Traditional Knives-Not Much of a Fan

Fire Beard said:
I use a leather slip pouch, and a traditional knife disappears in my pocket and stays in place
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But it still lays horizontally in your pocket, doesn't it? That's precisely why I prefer clips - unless they're really beefy, most knives carry pretty comfortably next to my hip. I guess everyone's body and clothing choices are going to be different, but I don't feel comfortable having a 3-4" blade sitting at the bottom of my pocket. For guys that can get away with smaller knives I suppose it wouldn't be a big deal. Like I said earlier, I EDC a Kamp King in my other pocket without any discomfort.
 
FPS Knifer said:
But it still lays horizontally in your pocket, doesn't it? That's precisely why I prefer clips - unless they're really beefy, most knives carry pretty comfortably next to my hip. I guess everyone's body and clothing choices are going to be different, but I don't feel comfortable having a 3-4" blade sitting at the bottom of my pocket. For guys that can get away with smaller knives I suppose it wouldn't be a big deal. Like I said earlier, I EDC a Kamp King in my other pocket without any discomfort.
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The slip pouch keeps everything vertical in my pocket. I wear 'slim,' more form fitting jeans, and it stays in place perfectly. If the traditional has a lanyard hole and I slip a small leather lanyard / pull fob on, pulling it from my pocket is just as simple as pulling a clipped knife.
 
I haven't found one that gets me going yet. I like the new steels and frame materials as they just make more sense to me. Wood looks nice but doesn't do much else besides warp, antler scales look like big festering scabs, bone scales don't do much either and delrin dyed to look old just seems counter productive.


Plus I really like locks.
 
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 carry a traditional and an Emerson everyday as well. I carry a fixed blade too, when I'm hiking, etc...
 
My opinio, but those that think there is not a lot of technology in making a traditional design is incorrect.

Many makers use CAD software for designing, use EDM, waterjet type technology, surface grinders, milling machines, CNC some parts if so required, use powder metallurgy steels, do precision heat treatment, precision grinding on multiblade designs, they also use modern materials like G10, micarta, lightning strike CF.

It is all done for the pursuit of perfection.
 
I will admit I have never cared overmuch for traditionals outside of the Barlow pattern and that one for sentimental reasons. I too am one who does not like to carry a knife without a clip. Lately though my eye has been wandering to the traditional market here and I've noticed how common Wharncliffe and Sheepsfoot blades are with traditionals. Hard for me to find one I like in a modern folder and they are quickly becoming my favorite blade profiles. I'm seriously considering a larger single blade but have yet to find one in time before it sells. Knives just don't stick around in the traditional for sale section. I'm much too slow.
 
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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I know I'm twisting your words a bit, but these things make it sound like you're describing an Opinel.

The Opinel can be had in many sizes, it can be locked opened and closed if you want to. The handle is very ergonomic with it's round handle that fits well into the hand. The blade is thin and slices well. I don't know what you mean by weight, light or heavy so I can comment on that.

If you don't like traditional knives that's OK, but I think you should try them before writing them off. I enjoy both traditional and modern knives.
 
I am the complete opposite, I much prefer the old style knives, I find them to be more practical than the big new single blade. I also prefer the warmth of natural handle materials like wood stag and bone over modern plastics. I also like having multiple cutting edges, I sharpen them for differing tasks, so in my eyes they are far more practical. I have a few of the modern tac folders, and though they cut pretty well they are bulky. But then I'm an old grumpy guy who still prefers a good wood and blued steel revolver and bolt action rifle over a plastic fantastic Glock and an AR. :)
 
I like traditionals for many reasons. One of the biggies is that the non-threatening appearance and LACK of quick deployment means I use them, even play with them, in public more. You've gotta admit that moderns have that "self defense" (shall we say) sales pitch.

Moderns do have some advantages with one being that you get more knife for your money. They are more mass produced and less hand crafted.

There have been a plethora of threads on "modern traditionals", or traditionals with modern features like screw constructon or modern materials. There was just recently a thread asking why traditionals cost more than moderns.

I got to looking at a modern knife and realized that they are really rather simple construction. I'm actually surprised that I used to trust my hands and legs to liner locks. A simple little springy piece of steel pops over to lock it open and a little ball in a detent to hold the thing closed in your pocket. Still, it's ingenious in it's simplicity and low cost construction. It's designed to be mass produced on CNC machines and quickly assembled. A slipjoint is a much nicer little machine albeit an old fashioned and more handcrafted one.

Now I couldn't help but wonder what you would get if you threw out all "traditional" rules and made a still traditional style knife with as much CNC mass production and as little hand work as possible. In other words, two hand opening, slim carbon steel blades, and no pocketclip, but no rules on materials, fasteners and the like. Something made to walk and talk like a traditional, gosh darn it, made to walk and talk like a pocket knife, but no other rules.

