The ultimate traditional pocket knife?

J

jackknife

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Oct 2, 2004
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I sometimes wonder howmuch of our perception of things is colored by our own little world that we grew up in. We see life from the enclosed view of the goldfish in the bowl. Things come and go, but we don't get to examine them up close and personal. I do know that growing up in the immediate post WW2 world, in the new phenomenon of American suburbia, that for much of my own life, my view was colored by my surroundings. People drove Chevy's or Ford's, and argued which was better. My own father viewed my loyalty to the Volkswagon Bug as a slightly un-American possibly traitors act. Pocket knives were the same. Of course, ebvery man who had pants on had a knife in a pocket. Without fail, it was almost always a small two blade jack of some sort. Dogleg, serpentine, sleeveboard. It was the world of Ward and June Cleaver, and mom made apple pie in the kitchen.Tradition. That was the word of the day. We always had turkey on thanksgiving, and a nice big Virginia backed ham for Christmas. Dad drove a Pontiac and Walter Cronkite did the evening news.

Then I joined the army.

Getting out in the world brings you in contact with new people, new places, new ways of thinking from new cultures. Of course after leaving Maryland, I got to go some other places on Uncle Sam's dime. Along the way, being a knife nut, I saw other knives, and grabbed a few. A Cajun fella I served with was from the Louisiana bayou country, and he sweared by a large toothpick pattern knife. Wouldn't carry anything else, except for the TL-29's the company supply room had in stock, and that was only because it was free and it was a beater to 'save' his beloved toothpick. I had my trusty stockman, and others had a assortment of Barlow's and pens.

Then I went to Europe. Wow.

So many other kinds of knives. Douk-douk's, Opinel's, Mercator's, old wod handle Herter's. France alone has a ton of regional design knives. Being a knife nut, I'd try them out, and some of them came home with me, to be put in a drawer as a souvenir, or given out for gifts. It took a long time to get around to using them, but once in a while Id carry them and marvel at the different approach to the same solution. Now, in my white dwarf stage of life, I have been beguiled by the friction folder. The Opinel, the Pattese, the Taramundi. Being a typical American, I was a bit hesitant at the idea of a folding knife with no lock, but then I thought about it, and after using one for a while, it made sense. After getting used to one, I try to use a regular slip joint now, and I don't like it. I find that now I don't like the idea that there is a spring attached to the blade that can snap it closed. The simple friction folder is such a marvel of simple genius that I find I now don't want to bother with a knife with a spring in it.

If longevity is a measure of success, then the old European friction folder must be one of the single most successful knife designs out there. I have read that they go back to the Roman era, and if that is true, then 2,000 years is a heck of a design run. I wonder, if true, does that make the friction folder the ultimate traditional pocket knife? I once saw an article about a factory in Spain that has been making the 'penny knife' the same way since the 1600's. And the Nontron Factory in France has been at it about as long. Apparently these knives go really way back, and Joseph Opinel did not stumble on anything new, he just went commercial with it in 1890, and over time built a very automated factory to turn out huge numbers of them. The locking ring didn't get added until 1955 or so. I was surprised at that little tidbit.

I guess at this point I have to admit that Fausto's little Pattese has become my new precious. I feel like I have betrayed a cause, and no doubt have let the cult down. :eek: Perhaps a new grand high muckba needs to be elected, as I am no longer fit for the post.

With the friction folder, no matter if it's the Sardinian, French, or the Turk, I feel like I have taken a large step back into using a real traditional pocket knife. I'm probably going to try a Svord in the future, just for yuks. It's like putting up my modern handguns like my Smith and Wesson revolvers, and using a Navy Arms 1860 pattern Colt .44 percussion revolver. Going back to basics, not to mention a better feel for history while charging the thing to shoot.

Maybe now in my retirement, I'm taking the time to go slow and enjoy every moment. And using a old historical design makes me realize how much we really don't need. Cutting piece of twine, opening a box, cleaning a nice fish for the grill, the old friction folder does as well as anything else I've ever used. It may well be the ulitimate traditional pocket knife.

