Traditional folder knives - I don’t get it

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"And some folks think I'm slow..."

🙃
 
I think a lot of it is nostalgic honestly, of course along with personal preference. When I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s, when you said “pocket knife” traditional were what immediately popped up in most people’s mind. It wasn’t until the 90’s that we started to see the proliferation of more modern, single bladed pocket clip “tactical” blades. While I certainly appreciate the advances is design and materials, and the benefits of quick easy access and one handed opening and closing, I can’t help it that when someone says “pocket knife”, guess what image pops up in my mind, a smaller traditional knife 😏 it has worked fine for hundreds of years, still does
 
eisman said:
Here's the thing, you need a cutting edge; that's all you need. You don't need to do anything more than make an efficient cut. I find that having both a straight edge and a curved edge in the same small package is the most efficient for me. And if I can do that in a small, compact, tool that's good.

Take these knives for instance; I'm not out in the woods, but both would serve to build and start a fire, build a game trap, fashion a pole or projectile weapon, or skin game. In the office they both open packages, cut ropes or string, and shave plastic to make pieces fit. In the yard they can trim stakes and cut hoses. But I find it much easier to pull splinters, cut holes, graft plants, etc. with the "traditional" pattern than with the other. The smaller package is half the weight, twice the utility, and for my purposes, the better tool.

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What advantage does the larger "modern" knife have? I have no desire to carry excess weight, it doesn't cut any better, it's less comfortable in the hand, it's not never going to be my choice for a weapon, I'm not splitting kindling or stabbing through anything, I've no need for speedy deployment of the blade, and just sitting around opening and closing a knife as a form of relaxation may lead to some uncomfortable questions.
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Please tell me more about the traditional. Great looking knife! Also, I'm sure very functional. Thanks.
 
This is the beauty of our hobby, we got such a big variety to choose from.

If you don't like the look of a knife, you don't need to get one, as the knife you like is just as readily available.

We all have different tastes and that is very much appreciated.
 
Just like my music tastes, it ranges from Chris Stapleton to Betraying the Martyrs. Same with knives. I adore slip joints but I also love modern folders. My prized knife was my Microtech out the front. But I still have a thing for Boyscout knives.

Some people have a more narrow appreciation for the knife hobby. And that's okay too.
 
Traditional folders haven’t been high on my list. But in my drooling over searches for other cool stuff, I’ve come across several very classic and classy looking pieces that have me reconsidering. Some of the polished steel and wood handles I would be proud to carry.
 
I have an Opinel #6 in my hand while I read the opening post; arguably the least tech, oldest style, and most basic folding traditional. (maybe not counting the viro bloc)
I tend to be the opposite. I find some modern folding knives to be garish, ugly and have an emphasis on a popular tactical-type look without any real substance.

There's traditionals I don't find to be very attractive either (think saddle horn pattern) but in general a traditional folder is what I grew up with and what immediately comes to mind when someone says "pocket knife".
To each their own, but traditionals persist in spite of the fact they're not the apex of knife performance.
 
I just like knives - new and old. And for me, with traditional patterns (be they folders or fixed blades), a lot of it is about learning the history of particular designs. I'm a history buff in general, and exploring the history of knife designs, and their intended purposes, is a rich part of this hobby for me as well.

I also don't see it as simplistic as "traditional vs modern." Let's not forget that there is a whole grey area in between (as with most things) - traditional patterns executed with modern materials. For example, these Lionsteel and Boker versions of the traditional Barlow pattern:

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As always, to each his own. ;)
 
others years ago didn't like things about them much either and thats why they started making changes towards modern designs. its fine to not like something.

I like them myself, but also like moderns.....
 
I like traditionals better than modern. I don’t have but a couple modern type knives, and even they are more traditional.

Of course I like the history and the style and class of traditional knives. Nostalgia.

But what it boils down to, is I don’t consider a pocket knife to be a weapon. I carry a gun for a weapon. I carry a knife for cutting packages and whittling.

For complex cutting, a traditional affords multiple blades, and a close to blade hold which offers control, and a thin edge. Most modern knives are as unwieldy for fine cutting as a similar sized fixed blade.

I had a friend once that had a modern clip knife. Well he went to open something and stabbed the knife in to the hilt, grabbing with the choil and ricasso and ripping a hole instead of cutting. But he did it fast, whipping his knife out one handed like he was practicing cutting an opponents throat in combat.

Now modern knives don’t have to be used that way. But that’s the image I have. Traditional knives don’t have to be used for whittling on the porch, but that’s the image I have there.
 
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I much prefer modern folders. But they are all good, right? I am currently jonesing for a Buck 110 traditional. If I bite the bullet, it will be my first and only throwback folder.
 
I like and carry both. I don't see a "vs" here.

I will say that the "nice steel between slabs of titanium with a framelock" niche in my collection is full. CRK filled it and I have a few others on top, and pretty much all the others are duplicative or boring to me.
 
Billy The Hungry said:
Just like my music tastes, it ranges from Chris Stapleton to Betraying the Martyrs. Same with knives. I adore slip joints but I also love modern folders. My prized knife was my Microtech out the front. But I still have a thing for Boyscout knives.

Some people have a more narrow appreciation for the knife hobby. And that's okay too.
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A good example is my carry today. I often mix the two.

 
For some reason, I like Spydercos looks. I don’t have one currently but I’m wanting. And I sure regret getting rid of the benchmade 3310. But mostly I like traditional stuff. So... I guess I’m just a knife nut.
 
It's ok to not like things, if everybody felt the same way about every things, this would be a boring planet to live on.

But at the same time, I think anybody who think a traditional Laguiole is ugly need to have his eyes checked 😂
 
I can understand the OP’s position. I happen to really like traditional folders but I can see the benefits of a modern folder. Lets use a Spyderco Delica as an example of a popular modern folder, it is lightweight, uses modern steels that do not need as much maintenance as 1095 which is a popular steel for traditional knives. The one hand open feature and a pocket clip makes for a very useful and handy EDC knife. For me, and I suspect others as well, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in sharpening your knife. Many traditional knives use handle materials like wood, bone and stag; something I much prefer to straight FRN or some of the other synthetic materials used on modern folders. There is some material crossover like micarta that can be found on both types of knives which is great. It really comes down, like many have posted in this thread, like what you Ike and enjoy your knives.
 
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