Seems like it wouldn't be hard to make two one piece aluminum "sides" and screw them together with a spring and a blade or two. A nice hard anodise plating and some checkering could make it fairly attractive. You could even use a modified liner lock if that was cheaper to manufacture, just with a much bigger ball and detent since it would open with two hands. The idea is to bring slipjoints striding boldly into the 1990's. ;)

This video describes a different ball and detent scheme which could replace a spring. I don't like the knife's appearance, thickness, etc. but it's an ingenious idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYPNXYsgNtY

You would still want handcrafted slipjoints also. This would just be a good, decent knife without "cool factor".
 
I much prefer modern folders, but some traditionals are works of art. I also wouldn't carry only a traditional because of the inconvenience of digging around in my pocket to get it and using two hands to open, etc. My job involves working in constant proximity to heavy equipment that my nomax shirts may get caught in, in that case I would need the knife as quickly as possible to cut away clothing etc. Also, self defense is real aspect of carrying a knife for me, so again, in that situation digging around in my pocket wouldn't be conducive for survival. And yes, modern knives are just cool.
 
I forgot to add that I have been looking at the GEC #72 (I think that's what it is) and the Queen single blade lockback (cant remember the name) but those two would be as close as it comes for a traditional EDC for me.
 
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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Which is precisely why so many of us carry traditional knives. To each his own.

Now show me a modern, tacticool, ,high-tech, etc. as functional and practical as a traditional stockman pattern.
 
Personally, I wish the two worlds would collide more often than they do. In terms of cutting geometry, traditionals almost invariably kick the crud out of modern folders. But I still want my pocket clip, thumbstud and a good, strong lock. The closest to this that I've found so far are the Caly series and Stretch by Spyderco.
 
I'm guessing your either young or very new to knives, give it time, ask yourself why do you carry a knife, that answer will dictate your knife buying trends.

When I was working I started learning towards one hand opening more modern knives. That was due to my job mostly but I always carried a traditional knife in another pocket mainly because that's what I grew up with, tactical was a Buck 110 or Schrade LB7.

One thing you might want to consider is if you like to collect, there are way more variations and options in traditional styled knives than there is in the more modern choices.

Nobody says you have to like traditional knives, in fact the less people who like them means more traditional knives for people like me who collect both.

Give it a shot, try it, you might like it, I've never seen anyone try traditionals and run away screaming back to tactical, I think if you really gave it a try you'd find a new direction to go with your knife collection. JMHO
 
Not me.

I love Traditionals and Moderns. I think most true knifenuts do.
 
davek14 said:
I like traditionals for many reasons. One of the biggies is that the non-threatening appearance and LACK of quick deployment means I use them, even play with them, in public more. You've gotta admit that moderns have that "self defense" (shall we say) sales pitch.

Moderns do have some advantages with one being that you get more knife for your money. They are more mass produced and less hand crafted.

There have been a plethora of threads on "modern traditionals", or traditionals with modern features like screw constructon or modern materials. There was just recently a thread asking why traditionals cost more than moderns.

I got to looking at a modern knife and realized that they are really rather simple construction. I'm actually surprised that I used to trust my hands and legs to liner locks. A simple little springy piece of steel pops over to lock it open and a little ball in a detent to hold the thing closed in your pocket. Still, it's ingenious in it's simplicity and low cost construction. It's designed to be mass produced on CNC machines and quickly assembled. A slipjoint is a much nicer little machine albeit an old fashioned and more handcrafted one.

Now I couldn't help but wonder what you would get if you threw out all "traditional" rules and made a still traditional style knife with as much CNC mass production and as little hand work as possible. In other words, two hand opening, slim carbon steel blades, and no pocketclip, but no rules on materials, fasteners and the like. Something made to walk and talk like a traditional, gosh darn it, made to walk and talk like a pocket knife, but no other rules.

Seems like it wouldn't be hard to make two one piece aluminum "sides" and screw them together with a spring and a blade or two. A nice hard anodise plating and some checkering could make it fairly attractive. You could even use a modified liner lock if that was cheaper to manufacture, just with a much bigger ball and detent since it would open with two hands. The idea is to bring slipjoints striding boldly into the 1990's. ;)

This video describes a different ball and detent scheme which could replace a spring. I don't like the knife's appearance, thickness, etc. but it's an ingenious idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYPNXYsgNtY

You would still want handcrafted slipjoints also. This would just be a good, decent knife without "cool factor".
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I have several of these ball detente folders, including the M1 in the video, and they are indeed a great move forwards in the slip-joint design. There are a couple of flipper opening ball detente folders. If you strip the knife the detente is adjustable by bending the cut out in the liner that holds the detente ball. I haven't seen a traditionally styled one yet though.
I have been collecting knives for a couple of years and only in the last few months started to look at traditional styled knives but I've bought a few and really like the simplicity of them.

By the way, the M1 in the video is pretty much out of stock and not being made now so the prices have gone up in the few places they have them, I paid $20 each for two and I still feel that this was a very good price, it is a very high quality knife.
 
I am not with you. Try carving a pumpkin with a modern tactical knife. It's almost impossible. Yet my humble SAK can do 95% of what my modern tactical folders can do. To each their own.
 
FPS Knifer said:
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.
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Took the words right out of my mouth.
/thread
 
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