Things you just live with and get used to.

RobbW said:
For me, I learned to live with scratches on polished stainless steel blades. Carbon steel is great because the scratches patina over, but they live forever on stainless that doesn’t get any trace of patina.
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If you have a knife with polished stainless steel blades that's going to be a regular user, you might just knock the shine off from the get go. Here's a post I made about a Case SS 6347.

"This is a Case SS 6347 jigged Walnut Bone Stockman. When I got it, the blades, bolsters, and covers were highly polished as are most Case SS knives. I don't particularly like a mirror, shiny, finish so, I've been carrying this knife in one pocket or another with extra change or keys and as a finale, I buffed the covers and bolsters with a Scotch-Brite pad. I'm finally satisfied with the dulled look of the knife. The shiny has been knocked right off it and and it's been honed to a sharp, rough, grabby, edge so it's ready to put to use."

ypPKzjL.jpg


I also used a Scotch-Brite pad on the blades. It dulled them down nicely and I don't have to worry about scratches.
 
Modoc ED said:
If you have a knife with polished stainless steel blades that's going to be a regular user, you might just knock the shine off from the get go. Here's a post I made about a Case SS 6347.

"This is a Case SS 6347 jigged Walnut Bone Stockman. When I got it, the blades, bolsters, and covers were highly polished as are most Case SS knives. I don't particularly like a mirror, shiny, finish so, I've been carrying this knife in one pocket or another with extra change or keys and as a finale, I buffed the covers and bolsters with a Scotch-Brite pad. I'm finally satisfied with the dulled look of the knife. The shiny has been knocked right off it and and it's been honed to a sharp, rough, grabby, edge so it's ready to put to use."

ypPKzjL.jpg


I also used a Scotch-Brite pad on the blades. It dulled them down nicely and I don't have to worry about scratches.
Click to expand...
ED, I've been intending to try something like that on a knife, so thanks for the description! :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Do you use the green Scotch-Brite pads? Any recommended "direction" on buffing the blades (horizontal, vertical, little circles)?

- GT
 
I use a green Scotch-Brite pad. I cup the pad in my hand or between thumb and fingers, place the blade in it, gently squeeze the pad to the blade and pull/draw the blade from the pad -direction of pull from the bolster to the point. If you're careful you can pull and push the blade in both directions. Do it just enough so that the scratches dull the blade to a sort of satin appearance. Touch up the blade edges when you're done.
 
I have enjoyed reading everyone's postings. I have not filed a Patent request for delinting soap. As a Buck folder collector I have purchased a few knives with a wad of lint inside the well that would lead one to guess the former owner seldom if ever opened their knife.

Buck folders do have strong spines, with one spring per blade you aren't restricted to tight aka thin places. Remember that pre 85 folders were made by contractors Schrade and Camillus. (and some after) Those were flat ground and some were 'crinked' to make space. Many Buck collectors lament for the flat ground days, while others tout the 'new' blade angles as better slicers. The Buck area is constantly bringing this up.

I tried to think of something really radical to say on this threads subject but only can set here and think of two. I am irked when nail nics show heavy grind marks. And stare at a couple of really old Sheffield folders I have that have tiny thin nics that no humans nail could possibly fit in. But, they have worked well all these years. A third irk has arisen as I typed this, I am irked because I now own Vintage folding knives, which I swear were brand new production when I bought them. I guess I am showing too much sharpening and not enough oil. 300
 
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This thread shows why the porch is great.
One may not feel the same about an aspect of traditionals as another does, but we all love traditionals and nobody gets upset when someone states a dislike for an aspect of traditionals that might actually be something that you like most about traditionals.
 
Modoc ED said:
If you have a knife with polished stainless steel blades that's going to be a regular user, you might just knock the shine off from the get go. Here's a post I made about a Case SS 6347.
Click to expand...

Great idea! Thanks!!
 
Hickory n steel said:
What are some aspects of carrying a traditional folder that you just live with ?

