Things I'm re-learning from my Traditionals

I think there are places for both types of knives. I'm not a big enthusiast on modern knives, but there is plenty for someone to like in a modern folder. Also, I think that knives made with the super steels have an important place. Each steel has it's unique properties and are suited for certain tasks.

I don't think that our preference for traditional knives has anything to do with rational thought. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
 
Chris Montgomery said:
Last week my wife bought me a new pair of slacks to wear to Bible Study and Sunday's, they looked good, fit great but when I sat down my Gary Crowder trapper slipped out of the pocket and hit the floor just after prayer. I quickly scooped up my knife and looked it over for any new scratches then whispered to my wife these pants need returned.
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Carl (AKA jackknife) has often touted the merits of carrying a handkerchief. If you put a wadded up handkerchief in your pocket on top of your knife, the risk of the knife falling out diminishes greatly.

Barring that, you can always just have your pants tailor made with deeper pockets, like LBJ did. :)

-- Mark
 
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As far as the pants issue goes, I have no problems, as my jeans have abnormally deep pockets, they clearly were manufactured on Galifrey, as they are clearly Bigger on the Inside, I am able to comfortably pocket carry an Opinel #12 with room to spare....

Thankfully, due to my extreme allergy to business wear/dress clothes, I don't even *own* dress slacks, it's not a problem for me

As far as the Modern Vs. Traditional thing, I apologize if the thread has gone off track or in an un intended direction, that was not my plan, I have both, I greatly enjoy using both, I just found the difference in the experience/feel interesting, both are good, as Sal Glesser has often said "all good, just different"

Getting back on subject though, it amazes me how the little Soddie Jr is *nearly* the perfect working man's knife, this little $30 slipjoint has almost fulfilled my "holy grail" knife requirements...

Sure, my Mini Stockman is more pocketable, to the point I forget I'm carrying it, my amber bone Canoe is more aesthetically pleasing, perhaps too pretty to use, Naah, it's a perfectly cromulent user, I just hate getting it dirty and scratched up, hence it riding solo in the watch pocket of my jeans....

The Soddie Jr.? It rides in my RF pocket, with my wallet, loose change, and car key fob (VW Golf "switchblade" style key fob), the yellow plastic handle scales are durable enough to shrug off bouncing off other pocket stuff, and if they do get scuffed or scratched, meh, it's a working knife, it adds character and personality, it's tough, it can take it...

The changes that'd make it the PERFECT pocket knife for me?
A full flat grind like the Opinels, and the handle from the full size Soddie, to give it a full hand-filling length....

That said, the Soddie Jr is a darned good working man's knife, for my purposes, NEARLY perfect
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I don't think that our preference for traditional knives has anything to do with rational thought. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
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The poetic musings that traditionals inspire speak not to their soul (for they have none) but more to our romantic attachment to the past and the belief, however misplaced, that the good ole days were, by definition, better than the world we live in.

Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future and today is a gift..... that's why we call it the present.
 
brownshoe said:
Animism: The belief that inanimate objects are endowed with personal life or a living soul.

Be careful out there, animism is not considered acceptable to many christian religions ;)

For me, a knife is a knife. Sometimes I feel traditional, stag and 1095 but sometimes I want new and modern, one hand opening Ti and CPM154.
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I don't know about a life or soul but I believe you can have "power objects" a la the Native Americans.

I also believe that if you lose your power object you can get another. It's just a focus for whatever memory or gestalt you want to give it.

Anyway, enough going off the deep end. I just got the first modern I've bought for years. It's a great knife. Good steel for the money, hollow grind, great knife. I don't know why but it just doesn't seem to "satisfy".

Using the modern as a worry stone makes me feel like a mall ninja. Using a traditional as a worry stone makes me feel like some ones wise old uncle. That's just me though. Moderns certainly have their advantages, more knife for the money being one.
 
Oh i agree. I believe objects can evoke thoughts and feelings, but they're within the person not the object itself...dust to dust...
 
deskil said:
The poetic musings that traditionals inspire speak not to their soul (for they have none) but more to our romantic attachment to the past and the belief, however misplaced, that the good ole days were, by definition, better than the world we live in.

Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future and today is a gift..... that's why we call it the present.
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And traditionals make the best presents!
 
Interesting thread. I own both modern and traditional knives, mostly carry traditional now. I used to carry Case only but over the last few months have only bought knives that cost less than $10.00 most $5.00 or less. If you really want to feel the soul of a traditional put a Colonial, Imperial or old Ulster in your pocket.
Interesting thing is they cut everything you throw at them they just aren't as fancy looking or as popular.
 
