Tactical to Traditional??

[medcommander]

To be honest I'm not really much of a traditionalist. Knives like stockmans, canoes, peanuts, trappers, etc... have to many blades for my needs, not enough tools, are a pain to get out of the pocket and/or take up valuable belt space, require two hands to open, cannot thrust safely, and are a pain to clean.

However there is something to be said for the social darwinism that these blades have endured, and I believe that if they were not useful they would have been removed from their EDC role long ago. Personally while I find nostalgia is compelling, it is only when you combine it with advances in modern design and material that you can achieve something of worth.

 

[midnight flyer]

Frank, this is a really excellent post.

He really hit it on the head, didn't he? :thumbup:

Robert, this is my understanding of the early history of the Buck 110. Still a standard part of the "uniform" among bikers in the Northeast from what I can tell.

Only thing to add is that my understanding is that the Buck 112 got the name "Ranger" as a reference to a fight that took place on the USS Ranger that involved several stabbing with Buck 110s, which then led to a 3" blade restriction on the ship. FWIW, I think the 112 is among the prettiest production knives ever made, but I also think the Spitfire is among the prettiest planes ever made too.

Certainly part of the kit for many bikers down her in S. Texas. You would be surprised... many of the bikers in clubs I know consider themselves the "real" traditionalists. The only ride Amercian made bikes, carry American made gear, and wouldn't think of carrying a knife that was made anywhere else but America. The 110 fills the bill for them, and Harley Davidson/Buck responded with these:

http://goo.gl/Q7rOIM

I work with two different Veteran's groups, one with Wounded Warriors/Fisher House, and the other is Wreaths Across America. There are many "motorcycle clubs" associated with both as well as other active veteran's associations, and their members wouldn't think of using any gear not made in the USA. I have actually talked with guys that bought Buck 110s at the BX/PX and used them as part of their gear in Vietnam! And BTW, I have seen some really neat designs made by American custom makers that these guys carry.

One thing about knife guys, they always have something to talk about, and even though one of us is a heavily tattoed hawg rider with a pony tail and a vest and the other is a pudgy, clean cut construction worker in a pickup, it doesn't dull the admiration for one another's blades. In fact, after a fashion, it can be a real ice breaker.

IME, about 75% of them carry two knives. The other? A CASE of course. Simple reasoning, too. Their Dad carried CASE, their Grandfather carried CASE, and back as far as they could trace, their family carried CASE knives. Made in America, serving American workers, soldiers, farmers, and anyone that needed a knife for work or play for over 100 years, they are convinced that CASE stands alone at the top of the heap of American traditionlism in knife making, and no American would carry a knife made in a foreign country.

When I am going to or putting on an event, I make sure I am carrying CASE only, or one of my American made Kershaws!

As far as Buck goes, sadly, regardless of what knife is actually used the local new outlets always post a picture of a Buck knife, mostly now the 119 if there is a crime committed with a knife.

As far as the Spitfire goes, I always thought it looked like it should fly. Some of the other planes of that era were excellent machines and earned quite a record of accomplishment, but the graceful lines of the Spitfire made it stand alone in the "pretty bird" category to me.

Robert

 

[cchu518]

I like being able to pull out a handsome traditional around others if I need it, I'm often around other parents and impressions can count, I'm just being real

This is so true! I don't mind carrying a blade and also being polite to others about. I don't have to call them sheeple or something condescending just because they don't carry a knife. I find that traditionals, small ones fit the bill best in the widest range of situations!

 

[AntDog]

Certainly part of the kit for many bikers down her in S. Texas. You would be surprised... many of the bikers in clubs I know consider themselves the "real" traditionalists. The only ride Amercian made bikes, carry American made gear, and wouldn't think of carrying a knife that was made anywhere else but America. The 110 fills the bill for them, and Harley Davidson/Buck responded with these:

http://goo.gl/Q7rOIM

This is definitely true.

Also the "witch hunt" the 110 underwent in the 80's is definitely true. In my neck of the woods, they were simply referred to as "a BUCK knife"....with sinister undertones...

If somebody said "ol-so-and-so got stabbed last night with a Buck knife" we all knew it was a 110.

 

[James Y]

The prominence of Case knives must have been regional, because back in the '70s, as a kid, I never recall ever seeing a Case knife in any store that carried knives. There were a lot of Schrades, and of course since it's San Diego, a lot of Bucks. Also Ka-Bar traditionals, some Camillus, and some cheap Colonials. I'd never even heard of Case until I was about 34 years old (1997).

Jim

 

[pinnah]

As far as Buck goes, sadly, regardless of what knife is actually used the local new outlets always post a picture of a Buck knife, mostly now the 119 if there is a crime committed with a knife.

I suspect that every time this happens, they play a cash register sound on the PA system in Post Falls and then ship a palette of 119s to the Walmarts in that media market.

How can it be that such a large number of deer hunters prefer the drop point these days (Buck sells a bunch of them) but by most accounts the 110 and 119 are the perennial best sellers for Buck? It's not all for deer hunting. 110 ?= the American Navaja?

 

[cchu518]

I suspect that every time this happens, they play a cash register sound on the PA system in Post Falls and then ship a palette of 119s to the Walmarts in that media market.

How can it be that such a large number of deer hunters prefer the drop point these days (Buck sells a bunch of them) but by most accounts the 110 and 119 are the perennial best sellers for Buck? It's not all for deer hunting. 110 ?= the American Navaja?

As a kid in the 80s I remember playing with my older brother's 110, hearing it snap open and shut. Thinking about how much of a beast this knife was... Looking at it now not much has changed. It's still a beast of a knife!

 

[knarfeng]

The prominence of Case knives must have been regional, because back in the '70s, as a kid, I never recall ever seeing a Case knife in any store that carried knives. There were a lot of Schrades, and of course since it's San Diego, a lot of Bucks. Also Ka-Bar traditionals, some Camillus, and some cheap Colonials. I'd never even heard of Case until I was about 34 years old (1997).

Jim

I grew up in the inland valleys around Los Angeles. And your statements match my experience.
I didn't see a lot of Case knives in the 60's and 70's. I saw Schrades and Camillus (Buck) knives.

 

[jc57]

I wasn't "into" knives per se until just recently, so I didn't really pay attention to what brands were out there much. When I was a teenager in the early 70s, Buck knives were the thing. 110 folders and the black-handled hunting knives. And the reason you had one was that you hunted, or worked in a skilled trade or were a mechanic.

I've had a Buck 110, a Schrade (actually Parker-Frost) 194OT, and a Schrade Sharpfinger since the late 70s and still have them all. My only foray into something tactical was when I bought a Gerber Mark II Survival Knife (part-serrated dagger looking thing) around the same time period. Still have that too, though I had no use for it then and none now.

I used to carry the Buck 110 on my uniform belt when I was a policeman, the idea being that between the big chunky brass bolsters and sharp blade, it could be used to break out a car window and cut a seat belt if it came down to that to free someone at an accident scene. That was before the modern rescue tools that are purpose-designed for that. I never needed it for that, the fire department always got there fast enough and they had power tools.

I honestly don't recall ever noticing Case knives at all until I learned about them here on this forum a couple of years ago. I do like and own several brands and styles of modern one-handed opening locking folders, and they have their purposes, but for my daily needs a slipjoint does most of what I need to do.

I can see, though, if I really needed a knife for a lot of work, that a fixed blade or locking folder would be my preference.