Thoughts on carrying a traditional folder...

[dbla]

I don't think that I'll ever forget when I first started collecting knives, it was my one year wedding anniversary and my wife and I were in Asheville, NC before leaving I had been watching a certain well known you-tuber's video about an ideal EDC knife... Well, I wound up with a Spyderco Tenacious from shop there in North Carolina... and that was just the first step onto a treacherous trail that eventually led to a head first free-fall into the world of custom tactical folders, flippers, bearing driven folders and all the flashy stuff out there. I've owned the best.. Burchtree, Mayo, Rexford, Rassenti, and others... But I'm here to tell you about something that's begun to happen to me, and my knife collecting...

I bought a slip joint. Actually I've bought several, some customs, some Northwoods... and they got me thinking...

My Grandfather passed away last year in March and while we were going through his things we came across this old old band-aid tin filled with these classic gentleman's folders. They were his favorites and he clearly bought many at a time. It got me thinking about the... heritage of carrying these things.

A few weeks back I bought an Oeser... It's one of the finest custom slippies that I have had the opportunity to put in my pocket... This is a knife that Hemingway would have carried, I imagine him sitting in a bar in Havana using something like this to cut the limes for a Mojito. Why's he cutting the limes? Who cares! The image is what matters...

The Oeser was missing one major thing for my uses... Coming from the world of tactical folders with pocket clips I couldn't stand having a knife sideways in my pocket. So I sent this one to my man Paul Long and had a shark's skin sheath made with a clip. That perfected it.

The next thing that happened in my journey was that my family and I took a vacation to the Northern Coast of California. We flew into San Francisco...

Then headed north to the Mendocino area...

I took the Oeser with me as my primary carry... There was something special about having just that in my pocket as we explored Fort Bragg, and walked on the Beach...

Explored Tidepools...

And marveled at the Redwoods...

A slipjoint isn't the be all, and end all of EDC knives... But there is something very special about them. A harkening back to what our grandfather's carried... Something elegant that carries an air of class and gentleness to them... I am still faithfully carrying my locking tactical whizz-bang knives... but sometimes in my other pocket is a little something else...

Anwyay, I hope you enjoyed my ramblings... if you have any stories yourselves please share...

-Aaron​

 

[paulhilborn]

Aaron, I did enjoy your ramblings, I found it to be a great read:thumbup: Your right in regards to Moderns---technical marvels for sure but a traditional knife far outweighs (to me) the WIZZBANG reference you made

I think many knife enthusiasts go through several phases until finally the search is complete, to some it may never be complete and that's fine as there is no right or wrong. I owned many modern knives but own just a few today---I have sold off many of them so I can buy more Traditionals

Just a beautiful OESER Aaron:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks for your post:thumbup:

 

[KBA]

Some beautiful pictures!

I started with the modern flippers and had some that I thought I would never sell. However, it just wasn't me nor my mentality. I tried a traditional and ended up falling in love with traditional knives. There is a warmth and romance carrying a stockman, trapper, or barlow that the modern knives just can not offer. The history alone captivates my attention and I love learning about them. I ended up selling all my modern knives.

Welcome to the traditional side and don't be surprised if you start selling off the modern ones.

 

[doppiodan]

That Oeser is gorgeous! I know the feeling...here's something about carrying a traditional. How about adding a picture of the custom sheath?

 

[dbla]

That Oeser is gorgeous! I know the feeling...here's something about carrying a traditional. How about adding a picture of the custom sheath?

Sure thing!

It's Shark Skin which holds up REALLY well to pocket wear... and! it's water proof.... go figure.

 

[arizonaranchman]

Great post and pics! Welcome to the world of old fashioned slip-joint pocket knives. Their charm and warmth is addicting.

There's no turning back now, you're a goner!

 

[Jack Black]

Nice post :thumbup:

 

[dogstar]

Hey, I'm glad you got to see the Redwoods. They always do my soul good. Also glad you are open minded enough to enjoy traditional knives. Lots of good stuff out there. Thanks for sharing your story and photos.

