Traditional Knives-Not Much of a Fan

[davek14]

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.

What other knives use it?

 

[coloradospyderco]

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 think you have a point. I'll definitely reconsider buying some traditional knives.

Another thing I forgot to mention is I really like traditional fixed blades for things like bushcrafting and hiking.

 

[jackknife]

I guess I like having two or three blades on hand in one pocket sized package too much. Witht he different blades, it gives me a choice of three different edges and blade shapes. Plus I like the warpath of the traditional materials like nice wood or jigged bone.

As far as cutting goes, I don't think that piece of rope, or UPS box knows the difference if it's been cut with a modern super steel, or an old gray stained carbon traditional. Each to their own, but one is not really "better" than the other. If it cuts, it works. But I like having a knife that my great granddaddy would recognize.

 

[coloradospyderco]

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

I have been collecting knives for almost four years, so I have quite a bit of knife experience. I don't think there is more variation in traditional knives. Have you seen Spyderco sprint run knives? Also, I never said I like tactical knives (I don't), I like lightweight, strong EDC knives.

 

[coloradospyderco]

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.

I don't think a liner lock or compression lock is very high-tech and "tacticool".

Just a few practical examples:
-Spyderco Manix 2
-Sog Flash 1 or 2
-Spyderco Paramilitary 2
-Benchmade 940
-Benchmade Griptilian
-Kershaw Skyline

 

[coloradospyderco]

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.

I wouldn't carve a pumpkin with any of my folding knives. I agree that an SAK can do most cutting jobs, but what happens when that slip joint fails and the blade slices your hand open? Or when the thin blade bends over to one side? They have a place, but cannot replace larger folders.

 

[coloradospyderco]

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.

Exactly!

 

[marcinek]

I have been collecting knives for almost four years, so I have quite a bit of knife experience. I don't think there is more variation in traditional knives. Have you seen Spyderco sprint run knives? Also, I never said I like tactical knives (I don't), I like lightweight, strong EDC knives.

Four years?!? Wow! There is far more variation I traditional knives. Hundreds of patterns.

Also you are jumping to incorrect conclusions by what you think people are implying by saying "tactical." Often one handed opening locking knives are called "tactical" A Delecia can be called tactical.

All that said, if you don't like traditionals, you don't.

By the way, the reason you cannot carve a pumpkin with your modern folders is that their geometry is too thick. A SAK likecrom's will go though it like butter, and when used correctly will not close on you.

 

[coloradospyderco]

Four years?!? Wow! There is far more variation I traditional knives. Hundreds of patterns.

Also you are jumping to incorrect conclusions by what you think people are implying by saying "tactical." Often one handed opening locking knives are called "tactical" A Delecia can be called tactical.

All that said, if you don't like traditionals, you don't.

By the way, the reason you cannot carve a pumpkin with your modern folders is that their geometry is too thick. A SAK likecrom's will go though it like butter, and when used correctly will not close on you.

Four years is enough to gather a lot of knowledge. There are hundreds of modern knife designs, too.

 

[davek14]

One of the things I love about slipjoints is the non-threatening gestalt they have. They evoke images of grandfathers whittling and uncles cleaning their pipe. Any one hand opener is going to evoke different reactions in the unwashed masses. Sad, sucks, and sickening but true.

I have a love affair with all knives, as do we all. But I loves my slipjoints bestest my precious.

Pretty much anyone here is happy that anyone has any knives at all for their hobby. I like my trads, you like your moderns. The moderns you have mentioned all are more tools than flash, that's great.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Four years is enough to gather a lot of knowledge. There are hundreds of modern knife designs, too.

Not really, if you think you've learned all there is to learn about knives in four years, your cheating yourself out of hundreds of if not thousands of years of history. As far as not trusting a slip joint/traditional style knife, I've only had one close on me, I was 15 and tried to stab a telephone pole with a German SAK your of knife. I'm not here to belittle your opinion but I do have to say if you think you've learned more in 4 than I have in 40 I would gladly put that claim to the test any day.

40+ years and I'm still learning, either I'm really stupid or maybe you have a lot more to lean before making your claim. Either way, good luck in your endeavors and thanks for leaving the traditional knives behind for the purist.

