The move towards slips, age and wisdom

Dijos

Dijos

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
2,600
I, like many, grew up in the tactical era. If a knife wasn't thick, chisel ground, super lock, and clipped, it was junk.
I have gotten older. I was reading a post by Carlos of Spyderco forum fame, and he said something to the effect of "the UK penknife has turned out to be all the knife I need" , and this got me thinking. I have pushed the limits of my knives, and suspect that many others do not. I have used many a slipjoint to work around my house, the barn, and even construction sites. Yes, I have probably abused them. I have never had one fail, though. These are the most extreme things that I do with knives, and realistically, opening packages and envelopes are 9/10 of what I do. Someone had commented that the SAK blades were thin in comparison to case. The thin-blade factor was cleared up for me while tryong to cut a piece of foam rubber with my endura. I may as well have been using my teeth. My opinel sailed through the cushion like nothing, leaving a nice clean edge. I have come to realize that old knife designs were functional for the sake of function, and are still functional.
Not to say that I'd always trust my fingers to a slipjoint, but most of the time, I don't worry that I don't have enough knife for the job.
Sorry for the rambling, but I wanted to know how you all felt.
 
Dijos,
You going to the Gator Show at Lakeland next weekend?? You like slipjoints,this is a slipjoint delight show.
Be safe,
Jim
PS-Seeing as how you've gone slipjoint crazy,I'll take your Guntings off your hands. :D
 
Jim-
I doubt that I'll be able to make it,but you never know.
As far as getting my guntings, you can try.. ;) .
It's the only thing that is keeping me from becoming an all-sj carrier-they sure don't work out for SD.
 
Dijos, I've sort of been where you are now. I grew up in the 50's and that was slip joint era. In the 70's and 80's I tried some of the "modern" stuff, and went back to the oldy but goodies I grew up with.

For most of our real world use a slippy with a thin blade is a pleasure to use. The tacticle stuff just will not cut it, literally. I've lost track of the number of times some young guy is struggleing to cut through something and I'll hand him a nicely sharpened stockman or Opinel and he admits it's the sharpest knife he's seen. But its not the knife being sharp, its the way a traditional knife is shaped, profiled and designed.

Knives like stockmen, trappers, barlows, cigars, were all made in an era where men really used a knife on the job. The most important thing they demanded from a knife was that it cut. A cowboy out on the range, or a trapper getting the pelt off a muskrat needed a blade that cut. Nowadays a mall ninja can get by with a ineffective fantacy knife with a thick chisel edge and a point for piercing the armor of some attacking samuri.

I carry nothing but slippys and I get by very well using them edc as well as camping, canoeing, fishing, hunting. My Case carbon sodbuster glides through deer as well as a cardboard box. My Opinel does kitchen duty on campouts and whittles hot dog and marshmellow sticks for the grandkids.

Welcome to the world of the traditional knife, you will enjoy them much more than the tacticle stuff. There is nothing like having a stag or bone handle knife with carbon blades that year after year pick up a rich patina and show their age gracefully, like their owner. I have a original Hen and Rooster with stag that I bought about 30 years ago, and the blades have gotten grey like its owner, with the stag now a deep mellow gold. I don't know any black zytell and bead blasted stainless that will be treasured 20-30 years from now.
 
For heavy duty stuff I carry a Leatherman charge, but when i'm at school or just hanging out usually I have a slipjoint in my pocket (or a BM 921). Those old style slipjoints really are an excellent design. The thin blade does what is is supposed to; cut and hold an edge. I've got a Camillus Boy Scout leaders knife that I sharpened to 34 degrees that will pop hair right off. I haven't sharpened it since I first got it. When it starts to loose its ability to shave I strop it and it brings it right back. The more of these kinds of knives I get the more amazed I am at them, there is just something about a thin blade of high carbon steel that makes it an excellent knife.
 
I have never felt the need to be tactical, or have a tactical knife. However, all of my EDC knives are tactile slipjoints, and I rotate my EDC from a pool of them. From the sublime to the bog standard Case CV Stockman, they do their job.
Why would I need a tactical knife? :confused:

The only one missing from the line-up is an old Opinel that has been retired (although I must admit to having purchased a brand new shiny identical replacement to keep it company, unused.)

edcgroup1.jpg

And the other thing, is that none of them are "threatening" to my friends, the sheeple or other colleagues at work, but instead, they view them as works of art.

And, Jackknife... I go along with everything that you say.

Rod
 
Let me ask you guys a question. I agree that slipjoints are fine, my problem with them is that I have so much junk in my pockets, a knife is a **really** unwelcome extra. While I need a knife from time to time, I don't need it as much as my keys or money clip.

One of the big things that I like about "tactical" folders is that I can clip them to my pocket. I can pull it out quickly, one handed, and not have to take my gloves off. Believe it or not, that's usually my determining factor as to what I'm wearing. Not always, but usually. I also can't stand heavy sheaths on my belt. For me, and many others (I suspect), it's not about being tactical, but convenience.

