'Traditional' knives

D

Dr van Nostrom

Joined
May 8, 2001
Messages
536
OK I love knives. ALL knives, period. I don't like to speak for other people but I am sure nearly all you are nodding your heads. I have a small but varied collection and lately have been collecting Case knives. I see the same names here a lot: Benchmade, Microtech, Sebenza, Busse, etc, etc. but I don't hear a lot of Case, Queen and the rest.Who carries a 'traditional' style pocket knife? If so which one? Do you find them more sheeple friendly? What taks do you use it for? I find a Case mini trapper elicits hardly any response from even the most sheeplish sheeple even though the blade may be no bigger than some of my Benchmades or Kershaws or any other dreaded 'tactical assault weapon' from my collection.
 
I'm a big slipjoint fan. To be truthful, I’ve grown pretty tired of tactical knives. Once I got my Sebenza, any other tactical knives just felt like a waste of money.

My favorites right now are the German carbon steel knives and the Bucks. That may change though. Bruce at Bullman Cutlery is coming through for me in a big way, and finding me some of the Robeson ATS-34 patterns. I have a couple of wharncliffe half whittlers on the way…….. for whittling of course, as well as a camp knife for the wife. She really likes those bone handled camp knives.

I was a stockman man in the past, but whittlers are what attract me now. After doing a bit of whittling with a wharncliffe blade, I just can’t go back to using clips and sheepfoots for the detail work. I also think that whittlers are some of the most attractive patterns.

All in all, it’s just hard to find a good new slip joint. The slip joint world is now filled with lesser grade steels and plastic handles, none of which I have much care for. Call me a traditionalist, but if the handle isn’t made of wood or bone, the knife doesn’t do much for me.

I have one more thought…… Marbles!!!!!! Boy do I wish I had a million dollars to afford one.
 
I am doing the Yard sale, Flea market stuff on weekends up here in New England. Man the Case, Bucks, slip joints up the kazu!!! I have no clue as to MOST of them, but in the past three weekends I have filled a shoebox full of case knives, old timers, schrades, who knows. they are all pretty beaten up or just plain neglected. But when you can grab a handfull of knives for one buck, and WHO KNOWS what one might find from a 1700 farmhouse, ya gotta do it. I will let ya know what I end up with AFTER I get many of them cleaned enough to even read the stamp, but some are old advertisers like one old case that says "Berts paints, Best War paints made" and another that says "Massey Farm Tractors now in its fifth year". I have maybe 30 and a whopping investment of five bucks, and what a ball!!!!!!!Too bad I know nothing about OLD Kitchen knives!!!!!!!wolf
 
I would like to suggest you try german eye brand for traditional pocketknives.stag handles,carbon steel blades and very high quality.I have been carrying a copperhead model I got or my birthday for a while now and I really like it.Quality is much better than case.
 
Another to look at is the Boker Tree Brand. Beautiful example of German carbon steel, nickel silver bolsters and nicely dyed jigged bone scales.

I don't carry them anymore due to the advances like one hand opening and pocket clips. Both of those features are a must for me, however I still appreciate the three bladed traditionals. Like Buzzbait the Sebenza has me spoiled.

Like Wolf, I found lots of old knives in the New England area. I bought a pretty 150 yr old silver folding fruit knife and gave it to my girlfriend. She loves that knife. It has a very decorative silver handle, a silver blade for fruit and a seed picker. Lots of fun looking at all the old knives that those folks let go for very reasonable prices.
 
I am playing with the idea of getting a nice size (3 1/2-4" closed) old fashioned traditional carbon blade slipjoint knife. Preferably with bone handle instead of delrin or celluloid (scratches easily).
I am somewhat divided between trapper (long slim blades favored) and stockman patterns.
Current protege: Henckels Jigged Red Bone Trapper ( http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?HK5B ).
Any opinion on that particular model or on Henckels? What is favorite pocket knife pattern and brand?

HM
 
I suspect that most of the population would rather focus on the latest tactical gadget and steel, than discuss traditional knives.

