The Slipjoints that changed my ways...

A

acastell

Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
107
Hello all...well, I wanted to share something that happened to me a few days ago that altered my paradigm of knife purchasing/EDCing.

My grandfather (mother's side), passed away almost 11 years ago. He was a very influential person in my life as we were very close and I admired him dearly.

Well, a few days ago my mother handed me a box. She told me that she found these rerecently in some of my grandpa's boxes. In the box were 6 knives. All of them aged a ton, in what I would call 'HORRIBLE' shape. The blades were stained and pitted, sharpened etc...All the things I stay away from when searching for my Chris Reeves or Randalls.

Well, after the emotions of rereceiving these lasting reminders of my grandpa as well as the emotions or my 'anger' for the 'condition' of the knives passed, I had an epiphany!

These knives were not 'HORRIBLE' rather patena'd (is that a word). Each and every knife was 'used' by my grandpa for all sorts of tasks. They were sharpened countless times as back in the day, that is what one did. A knife would last decades! They were not disposable!

Now the final observation, all the knives were slipjoints. No thumbstuds only thumbnicks. A simple design that defined the form follows function design strategy.

So, my paradigm shift...I am now looking at my perfect Sebenza with SV30 steel and a thumbstud thinking, what have I done. All I need is a good ole slipjoint. The slipjoint served our previous generations well. Also, I work in an office setting, so my knife is not put up to the challenges that other endure.

Now, before all of you barf at this sentiment, I will say that I love the advancements in technology and given the choice of a Stainless blade and a thumbstudperhaps my grandpa may have had a bunch of tatacticals, who knows.

So, as I look at my collection, William Henry, Chris Reeves, Randalls, a few customes (Yes, I am a victim of 'have the have the best') I think I have over done it. I think I missed the point (punintended).

So, I am now almost the new owner of a Case Whittler. I just purchased it on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6559011452&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

Now, did I pay too much, was this impulsive, am I nuts? Well, maybe. But, 3 of the knives in 'the box' had Stag handles the others Mother of Pearl. So, I went to eBay and looked for a knknife that was at least 4", I have big hands, with Stag and a few blades to choose from. This one fit the build, so I went for it..

Now, many of you are asking, IF YOU ARE STILL READING THIS DRIBBLE, why not carry one of your Grandpa's knives? Well, I may but for now, I have them proudly displayed in front of all of the other pieces, and that , to me, is enough for me!

Thanks for reading and thank you for keeping the slipjoints alive and well, NOW I GET IT!

AC
 
I agree, I also lost my grandfather last year and I inherited some knives and cutlery from him...some of them looked like fillet knives because of how much sharpening they had gone through :) ...they were dirty and chipped and just plain used, but they were all sharp enough to shave with! He didn't use anything really expensive...but I think that on some levels the qaulity of general goods was much better back then, than it is today...
 
Yeah, i know what you mean. I'm a newer bladesmith (3 years) and I havent done alot w/ folders. I bought some "new, high-tech" offerings thst I really found i didn't really need. So I just got a Case red bone saddlehorn. Primo knife! Slipjoints rock.


As a funny sidenote, I have my Grandpas old pocketknife and it's a benchmade ascent with ATS-34 bladesteel and a zytel handle. Not so traditional!
 
If you could post pics of your granpa's knives, we could possibly ID them and give you some history as to when they were made, rarity, etc.
 
Great story!
Sometimes, in this digital day and age, old 'n simple is comforting.
Check out the Queen slipjoints too. Good stuff.

My Pop is 96. I just found the knife he carried when I was a kid, up until I got him a SAK.
I thought it was gone forever. I'll hold onto it and the SAK for when his great grandkids get big enough.
 
Memories of my Grandpa are also what lead me back to slipjoints. I can still remember his early instruction in Mumbley Peg. If he were alive today he would be 110 years old.
 
The memories are great, but it is not all about nostalgia for me.

For the vast majority of tasks I encounter a multiblade is more efficient and versitile than a tactical one blader and there is a lot more blade to package in comparison. If I am concerned about defense - a knife is not the answer for me. (Dad taught me to talk funny, run fast, or use "another tool".)
 
