Traditional Knives-Not Much of a Fan

jeffwithaj said:
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.
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There were a couple of times while working installing signs up in a bucket truck where my one hand was busy holding a sign from falling to the ground below, and some bit of plastic or aluminum needed a little bit cut from it.
With one hand opening it was a simple thing; with two hand opening it would have meant going back down to ground level, wasting time.

It isn't an all the time thing, but it is a handy feature at times. :)

(and Duck Dynasty sucks!!! ;))
 
I like mostly modern folders but do own and appreciate the classics. They work. They have worked in ages where men did a lot more with their knives out of necessity. Keep that in mind.

Just a matter of what you like, there are also those who arent into tacticlol knives believe it or not.
 
coloradospyderco said:
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?
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Yeah, threads can do that here in General. Head over to the Traditional area, it's very civil. ;) (another shameless plug, and a little joke).

Glad some people showed you some trads you like. If you get one, try it in places where you might hesitate to take out a knife right now. You might end up with a surprisingly warm and fuzzy feeling.

************

On the one hand opening..... Handy as heck, used to love playing with the feature, still do when I have a modern in hand.

The very concept of it not being allowed is ridiculous, a big stick is a formidable weapon, knife to a gun fight, kitchen knives used in most knife crime, yadda, yadda.

You're preaching to the choir, should be allowed, personal rights, slippery slope................

BUT

It freaks out the (damn, I'm gonna say it) sheeple.

Just a fact, don't know the solution, just a real factor to consider.
 
coloradospyderco said:
I just think four years is enough to become an expert in a specific field. Colleges do, too.
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Yes, some in academia do think four years is enough to become expert in a specific field if that four years is full time and after the years spent gaining undergraduate and Master degrees. A nephew is a Post Doctoral Fellow at Emory. Trust me --- he (and those in his field) are still learning which is precisely the "why" behind the research there.

Something to keep in mind --- learning is a life long process, but if you already know everything you can learn nothing.
 
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leghog said:
Something to keep in mind --- learning is a life long process, but if you already know everything you can learn nothing.
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Correct. When I stop learning, I think I'll be dead. I have been at this knife game all my life and only since joining BF have I actually paid much attention to materials used in construction. The hobby changes with time from nearly being an obsession to only mild interest. The same applies to firearms with me. During the low interest periods, I have found it's better to simply park those items rather than sell them unless you are sure that the item(s) to be sold are likely to never be of interest to you in the future. I see little point of acquiring stuff only to sell it two years later if it is not a profit motive.

As far as choosing the right traditional knife for YOU, that is no easier than choosing the right modern knife for yourself. We all have our preferences, our available resources for the hobby, and we are constantly learning about the features that we prefer (size, materials, and so forth). I like a slip joint that is about 4 to 4.25" long (closed length) which results in a blade length of about 3". Many in the traditional forum prefer something a bit smaller because they tend to be a bit more pocket friendly. Some recent ones with one blade that I really like is the Northwoods Madison, Queen Mountain Man, and the Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC) #42 (available in one or two blade versions). The single blade feature makes them more pocket friendly even with a the longer length. My regular slip joint carry knife is the large 111mm SAKs which is 4.25" long closed. So the two blade #42 fits with my preferences, but it is heavier than the SAK. I use a leather pocket sleeve which protects the knife from all the other junk in my pocket and generally keeps the knife vertical except in pants that have large pockets. It also feels just fine in a back pocket.
 
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leghog said:
Yes, some in academia do think four years is enough to become expert in a specific field if that four years is full time and after the years spent gaining undergraduate and Master degrees. A nephew is a Post Doctoral Fellow at Emory. Trust me --- he (and those in his field) are still learning which is precisely the "why" behind the research there.

Something to keep in mind --- learning is a life long process, but if you already know everything you can learn nothing.
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Yup, I learn something new about knives everyday. I do, though, know enough about knives to have a discussion about them or teach someone new to knives about them.
 
I rarely carry a traditional pocket knife these days, but they would handle my needs as they did for many generations before.
 
coloradospyderco said:
Yup, I learn something new about knives everyday. I do, though, know enough about knives to have a discussion about them or teach someone new to knives about them.
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Right, you seem to be quite knowledgeable. Still, you said yourself that you did not care for slipjoints. Therefore you may not know as much about them as you do moderns. Someone who could talk rings around you on trads may not know moderns as well. You can learn from just about anybody.

I myself, and this is just me, like a beefier knife for work like a Barlow or Sodbuster (although these are far from the beefiest trads). I might even carry a modern while working. Then I like a small peanut sized knife for other times snuggled into my watch pocket. I'll use that leetle thing as a worry stone almost anywhere.

