Traditional Sleepers ?

W

whetrock

Joined
Nov 13, 2010
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I've had a sudden brainstorm, as to find out what traditional folder you feel like is seldom takes about, or mentioned in high regards, but is a good product nonetheless ?

For me I believe the Carbon Steel Aitor Castor's represent a good value, and while they've been brought up from time to time, they've not enjoyed the same popularity as other, more affordable, traditional folders, in simplistic, carbon steel,.


What are your picks ?
 
One of my most used slipjoints is a Executive Whittler by GEC. I have carried mine since I bought it as a grad present for Massage Therapy- the only grad present I received other than a diploma. It is long, thin, disappears in the pocket yet is long enough to comfortably slice grapefruit. I love the work on the bolsters, the length of the handle lets the stag covers shine. It isn't in my pocket every day any more, but gets its fair share of use nonetheless. Possessing a wonderful Wharncliffe master makes it even better!! I was told it wouldn't hold up to outdoor uses so it was my primary slipjoint during a four day in the bush hunting trip and it performed extremely well. I did not take any big game, and if that rabbit looked any tastier I would have seen how it worked cleaning rabbits, but I figured taking it with a .38-40 would have been overkill.

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CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
One of my most used slipjoints is a Executive Whittler by GEC. I have carried mine since I bought it as a grad present for Massage Therapy- the only grad present I received other than a diploma. It is long, thin, disappears in the pocket yet is long enough to comfortably slice grapefruit. I love the work on the bolsters, the length of the handle lets the stag covers shine. It isn't in my pocket every day any more, but gets its fair share of use nonetheless. Possessing a wonderful Wharncliffe master makes it even better!! I was told it wouldn't hold up to outdoor uses so it was my primary slipjoint during a four day in the bush hunting trip and it performed extremely well. I did not take any big game, and if that rabbit looked any tastier I would have seen how it worked cleaning rabbits, but I figured taking it with a .38-40 would have been overkill.

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When that knife came out, I hated it. It has slowly grown on me to the point I find myself recommending it and carrying it myself. Nice choice!
 
I've always felt the old Colonial and Imperial USA MADE tin shell handled knives from the 40s-60s were sleepers, these knives were cheap, workhorses that every man and not carried, with many usual patterns and a rainbow of patterns and colors.

These knives are getting harder and harder to find let alone in mint condition,(most because they were used to destruction) are worth, broken or rusted to all hell.
 
Aitor Castors have amazing ergo but bad pull . I say it bad not because it is too strong ,but the pull is unsmooth and change a lot when half opened ,which is very dangerous for a bear-trap.

Also, as the pull is so strong and no nail nick on blade it is possibly failed to be pinched open.
 
Around here it's my Barlow. My grandfather gave it to me a long time ago. Now, after some Sotckmans, and owning a 2 bladed Peanut I have started to want a Jackknife of some sorts, someting with 2 blades. Maybe I just need to take a long look at the Barlows again, maybe I can find one that is a lockback?
 
Those Aitors interest me, I've nearly bought one more than once. I like the leaf shaped blade and simple wooden handle.

One thing that stops me is that I prefer multibladed slipjoints. I have a few single blades, but they get carried less than say, a jack, stockman or trapper. For the price though, they certainly look worth checking out!

For me, I've discovered that the Camillus #72 pattern "carpenter's whittler" is my favorite. I have a couple, including one being rehandled by Glenn as we speak from Doug's giveaway (thank you Doug and Glenn!). I just like the swell center frame, long clip, short clip and coping blades arranged like a stockman. I don't see that many here though they've been discontinued for awhile now.

I think I'll try to find the yeller version next :D
 
The canoe pattern doesn't get a lot of air time around here but for me, the Case canoe could serve as my one and only if for some sick reason I had to make a decision like that.
 
ddml said:
The canoe pattern doesn't get a lot of air time around here but for me, the Case canoe could serve as my one and only if for some sick reason I had to make a decision like that.
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Perish the thought!
 
Maybe the Case Russlock. It's an odd looking duck and not a purely traditional knife due to the liner lock and the flipper lever. I bought my first one recently and have been carrying it. Once you learn the trick of opening it and closing it one handed it makes a handy little knife. The size is about right for pocket carry and the blade is sturdy yet thin enough to be a good slicer.

Here's mine:


I'd like to get the drop point version some day as well.
 
The traditional fixed blade in general. You seldom see threads on fixed blade knives here. I'm sure most of us had a Case, Buck, Western, Marbles or Ka-Bar (others not mentioned) early on in our childhood but they are not mentioned.