 

[bladeknot]

Reading these stories about traditionals has got me thinking, I grew up with these knives! Little folders, slip joints, Schrade, Uncle Henry, Buck, a Case Sodbuster or two.. Somewhere I got caught up in the titanium and carbon fiber tactical flipper crowd. The warmth of the traditionals really comes through when you think about it. Hmmm.

 

[rma100]

As soon as I saw a pocket clip, "I'm outta here"! click

 

[mnblade]

A slipjoint isn't the be all, and end all of EDC knives... But there is something very special about them. A harkening back to what our grandfather's carried... Something elegant that carries an air of class and gentleness to them...​

One thing you forgot to mention: They flat out work! It's not all about elegance, gentleness and nostalgia -- a sharp, thin-bladed slipjoint will cut the dickens out of anything you put in its way.

I enjoyed your ramblings, btw. Thanks! :thumbup:

-- Mark​

 

[Student762]

My first knife was a slip joint and my Grandfather always carried a traditional all the time, an old lockback. I never really got tactical knives because to my eye they never appealed, being a far cry from the knives my father and grandfather carried. So to me a knife will always be a traditional,as that is what I assosciate with them.

 

[Old Hunter]

Beautiful scenery pictures! As I've never carried a "modern" (other than a Buck 112 - which may be modern or maybe not) I have nothing to compare to slipjoint carry. OH

 

[Macchina]

This is a knife that Hemingway would have carried, I imagine him sitting in a bar in Havana using something like this to cut the limes for a Mojito. Why's he cutting the limes? Who cares! The image is what matters...

Because the bartender had a dull knife (it wasn't even made of CPM154, of course it was dull) and Hemingway didn't want crushed limes... he wanted CUT limes.

Great pictures and commentary. I too have done much the same journey through my collection. It will be about 8 years since I bought that Benchmade AFCK that started it all for me. I had a choice on my last knife I bought (LionSteel Opera) between the G-10 model with a thumbstud and pocket clip or the Olivewood model with a smooth blade and smooth handles: I went with the Olivewood and am very glad I did! It slips easily into my pocket and looks just right. You can't even open the blade with wet fingers (no nail nick), but that doesn't matter much to me.

 

[Cory Hess]

Those are some fine knives your granddad had stashed away, and yours is a real beauty. Welcome to the wonderful world of traditionals. This was a great read, thanks for posting your thoughts and experiences.

 

[Astrogator]

Thanks for your post.

I also have and carry modern "whizzbang" folders on occasion.

But I wholeheartedly agree that the traditionals just have that "something extra" that sets them apart from other knives.

Cheers.

 

[TX_planes]

A very interesting and well written post. The photos are spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

 

[dbla]

Thanks guys. ;-)

 

[arizonaranchman]

Reading these stories about traditionals has got me thinking, I grew up with these knives! Little folders, slip joints, Schrade, Uncle Henry, Buck, a Case Sodbuster or two.. Somewhere I got caught up in the titanium and carbon fiber tactical flipper crowd. The warmth of the traditionals really comes through when you think about it. Hmmm.

Same here... Grew I up with traditional slip-joints. For a period of years I carried the single blade thumbhole or thumbstud folders cuz that's what was popular I guess. Besides that it was just a tool, I wasn't a collector I just needed a knife. I wasn't a knife knut by any means, but I have always carried something since I was in grade school probably - starting with a classic Cub Scout knife. For many years it was a Sears Craftsman version of the Buck 110 in a belt sheath. A few SAK Classics (always seemed to lose them eventually) passed through my pockets. A classic standard Leatherman has been on my belt for 20 years now day in and day out.

About a year ago I stumbled onto this forum. It's been all down hill since then, lol. Now that I've "re-discovered" these old classics I find I enjoy them immensely. Their charm and personality, their history and roots is something that really draws me to them like no other knives ever have. The others have always just been tools to me, I never did get attached to them in any way. I never got into high end stuff with the modern knives, but always had one clipped on my RFP. It served it's purpose and it worked is all. But now I not only have a very useful tool, I have something in my pocket/hand that's a part of my personality and lifestyle. It's an attachment that grows over time. It's a trusted companion that's always there for whatever task is at hand.

 

[B34NS]

Loved the photos! Glad you got to see SF in our "summer"