'Course that's just me. You'll like what you like.
 
leghog said:
Something to keep in mind --- learning is a life long process, but if you already know everything you can learn nothing.
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Yes sir. And isn't it wonderful that we have opportunities for fresh new experiences\insights. For the last year or so I have been slowly building an appreciation for slip joints. Not necessarily as a replacement for my current locking folders, but as an addition. My sap is currently rising for say..... a yellow Case Trapper perhaps ? You never know. :)
 
I like most knives and use them all. One handed moderns are great for when its needed. Little slipjoint are great for urban edc... Regular slipjoints easily outslice my Spyderco domino.

So I try to rotate my knives according to use.

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Sorry folks I normally only ever lurk here. It always bemuses me to read the occasional thread about how modern knives are better to what are now called 'traditional' pocket knives. I'm 41, carried a knife from the age of 6, and I have never once felt 'under-knifed' by only carrying a traditional slipjoint knife. I started work on the London fresh produce markets when I was 11, worked road haulage, warehousing and grew up on a farm (still work on it sometimes). I've also spent half of my life outdoors hiking, climbing, rafting and cycling over vast tracts of God's great earth with nothing more than a SAK in my pocket. I just can't think what everyone is doing in their daily lives that they need a liner locking titanium scaled 5inch S30V bladed OHO folder. Of course I realize there are exceptions; military, police, SAR and for yourselves in the U.S. self-defence of course. I know a couple of alpinist type climbers who carry OHO folders. But I also know a lass, an experienced mountaineer, whose done the Annapurna Trail twice, explored the Thar desert of Rajasthan and the jungles of S.E Asia with nothing more than a SAK Classic. My own dad grew up on a farm, was a road haulier and then spent the mid-1960s exploring the part of the world that sits between Casablanca and Lahore. The knife in his pocket that whole time? A Sheffield Richard's camp knife (which I still have).
My ancestors built one of the largest empires in the history of human civilisation without G10 scales and 'innovative blade shapes'. Your ancestors tamed the Wild West, Alaska and Canada without carbon fibre liners and OHO. And tomorrow we celebrate the beginning of WWI, fought by men who were mainly equipped with the good old clasp knife. How did they do it? With knives that are now seen as being impractical and disfunctional?
The main reason why I carry 'traditional' knives are the restrictive knife laws in this country. However if the laws were relaxed tomorrow I wouldn't change and start carrying the only modern folder I own (CRKT M16), because I just don't need to. And I've got to say I just find trads just nicer to look at. I've never had a slipjoint close on me, but for anyone concerned about that I've seen plenty of locking traditionals available.
Try a challenge. Put your modern folders in a lock box, give the key to someone, and just carry a small Case or second-hand Camillus slipjoint for a month, and I bet you'll get along just fine
 
donn said:
Your ancestors tamed the Wild West, Alaska and Canada without carbon fibre liners and OHO.
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But if Canada had one-hand opening knives with carbon fiber back then, we'd have taken the USA as part of the glorious Canadian Empire. :)
Sadly, all we had were slip-joints and plain carbon steel fixed blades...the rest is a matter a historical record. ;)
 
stabman said:
But if Canada had one-hand opening knives with carbon fiber back then, we'd have taken the USA as part of the glorious Canadian Empire. :)
Sadly, all we had were slip-joints and plain carbon steel fixed blades...the rest is a matter a historical record. ;)
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'Cause that's all the Hudson's Bay Company had to trade, I guess.
 
davek14 said:
'Cause that's all the Hudson's Bay Company had to trade, I guess.
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Sadly, the Hudson's Bay company hasn't been doing to well financially...odd that an entity which once owned most of Canada now has to close stores as they fight the slow downward spiral. :(
 
stabman said:
Sadly, the Hudson's Bay company hasn't been doing to well financially...odd that an entity which once owned most of Canada now has to close stores as they fight the slow downward spiral. :(
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Ran much of Canada. If it weren't for the dysentary and short life spans those would be great days to live. Don't they own Saks Fifth Avenue?

A "Hudson's Bay Blanket" used to be a prize possession of mine when I was a sprout.
 
davek14 said:
Ran much of Canada. If it weren't for the dysentary and short life spans those would be great days to live. Don't they own Saks Fifth Avenue?

A "Hudson's Bay Blanket" used to be a prize possession of mine when I was a sprout.
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Looks like Richard Baker bought HBC and then Sak's, so I guess it'll be around for a while yet.

Now I want to buy a Hudson's Bay knife...need more money. :D
 
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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Actually, I can get more real everyday "work" done with a Swiss Army Knife than I can with any single blade knife (fixed-blade or folder).
And the humble SAK is about as traditional as you can get since they have existed since 1891.
 
allenC said:
Actually, I can get more real everyday "work" done with a Swiss Army Knife than I can with any single blade knife (fixed-blade or folder).
And the humble SAK is about as traditional as you can get since they have existed since 1891.
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...and don't forget only SAK has perfected the art of "crinking"; no blade rub ever, makes Jack a happy boy.:)
 
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