Talk to Me About Traditionals

[Sulaco]

I've had some US mad Schrade and Case knives over the years but admittedly the modern folder bug bit me and it's only now that I seem to be moving back to traditionals. I like the idea of just having it in my pocket as opposed to clipped to it and I really don't need a folder I can chop through Redwoods with. I actually have a couple in the trade forum now.

So I need some schooling. What's pinchable half-stop mean? I assume half-stop is the spot in the opening/closing which is half-way where it will stop? How do I know what knives have this and what ones don't? Also, is it preferrable to have multi-bladed knives with the blades on one side or opposing? Just personal preference? Anything else I need to know?

Thanks and looking forward to this new "old" stuff!

 

[fatcorgi]

welcome to the traditional forum a half-stop is a safety measure, where the blade opens in two steps - first to 90 degrees and then the whole way, so if you are cutting and hte slipjoint closes, it will stop half way rather than close down on your fingers. If it is pinchable, that means that there is enough area on the blade to get a hold of it between thumb and forefinger to open it, this is as opposed to using a nail nick. As for knowing which knives have this feature, each model is different, speaking very generally, GEC tends to have half-stops on many of their patterns, Case, not so much, ag russell never (he doesn't like half-stops), ...that's a few major brands,
There are various advantages and disadvantages to muliblade knives with opposing vs parallel blades. A standard jack knife has the advantages of simple design - no need to crink the blades, and because each blade has its own spring, the pull tends to be stronger. Opposing blades have the advantage of making a slimmer knife - if two blades are accomodated on one spring, sometimes (not always), the snap is a little less on these blades. A well made one is an impressive feat of cutlery, as it is hard to get the blades nested together so that they don't rub.

 

[jc57]

Half-stops are also called "square joints". Here's a thread that discusses the half stop in some detail.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...hat-is-the-purpose-of-the-quot-half-stop-quot

Case knives come in both square joint patterns and cam joint patterns. Here is a list of the recent production Case patterns with square joints:

'005 / '005 1/2 / '005RAZ - Barlow/Razor
'07 / '07W - Mini Trapper
'009 / '009 1/2 / '009RAZ - Barlow/Razor
'011 - Hawkbill
'052 - Medium Congress
'117 - Sway Back Gent/Jack
'15 - Small Gunstock
'156 - Tuxedo
'20 - Peanut
'43 - Grand Daddy Barlow
'49 - Copperhead
'546 / '546 1/2 - Back Pocket/Panama Trapper


As fatcorgi said, pinchable means that there is enough of the blade spine extending above the handles that you can pull the blade open by pinching it between the thumb and forefinger rather than having to use the nail nick.

Regarding the question about having blades hinged at both ends versus just one end, it really comes down to a matter of individual preference and the perceived utility from having more blades in one knife.

I tend to prefer two-blade jack knife patterns, but I also carry 3-blade stockman and Whittler patterns as the mood strikes me. For a nice slim carry a pen-knife with a single spring shared by the two opposing blades works well.

The only thing I dislike about the double hinged knives is that often you get blade scrape marks from the opposing blades rubbing against each other during opening and closing. It's primarily cosmetic but it bugs me.

 

[Sulaco]

Great info to look through and absorb. Thanks!

 

[jc57]

Sometimes knife manufacturers will cut recesses into the frame and handles to let you more easily pinch open a knife, a style called "easy open." Here's a link to a GEC model with that feature. http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/253110eo-desertspr1.gif

 

[jimmyd1982]

The only thing I dislike about the double hinged knives is that often you get blade scrape marks from the opposing blades rubbing against each other during opening and closing. It's primarily cosmetic but it bugs me.

I've had this problem on several double hinged knives. Like jc57 said, it's only cosmetic but a lot of times it's annoying enough that I will end up leaving those knives at home in favor of something else.