Traditional Slip Joints more popular now?

[matt009au]

I also wonder if the increased popularity of traditional knives has anything to do with tightening knife laws around the world. I know here in Australia importing modern knives is a lot harder now than it was 5 years ago.
Traditionals, however, do not come under the same ire of the law makers as the more tactical one hand opening modern folders.

Matt

 

[sierra11b]

Always been a fan and owner of traditional patterns as long as I can remember, and dabbled in the tactical genre for awhile to realize that, while great knives, they lack long-term character, and I could never use them to their full potential in my daily grind. Sprinkle in the fact there's a lot of quality traditional options at a fraction of the price and you've got yourself a traditional man for life.

 

[davek14]

My swag (scientific wild a guess) would be that traditionals are getting more popular in the knife world for sure. The question would be... are knives themselves getting more or less popular?

 

[Old Hunter]

Maybe a rebound from the post-2001 attack, when many ordinary people quit carrying? I know knife folks didn't quit carrying, but many people did - maybe some normalcy has returned in this regard. I do see more display cases for selling knives in hardware stores and lumberyards than in the last ten years - but that could be due to the rural nature of the area I live, work, and travel in. OH

 

[Woodrow F Call]

GEC probably produces an uptick, but I'd not give too much credit there. When I joined, I knew nothing about GEC.... I knew about Case, Buck, Schrade, and Queen.

I really think it comes down to nostalgia. That and when you get down to a daily task, the thinner blades of the traditional really do many jobs really well. You don't really notice blade thickness cutting open packages..... You do notice when slicing apples or actually using the blade for work. I have also learned that if I need a locking blade, a fixed blade is even better.

 

[NMpops]

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.

I would have to disagree. Not sure what Case's total sales are but stores like Shepherd Hills sell mountains of Case knives. Traditionals are probably 80% of there sales. Also look at Rough Rider and the "New" Schrade selling lots of traditionals and we can't forget the popularity of GEC!

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

On the question of whether Case's sales have increased or not, I found a company PR news release from June of last year (2014), which might give a clue as to how they're doing. The link to the document is below, with some pertinent excerpted quotes following that:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...afted-tradition-and-innovation-264426341.html

"Case Cutlery's parent company, Zippo Manufacturing Company, is investing nearly $10 million toward renovating their Bradford, Pa., factory. The renovations, which are currently underway and expected to finish by the end of 2015, include a complete remodeling of the Case Cutlery factory that was originally constructed in 1975, including new equipment and floor configurations that will allow better efficiency, productivity and quality without affecting the hand-craftsmanship that goes into every Case knife. The company's current location is its third manufacturing facility in Bradford since 1905."

"An updated approach to more efficient manufacturing has successfully landed more Case knives into more retail stores. In addition to the more than 2,000 Case Authorized Dealers across the country that regularly carry Case knives, popular outdoor-themed chains like Cabela's, Bass Pro, Field & Stream, Dick's Sporting Goods, Tractor Supply Stores, Sportsman's Warehouse, REI, Academy Sports + Outdoors and Costco are also recognizing the value-added sales that Case knives bring within a small retail footprint. Case knives are also sold online through Case-exclusive e-tailers and on Amazon.com."

"While new designs for everyday use and traditional favorites for outdoor enthusiasts spur its climbing sales growth, Case's collectability, seasonal editions and licensing agreements continue to help drive year-over-year growth. "

The $10 million investment in their factory is encouraging, at least.


David

 

[flip888]

I think i see them more often now. I've always liked them more than the modern knives you see from any of the major companies out there. Growing up I always had a SAK and a mora. For a few years I got into the more modern knives but they seem to have no soul or character. I carried a kershaw skyline and a rat1 folder for work for a long time and just recently pulled my old well worn opinel and higonokami out of the back room to start EDCing. I like them a lot more. The skyline and rat1 are going to be given away.

 

[texasshipagent]

Maybe a rebound from the post-2001 attack, when many ordinary people quit carrying? I know knife folks didn't quit carrying, but many people did - maybe some normalcy has returned in this regard. I do see more display cases for selling knives in hardware stores and lumberyards than in the last ten years - but that could be due to the rural nature of the area I live, work, and travel in. OH

Post 9-11 quit carrying ? Heck seems to me everybody carrying these days, oh yea and pocket knives too

 

[leghog]

I would have to disagree. Not sure what Case's total sales are but stores like Shepherd Hills sell mountains of Case knives. Traditionals are probably 80% of there sales. Also look at Rough Rider and the "New" Schrade selling lots of traditionals and we can't forget the popularity of GEC!

Victorinox makes and distributes 32,000,000 knives a year. 32 MILLION. Year in. Year out. Case doesn't come anywhere near close to that production.