They want to know why.

HappyDaddy said:
Interesting. The "traditional" guys are a prickly lot.
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Do you pay attention to what gets said in all the threads regarding modern knives? The "prickly" comments here are tame child's play in comparison.

Let's face it, BHQ tried to make a video titled "Why Should You Carry a Traditional Pocket Knife" yet they never really get into any good reasons why. They dance around the subject a lot, and hell, they start the video by talking about a Benchmade 940.

Prickly to point this out? Nah, it's just a glaring observation that many picked up on.

I could care less about "nostalgia". I carry a traditional pocket knife because I like that it rides at the bottom of my pocket, they're usually smaller and easier to carry, they handle the normal EDC tasks without needing a 3.5"-4" blade, people don't care when you take it out to use it, and I love multi-bladed knives. I don't need flippers, frame locks, thumb studs, pocket clips, washers, bearings, etc.
 
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When I first watched this video I must admit I was somewhat offended by it. Another display of my team your team and mine is bigger and better and you have to be an idiot to be on your team. Then I watched it again and started to understand it. I believe these two fellows just did not have the knowledge nor did the research necessary to do a proper analysis of a Traditional Pocket knife. After all they do sell them on their website under the heading of "Pocket Knives" and they list 678 items for sale in that category. They also have a nice intro for this section that no one can argue with that you can read here http://www.bladehq.com/cat--Pocket-Knives--1783 I do believe However if I were a purveyor of knives I would never do something that would alienate me from potential customers. It would be nice to hear how the thinner blade lend itself to superior slicers. How the knives were made to address specific chores like hawkbills for pruning, trappers for field dressing animals. Stockman for cattle farm duties and so on. For me it's things like nostalgia from a simpler age. The history alone of the USA made cutlery still in business or not should make us proud. The placement of multiple blades in such a small area yet remains functional. The craftsmanship it requires to produce one of these wonderful tools. With natural materials such as stag, bone and wood the trained eye it takes to match side to side. As far as locks there are many that offer locks such as liner locks and lock backs. I could go on but I'm sold I don't need titanium frames and super steel blades because I'm happy with a Barlow.
 
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I can't wait to see their next video explaining why microwave ovens are better than a Weber kettle grill!
 
Yikes Nobody should be affended by this video. That's silly. It's clear Ben and Austin were never introduced to the niche before the video. Notice Ben and Austin do a pocket dump and show they don't have room for a traditional floating in thier pocket yet they have multitools with slip joint blades... COME ON MAN!

There are other misconceptions such as they can't be cleaned or taken apart, but we all know what they meant. But I wish they addressed blade thickness and show how amazing traditional blades are at slicing and actually cutting stuff compared to +1/8 inch wide tactical blade stock.
But I enjoy the bhq videos. It's cool to see Ben back with them.
 
I'm not offended and I think BladeHQ did a great job responding to feedback with us in a good-natured open discourse like a responsible and respectable business.

Regarding blade thickness... In general traditional knives are often considered thin. But there is a lot of variation. There's also a lot of variation with modern knives.

And preferences change. I remember 9 or so years ago, most of the folks who trickled into the traditional forum from general forum were looking for traditional knives with thick blades. Some still do but you don't hear it as much.

Traditional knives often have full flat grinds (some have saber grinds). And full flat grinds seem to be gaining popularity on modern knives. Spyderco has switched to full flat grinds on many of their knives.

Here's a scan of a Spyderco Dragonfly, a Victorinox Pioneer, and a GEC stockman. All three have full flat grinds. The Spyderco is a bit shorter (and a LOT wider) but I think it is still a reasonable comparison. It has a thin blade and slices extremely well.

There are certainly modern knives with thick blades also. There's something for everyone.

 
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BladeHQ said:
Hey friends. We appreciate the feedback on our video, and we're glad we started a conversation over here on BF as well. I'm 29 and started carrying knives "modern tactical style," clipped to my pocket. Call me a silly millennial, but I missed the traditional folder years completely and jumped straight to modern locking knives. I see this video as two millennials' attempt at better understanding traditional folders. Is it a perfect representation of the category? Absolutely not! Should we have brought on a "professional" in traditional folders? Perhaps. (Any volunteers in Utah?) Did it introduce a new class of consumer to the traditional pocket knife? I think so. In fact, Austin bought a Gerber 39 after we made this video. Drank his own Kool-aid!

Let me pose this question to the group: how would you help a group of consumers that typically buy one type of product (modern folders) to consider buying a different kind of product (traditional folders)?

Cheers,

Ben
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I liked the video and thought it was funny, it actually made me sub to blade HQ.
 
I wish I was in Utah, I'd take them up on that offer.

As someone who thinks most PC stuff is complete BS, I like the light hearted banter. I think two dudes who favor traditionals would be hilarious droppping some tacticools all over the floor trying to flip em.

That said, it would be nice to see a real review by a real purveyor.
 
