This is HERESY!!! Knife Opinions

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On a more serious note and in response to
@Slice-and-dice ...I first started on the porch 17 yrs ago...seems like only yedterday( cue wibbly wobbly back in time visual effect)..trad knives had a coolness for me that moderns did not.Still do except the flippage factor has removed a layer of coolness...imagine a 'cool' real estate agent or car salesperson...yeah
I know.. the thought is slightly nauseating.
That said here is a Chinese made U.S. designed trad in a very traditional role...the bus seat slash...more than capable I would say...1000009375.jpg
 
Sibyrnes said:
Here's my current favorite:
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I really want to like the case peanut and in theory it should be my favorite case model, but they changed the position of the nail nick at some point and I can't stand it.
That example you have there is what the peanut should be.
I don't know when the change happened but I believe it was well over 15 years ago, otherwise it would have been the first thing I thought of.
 
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Hickory n steel said:
I'm not a trapper guy myself, but the 54 pattern is quite a popular choice of working knife for those who do like the trapper.
Anybody who says Case doesn't make hard working knives has probably only had the tiny Texas toothpick or something.

Just think how many large sodbusters over the years have been used and abused till there was nothing left.
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Many of the ranchers and farmers here in south Texas tote a Case trapper. And they use it.
 
Case doesn't need anyone to come to its defense. They either stand on their own two feet or they don't. Mine have, so far.

That said, China is a complex and varied country. I have some Chinese knives that I know for a fact were not built by slave labor. Insinuating that all Chinese cutlery companies employ sweatshop tactics is just plain 'ol racism borne out of simple ignorance.

I'm an American who, on occasion, drives on roads with other Americans. Do that enough, and you'll question the wisdom of supporting the little jerks. 🤣
 
As to the "Case is suited to light work" thing - I guess it depends on what you are going to be doing. I use Case (and GEC and Buck) slipjoints for most of what I need to do with a pocket knife. For me, heavy work means cutting down a bunch of double-corrugated boxes to fit in the recycling bin. We get a lot of stuff delivered at home, so I generally have some cutting to do a few times a week.

I will use a Case for that quite often, usually a stockman pattern, usually their Tru-Sharp stainless. Seems to do the job pretty well, but if I have a big stack of it, I get out a Benchmade in 154CM steel. Not so much that the blade or steel is that much better, but I like those Griptilian handles for cutting up cardboard when there's a lot of it.

All of them have the same issue - they cut better sharp than dull. All of them need touchups every couple of weeks. All of them take just about the same level of effort to sharpen on a plain old Arkansas stone (yes, even the Benchmades).

I used the GEC Bunny Knife just today to cut down a couple of boxes. It seems to do the job well. Brushed satin bolsters and unpolished black wood handles is not a fancy knife.

I try not to read too much into the geopolitics or social statements made by what I buy. It's just a pocket knife. Cut stuff with it you need to cut. If one type is not suitable to your needs, get one that is. In my case, I have different needs, so I have different knives.
 
- Screws
- Stone/acid washing
- Titanium bolsters

These are 'trends'....not traditions....none of them belong on 'traditional' pocketknives...I just hope the Porchyard dog Dracula doesnt get wind of anysuch contrivances being brought through the gate...
 
dantzk8 said:
I can't figure out what does mean "hard use". Does it mean "dumb use"?

Dan.
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I suspect so.

A pocket knife is not a hard-use item. For real hard work, you are best using your pocket knife to open the package that the actual correct tool comes in.

Hard use for a pocket knife might be cutting light cords and zip-ties, scraping gunk off a surface, cutting a hose or something maybe, stripping wire, that type of stuff. Maybe cleaning some fish or skinning and butchering an animal but obviously not in a commercial setting.

On the subject of cardboard - I remember making a play fort out of some large boxes when I was a little kid. My dad saw me cutting holes in them to make windows, and he told me “don’t use your pocket knife to cut cardboard - you’ll dull the blade”.

Regarding memberships - there is content outside of The Porch on this site that I’m not sure I am comfortable contributing money to. Sure my participation here may help drive ad revenue in some minute way or you might say “why are you on the site at all, then?”, but value judgements aren’t always clear, and you have to draw the line somewhere. It’s just like avoiding goods manufactured in certain countries when possible.
 
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Slice-and-dice said:
You have way too many posts and are way too old to be that disrespectful. No need to reply if you are not interested in the content.
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No need for a non-porcher to "dis" a valuable and appreciated member, either. There's a reason you have two ears and only one mouth.... Ed's been here and is known and appreciated..... you? Not so much, yet. Jury's still out on that one.
 
I'd agree with the OP about the 300+ USD aspect, ah but they're better quality comes the refrain. Maybe but many of them are bought to show off or as 'investments' and a pretty risky investment at that. Craftsmanship, skill and beauty are important factors but expensive knives are ultimately decorative objects showcasing skill (sometimes taste)

The manic feeding frenzy around GEC knives has raised prices and profile, that's a change in 15 years.

Affordable knives are still available in the form of SAK, Opinel, Douk-Douk et al. China makes some good affordable knives too, it makes some very high grade precision knives and other products, plus some shoddy junk, that's just a fact of current existence - and for some an unacceptable elephant in the room. That's a change in 15 years and nothing stands still, change is inevitable.