I actually like most all knives. From opinels, to autos, to slipjoint, lock backs, moderns of all types. Just so long as they are good cutters. I have never been a fan of real thick blades on folders or normal to small fixed blades. Modern knives ARE lifeless for me also. I am carrying one I LOVE as a tool but I miss my traditionals very much for a number of non performance reasons.

I also spoke of super steels not being worth it a couple years back. Something beautiful about 1095 an Arkansas stone and a quick stropping. BUT in the last year I got into a job that the abrasive qualities of materials I was cutting was rendering my 1095 etc knives very dull very quick. I tried another steel and it's impressive for my particular uses to say the least. In finding this steel I spent time without my beloved traditionals and it's not the same at all. I put a burl bead and leather strap just to get some natural feel, still not the same. No matter how amazing my modern performs I miss the feel, class, warmth, character and even nostalgia of my traditionals.

I've found I don't want to go back to 1095 but I do want to go back to traditionals. Ah, I should have known my travels around and around in the knife world would loop a few more times. :)

Kevin
 
I like my traditional knives. They evoke a connection with the craftsmen that made and cutlered them. Many of them passed through hands like these, each doing his best craft day in and day out, usually for their lifetime. And as much for the love and pride in their craft as the pittence they took home at the end of the workweek.

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For many of them it was their ticket to the New World and eventually for their families. And I feel a connection to them when I pull a piece of their craft from my pocket and admire their skill, their craftsmanship and careful mating of parts into a fully functioning miniature machine that fits in my pocket and endures lifetimes later.

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richstag said:
I actually like most all knives. From opinels, to autos, to slipjoint, lock backs, moderns of all types. Just so long as they are good cutters. I have never been a fan of real thick blades on folders or normal to small fixed blades. Modern knives ARE lifeless for me also. I am carrying one I LOVE as a tool but I miss my traditionals very much for a number of non performance reasons.

I also spoke of super steels not being worth it a couple years back. Something beautiful about 1095 an Arkansas stone and a quick stropping. BUT in the last year I got into a job that the abrasive qualities of materials I was cutting was rendering my 1095 etc knives very dull very quick. I tried another steel and it's impressive for my particular uses to say the least. In finding this steel I spent time without my beloved traditionals and it's not the same at all. I put a burl bead and leather strap just to get some natural feel, still not the same. No matter how amazing my modern performs I miss the feel, class, warmth, character and even nostalgia of my traditionals.

I've found I don't want to go back to 1095 but I do want to go back to traditionals. Ah, I should have known my travels around and around in the knife world would loop a few more times. :)

Kevin
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Have you considered a custom with a specific steel? to be made to your specifications to be as old timey and traditional as you need, with the steel you require for your cutting tasks?

of course, this option is likely to be expensive, but hey if it itches all your scratches it could be worth it right?
 
I have! I actually waited in line for a year on one of our best custom makers lists and when my name came up I couldn't decide. Too many options. As soon as I settle on a stockman I change to a jackknife. Then oh no a sodbuster. Then hey wait maybe a custom opinel. It's maddening.

Rsmith_77 said:
Have you considered a custom with a specific steel? to be made to your specifications to be as old timey and traditional as you need, with the steel you require for your cutting tasks?

of course, this option is likely to be expensive, but hey if it itches all your scratches it could be worth it right?
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Btw Ryan, the other problem is I would actually prefer to just go back to 1095 and an Arkansas stone if I didn't really get a lot out of the better steel at work. :)

I don't really like having to get out a special diamond stone and lapping fluid that your not supposed to even get on your skin. Ick.
 
richstag said:
Btw Ryan, the other problem is I would actually prefer to just go back to 1095 and an Arkansas stone if I didn't really get a lot out of the better steel at work. :)

I don't really like having to get out a special diamond stone and lapping fluid that your not supposed to even get on your skin. Ick.
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well, you could pick a 2 blade style (thinking moose or muskrat, something like that) 1095 for one blade, supersteel for the other blade. use as needed
just a thought *shrugs*
 
That's actually quite a cool idea :)

A Lot of days I take along my gunstock jack for fun and the modern for not caring about.

Really I should just toss a real flooring knife and a few different blade types in my portfolio. A Lot of times I go out to jobs with just my pocket knife though.

I know, my first world problems :-p
 
Yes very smart and would it be a cool test to carry and see which actually ends up being most used?
 
richstag said:
Yes very smart and would it be a cool test to carry and see which actually ends up being most used?
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I am sure you would use your 1095 most days (or perhaps 01?) and the super steel for work or abrasive jobs. i mean its really the best of both worlds. And this way you would always have a blade you could sharpen if necessary even if you were in a place where you couldnt get out your sharpening toys for the super steel and wouldnt have to worry about unnecessarily dulling your "daily" blade on these kinds of tasks
 
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