Buzzbait
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2001
- Messages
- 6,810
Acquiring this knife started about 10 years ago, back when I was still fully into tactical folders. I really wanted a new folder to use for my trips into the Adirondack Mountains. Unfortunately, there was nothing that really met my criteria at the time:
- Medium-large folder, but smaller than my monstrous Buck 110
- Definitely lighter in weight than my Buck 110
- Strong, simple and reliable lock. No ball detents.
- Micarta or G10 scales, preferably green canvas micarta
- Approximately 3 ½ inch blade
- Lanyard tube or bail.
- Must have carbon steel blade. No stainless.
I was basically after a medium sized, carbon steel bladed lockback folder, that could be attached via a lanyard in order to prevent accidental loss while walking through the brush. Id tried a few tactical folders, using just the pocket clips, but they always seemed to get lost. I was also not a truster of ball detents to keep my outdoor knives closed when sitting loose in my pockets or my pack. And I wasnt really happy with the weight of my Buck 110 or the need for a belt sheath. I really loved carbon steel for outdoor use, but finding a tactical folder in carbon steel alone was akin to finding a unicorn. I knew that I wanted a lot. I was being picky, and never did find was I longed for.
Later on, after my daughter was born, tacticals kind of fell to the side, and my main focus turned to traditionals. I eventually bought my Northfield #72, but it didnt really work out. The steel and cutting efficiency were perfect. But it was much smaller than I thought it would be, and I had to settle for bone scales, which were a bit more fragile than Id wanted. It was a great knife, but not for this intended use. It was just too small for a secure hand hold on a cold rainy day.
I next bought a Moore Maker locking sodbuster. The size was perfect. The carbon steel was good, although maybe a bit soft. It had a lockback design. It had delrin scales and no lanyard tube, but it was at least close to what I was after. Unfortunately, the quality turned out to be terrible. A real Bear & Son made nightmare. Back to the drawing board.
I've used my large M2 Benchmade RitterGrip for many years now, while waiting for the right traditional knife. Its been a great knife and all. But Im just not into tacticals anymore. The quality of the Benchmade is excellent, but it doesn't speak to me the way a traditional knife does. I dont know what else to say. As perfect a survival folder as it is, it just doesn't feel right to me. It doesn't possess the heritage of the Adirondacks. It doesn't belong with me out in the woods.
So here I was last week, visiting Bladeforums for the first time in a few years. Time to start looking for the outdoor grail folder again. Uggghhhhh .I hit ePray to see what was out there, and didn't find too much. There was a Case yellow Delrin Backpocket knife in CV. But I have a Backpocket knife, and between the low profile blade and the half-stop, the knife is an absolute biatch to open without either cutting myself or busting a fingernail in the process. I definitely can't pinch the blade and open it. Then I started looking over some of the better knife stores on the Internet. I had better luck this time around, and narrowed it down to two possibilities. One was the Queen LM-2 Mountain Man lockback in green linen micarta. The Queen was pretty much everything I wanted, except the steel was semi-stainless. Thats pretty darned close!!! There was also the Tidioute Missouri Trader #42. Again, pretty much everything I wanted. My precious 1095 carbon steel this time, but possibly a tad too small.
So then I began a week of coin tossing. Do I go with the D2 Queen, which isn't the simple carbon steel I was looking for, or take the chance on the #42, being my second GEC attempt at this, which might be too small again? I guess the deciding factor was quality control. GEC always seems to have very good quality control, producing perfectly functional knives. My history with Queen has not been so good. I've bought four Queens over the years, and have been let down twice. So I opted for a second try a GEC, who has never let me down. At least I knew the 1095 would be properly hardened, and the grind wouldn't be too thick.
So here I am today, with #42 in hand. It is an absolutely wonderful knife. Talk about a real using knife. Pinch opening is a snap. No half stop to deal with. The handle length is long enough for a good purchase when cutting, but the thin profile makes it light enough in weight to be quite pocketable. At just a little over 3 ounces, its approximately half the weight of the massive Buck 110 that it will be replacing. That makes all the difference in the world to me. The knife can truly live in my pocket, without me having to worry about using a belt sheath. Until I can make up a proper leather pouch for it, itll be living in an old AA Maglite nylon pouch. The Maglite pouch is actually quite serviceable, and happens to fit quite a few folders in my collection, but the #42 is hitting the pouchs limits.
Im think Im going to be quite happy with the Missouri Trader. It is just enough knife to meet my needs, which I much prefer over a little too much knife for my needs. Too much knife usually means a knife that gets occasionally fondled, but never actually used. Just enough knife, for me at least, often means a knife that I use it for more tasks than I initial planned on, just because its so versatile. Well see how things pan out this spring, but I really do think that I've found a huge answer in my knife collection with the #42. Something that I've been searching after for many years.
The Trader even looks like it will combo well with my green micarta Vic Huntsman.
