Traditional Knives-Not Much of a Fan

Give me traditional ( slipjoint - stockman primarily, peanut, trapper, etc.). They work. They look great. They feel good in my hand. And, they connect me with my past (my dad and grandfather).
 
Life would be pretty boring without variations in style, design, taste and opinion. We all like to be proud of our choices and possessions, and within cliques like a (mostly) anonymous forum, our pride sometimes degrades into vanity, making a fertile arena for amusing pissing contests. I like to think there's plenty of room in the sandbox, except for those pesky cats.
 
C_Becker said:
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.
Click to expand...

Boy, that's well said.

Now I'm going to quote myself from another thread.

davek14 said:
'Course that might be the "old fart/grandpa knife vs whippersnapper/mall ninja knife" thing.

To speak from the old fart perspective I'll just say "Hey young'ns, I'm not into those kind of knives anymore but I'll certainly defend your right to carry. Just please behave around the rubes!".

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Carry/collect/use what you like. That is pretty much the end of it....until you change your mind.

4 years is enough time to amass a nice collection, but if you think you are ready to declare what you like for the rest of your life, you are showing your age. The older I get, the more I realize how much I have changed and basically become a hipocrit. Throughout my life I have uttered, "I will always....", or "I will never...", too many times.

Just because you think (and have thought so for 4, or 8, or even 20 years) that you know what you like, doesn't mean you won't possibly change.

Do what you like...just save room for the possibility that some day you will flip flop and head down a totally new road. It's not always a bad thing;)
 
I'd like to add that I have never ha a slip joints blade fold over in me, I have had never had one close on me either. But I just chalk that up to using them when I was a kid and learning from the ground up, like a white belt.
 
Having lived and worked in the woods for almost 40 years and used a knife on a daily basis for all of the things that a knife does and more, I'll take the traditional folders and sheath knives. They have been designed for us ranchers, farmers and woodsmen, and outdoorsmen. When carrying a folding case trapper of a buck 110 I use a sheath or "pouch". Riding horses, working stock, traveling in pickup trucks you can get to your knife when it is on your belt and don't have to straighten up to dig in your pocket. (Don't walk up to a bunch of cowboys and tell them it's dorky) I have at times used a young fellows fancy curved knife with half serrated blade but prefer traditional style knives. I use Case and Buck for folders and Randall Made Knives for my fixed-blade knives. From Combat, butchering a beef, skinning a deer, cutting baling twine, cutting your rope in a emergency, and eating with mine have worked just perfect. I say: Use what you want and what fits your needs and lifestyle.

R. Highhawk

Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth
 
High hawk said it. I personally think video games are dorky but I'd never insult that crowd like I just did here
 
I've learned from experience that the thin blades on most traditional knives just cut better. I own all different styles of knives and appreciate them for their different attributes, but when I go hunting or need a knife to do double duty for food prep, the old fart knives wins.

Also with use , traditional knives wear in like a favorite pair of jeans or a leather jacket , most modern knives just look worn.

And I wont get into what a pocket clip can do to your car when makes contact with a door or a fender.
 
crom said:
I'd like to add that I have never ha a slip joints blade fold over in me, I have had never had one close on me either. But I just chalk that up to using them when I was a kid and learning from the ground up, like a white belt.
Click to expand...

That and you have common sense.
 
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?
Click to expand...
I see kids (hey I'm an old guy) with these flashy factory stainless and plastic/composite knives all the time and I can't tell a $20 WalMart/Home Depot version from a custom. To me they're all the same. Designed mostly to impress and entirely without character. But let me spy a worn carbon steel folder with natural scales and suddenly I'm very curious.
 
Halfneck said:
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.
Click to expand...