I usually carry at least one slipjoint because they are more aesthetically pleasing, in addition to the multiblade option. I guess that that has something to do with my memories of my grandfather showing me how to use a knife. However, I need a one-hand opener during the couse of the day, so I keep one of those on me too. That's why I never participate in the "if you could only carry one knife......" threads. :p
 
Well just remember 70 years from now our Great Grandchildren will be looking at our worn out beat up "old school" "steel" WH and CRK knives as they flip out their brand new biotronic shape shifting hybrid pushbutton slice and dice ceramic/plastic/bionic blades. So as my Grandmother would say. "It will all work out for the best"
 
Greenbone Boy said...

"...brand new biotronic shape shifting hybrid pushbutton slice and dice ceramic/plastic/bionic blades".

Hey, isn't that how Chef Tony describes the "Miracle Blades" on the infomercial? :rolleyes: :D

Bill
 
I've got to admit that nostalgia played a role in my return to traditional slipjoints. It started out when I stumbled across a link in this forum to a dealer who sells the Queen-made Winchester repros that are a dead ringer for the John Primble congress my dad got me when I turned 10 back in 1968. It wasn't long before I decided I ought to try some other slipjoints along the way.

But Gus's point about lots of blade for the handle length is well-taken. I don't have it with me to measure, but I'd guess my Queen congress has about 7-8" of blade length in a 4" package.
 
By the way acastell, thats a great looking knife you got. I have one like it with brown bone scales, but have to say I'm envious of that stag.
 
Yes, the small stockman in my pocket is better for my daily needs than a one bladed one hand opener, haven't used it today but yesterday I cut string, tape, cardboard, some hard skin around my fingernails and the butt of a cigar, only used the sheepsfoot and the spey.

Neither my grandfather nor my father carried knives, but my grandmother and my mother did, Grandma had a big stag handled folding hunter, Mom carried a small SAK and a small lockback. I have my mother´s lockback and several slipjoints that belonged to my father in law.

Luis
 
My feelings exactly guys. I have been caught up in the whole "tactical" frenzy too, but I always have a slip joint on me. Wether it be a SAK or, a Case trapper. I love that style. I have both of my grandfathers' knife that they carried while they were alive. I have not cleaned them up, but left them the way they did. There are still times when I will carry a tac, but the times are getting fewer and fewer. Sure my trappers cannot cut the top off a car, but if I need to do that, I am going to need more than a tac to take care of that one.
 
Greenbone Boy said:
Well just remember 70 years from now our Great Grandchildren will be looking at our worn out beat up "old school" "steel" WH and CRK knives as they flip out their brand new biotronic shape shifting hybrid pushbutton slice and dice ceramic/plastic/bionic blades. So as my Grandmother would say. "It will all work out for the best"
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Excellent :) Puts things into good perspective. Grandmother sounds like a wise and patient lady!

I really enjoy the slipjoints in my collection. At the same time I would not want to part with the Carsons, Ralphs and Cook Lochsa that I use any more than I would the multiblades. Except for a damsacus Carson I really do not collect tacs, I just use a few of them now and then. :D
 
Unfortunately, I do not have any knives that have been passed down to me. But you know, I guess one of the reasons that I like slip joints so much is that to me, when you pick one up you are picking up a piece of history and tradition--- something that represents the past of this country and makes you think about those times and the people who lived back then. And a slipjoint can do that even if it was made two weeks ago. You still have a pattern that was popular in the past. If it is 1095 or cv, you pretty much have the same steel as was used back then.
 
Thanks for sharing the memories! I got together with my sisters a couple of months ago and cleaned out my parents house in preparation for selling it (bittersweet to say the least). Many good memories, a few sad ones. I came across some slipjoints that my Dad had that we had all forgotten about. I'll have to post pics of one old Camillus number to see if anyone knows what it is. For now, they are safely put away. I don't think I could bear to lose one, or worse yet, break one.
 
Really great post.

I know I have went the full circle. In my 30's I was into the lockblade and Balisongs. Now I use what my grandad used, and he was a working waterman on the bay and did some farming as well. He always had a schrade stockman in his pocket.

If we look at what our granfathers used, and relize that they often spent more time working with thier hands, and out in the field than we do, we see the modern stuff is just tinsel and fluff with some hype tossed in.

Stockmen, trappers, sodbusters, barlow's- they were real knives.
 
jackknife said:
If we look at what our granfathers used, and relize that they often spent more time working with thier hands, and out in the field than we do, we see the modern stuff is just tinsel and fluff with some hype tossed in.
Click to expand...
Well said and very true. My grandad did everything with a 4 1/4" stockman. I also new an old man named Clint who was the greatest woodsman I have ever known. He did it all with a camp axe and a Schrade muskrat.
 
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