Traditional Slip Joints more popular now?

[Thomas Carey]

Is it my imagination or are traditional slip joint folders more popular than they were say 5 years ago? If this is the case why do you think they are now of more interest?

 

[GuestWho101]

Pure speculation, but I think GEC plays a huge role to the thoughts of increased popularity in traditional knives. Even though they haven't been around long, they're setting industry standards when it comes to quality. The same quality that was a staple (almost to be expected) in the knife community many years ago, but has since been void and filled with hits or misses towards quality in today's traditional cutlery. Plus their take on some of the ole tried-and-true traditional patterns and designs are refreshing.

 

[markv]

when i was a kid, about 40 to 50 years ago every male carried a pocket knife, even gents, doctors,lawyers, businessmen etc.
any knife was good enough and better than no knife. some were really pretty chessy, but
we carried pocket knives to school, we carried them almost everywhere.
they weren't considered traditional because there wasn't anything to compare with or to.

buzz

 

[NMpops]

Traditionals (and I include SAKs) have been around and popular for many more years than the "modern" folder and when paole give them a chance they find they are just more useful day to day than a big single blade, spring assisted lock blade, pocket clipped modern folder.

 

[davek14]

And every time someone sees you take out a traditional and quietly use it you may be recruiting someone else.

 

[Tribial]

I still enjoy "tacticals" or moderns or whatever, but I find slipjoints to be more than adequate and take up less pocket realestate than the modern versions. Also they aren't "scary".

They seem to have grown in popularity even in the last year.

 

[knarfeng]

I don't know about elsewhere, but judging by the number of posts we get in this forum, they are more popular now than they were five years ago.

 

[leghog]

Perhaps among knife enthusiasts they are more popular now, but out in the world I don't think they really ever lost popularity over modern knives. SAKs are a good example. Victorinox has been making tens of millions every year year-in and year-out for a long time now. I wonder how many of the top modern knife makers' annual sales numbers would have to be combined to match Victorinox's annual sales numbers.

 

[black mamba]

SAKs are the traditional non-knife-person's traditional. My guess is that literally millions own a Vic or a Wenger as their only knife other than for the kitchen. Case's sales are certainly a fraction of what they once were, and that in the wake of many of their competitors closing their doors. From what we see here on the BladeForums, there may have been an upswing lately, but it is likely just a tiny ripple in the ocean of knife sales.

 

[coolio]

I agree with black mamba about the millions of SA knives. Case may have lost a lot of ground, but they are still Huge compared with GEC. GEC is not a well known brand, other than on the forum here. Don't get me wrong, I am among the staunchest supporters, and the majority of my knives are GEC; but they are a drop in the bucket. Too bad the knife industry statistics are so far and few between! I've tried researching this myself to little avail. I'd love to here some of the traditional heavyweights weigh in. I suspect it's considered a non-essential item for a lot of men and women now, so it's a cyclic issue of what's cool?

 

[Halfneck]

I don't know about elsewhere, but judging by the number of posts we get in this forum, they are more popular now than they were five years ago.

I'd say since the popularity of GEC SFOs, specifically the Barlows, things have picked up around this forum. Sadly some of it is due to the secondary market prices and people looking to make a quick buck. Regardless, it is a good thing - successful sales help GEC thrive as a company. Also other people drawn here by all the buzz find out the value of this subforum and stick around.

Re: traditional knives in general, I agree with leghog. Around the small town I live in most knives I see are traditional slipjoints or Buck lockbacks (110/112). If I do see a modern knife it's usually a Kershaw or Buck that someone picked up at WalMart.

 

[Joe58]

I seem to notice some folks coming over from the pocket clipped knife world. I do enjoy some pocket clipped knives as well, but they don't have near the variety of designs/models as traditionals do. Many of the pocket clipped knives now days seem to me to be just variations of the same old thing.

Or I could be way off base too. Lol.

 

[texasshipagent]

Well I would say the reason is a matrix of a number of events, a, and hope this does not start the wrong dialogue so guys respect the mods and keep it on up and up, but let's face it, it's a changing world, I don't use tactical bags anymore, switched to a filson briefcase from a 5.11 messenger, and still carry tactical knives, but generally concealed or kept clipped in a,low key spot.

The reason as the world likes to profile you, instant judgement, no matter what your persuasion you may be judged on, so have found better to remain low profile and not offer indicators so obviously my interests or beliefs.

