Traditional knife questions/suggestions

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
Messages
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Heya folks,
Guess you could say I'm kinda new to the more traditional designs. I used 'em when I was a kid, back in da' days before I became a "tactical" knife junkie. I'm goin' back to traditional knives for awhile, and debating new carry knives that haven't become family heirlooms...yet. Some of the designs I'm finding myself partial to are the Daddy Barlows, large toothpicks, Trappers, and Congressman.

I'm pretty fond of the Case Cheetah, for the design and the lock, but I'd have to rip that crossguard off first thing, and that wouldn't be very nice of me.

I'm also somewhat picky in wanting carbon steel.

Also wondering, about Old Timers, Case, and Uncle Henry knives. I seem to recall that all three are made by Schrade. I've always liked Case knives, and tend to recall great experience with Uncle Henry's, but I can't recall an Old Timer ever holding an edge real well. whyzat? what are the differences between these three?

So far I'm leaning towards Case or Camillus, but I'm very uneducated in this area, so suggestions are appreciated. If I stay with these awhile, I'd like to have one made by that Hoot Gibson Gent that TK did a feature on a few months ago...:D

Anyhoo, ideas and input are appreciated.
 
My old timers get razor sharp and only need a touch up most of the time. I think the difference between ol timers and uncle henry is the steel ol timers are carbon and I believe uncle henry is stainless
 
You have to watch when buying, Schrade,Old Timers, Uncle Henrys, you tend to get materials that are plastic and not bone, just made to look like it. This may only matter if your collecting or you prefer the real stuff. Case is the best bet all around, Hen and Rooster would be right there with Case. Some Queen stuff is nice I have never cared for the company myself. If I were getting started into traditional folders I would start with Case can't go wrong there they have the highest collect ability to them and are quite honestly just good looking knives.
 
both responses good so far....my 2 cents. Old Timers are 1095 carbon steel and sharpen up very nice - they have derlin saw cut scales on them and can be had for very little $$. Uncle Henry is also scrade and use scrade + stainless - these knives have derlin scales jigged to look like bone. I prefer the Old Timer carbon to the UH stainles, although the UH scales are better looking IMO. I use the OT 1040T (minuteman) for an EDC ($13 walmart). Great knives for the value to price ratio. The case knives are indeed of higher quatlity. Another one to look at is the Boker "tree" brand - also a nice knife. If you are just looking for an inexpensive, sharp, indestructible knive that is easy to sharpen go with OT just remember to oil it :).

michael
 
I forgot about Boker they do make some nice knives as well. About 3 weeks ago we had a open house at the store, a rep brought some new boker fixed blades with stag handles they were being made in argentina now I think he said, anway they just looked great and the prices were very reasonable on them. So yea don't forget Boker.
 
This is just my opinion and keep in mind you got it for free,but I like queen knives the best.The fit,and finish are excellent and I really like the d2 blades.Camillus and buck are also very good choices as well as german eye brand.I would also recommend case but only if you get to examine the knife in person before you buy it.It has been my experience that quality control is a bit spotty.Also the 420 stainless blades leave much to be desired as far as edge holding goes.On the other hand they are very rust resistant.Old timers are fairly good as well.You best bet is to go to a knifeshow and see them all in person.
 
I got a wild hair and picked one up on the way to work tonight.

It's a "Russell" with the <>R<> on it. A Daddy Barlow as I tend to recall it being referred to as. Supposedly has a high carbon blade, and a bone handle...errr...forgive my lack of vocabulary here...with the saw cut pattern on it. It seems to be plenty tight with decent finish to it. Opens smoothly, and took a hell of an edge. Definitely looks VERY traditional.

Y'all know much about these? whaddya think of them?

Also fell in love with a Case Silver Script Sowbelly Stockman...not interested if 420 is my only option in blades though...
 
That sounds like a winner.Would you mind letting us know more about its performance when you get a chance?also if you don't mind saying how much did it set you back?thanks
 
It's kinda a neat looking knife. Not what I'd describe as the same drool material you'd get off a pearl handled William Henry or something, but a VERY nostalgic appeal, I can look at it an' paw it for over an hour on end, with my curious mind just a spinnin'.\

It set me back an estimated $65. I was originally afraid of posting the price, cuz I'm terrified of finding out I'd been had.

I just cut a little more with it today..my usual test of meal preparation,(cheesy, I know) and it did real well. Cut through a half frozen ham with very little trouble, and still sliced tomatoes and cucumbers thin enough to see through 'till I got tired of doin' it. Then I took it and cut thin edges off of paper, so far I think it lost a TINY bit of edge, but the hair still flies off my arm when I test it.

Still not sure of the make of it, but it seems like one my Granpappy woulda liked anyways...even though it is a bit on the large side.
 
I can only comment on the Old Timer from experience. It's probably the best thirteen dollars I ever spent. Excellent fit and finish for a knife of its price. Good luck hunting for the next one.

Frank
 
This is just my own opinion...YMMV: I have owned and used Robesons, Queens, Bokers, Hen & Roosters, Camillus, Kissing Cranes, Bucks, Brownings and Schrades (listed pretty much in order of my preferences). And they are all better quality made than Case and most of them use a higher quality steel than that crap Case calls "Tru-Sharp" or whatever; IMNSHO ;)
 
Case makes a few patterns in a carbon steel they call Chrome Vanadium. The yellow celluloid handled ones and some of the Amber Bones come in this steel. It is better than their stainless, but so is almost anything.
 
Case makes a few nice Damascus steel ones too! much better than that truesharp stuff;)
 
I've got to give C-V steel the thumbs up, I usually don't care for the whole mystical best steel voodoo stuff:), but that is some good stuff.

You've got to watch it though, it scratches badly, and can get pretty ugly quick.
 
Has anyone had any experience with MooreMaker slipjoints? They have some nice looking knives on their site, at what look to be reasonable prices. I'd be curious to know how they rate.
 
As I recall, MooreMaker is a Texas company that markets a line of overpriced slip joints made for them by Queen Cutlery. Queen makes knives for several "distributors/marketers" who put their own name on them. However, I have compare MM's to Queen's own Schatt&Morgans and it is obvious Queen saves their best work for their own lines ;)
 
Next time you are in ATL, let me know RwS. If you want to, I might be able to give you a decent tour of a few patterns by various makers and companies. Like many others some of my favorites are Schatt and Morgan and Queen.
 
I have to agree the Schrade OT knives are great knives and there steel holds an edge as well or better than almost all the others. I have picked up 2 of the new Queen D2 knives just this year and WOW, by far my favoit slip joint knives. Have the small Q stockman in my pocket right now. I recamend either one Queen d2 or the Oldtimmers.
 
There are lots of great s/j's to choose from. I'm partial to Queen's Schatt & Morgan and Robeson lines produced in '99 and 2000 with ATS-34 steel. The small S&M doc being my favorite. I AM considering one of the new Case Seahorse Whittlers (yellow handled), though.:D
 
I'd have to say I'm a bit of a Schrade junkie.(Okay, an addict...):eek:

But I'm fairly particular, I prefer Waldens or late 70's Schrades, and I'm addicted to stockmans.

I also like Case, Queen, older Camillus, and older Westerns.
 
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