Carl.
 
I confess: On my recent trip to the States, I picked up a (barely) used walnut-handled Opinel no. 6 and I've temporarily put my peanut back in the ole sock drawer. I also have a no. 8 that I like, but this 6 is just perfect for day-to-day carry. So light, so dang sharp ...... and all for $10! So, Carl, you're not alone in wandering. :-)

-- Mark
 
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Carl, you are correct.
The oldest folding knives are all friction folders, most with some animal (sheep, goat, cattle or water buffalo) horn handle, some with wood or antler handles.
They were so wide spread and well known, that when slipjoint and locking knives became affordable to peasants, many of the patterns continued the well known forms of the friction folders (e.g. navajas and slipjoint clasp knives).
As a knife nut I appreciate variety and the multiple traditional forms in pocketknives, but personally I prefer slipjoints to friction folders. I think (and I might be wrong) that slipjoints are safer to use than friction folders.
That said I have numerous Opinels and like them very much & use them often. Talk about being consistent.:D
 
What you've just written is almost certainly the hardest thing for a knife-polygamist to do. Thanks for going public with your epiphany, and showing the still-afflicted that it's possible to be really content :thumbup:
 
I hear ya Carl. Just last night I ordered a No. 4 Opinel. Iwant to try it as my summer edc. The Opinel stories on this forum have kind of inspired me. I love knives and I have drawers full of em, but its easy to get caught up in which pattern, steel, scale material ect. I decided to go simple for awhile. I know I'll never be a one knife man. But a guy can try.
 
I enjoyed reading that, just for the use of language, and for the craic. Always a pleasure to read your posts Carl.

Going to investiigate this friction folder business over the next couple of years ;)
 
You know guys, where these trends lead us, don’t you?
First there was the movement towards minimalism in multiblade slipjoints, hence the “Cult of the Peanut”.
Now there is the minimalism in folding knife design, the “Cult of the Friction Folder”.
The next step would be promoting small fixed blades for pocket carry.
Will we see the re-introduction of the pocket sized flint and obsidian knives as the truly ultimate traditional pocket knives? ;):D

As for me, I am open minded: when it comes to pocketknives, I like them all (more or less). :D
 
Once again you have taken me back in time with your masterful prose. Thank you, Carl.


"Cronkite is on the evening news ...and now I am in the white dwarf stage of life" :D
 
Doggone you jackknife I thought I had it figured out I carry a peanut in one pocket and whatever I feel like in the other as long as its U.S. made and a slip joint. Now I have this urge to start carrying an opinel now with my peanut.Your killing me with these traitorous thoughts. I used to carry an opinel as my edc until I broke the tip doing something stupid (prying) with it, I threw it in the toolbox and about 15 years later reshaped the blade like a sodbuster. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and start to carry it again. You are correct about them being easy to carry and sharp as a razor.
Don't feel to bad we all go through life style changes and as i get older the easier and more simple I want things to be. I just turned in my double bit ax for a chainsaw, i never thought that would happen.
God Bless
Tracy
 
I almost gave my peanut away the other day. My #5 Opinel is tough to beat...

And yes, I believe friction folders are probably THE most traditional pocket knife. But, as in all things, it depends on your tradition. I think it's a valid argument though.
 
I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you on this one. The friction folder is probably the original pocket knife, I'll give you that. But there is now way that it is the ultimate one. Too much progress has been made, too many improvements added for me to honestly believe that friction folders are the pinnacle of pocketknife design.

Let me address the use of the spring on slipjoints, since that seems to be a feature that you no longer appreciate. It's true that the spring can snap it closed, but I have never had a problem with that. I have however had a knife inadvertently open in my pocket. I was lucky I was not cut, but I have to admit that I was a bit alarmed at seeing a razor sharp piece of steel poke a hole in my pants so close to the femoral artery. So you will understand if I prefer a knife that has a spring to keep it closed. I'd rather get nipped on the finger than risk damage to the family jewels.

