Traditional Knives-Not Much of a Fan

C

coloradospyderco

Joined
Jun 10, 2014
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134
Traditional folding knives don't interest me too much. I respect their beauty and history, but have never really wanted to buy one. I think this is because I like functionality and practicality. I am more attracted to knives that are designed for work like a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 or Benchmade 940 because of ergonomics, strength, size, lock, and weight. Who's with me?

It is not my intent to insult any traditional knife lovers. Feel free to post your opinion.
 
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I enjoy both, and carry one of each daily. Functionality and practicality for both go hand in hand. Depends on your mindset. Knives cut things.
 
I am with you. I have no desire for things like Opinels, etc. I am a self professed tech nerd, and that applies to my knife likes. Give me modern locks/assisted opening , new steels, and interesting handle materials.

Sure.. The old stuff can cut.. But technology has moved on, a day things are better.. I enjoy the new stuff..
 
Don't get me wrong.....the 'technology' tickles my loin, but I enjoy having in my pocket the same knife my great grandfather, grandfather, and father had in theirs. I do carry an Emerson daily.
 
I don't own any traditionals yet, but I've wanted to pick one up for some time. I like to carry a smaller knife in my watch pocket (recently it's been an SAK) to supplement my larger main knife, so a traditional would do nicely. There are several patterns and handle materials that I find incredibly appealing, but I just have a hard time accepting the carbon steel that most production traditionals use.

I have exceptionally corrosive body oils, and I just don't think they would hold up very well even if I oiled them regularly. I've had pitting red rust develop in under 24 hours from fingerprints on AUS-8, 8Cr, 12C28N, Elmax, and even 410/420 stainless handles. I can only imagine what will happen if I put carbon steel in my pocket on a hot day...
 
I carry both. The small peanut is used when a large blade is impractical. And I found the peanut sharp little bastard.
 
HWF said:
Don't get me wrong.....the 'technology' tickles my loin, but I enjoy having in my pocket the same knife my great grandfather, grandfather, and father had in theirs. I do carry an Emerson daily.
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I completely understand this. I like to wear my grandfather's Cabela's vest because I know he wore it (and it's really warm). I usually prefer the old way, but for some reason I don't with knives.
 
TheJeepster said:
I have no rules and if I like it I check it out, modern and hi-tec. I bet over time you will get board with your current loves and start checking other generations but until you do it is ok to like what you like.
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Yes, I probably will. I'm already getting a little bored of G-10.
 
HWF said:
Don't get me wrong.....the 'technology' tickles my loin, but I enjoy having in my pocket the same knife my great grandfather, grandfather, and father had in theirs. I do carry an Emerson daily.
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My grate grandmother has had ONE knife in whole household. It was regular kitchen type of knife from the soft low quality , well I am not sure that it was even stainless steel. She use it to make a dinner for family and to cut apples and veggies for pigs. Due to bad quality of steel it was getting dull almost immidietly, so it was sharpened often, most likely by pease of stone. In 30 years of use it became kind of beak knife. By the way there were no folders, especially in rural area at that days. The knife does not survive. But if it does I would probably keep it on the shelf like family antique but definitely does not straggle to use even in my kitchen, not talking about carry in the pocket
 
I carry both. I find many modern knifes are also big and at times cumbersome at times. Hence the choil and jimping to make it easier to choke up. Don't get me wrong my PM2 and Blur are great knives but often more than needed. That is when I pull out a #15 GEC, stockman or peanut.

Also, classics are classic for a reason. They are time tested and refined, even perfected, over the years. The "modern" folder is going through that process now and it is fun to be a part of but I believe many designs are destined to be curiosities in the future. I am sure the traditionals also went through the same process.
 
Divine_Madcat said:
I am with you. I have no desire for things like Opinels, etc. I am a self professed tech nerd, and that applies to my knife likes. Give me modern locks/assisted opening , new steels, and interesting handle materials.

Sure.. The old stuff can cut.. But technology has moved on, a day things are better.. I enjoy the new stuff..
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And I enjoy both the "modern" knives and the tried and true traditional patterns. Have you actually carried and used a traditional knife or are you forming your opinion without a base? Newer is not always better.......
 
coloradospyderco said:
Traditional folding knives don't interest me too much. I respect their beauty and history, but have never really wanted to buy one. I think this is because I like functionality and practicality. I am more attracted to knives that are designed for work like a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 or Benchmade 940 because of ergonomics, strength, size, lock, and weight. Who's with me?
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Going to disagree that traditionals are not functional, practical, or designed for work... In fact, those thin little blades cut better than quite a few more modern knives ground from 4mm stock.

I recently started carrying a Northwoods (GEC) #48 in addition to a modern folder and it handles most everything I do just fine. I wish I could get one in a steel slightly updated from 1095, but I've not been unable to finish something yet with it.