Heck even ditched all the plastic pistols, all my autos now 1911 patterns and bought two revolvers

Traditional knives, esp classic folders, indicate nothing other than good taste for well made tools.

But mainly I think there is such both a digital and disposable society, there is a trend to return to classic and timeless analog, as well as well made American craftsmanship, have noticed even the leather makers are doing really well with leather goods, high quality watches have never sold better (or according to my mother who is a jeweler), i notice more and more in meetings people are using quality writing instruments.

Heck, Case. GEC or otherwise, a classic ~100 year old pattern tradition knives from a American maker are just beautiful and let's face it, unless your a woodsman in the woods all the time, or out hunting, or otherwise in knife fight, combat situation and let me tell you, rarely does one win a knife fight unless your a trained seal or something, most people use knives for idle every day domestic task and that's what they are for, tools, and no knife serves that purpose better then the traditional pocket knife

Damn, I just tripped and fell off the soap box,,that hurt...

 

[stezann]

Well made little understated useful tools, with a touch of elegance and the warm materials.
On the other hand you get knives which bases their success on the fear, as wicked deadly weapons for mall ninjas. (i know i'm generalizing, just pointing out the trend)
Mullet was sought after as a cool hairstyle, but it is just laughable as it was back then...just not everybody catch the irony of their time.

 

[5K Qs]

I don't know about elsewhere, but judging by the number of posts we get in this forum, they are more popular now than they were five years ago.

Frank, are "traffic numbers" and other BF statistics publicly available, and if so, where? I'm always on the lookout for data sets to use in stats classes.

- GT

 

[brownshoe]

Is it my imagination or are traditional slip joint folders more popular than they were say 5 years ago? If this is the case why do you think they are now of more interest?

I don't think they are more popular. They are still disappearing from BassPro, Cabelas and gun shows. At gun shows, there are virtually no GEC or Canal Street. Even Rough Riders and the like are hard to spot at gun shows. SAK are the only "traditional" knives to be found regularly, and even the outlets for those have dramatically decreased. The increased security at so many places keeps even a SAK out of most people's pockets these days.

The upsurge in traffic in this subform could mean more knifeknuts like them. But knifeknuts are not mainstream and are a pretty small subculture. Look at all the knife shows that have disappeared, including a host of them run by the now defunct NKCA and those shows were really big on traditional knives. However, personally, I don't think knifeknuts have an increased demand for traditional patterns. I think that more traditional knife lovers have found this subforum.

 

[FW JSB]

I think traditionals have always been there and been popular, but I agree that GEC has helped create a surge, with their high quality products and interesting knives. Purely anecdotal speculation on my part, but my own interest in the knives has definitely been rekindled.

 

[Dcaggie06]

I think it correlates with the tacticool bubble at its peak and the age group that most identifies with those blades. The number of ppl who got into knives at that point because of tacticool blades have aged, matured and find themselves looking more for the traditional style of blades of our fathers and grandfathers

 

[Peregrin]

Frank, are "traffic numbers" and other BF statistics publicly available, and if so, where? I'm always on the lookout for data sets to use in stats classes.

- GT

I'll let Frank answer your specific question but I'll add this, the Traditional Forum traffic has definately picked up since Frank and I first started moderating this forum. We read them all and occasionally Frank counts the days posts. I can't count that high so I don't bother.

I do think that GEC has added to the traffic. It seems to be one of the preferred places for the GEC crowd. The fact that we have some very active dealer/members has a lot to do with that. I also think that the interest in GEC may be a catalyst in some knife lovers re-interest in, or transition to, traditional knives in general.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

SAKs are the traditional non-knife-person's traditional. My guess is that literally millions own a Vic or a Wenger as their only knife other than for the kitchen. Case's sales are certainly a fraction of what they once were, and that in the wake of many of their competitors closing their doors. From what we see here on the BladeForums, there may have been an upswing lately, but it is likely just a tiny ripple in the ocean of knife sales.

That's my impression as well. Out in the 'real world' of non-knifenuts (most of whom have likely never heard of, or seen, brands like GEC, Queen, Canal Street, etc), I still see an overwhelming majority of more modern knives being carried, used and sold. Assuming brick & mortar retailers adjust their inventories to what's actually selling in greater numbers, and minimizing their stock of slow-movers, the modern knives seem to be dominant in store displays, at least where I live.


David