Offer still stands: if you'd like to jump on Knife Banter with us at Blade or in Utah, let me know (marketing@bladehq(dot)com). I'm going to bow out of this thread and thank you all for the excellent discussion and occasional jabs. It keeps us on our toes and chasing it. :thumbup: -Ben
 
I've watched the video a couple of times, and I thought it was funny. To me it's the equivalent of having two NFL players sit down and watch a game of rugby. It's kind of like what they know, and they can appreciate the similarities, but they can't quite grasp the subtleties and differences and end up determining that they prefer what they already know. As an educational video it falls short of providing any insight as to the ins and outs of traditional folders. As an entertaining video about knife guys talking about knives that they aren't familiar with it's pretty good. If you put me in a video about modern knives you'd have an equal, but opposite, result. I've owned one modern knife, a Benchmade Griptilian, and loved it as a novelty but was genuinely baffled as to how somebody would consider it a functional pocketknife. I definitely have a stereotype in my mind of what a typical modern tactical folder carrier is like, and these two fit into that stereotype. I don't think anything bad or negative about them, but I have a picture in my mind of who the typical person is that carries that type of knife. I don't see a problem with these two having a similar image of people that carry traditional knives, even if we don't all fit that image.

As for a format for a more informative traditional knife video, I think it makes most sense to have somebody that's familiar with traditional and modern folders. Barring that, I'd have one modern guy sit with one traditional guy. I'd suggest talking to your vendors if you don't have somebody locally that is knowledgeable about traditional slipjoints. I know that the Daniels family travels all over the country promoting their wares, and I'm sure Ryan or Ken would love to sit down and talk traditional knives with you. They're both very knowledgeable. It doesn't have to be anything specific to their brand. Buck is in Idaho, they might have somebody that's willing to come sit down with you. I would think that the free advertising that comes with being your subject matter expert would be worth the trip for these guys. I could be wrong on that. Somebody from Buck might be the best fit because they make modern folders and slipjoints and I'm sure that they have people that can speak intelligently on both subjects.

I really do appreciate your company taking the time to attempt to have a discussion about something that's clearly out of your comfort zone. It's how we learn. I did gather some insight on the minds of modern knife carriers, though it mostly reinforced the ideas that I already have. I rub elbows with modern knife people at knife shows and club meetings, and I really appreciate that without them it wouldn't be possible for me to have live events where I can go pursue traditional knives. In BBQ circles they argue brisket vs. pork, for pizza it's thin vs. pan, for us it's modern vs. traditional. At the end of the day we're all knife lovers, and I feel a kinship with all of you. Even if you don't know what you're talking about. ;)
 
I already have a hard time finding the traditional knives I want, I'm glad they weren't attempting to recruit anyone.

Can you imagine someone trying to do a wave mod to a 100+ year old knife?

Just kidding, the more folks that get exposure to trads will only create more interest and keep the industry alive. If it hasn't been said already, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
 
You lost me at the wanna be gangsta rappers. Shades of Mike Snody! I'll take a pass, thank you very much.
 
HappyDaddy said:
Interesting. The "traditional" guys are a prickly lot.
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It's all friendly on the porch till they hear or see something they do not like. :D

Then out come the old-timey pitchforks...yikes! :eek:


That said, the video would have been more informed if they had carried a traditional knife for a month or two.
Carry it addition to their regular knife so they wouldn't feel awkward, but use the traditional for most cutting tasks for a month or two.

That would have allowed for actual opinions as to utility and inconvenience.
I remember a time when I was trying out a job at a sign company. One-hand opening was needed in one instance, because my other hand was assisting in holding a large heavy sign about 20 feet above the sidewalk. A knife was needed for some cutting task involved in the installation process (maybe enlarging a hole for some wires? It was back around 2003 or 2004, so the details are a tad hazy), and using a second hand to open it was not an option.

The Blade HQ guys might have run into a situation somewhat like that, where one-hand opening was required.

Or they might not have, and found that traditionals did every cutting task with sufficient convenience for them.
 
I have a few favorite traditionals, and I tried EDCing them all but... I need a pocket clip.
 
Ok I watched the video. I don't see the big deal.

I did notice the use of the word "nostalgia" as the reason for using traditional pocket knives. I've often used the same word to describe why I use a traditional pocket knife. I do find the style fits me, but multiple blades with different shapes are great for different tasks.... if nothing else, one blade gets to cut apples and tomatoes for lunch and the other cuts heater hose, boxes, belts, packaging etc. Another big plus is that the blades are almost always thinner and slice better than something 1/8 thick. Finally, the craftsmanship can be interesting.

I sold or gave away all of my modern folding knives a few years ago. If I need something that stout, I'll grab a fixed blade.

I suggest you guys come visit the porch, read jackknife's tales, and find out what traditionalshe are all about.
 
stabman said:
It's all friendly on the porch till they hear or see something they do not like. :D

Then out come the old-timey pitchforks...yikes! :eek:
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Okay that's it, you're on the list!

In all seriousness though I'll take Blade HQ up on their offer to talk further.
 
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