It's too bad. Older pocket knives have a charm that is very rare today. They were the right size and texture for use and carry. I love stockman patterns and carry one as my EDC. Perhaps someday we will add a vintage knife forum. But, don't hold your breath. We still don't even have a military knife forum.

n2s
 
I always carry at least one slipjoint. The brands in my rotation include Eye Brand, Kissing Crane, Boker, Case (only the Cr-V), Henckels, etc. I prefer the stockman, but I have a few other patterns as well.
 
JUST ABOUT every yard sale, or Flea market up here has some type of cutting instrument for sale. ONE person's JUNK is another person's TREASURE. from old home-farm made hay cutters to that old timer, it has become apparent to me, almost EVERYONE in the old days had one at their diposal and used them hard. I just go from house to house, those neighborhood yard sales, and those out in a field Subday 'Flea markets" and everyone has at least one big box full of old folders, kitchen stuff, old bottle cap flippers. It is really fun to pick up a knife that ya know is old and cannot read the stamp because of years of dirt and crap and just wonder what it loked like new in 1855? One day I hope to find THAT mint oldie!!!!!Until then, My wife now is part of my hobby as she loves the yard sales and we are having a BLAST and at handfuls of old beaters for a buck, how can one lose??IT Proves that knives were and remain a PRIMARY tool in this GREAT land......wolf:)
 
I am with Buzzbait. Give me carbon blades in a whittler pattern with any natural handle material anyday. Slipjoints have character, which I find lacking in tactical knives.
 
I love old slipjoints too. The one I carry most is an old Schrade-Walden stockman with jigged bone scales. I gave almost nothing for it. I also like an old Camillus Carpenter's Whittler pattern that is nice.
I love the patina that well aged carbon steel blades acquire, and they take a phenomenal edge. They are slim and unobtrusive in your pocket and a joy to carry.

I like some of my tactical type folders also, but for just cutting the everyday things that most of us use a folder for, slipjoints are hard to beat.
 
Ah, one of my favorite subjects. I love the Trapper style.
I carry a Mooremaker #5202 Trapper every day in the office. Check it out at: http://catalog.mooremaker.com/browseGroup.cfm?item_group_id=29383
Mine has the jigged burnt orange bone handles. It's absolutely gorgeous! And, it's quality is top shelf. Also have a Queen Trapper which is equally beautiful in Red Winterbottom bone, and a Henckels in smooth white bone. I'll probably eventually buy versions from Bulldog, Hen & Rooster, German Eye, Boker, Schatt & Morgan, and any other quality trapper I find.
I definitely prefer Carbon over SS for these knives. My Mooremaker is finally starting to develop a dark gray patina on the blades.
Enjoy,
Lenny
 
Yeah Lenny, those smooth white bone Henckels knives are classy. Where did you get yours?

HM
 
I, too, prefer traditional knives, slipjoints and fixed-blade hunting knives. To me, they are the most versitile and useful knives around. Case knives are nice looking, but I think their "surgical" steel bites. It doesn't hold an edge as well as the 440A in my Uncle-Henrys. Their CV steel isn't bad at all though. And their over-all construction doesn't seem as good as my Shrades and Bucks. I do have a 10 year old Case trapper that I like a lot, though, and the yellow handled ones seem to have better walk and talk than the bone ones :confused: . The German slipjoints I have seen look really nice, I just never have any extra knife money whenever I get a chance to look at them.

Steve
 
I always carry a quality traditional in my left pocket; it's the perfect compliment to my fully serrated tactical clipped to my right pocket. Great for precision cutting, removing splinters, peeling fruit, etc.. I prefer Queen Cutlery and their sister co., Robeson, specifically the "99 and 2000 models in ATS-34. I have several patterns in bone and stag, but my favorite is my small Rogers bone, two bladed (no spatulas, please), Schatt & Morgan doctors knife. Got a sweet Robeson medium tx. toothpick in caramel bone I like, also. But you can't go wrong with many of the German knives, particularly Hen & Rooster (great knife), or Eye Brand, Kissing Crane, or the older Bokers. And I hear Bulldog makes a quality folder, though I've never owned one.
 
I thought I’d pas on a few of my slip joint experiences for you all.

