I don't think that under normal use, the tradition pocket knife gives up anything to the modern one hand knife. For a very long time, centuries in fact, the traditional pined construction pocket knife was the go-to knife for all kinds of people. From cowboys pushing a herd up the trail to sailors on square rigged ships, the simple slip joint was the knife. And when treated like a knife, and used as a knife, it lasted a lifetime. These people were hard working, to the extent that the modern suburban/urban commando could not begin to live that life. They were the original "hard Use" people. A freight wagon driver with a load going up the Santa Fe trail used his barlow or clasp knife like we would not believe. I've known several people who lived to a ripe old age using just one single pocket knife, and just taking care of it.
This modern knife thing is only a generation old now, starting back in the 1980's with a certain company and some outrageous advertising. Prior to that, people went down to the hardware store, and bought what was in stock and went on with their lives. Of course, they weren't knife nuts and obsessed over things that didn't make a whit of a difference. They just needed to cut something. In the army in the 1960's, the Buck 110 was the go-to knife. It cut well, was rugged, and was available at every PX. And if there is a group of people that would hard in their knife, it's young 20 something men in the service. Yet very few of the Buck's ever broke. They were knives and treated as such. Novel thought today. I myself never cared for the 110, being as heavy as it was, so I just used the heck out of a Buck 301 stockman for 25 years. Construction work in the engineers, and a career as a machinist later. I semi retired that knife and it was still good ot go. I just switched to the smaller 303 cadet.
I've led an active life, backpacking, canoe camping, motorcycle camping, used to hunt, still fish, and loved teaching the kids, and much later the grandkids how to make the perfect hot dog fork for roasting over a campfire. I've used a traditional pocket knife all my life, and never had one let me down, nor have I heard of any of my friends having theirs let them down. But then in all that time I've yet to be attacked by a car door. Chevy or Ford. Of course, there was one time a Dodge was giving me a hairy eyeball, but I just kept on walking. You know how hinky those Dodge's can be.
I now the modern knife is touted to be the most ultimate "Hard use" knife since Arthur pulled Excalliber out of the stone, but come on, really. How heavy use are you going to use a 3 or 4 inch blade for? Especially as much as most of those things cost? Go on any construction site and see what the real hard use knife is. It's a Stanley utility knife. Those hard working carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and masons are not using modern one hand folders, unless it's a metal framed Huskey they bought at Lowes along with a package of spare blades. Of course, looking at how ridiculously over built some of the modern folders are, I can see how, if you set out to badly abuse the tool, using it in ways a pocket knife was ever designed to be used, it can out last a traditional pinned construction pocket knife. But it's going to take that to make a difference. Out and out abuse. But in my life, I've never had to do battle with car doors, or hang weights on the handle of my knife while the blade was in a vise, to demonstrate how much the knife will take. I;ve yet to pry open a single car door.
However, I did have to crawl into an overturned car in January of 1991. A wreck took place right in front of me, and a nitwit driver rolled an old Datsun 210. It came to rest on it's roof, and a fire started when the battery that had broke loose during ithe rolling, shorted out agains the engine, and the years of grease and oil were burning. In my pocket was my old well worn Buck 301 stockman, and it did very well cutting the seat belt to let the idiot driver loose to crawl out of the burning car. No spring assisted, no flipper, no overly thick blade, just an old stockman. Crawling into the wreck, I had no problem digging into the pocket of my jeans, pull open the sheeps foot blade, and slice the seatbelt. I don't see how I could have been helped by a more "Hard Use" knife. I think I probably could have done the same thing with a Victorinox classic. Seat belts are not that hard to cut.
I think the over built thing is an evil that comes from a whole generation of young guys growing up with video games and not enough adult guidance in the real world of outdoor sports. With no father or uncle, or grandfather to learn from, they are suckers for the advertising of the knife companies selling to an artificially created market for an unneeded item, for the sake of profit. Generations of men used traditional pocket knives with no problems. They even delt with occasional emergencies and even a world war. I don't know how many issued scout knives and TL-29's were in pockets from the islands in the South Pacific to a Beach in Normandy. I knew one soldier who waded ashore that morning, and walked all the way to Germany with a Camillus TL-29 in his pocket. It was his only knife, aside from the bayonet for his M1. He used that knife long after the war was over, and only retired it when I brought home a brand new one from our company supply room. Uncle Charlie loved the TL-29. He wasn't a knife nut, but he like to garden and tinker, and he used his knife something everyday, in his basement shop or garden out back. His issue TL-29 had about 30 years use on it, and his older boy, my cousin Dave has his knife today. It's in fine shape. Used but not abused. Uncle Charlie appreciated a fine tool, and he never used the Camilllus as a pry bar or any other tool but a cutting tool. I don't ever recall him having to fight off a car door either.
Used right, a traditional pocket knife should last as long or longer than a modern knife. With the thinner blades it will defiantly cut better. JUst don't get in any fights with stray cars.
Carl.