 

[BA_Colt]

In my many years of knife using, and that includes a stint as a cook in a fine dining restaurant, I have only encountered user error with cuts/severing. Myself making a sculpture with a push chisel twice. One would think after almost loosing a finger at the joint one would learn. The other major one was after a concert I was cutting off the "I am 21 bracelets" off my friends and I was over 21 and well sliced into my hand with my Buck 110 as not to cut into my friend. I used my hand as a shield. Hands are not good shields. I have never gotten nicked with a traditional folder. I trust the knife more than I do myself.

 

[marcinek]

Four years is enough to gather a lot of knowledge. There are hundreds of modern knife designs, too.

Tell us about the variation in number of blades modern knives have.

 

[Halfneck]

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.

Who's with me?

Bold face points addressed in order:

1) That is your choice, more traditional knives for those that like them.

2) Mountain Men, Voyageurs, and many of our ancestors grew up in a time where a knife was more necessary to their survival than nowadays. The knives they used are what you term traditional.

3) Not me. I carry and enjoy both. Luckily all here on this forum are free to pick & choose what they carry. Hopefully all here can respect and try to understand other members choices.

 

[stabman]

Tell us about the variation in number of blades modern knives have.

My modern Swiss Army Knife has plenty of different blades.

 

[crom]

I you can't carve a pumpkin with one of your knives then what are they for? I for one use my knives for everything and everything they are intended for. Maybe sprint runs are just too nice for that sort of thing...

 

[stabman]

I you can't carve a pumpkin with one of your knives then what are they for? I for one use my knives for everything and everything they are intended for. Maybe sprint runs are just too nice for that sort of thing...

Only of you plan on selling them.
I have enough knives that none of them get worn out, but for me a bunch of the joy lies in using them all at least some.

There is an odd joy in using just one though. For about 4 years there was one knife that got carried all the time. It got used to cut food, plastic sheeting material, as a barbeque tool...anything that needed to get cut when outside the house was done with that one inexpensive knife.
It sure ended up with a bunch of honest "character wear"...but I don't regret having a bunch more knife choice now. :thumbup:

 

[Quiet]

I would say that I've never been "anti" traditional per se. For my entire Boy Scout career, I owned two knives. A Wenger SAK (model not sure, I'll look into it one of these days) and a Gerber Gator. These two were about as far apart as you could get in terms of design, but I carried 'em both in belt sheathes right next to each other. After I "grew up" and moved away from home, I bought myself a few modern folders here and there, various SOG and Buck offerings with a smattering of Kershaws. I fell away from the SAK/traditional thing until recently, when I ended up purchasing a Bullnose from a good friend (Erik, take a bow!) and was gifted a Peanut from another good friend (Paul, your turn!). I have bought one or two more Traditionals since then, and I have to say that I love both them and "modern" designs equally for many different reasons. Sure, pocket clips, neat (and reliable!) locking mechanisms, modern materials, and super steels are awesome. Of course they are! But there's also something very jewel-like, and high quality about a beautifully made Traditional knife as well. I have both Case and GEC knives in my collection so far, and I love all of them. Just very well done, and I've actually got my eye on another Traditional right now that's going to satisfy me on multiple levels when I finally pull the trigger.

At the end of the day, I love and respect both modern and traditional designs. I just love well done steel, that's all there is to it. :thumbup:

 

[22-rimfire]

I think this is because I like functionality and practicality.

Hmm... I carry a SAK everyday. I find SAKs are the epitome of functionality and practicality. It is just a matter of taste, what you're used to, and what you like. I carry moderns too.

 

[C_Becker]

2) Mountain Men, Voyageurs, and many of our ancestors grew up in a time where a knife was more necessary to their survival than nowadays. The knives they used are what you term traditional.

Well yes, but only because that was what they had at the time. There was nothing better. I don't think they would have turned down a Busse or ESEE.
Considering the massive improvements in heat treating and manufacturing since then, knives have gotten MUCH better.

They have just gone from a tool that is needed and used by every man and no one made a fuss about to something that is advertised as a killing tool for super-black-ops-special-forces-tier1-operators. And thats what they are mostly perceived as by a large part of society. Sadly. And you can't even blame the manufacturers for that, because as long as it sells like crazy, they're gonna make it.