CASE knives I'm very fond of, I don't understand this heavy duty argument, these are SMALLER POCKET KNIVES and most pocket knives are not for 'heavy' work. If I want to chop I've got a nice hatchet, cut metal, tin snips, even large cardboard, box cutter is better and why mess up my edge? So for me it's not a valid point. Pocket knives vary but they are essentially for lighter tasks, you COULD dig with them but you'll find a spade/trowell better!

I will say bluntly that some of the sarcasm and sneering directed at the OP is uncalled for. There is no obligation to buy a membership - or have it given to you - this doesn't entitle you to have an opinion or to ask for others' experience. In fact, an unwelcoming, parochial atmosphere is actually unlikely to motivate somebody to buy a membership :rolleyes: The fact he might ask awkward or contentious questions/observations is possibly a sign of interest on his part?
 
If someone walked up on my "Porch" and took a leak on it, I'd be pretty twisted up also. That may be why you are getting "dis-respect". You start your post by saying these knives are great and those knives are garbage, nothing like jumping right into the deep end of the pool. Most newer members are well served by reading a lot and posting little. If you are here for the long haul, then great, welcome to The Porch! If you are here to throw grenades or just for a forum knife, then please turn around and leave.



I won't get into the whole Chinese made knife discussion. RR seems like a better made knife lately, so I guess, yeah, they are a good value. Those that like/love them? Cool, rock on, like what you like. As the saying goes, there's a butt for every seat. They are not my thing, but maybe that is because I have plenty of other knives to choose from.

Yes, Buck knives are awesome, and are pretty solid-ly made.

As to the Case knives comment, one of our most esteemed and respected members has shared dozens of stories of him and his dad "getting it done" with not much more than a well honed Case Peanut. I don't see that they have changed a whole lot from back in those days, so I'm not buying the whole pretty-boy observation.

$300 plus knives? To each his own, I suppose. I like custom knives, and I used to think it was heresy to use a custom that cost hundreds of dollars. However, I have come to find them more desirable to carry and use lately, as opposed to sitting in a drawer. Don't get me wrong, I still have many that will never be used, but I have a handful of customs in my EDC pile, and they are getting more pocket time than my factory traditionals. I'll never consider knives an investment, but perhaps when I am gone, my son can do whatever he wants with my collection. I'd like to imagine that he will develop a love for them like me, but I know that's probably never going to happen. Hopefully he'll keep the sentimental/family ones, and maybe he can get a few bucks for the rest.

If your post was meant to stir up emotions and promote discussion, well, it certainly did that!
 
glennbad said:
If someone walked up on my "Porch" and took a leak on it, I'd be pretty twisted up also. That may be why you are getting "dis-respect". You start your post by saying these knives are great and those knives are garbage, nothing like jumping right into the deep end of the pool. Most newer members are well served by reading a lot and posting little. If you are here for the long haul, then great, welcome to The Porch! If you are here to throw grenades or just for a forum knife, then please turn around and leave.



I won't get into the whole Chinese made knife discussion. RR seems like a better made knife lately, so I guess, yeah, they are a good value. Those that like/love them? Cool, rock on, like what you like. As the saying goes, there's a butt for every seat. They are not my thing, but maybe that is because I have plenty of other knives to choose from.

Yes, Buck knives are awesome, and are pretty solid-ly made.

As to the Case knives comment, one of our most esteemed and respected members has shared dozens of stories of him and his dad "getting it done" with not much more than a well honed Case Peanut. I don't see that they have changed a whole lot from back in those days, so I'm not buying the whole pretty-boy observation.

$300 plus knives? To each his own, I suppose. I like custom knives, and I used to think it was heresy to use a custom that cost hundreds of dollars. However, I have come to find them more desirable to carry and use lately, as opposed to sitting in a drawer. Don't get me wrong, I still have many that will never be used, but I have a handful of customs in my EDC pile, and they are getting more pocket time than my factory traditionals. I'll never consider knives an investment, but perhaps when I am gone, my son can do whatever he wants with my collection. I'd like to imagine that he will develop a love for them like me, but I know that's probably never going to happen. Hopefully he'll keep the sentimental/family ones, and maybe he can get a few bucks for the rest.

If your post was meant to stir up emotions and promote discussion, well, it certainly did that!
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Thanks for your reply. Like many, I've been reading posts here for many years and finally decided to add my voice. The negativity around the suggestion that some new Case knives are not always up to the task, in my opinion, is shocking to me. I have exactly 32 such knives and thoroughly enjoy them. But seriously, no need for venom from some when a different view is expressed. Or are we only welcome here if we have the same view? I believe trying out the forum before committing dollars is prudent. There are many cool guys here with interesting takes and experiences. And, like many forums, some who can't help but be sarcastic and protective of their cherished objects/opinions. I'd like to have had a more open minded discussion here, but it is what it is. Thanks for sharing.
 
Slice-and-dice said:
Respected member or not, basic manners are appreciated by all. The title of the post indicated these were opinions meant for discussion. Not an excuse to disparage a new members work or economic standing. Way to attract new members….
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I mean, you come in here, to a section that's called "Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades" and then make disparaging comments about how Chinese import knives are better than the products of two traditional* American companies (Buck and Case) who make excellent knives (though apparently Case knives are now "pretty boy knives", whatever those are supposed to be). That said, you're getting exactly what you asked for, so I'm not sure why you're acting as though you've been personally insulted. If you like Chinese "traditionals" please enjoy them. As for speaking about someone else's age, you're acting very young, and you seem not to have much experience at all with Traditional knives. Also, while we're here, I'm still waiting for you to describe what "real work" is that you feel Case knives can't accomplish.


* Recall back to the section's name?
 
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