This thread even specifies Traditional Folder.

jwh
 
zippofan said:
For me, I've discovered that the Camillus #72 pattern "carpenter's whittler" is my favorite. I have a couple, including one being rehandled by Glenn as we speak from Doug's giveaway (thank you Doug and Glenn!). I just like the swell center frame, long clip, short clip and coping blades arranged like a stockman. I don't see that many here though they've been discontinued for awhile now.

I think I'll try to find the yeller version next :D
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I like mine. :cool: Great blade combination, all of which snap like an aligator. I kinda wish the blades were ground thinner at the edge. I picked mine up for a very fair price (along with Moore Makers and Cold Steels) from an eBay dealer who is a former Camillus employee that bought pallet-fulls worth of undelivered knives at their auction. Unfortunately they seem to have dried up.
 
I consider the 'RailSplitter' an under appreciated pattern. We go round and round on the perfect Stockman, ignoring the Coping/Spey combo on the railsplitters. There are quite a few out there, the best are from Queen and do not seem to suffer from their quality issues of a few years ago. Colt has a few inexpensive models out as well.

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I'll agree with jwh that the traditional fixed blade doesn't get much play. A lot of that has to be that is simply isn't practical or legal to carry a fixed blade in a lot of areas now. Folks carry what they can.

Far as pocket knives go? Two jump off the page to me as sleepers: the old cigar jack (Case 55 pattern) and the full sized copperhead. Doesn't seem like either of these two get mentioned much. The cigar doesn't get made by many manufacturers anymore and they are hard to come into. Be interesting to see if GEC makes a traditional jack out of either the 53 or 68 pattern. They've yet to make a copperhead pattern either. I'd love to see Case bring back a 55 series with carbon blades it is a beautiful knife IMvHO.

Will
 
I can't separate "sleeper" from the use among car guys. A sleeper is a car that is much faster than it looks. The old Regal GTS and T-Type were sleepers. A Subaru WRX with no cowlings and badges is a sleeper - just a harmless Impreza, really.

So, it's not about popularity or lack of there of. Nor is it about forum chatter or the lack there of. To me, its more about cost and the general reaction that the knife provokes among the general populace, including knife folks who don't get it yet.

In this light, there is only one king of sleeper list.

.


.


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The Opinel.

How in the world can a knife that old fashion work well?
How in the world can a knife that inexpensive be any good?
How in the world can a knife that light be durable?


edc-pair by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
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:confused:

Of the knives presented so far (all of which I'm aware of only because of spending time on this forum), the Railsplitter is the one that doesn't "stick" in my mind as a pattern-- it feels new every time I see one.

markpmc said:
I consider the 'RailSplitter' an under appreciated pattern. We go round and round on the perfect Stockman, ignoring the Coping/Spey combo on the railsplitters.
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I'll try to pay more attention to this one going forward....

~ P.
 
DrPenguin said:
Far as pocket knives go? Two jump off the page to me as sleepers: the old cigar jack (Case 55 pattern) and the full sized copperhead. Doesn't seem like either of these two get mentioned much. The cigar doesn't get made by many manufacturers anymore and they are hard to come into. Be interesting to see if GEC makes a traditional jack out of either the 53 or 68 pattern. They've yet to make a copperhead pattern either. I'd love to see Case bring back a 55 series with carbon blades it is a beautiful knife IMvHO.

Will
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With the exception of the Copperhead, I like the way you think, Doc. The Case 55 is a favorite and I too really like the GEC 53/54 & 68 frames. I think it'd be criminal if GEC doesn't do a jack on both of those frames.
 
I like the thread idea.
IMO the original LG Copperhead is a really popular pattern. I use mine often so i can't relate to it as a sleeper.
The case russlock would be my idea of a trad sleeper. Very practical and handy while not exactly popular.
The Opinel is another good example.

Edit: My old Case 62055 cigar Jacks resent being called sleepers.
One for EDC and one for backup. Great pattern.
 
biglmbass said:
With the exception of the Copperhead, I like the way you think, Doc. The Case 55 is a favorite and I too really like the GEC 53/54 & 68 frames. I think it'd be criminal if GEC doesn't do a jack on both of those frames.
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What can I say? I have a devious mind and would love to be someone who gets to pick out what patterns get made next. :)

The old 55 pattern has always been one that fascinated me. For the life of me I can't figure out why it doesn't get more action than it does. When GEC came out with the 68 frame and then packaged the same blade combo in a single spring configuration I ~knew~ it would become one of my favorite knives and it did.

I sometimes hear folks who didn't grow up around traditional knives ask why Case holds such a fascination for so many knifeknuts. The old cigar 55 is a prime example of why.

Will
 
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