gets you right there too. I think there may even be some on the exchange now in your budget. The Queen City barlow with sheepfoot is also a great choice, very popular. That said, quality control is lacking at times.
Thanks, Neal
 
I just ordered a Case Amber Texas Jack (CV blades) I think that this may be what you're seeking. I like it because it is a bit bigger than my Peanut and smaller than my Queen Stockman. it fits in a "niche" that is hard to fill by larger slip joints. You may want to look into it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top