For me the biggest one is pocket lint, especially with my Vics such as the tinker.
There are so many crevasses for it to gather in and checking my knife every single day would get annoying.
I've tried pocket slips and they're just not for me.

Now my tool of choice to deal with the lint is a toothpick, clip one end off then carve it flat on both sides.
This creates the perfect little thing to get the lint out with.

Other than the issues with pocket lint I think traditionals are perfect.
Click to expand...

Dont think of it as lint, but rather think of it as pocket dessicant :)
 
Modoc ED said:
I use a green Scotch-Brite pad. I cup the pad in my hand or between thumb and fingers, place the blade in it, gently squeeze the pad to the blade and pull/draw the blade from the pad -direction of pull from the bolster to the point. If you're careful you can pull and push the blade in both directions. Do it just enough so that the scratches dull the blade to a sort of satin appearance. Touch up the blade edges when you're done.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the clear instructions, ED. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

- GT
 
Hickory n steel said:
having to remove it from a slip after taking it out, put the slip in my pocket while I'm using my knife, then pull the slip out to put my knife back in just to put the whole thing back in my pocket again is a bit much for me.
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I bite the slip to draw the knife and leave the slip clamped in my teeth until I've suavely re-inserted the knife.

5K Qs said:
ED, I've been intending to try something like that on a knife, so thanks for the description! :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Do you use the green Scotch-Brite pads? Any recommended "direction" on buffing the blades (horizontal, vertical, little circles)?
Click to expand...
My latest Case was the first one to have noticeable blade rub. Even worse than my GEC Churchill. After filing the contact areas, I tried to emulate Case's as-ground finish by stroking laterally on emery cloth on a mousepad. I think the principle is sound, but I should have started with coarser emery.
Too much sun to really see it here.
MmcqVuY.jpg

Oh, and canned compressed air for pocket lint when I think of it. Another nice thing about a SAK is you can tie it in a sock and put it through the laundry.

So nothing bugs me about traditional slip-joints, except having too many favorites to carry and use.
 
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Having to sharpen. I don't enjoy it.

Having to drop ship most of my new knives to the pro to have the edge ground properly. I don't have the skill set to establish a good edge, just to maintain it.

Having to flitz. Patina = dirt :p.

Blade etching. Not a fan.

Knowing that my dream SAK (Settler) is no longer made and impossible to find unused at a normal price.

Still not having found 'the one' though the upcoming 2018 forum knife might be very close to my requirements for being the one. I've said that before though (2015 forum knife, so close but mine was so badly made).

Knowing that an Opinel is pretty much the best slicing EDC in existence, is dirt cheap and if I were honest with myself, could replace every other folder I own an still put a bigger smile on my face every time I used the thing. :D

Having no locking knife carry laws which keeps me honest and in the traditional camp despite all the 'ooh' and 'aah' of the Ti flippers. Grass is greener, etc but as I said, it keeps me honest and traditional. To be frank, I don't need anything more than a trad and I like them better in any case.
 
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RobbW said:
For me, I learned to live with scratches on polished stainless steel blades. Carbon steel is great because the scratches patina over, but they live forever on stainless that doesn’t get any trace of patina.
Click to expand...
I actually like the scratches on my Case SS blades... they show me that I've actually used those blades, and they change over time. I look at them as the stainless version of patina.
 
Hickory n steel said:
What are some aspects of carrying a traditional folder that you just live with ?

For me the biggest one is pocket lint, especially with my Vics such as the tinker.
There are so many crevasses for it to gather in and checking my knife every single day would get annoying.
I've tried pocket slips and they're just not for me.

Now my tool of choice to deal with the lint is a toothpick, clip one end off then carve it flat on both sides.
This creates the perfect little thing to get the lint out with.

Other than the issues with pocket lint I think traditionals are perfect.
Click to expand...
Have you tried canned air?
 
The thing I think that's been the hardest to get used to is not being able to find anything good in stock. I remember 4-5 years ago you could find tons of knives still in stock at dealers. Sometimes I wish traditionals weren't so popular.
 
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