As you say, the beauty and history might be what draws a lot of people back in to traditional knives, but it's silly to pretend that only the latest and greatest is practical or work-capable. Yeah, my 940-1 zips through cardboard better after a few boxes, but my #48 does about as well if there's only one or two to break down and will slice up an apple afterwards a lot more easily.
 
I have both, but I'm not completely convinced that knife technology and need has moved past the practicality and usefulness of a traditional slip joint knife. Carbon steel gets really sharp and with a little care will be fine for decades. I like both, but traditional knives are more beautiful to me and have just as much everyday value. If carrying for potential self defense (not that I would likely need it) I would chose a modern design or a traditional fixed blade.

I love my benchmade knives, but to me they are not very good looking.
 
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Both are nice; both styles have their place and their fans. I have several of each.
 
coloradospyderco said:
Traditional folding knives don't interest me too much. I respect their beauty and history, but have never really wanted to buy one. I think this is because I like functionality and practicality. I am more attracted to knives that are designed for work like a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 or Benchmade 940 because of ergonomics, strength, size, lock, and weight. Who's with me?
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OP, I suggest you try a traditional knife sometime. It might bring you more enjoyment than you may think. I happen to be in the camp that likes both modern and traditional knives; lately though, traditionals interest me more.

If you like both functionality and practicality, or a knife designed for work then a traditional is really all you will really need. I don't know your daily activities, but a 3.5'' Queen Mountain Man Lock Back will hold up just as well as something like a PM2 or Emerson in a "hard work" situation. It really will.

Don't get me wrong - I like modern knives and you can certainly put them through hard work. I like G-10 scales, carbon fiber scales, titanium, etc. Also love Spyderco's compression lock, the Axis Lock from Benchmade, a good titanium framelock, what have you; I've owned them all. But there's something to be said for stag, bone, the various woods, etc. that show beautiful character and develop unique "personalities" that make them feel one-of-a-kind. A nice patina on a carbon blade, smooth, worn-in nickel bolsters, unique stag / bone / wood patterns. There's a lot to like. Add in a strong lockback, and you have a beautiful knife that you can use for pretty much anything. If you're gong to be chopping wood or something, I'd suggest a fixed blade. Maybe it's just the style that you don't like?

My big turn-off with modern knives lately is the whole "tactical" thing. The ridiculous marketing, the tough guy, mall ninja factor. Not all of them are like this, of course, but I don't know...I just don't like it much. I'll tell you that a Spyderco Military, for example, is an absolute pleasure to use when working out in the yard; but if I'm going to dinner, shopping, hiking, whatever...a traditional knife suits all of my needs just fine.
 
I try to stay away from slip joints because I've been bit by them too many times over the years. I would never think to carry a knife that doesn't have a pocket clip, because it's uncomfortable to carry one loosely in the pocket, and I think belt pouches look dorky. For these reasons, I don't carry anything that could be described as "traditional", unless you count the beat up old Kamp King that I keep on my keychain. There's nothing wrong with the pocket knives of yesteryear, but once you've gotten used to the comfort of a good clip, the convenience of one-handed opening, and the security of a good blade lock, it's very hard to go back to a knife that lacks these features.
 
FPS Knifer said:
I would never think to carry a knife that doesn't have a pocket clip, because it's uncomfortable to carry one loosely in the pocket, and I think belt pouches look dorky. For these reasons, I don't carry anything that could be described as "traditional"
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I use a leather slip pouch, and a traditional knife disappears in my pocket and stays in place (doesn't turn sideways or uncomfortably). I will say that being a fan of traditionals and moderns, I do want my traditionals to lock for the most part. I trust a well made lockback as much as any "modern" style lock (if not more sometimes). I understand your point, but it doesn't have to be that way carrying a traditional. I wouldn't carry a pouch on my side either.
 
As Fire Beard and Skywalker have already stated, traditional knives work extremely well in terms of functionality, practicality and yes, even as ones "designed for work". It doesn't get much more designed for work than a Case Sod Buster, in my opinion.

I love and respect both, have a Kershaw Thermite clipped on right now, but I love the aforementioned buster of sod or a good Opinel as well.

I also use leather slips for some traditionals and I enjoy belt pouch knives a lot, very convenient although your mileage may vary.

You could make the argument that many traditional designs are way more practical than many of today's "modern" designs.

I dare you to post this in the Traditional Forum....






Just kidding. ;)
 
One of the things I enjoy most about traditional knives is that they tend to be fine objects to behold in a way many modern designs don't really match. Cutting geometry hasn't really improved with modernity. And that's what really counts. Modern construction techniques and materials offer advantages. Some are advantages for manufacturers more than end user. But for the most part, as a user of knives, I find the advantages more theoretical than practical. As I see, modern design trends offer three significant characteristics that traditionals don't usually offer: opening one handed, ease of accessability via pocket clip, and ease of disassembly. But in the end, these design characteristics do not actually make a knife. They are enhancements, but ones that are not always necessary, useful, or even wise.
 
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