1. I just wanted to get the opinion of other people.

2. They used traditional fixed-blades, which I like.

3. Which I do. It wasn't my intent to insult anyone.
 
300Six said:
I see kids (hey I'm an old guy) with these flashy factory stainless and plastic/composite knives all the time and I can't tell a $20 WalMart/Home Depot version from a custom. To me they're all the same. Designed mostly to impress and entirely without character. But let me spy a worn carbon steel folder with natural scales and suddenly I'm very curious.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. But modern knives can have character, too. Take a look at Wranglerstar on youtube. His 940 has a lot of character from being used for years on his homestead. Thank you for stating your opinion instead of insulting me for my original post. :)
 
unit said:
Carry/collect/use what you like. That is pretty much the end of it....until you change your mind.

4 years is enough time to amass a nice collection, but if you think you are ready to declare what you like for the rest of your life, you are showing your age. The older I get, the more I realize how much I have changed and basically become a hipocrit. Throughout my life I have uttered, "I will always....", or "I will never...", too many times.

Just because you think (and have thought so for 4, or 8, or even 20 years) that you know what you like, doesn't mean you won't possibly change.

Do what you like...just save room for the possibility that some day you will flip flop and head down a totally new road. It's not always a bad thing;)
Click to expand...

I know I will change. :) I just think four years is enough to become an expert in a specific field. Colleges do, too. You guys have convinced me, though. I'll probably get a few classic knives.

This thread has gotten way out of hand. What do you guys say we get back on topic. Why do you like traditionals? Why do you like modern knives? Why do you like both?
 
Highhawk1948 said:
Having lived and worked in the woods for almost 40 years and used a knife on a daily basis for all of the things that a knife does and more, I'll take the traditional folders and sheath knives. They have been designed for us ranchers, farmers and woodsmen, and outdoorsmen. When carrying a folding case trapper of a buck 110 I use a sheath or "pouch". Riding horses, working stock, traveling in pickup trucks you can get to your knife when it is on your belt and don't have to straighten up to dig in your pocket. (Don't walk up to a bunch of cowboys and tell them it's dorky) I have at times used a young fellows fancy curved knife with half serrated blade but prefer traditional style knives. I use Case and Buck for folders and Randall Made Knives for my fixed-blade knives. From Combat, butchering a beef, skinning a deer, cutting baling twine, cutting your rope in a emergency, and eating with mine have worked just perfect. I say: Use what you want and what fits your needs and lifestyle.

R. Highhawk

Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth
Click to expand...

I'll try them. And I may change. I would like to say, though, many farmers and ranchers use modern knives just because of the added strength and reduced weight.
 
WRGreen said:
Life would be pretty boring without variations in style, design, taste and opinion. We all like to be proud of our choices and possessions, and within cliques like a (mostly) anonymous forum, our pride sometimes degrades into vanity, making a fertile arena for amusing pissing contests. I like to think there's plenty of room in the sandbox, except for those pesky cats.
Click to expand...

You speak the truth.
 
coloradospyderco said:
What classic folding knife (Case, Queen, Buck, etc.) do you guys recommend? I think I'm convinced. I prefer single blade.
Click to expand...

If you like large folders , but something that will fit in a pocket , I'd recommend a Queen Mountain Man or a Case Back Pocket folder.

The Back Pocket comes in G10 too



 
JPD1998 said:
If you like large folders , but something that will fit in a pocket , I'd recommend a Queen Mountain Man or a Case Back Pocket folder.

The Back Pocket comes in G10 too



Click to expand...

Now that's a traditional knife I like! the chestnut bone handled one is nice. What's the blade length?
 
coloradospyderco said:
Now that's a traditional knife I like! the chestnut bone handled one is nice. What's the blade length?
Click to expand...

Remember, we have cookies on the dark side, come on over... ;)

When it comes to traditional knives and patterns, the older the knife the more I like it, I'm particularly find of anything made before the 60s and when it comes to modern I tend to like the 80s and later when the modern folders were in their infancy.
 
Fire Beard said:
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.
Click to expand...



+1
+2
+3
+4
+5

I'm also curious to know what everyday cutting needs require one hand opening. Other than flipping your knife open and shut while watching "Duck Dynasty" and eating Doritos with the other hand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top