Are there any slippies with clips, or any lightweight sheaths that I could clip to my pocket and hold a stockman? I've given this one so much thought, I have the materials and am going to try and sew my own.

Thanks!
 
Sodak

Have you considered the Spyderco UK Penknife?
3" Slipjoint, excelent build quality, and it has a pocket clip.
Not quite sure what $ cost would be but check http://www.heinnie.com there nice people to deal with.
 
One thing you may consider sodak, is make up or buy some belt sheaths for your pocket knives. When I was on the job and did not want to stick a oil and dirt covered hand in my pocket I carried my Old Timer stockman in a nylon and velcro case on my belt. I still carry my large sodbuster or number 9 Opinel in a belt pouch, it makes it easy to get to instead of rooting around in my jeans. I too tend to have alot of junk in my pockets.
 
Anarcus said:
Sodak

Have you considered the Spyderco UK Penknife?
3" Slipjoint, excelent build quality, and it has a pocket clip.
Not quite sure what $ cost would be but check http://www.heinnie.com there nice people to deal with.
Click to expand...
Think about it this way.... I live here in the UK and I buy just about all my knives from the US! That little Spyderco would set you back about $110 if you bought it here! C'mon, this is the land where they sell a standard $45 Case Trapper at well over $100 too.

Don't even think about it!:eek:

Rod
 
In addition to the penknife, I like the idea of a light nylon sheath. I'm going to break out the sewing machine and give it a whirl.

As much as I've gotten used to "tacticals", to me, nothing beats a stockman for whittling and all the numerous small jobs. I've become **very** fond of the D2 Queens.
 
Rod Neep said:
Think about it this way.... I live here in the UK and I buy just about all my knives from the US! That little Spyderco would set you back about $110 if you bought it here! C'mon, this is the land where they sell a standard $45 Case Trapper at well over $100 too.

Don't even think about it!:eek:

Rod
Click to expand...

The UK penknife was designed for UK use (only collectors got in in the USA, and they paid 80-100.00US). It uses top steel, and G10 handles. I dare you to try and destroy it. It ain't pretty, but it's worth it even at that price. It's a one-hand opening knife that is LEGAL to carry in the UK.
 
I like slip-joints too, but to be fair, not every "tactical" folder has an over-thick blade.

Check out a Spyderco Calypso Jr or Dragonfly.

Allen.
 
I know what your saying. The "tactical" era really came in when I was in the AF. 1st it was the spyderco worker (early 80's), not to tactical, but it helped things roll. I remember the 1st linerlock I bought was a tak fakuta walker (late 80's) lock. Should have kept it! Who would know it would actaully be worth anything? All I knew it was all metal and pretty ugly?

About 6 years ago I decided to get back into SJ's. I had many from years of collecting, but it had been a long time since I had used any. Now, I carry a handmade Laguiole De L Artisan from Laguiole France (www.layole.com) with horn tip handles and file engraving (not the typical laguiole engraving, but much fancier). I'll be 36 this year and it seems that I am much moire at ease with carrying a SJ, rather than a tactical. Also it makes it much easier when your pocket knife isnt scary :eek:

....some times, I still like to carry my dominator (got it last year), but for the most part the SJ's go with me.

Much of it for me is: ease of carry, non-obtrusive, not scary, and memories of whittling when I was young, watching my grandfather on the farm, fishing, hiking, camping. Remembering when times were a little more simple. No cussing on TV and no shows that were embarrasing to turn on in front of children.

I have two daughters, one is about to turn 13, the other will be 11 later this year. It makes me think. My older one knows much more about things she should not know at her age, things I surely knew almost nothing about at that age. Really scares me. between some parents (usually lack of parenting on their part, or poor parenting) and what's in the media, TV, etc. The kids (many of) these days do not stand much of a chance at really being children like they should be. Different subject.

...anyway with all that said the old SJ designs performed well, they were "utilitarian", and they still are! Think about it this way, jigging was actually created to put a "grip" on bone handles (scales, etc.), not looks!!!
 
I too used to be of the "only the biggest and baddest tactical will do" group. While using them to cut up boxes or slicing heavy material, no matter how sharp they were it was always an effort to get though thick stuff. I just thought thats how it was supposed to be, no 20 dollar SAK or Stockman could possibly outcut a 150 dollar "tactical" knife. It was suggested to me that I try a thinner blade knife like a Swiss-Army. I did. I noticed that the edge holding was not near as good, but even when the edge was lost, the thinner profile continued to slice much easier than many of my thick bladed tacs, no matter how sharp they were. It didnt take long to appreciate the usefulness of a nice traditional knife for utility use, not to mention they are so much nicer to look at than a tactical folder.

I think about the closest to a tactical I carry much anymore is a new style Case folding huunter. It has a thumbstud, liner lock and clip but still retains the looks and usefulness of a traditional pattern. The clip has to go though, ugly ugly ugly. I still prefer a Stockman or a SAK over the hunter though.

4232case3.jpg
 
I like the looks of the newer case folding hunter, but I wish they had made it a walker lock instead.
 
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