Another example I might use is the balisong, or butterfly knife. Before you decry it as the tool of a thug, or a wannabe mall ninja's toy, I want to remind you that long before Les De Asis decided to use titanium and stainless steel on his Benchmades, generations of Filipinos used and carried butterfly knives every day. Along with bolos, they were the knives I grew up with. I had several of them before I owned my first slipjoint, or even SAK.

Anyways I digress. You may have recently been smitten with friction folders, but one could argue that the balisong knife is the ultimate traditional pocket knife. It locks, so there is an element of safety in using them that neither slipjoints or friction folders have. There is no spring, so the knife won't snap shut upon closing. Those versions with a latch won't open up in your pocket, so they have that going for them. And when it is being used (as a knife, and not as a cool toy) there is absolutely no chance it will close on your fingers.

The only reason I don't carry one is that I live in a place where butterfly knives are of dubious legality. That is probably their biggest weakness, they have been made illegal in many places so they don't offer the universal utility of a slipjoint or friction folder.

Thanks for hearing me out.

- Christian
 
The exploration of the pocket knife. It's wonderful stuff. Carl I have the new Svord mini peasant and used it in the garden last week. The L6 steel will sharpen wonderfully. I do like how it can easily be taken apart to clean. I also have one of Mike Morris' friction folders and have another custom coming from South Africa. That being said, the Opinel is most pocket friendly friction folder I have. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts as you explore this more.
 
bemo said:
The exploration of the pocket knife. It's wonderful stuff. Carl I have the new Svord mini peasant and used it in the garden last week. The L6 steel will sharpen wonderfully. I do like how it can easily be taken apart to clean. I also have one of Mike Morris' friction folders and have another custom coming from South Africa. That being said, the Opinel is most pocket friendly friction folder I have. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts as you explore this more.
Click to expand...

The Svord mini is the one I was interested in, being a more pocketable size. Also, I'm hearing so much about the Mike Morris folders, I may have to try one yet.

Carl.
 
I'm sorta in tune with this train of thought, I like to try things that aren't necessarily cutting edge, and have a hankering for "obsolete" things that are actually quite useful and not really obsolete by any stretch of the imagination, and in fact can do some things better than their modern counterparts. I got a Svord mini on the way, so it'll be an interesting series of observations. It even bleeds over into non-knife stuff, like my fascination with automatic, and hand wind watches, as well as older firearms, and firearms cartridges.
 
Carl, the more I follow your posts and threads, the more I want an Opinel. But what size would you recomend for pocket carry?
 
I've been through phases I started with a traditional Trapper when I was maybe 10, 12 that was all I knew back in the early 70s, then I started workin', TL29, SAKs were the knife of choice then I got a Buck 110, locking folders were the only way to go, Blade magazine came on the line, Tactical knives and other occasional periodicals on or hobby child my opinions.

I discovered custom knives, (whispers in hushed tone) tactical knives became the norm. Now I'm semi retired, my needs as far as a pocket knife go were no longer do demanding so I rediscovered the quality inherent in older traditional knives the care and pride that went into making what I now carry the most, traditional folders.

Most of the knives I carry are at least 40 years old or better and after many years of carrying old traditional pocket knives the pattern that speaks to me most these days is the two blade Trappers, it's the knife of choice after years of trying every pattern I could.

It all goes back to that first choice, Trapper, it was my first and I guess even at that age I realized that it was the pattern for me, so with that my 2012 Forum Trapper is one of the traditionals I carry the most these days.

Thanks for the great post Carl and the memories it recalled.
 
Jack Black said:
I enjoyed reading that, just for the use of language, and for the craic. Always a pleasure to read your posts Carl.

Going to investiigate this friction folder business over the next couple of years ;)
Click to expand...

craic

I had to look this one up, and that is a first for me in ages.
 
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