Case – I have not been impressed by the newer Case knives in terms of steel. Their stainless leaves quite a bit to be desired. Their CV is better, but not as good as the carbon steel of the Germans or Schrade. The looks though are superb. They make some sensational looking knives. The “walk and talk” of my Cases are somewhat inconsistent. I consider Case to be a collector’s kind of knife, not a user’s knife. Things may be changing though as they are starting to sell some German made knives with a better grade of stainless.

Camillus – I’m not a big fan of the modern Camillus handle materials, preferring bone and stag overall, but the stainless and carbon steels are quite good. The “walk and talk” has also been superb.

Schrade – My comments here exactly mirror those for Camillus. Superb knives with not so beautiful handle scales.

Bulldog – Bulldog quality is very pattern dependent. Similar stockmans and trappers, no matter what the series, have been perfect in every way. The stag has been gorgeous. The steel has been excellent. The “walk and talk” has been awesome. The fit and finish have been superb. On the other hand, their canoe patterns are a bit stiff. The canoes are great in every way but “walk and talk”. Some are actually too hard to even get open without breaking a fingernail. Bulldog is great, but only expect absolute perfection in certain patterns. Their stag is absolutely gorgeous and well matched !!!!

Hen and Rooster – I wasn’t blown away by these. The “walk and talk” was inconsistent, like Case. Also, they use a lot of deer stag with mismatched scales. I was less than impressed by the appearance due to the mismatched scales, but they are a good user knife.

Buck Creek – The mismatched scales and “walk and talk” were so bad that I sent them back.

Buck – Buck has the best stainless so far, of all the brands I’ve tried. They even run the blades parallel to one another, which is a setup far superior to traditional bent blades on like back springs. I also dig the stonewashed type of finish over mirror polishing. Buck even hollow grinds their blades, which is uncommon in the slip joint world. They don’t do bone or stag handles anymore, except in limited collector’s editions. So search Ebay for the bone and stag models. “Walk and talk” is generally good, but sometimes less than stellar. Buck makes a slipjoint that begs to be used. Because Buck slip joints are such a departure from the norm, you either love them or hate them. I love them.

Kershaw – The Double Cross is a hybrid of the new and old ways. It’s not a true slipjoint, because both blades liner lock. This knife also has thumb studs for one hand opening. IMHO, Kershaw has brought the traditional pocketknife into this century, combining the best of old and new. The fit and finish were absolutely perfect. The looks, using wood scales, were awesome. The blade and steel selection was very good compared to other companies. Kershaw has set a new standard in traditional pocketknives, which others now have to contend with. If you haven’t tried one of these new Kershaw’s, get one. You’ll be blown away. They are that good and positively addictive!!!!

Victorinox – These guys make the venerable Swiss Army Knife. They are true slipjoints, so they should be mentioned here. I’ve found the steel to be much better than expected. The “walk and talk” is as good as I’ve encountered; maybe better. They have the obvious features galore. I love SAKs!!!!!! It’s too bad that they don’t make a bone handled version as a special collector’s model. I’d gladly pay the extra price for such a knife.

Queen – These guys make their own brand, as well as Robeson and Schatt & Morgan. I have three on the way, all with ATS-34 stainless steel. Considering the price, I have high expectations for these. I’ll make sure to post my comments when I get them in.
 
I have been collecting Case knives for some time now, and I even have some of the Case displays in my home. I carry a Spyderco usually, but occasionally carry my favorite Case Trapper. The newer Case knives are not that impressive to me, but I still find myself buying them for collectors. Hell, I even named one of my yellow labs CASE. They are more sheeple friendly in my opinion, but I really like and feel a little safer with a good functional Spyderco in my pocket.
 
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I bought an Eye Brand stag Trapper about a year ago, and I really like this traditional. If you can stand for the blades to turn, it holds a good edge and feels comfortable.
 
Recently I also have gotten interested in more traditional folders. I have a Schatt & Morgan 5" Texas Toothpick (ATS 34) on order and I cannot wait! Seems to be popular as mine has been on backorder for 6 weeks.

Also just bought one of the Kershaw Double Cross. Very nice mixture of tradional but with two liner locks.
 
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