TRADITIONAL Carbon Locking Folders

[Trout Hound]

Howdy Y’all,

So, it occurred to me that I can rattle off a long list of great carbon steel slipjoints, but the list gets considerably shorter when I start thinking about locking folders, especially current production ones. So, I thought I’d expand my knowledge. What are your favorite carbon steel, traditional, locking folders? I’m mainly interested in current production models, but would also be happy to see/hear about knives of yesteryear. Thanks!

 

[deltaboy]

Bear and Sons

http://bearandsoncutlery.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=About Us - Blade Steel Types&category=Main

 

[YellowSwiss]

GEC 72

 

[Dan of Bazz Clazz]

Kind of flies in the face of "traditional" knives, if only because it really is a category all it's own. But for how elegant and simple the engineering is, both from a user and a manufacturer's standpoint, there are few competitors. It is also one of the sharpest factory edges I have ever bought. Not too shabby for a <$20 folder.
Opinel #8 carbon steel.

 

[Burnt Stag]

Can not have a thread like this without a Buck. The all time classic lock back. Someone post up a carbon Buck. I only have SS ones.

 

[GB940Rookie]

1978 Parker/Frost by Schrade. Liner lock

 

[Trout Hound]

Dan, I don’t know how I forgot about Opinel. Duh. And they definitely qualify as traditional.

Burnt Stag, is that a carbon 110?

Keep ‘em coming!

 

[Burnt Stag]

Here are 3 lock back Traditional folders. A Ka-Bar Hunter / Case Cheetah / and Colonel Coon Swing Guard.

 

[black mamba]

Here is a pair that is hard to beat, Queen #3L lockback and #06L linerlock in D2 tool steel and curly zebrawood. Recently out of production, you can still find them at the usual second hand outlets.

 

[Burnt Stag]

The GEC 83 is a sweetheart for sure.

 

[Burnt Stag]

Black Mamba,
Nice Queens.

 

[Burnt Stag]

How bout the GEC 99. One of my favorites.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Dan, I don’t know how I forgot about Opinel. Duh. And they definitely qualify as traditional.

Burnt Stag, is that a carbon 110?

Keep ‘em coming!

they are available in 5160 from the custom shop but I'm pretty sure this one is a standard 420hc

 

[Burnt Stag]

Here is a liner lock GEC 23.
Great hunting knife.

 

[W.M.B.]

if i could upload a picture i would show my 7ot. its pretty sweet.

 

[The Fort]

Buck 112, in 5160 steel.

 

[The Fort]

My GEC 72.

 

[Burnt Stag]

View attachment 816994 Buck 112, in 5160 steel.

Thank you for the carbon Buck!! Helps correct my SS Buck party foul. There just has to be a Buck when a locking traditional thread comes up.

 

[TheChunk91]

1978 Parker/Frost by Schrade. Liner lock

That is a good choice.
1) being a schrade and 2) there are many variations of that pattern to choose from. Schrade did many limited editions of that pattern.

I think the 194OT is the original version, that probably being derived from a schrade walden 124 which had no lock (the single blade gec 48 is almost identical to the sw 124).

 

[AlwaysTomboy]

I'm no help for current production models, but I really like the GEC 72. The 83 is a nice and petite, but the lock on mine is stiff and the thinner blade stock makes it less easy to unlock than I like. I probably just need to carry and use it more.

I also really like locking sodbusters. These here are pretty bulky for every day carry; Mudbug as modern alternative, maybe? That's still a big 'un, though.

Case Copperlock is another that comes to mind. Main thing holding me back from getting one of those is that I can't decide which covers I want. Too many choices. Although fewer choices in the CV steel, I think, which is a bummer.

Boker Plus has some back lock models that have caught my eye, but only in stainless steel.