Thrifty Thursday... Cheap Traditional Knives

[Headwinds]

Do you like that knife? I bought a yellow-handled Sodbuster Jr sized Taylor Schrade Imperial like that for about 30¢ less than you paid, and am amazed at how nice a knife mine turned out to be!

- GT

Yes, I like it fine. The action was pretty rough when I got it, but with cleaning and a lot of oiling and exercise it’s decent now. The knife is plenty stout enough for the yard work I mainly use it for. I still get tempted sometimes by the black handled Case Sod Buster Jr (I’m a sucker for that blade etch) but I just can’t justify it when I already have this one.

 

[5K Qs]

Really like the handles on that one
...

Thanks, Mike.
The first pocket knives with bone handles I ever had were a dozen different Rough Rider patterns, sold as a set, that all had that amber jigged bone. And I still like those covers from RR, even though the jigging is not very exciting; maybe it's a "first love" kind of thing!

Yes, I like it fine. The action was pretty rough when I got it, but with cleaning and a lot of oiling and exercise it’s decent now. The knife is plenty stout enough for the yard work I mainly use it for. I still get tempted sometimes by the black handled Case Sod Buster Jr (I’m a sucker for that blade etch) but I just can’t justify it when I already have this one.

Thanks for the additional info. I know what you mean about the allure of the classic delrin Case SBJr (in either black or yellow for me), but I already have 3 SBJrs from Case, so I'll buy cheap foreign knives of that pattern (e.g., JJ Martinez navaja de campaña and Robt. Klaas Black Angus) instead of another one from Case.

- GT

 

[Crappie71]

Hammer Brand Fishtail Jack

 

[JohnDF]

May be pushing the envelope a little.

Haha... Maybe just a bit.

 

[bigfish64]

Opinel #6, and its slip…my lunchbox!

 

[JohnDF]

 

[5K Qs]

Opinel #6, and its slip…my lunchbox! View attachment 1627611

Excellent lunchbox choice, Todd!

That "heavy metal" lambsfoot is totally rad, John!

Here's a Rough Rider medium work knife (essentially RR's take an a Sodbuster Jr.) that I bought for $9.09 plus tax/shipping:


- GT

 

[TheChunk91]

I don’t remember what I paid for this one, but I know it was thrifty.

 

[pvicenzi]

The entire set costs far less than one of my Sebenza's

 

[afishhunter]

Tru Trifties. None were over $8 when new ...
(admittedly, the pre-1988 fire Imperial Prov RI shell construction barlow has gone up consderably in price, and may not be considered "thrifty" these days, but rather a "rare and valuable 'collector' item" ...)
MAM (large) friction folder Sheepsfoot all the way from Portugal.
New(er) Cold Steel KUDU Ring Lock with "upgraded" (note quotes) 5CR15MoV blade steel.
(My older Kuduos and Eland's made a "big deal" of having 1.4116 KRUPP blade steel)
The afore mentioned c1956 to 1988 Imperial Barlow featuring genuine shell construction and the Schrade family's incomperable 1095 blades.
Marbles MR278 "G.I. Utility Knife"/"Demo Knife"
View attachment 1627716

 

[mbkr]

I blame this on R8shell
She posted a pic of her Mom's, and then there one was. I had to have it. An 3.25" Imperial Tradesman Stockman. Made in Ireland. Plastic handles, almost no snap on the sheepsfoot, although snap on the punch is fine and it rides on the same spring
It came dirty and dull as dishwater, but cleaned up ok, and took a very fine edge with minimal effort. Shaves hair now
I carried it around town this morning doing errands and couldn't even tell I was carrying it.

 

[bigfish64]

Excellent lunchbox choice, Todd!


That "heavy metal" lambsfoot is totally rad, John!

Here's a Rough Rider medium work knife (essentially RR's take an a Sodbuster Jr.) that I bought for $9.09 plus tax/shipping:
View attachment 1627614

- GT

Thanks Gary, I like the tip on the RR work knives.

I don’t remember what I paid for this one, but I know it was thrifty.

View attachment 1627618

…and cool!

 

[5K Qs]

Thanks Gary, I like the tip on the RR work knives.
...

Thanks, Todd. I agree; the RR tip is pointier than that on the drop point of the Case SBJr.

- GT

 

[btb01]

Definitely thrifty, and the quality seems pretty good!

 

[Crappie71]

Montgomery Ward Powr-Kraft Camp Knife

 

[euroken]

Two birds with one stone One photo for two threads lol

The Imperial candy stripe auto purchased at a garage sale for $0.25. What a bargain! HHB pictured for reference

 

[Sventhelumberjack]

Imperial Ireland small stockman, and Colonial Ranger large stockman. Great action and solid knives dressed and finished thriftily -- intended for use by those who need a good knife at a great value.

 

[r8shell]

I blame this on R8shell
She posted a pic of her Mom's, and then there one was. I had to have it. An 3.25" Imperial Tradesman Stockman. Made in Ireland. Plastic handles, almost no snap on the sheepsfoot, although snap on the punch is fine and it rides on the same spring
It came dirty and dull as dishwater, but cleaned up ok, and took a very fine edge with minimal effort. Shaves hair now
I carried it around town this morning doing errands and couldn't even tell I was carrying it. View attachment 1627719View attachment 1627720

Nice!

 

[Pt-Luso]

 

[5K Qs]

My first pocketknife was a Colonial Forest-Master I received as a gift about 1960. The first knives I ever bought for myself were a pair of Chinese Bucks in a blister pack at Walmart in February 2014 for under $20. One of them was this Buck 379, or Solo, that went to a BF member in a GAW I ran. At the time, I had little interest in 1-bladed folders.


- GT