Traditional traditionals

[RaptureRaptor]

It was first scanning this forum that reminded me of my love for traditional knives. I was reminded by jackknife's tales of my grandfather and his knife and the beginning of my knife Knut stage. So I tracked down a store that sells traditional patterns (harder than you would think here in west Aus) and bought the closest thing I could find to that knife in my memory. I was well satisfied with what I found for though it was cheap it served its purpose and was better than the price I paid would have me expect.

Now thanks to the enormous generosity and kindness of a few members in this fantastic forum I own a few real, well made traditionals, including a grail I thought I would never have. After receiving the first of these (a case trapper in yeller Delrin) I fondled it for hours and then set it aside as I left for work, not sure the size of the knife was legal here (I later found out practically ANY edc knife in Aus is illegal) but then during my shift when I fished in my pocket to feel the comforting weight of my pocket companion, something was off.

The weight and feel just felt wrong, like it was a stranger. I'd carried that knife for weeks and now suddenly it didn't fit. It wasn't 'til I got home and pulled the trapper out of its pocket slip and felt that sturdy, hefty reassurance of a well made blade that I realised what was wrong. There's something about a real traditional that transcends "cutting tool" and I feel it now with every one of my "true traditionals" a lifting of the heart, an echo of times past resonating through the steel.

Maybe I'm just a snob, but I can't deny something's there, ethereal and intangible but certainly there. After finding out about local knife laws I went without a knife for a day: never again. Now a little stag handled peanut rides along with me, small enough I doubt it'll cause a stir and any cop worth his salt would let it slide. My others I use at home and on the trail, where no-one can tell me what I can and can't use.

Thanks to j man, orca8589, scuterd00d, glock 45 and the man who reminded me of what's important, jackknife.

 

[arizonaranchman]

You're preaching to the choir. Well said!

Yep, we all know what you mean. It's a beautiful, precision tool that becomes a part of your daily life. An attachment forms as time goes on as it becomes an extension of your hand - always there when needed, ready to serve.

 

[Jack Black]

You're preaching to the choir. Well said!

Yep, we all know what you mean. It's a beautiful, precision tool that becomes a part of your daily life. An attachment forms as time goes on as it becomes an extension of your hand - always there when needed, ready to serve.

:thumbup:

 

[meako]

Good post mate-and so true about "legality" and "reality" for us here in the great southern land.
btw did you ever get my pm about sending you a Schrade staglon UH little stockman?its yours if you want it-my shout.

 

[RaptureRaptor]

Good post mate-and so true about "legality" and "reality" for us here in the great southern land.
btw did you ever get my pm about sending you a Schrade staglon UH little stockman?its yours if you want it-my shout.

Edit: pm sent mate, i'm speechless!

 

[Cory Hess]

What an eye opener. I know that there's places that frown on people being able to trim threads off of their shirts in public, but I never stopped to think about the moral ramifications of having to live with those laws. I just take for granted that I can slip any knife I please into my pocket and know that nothing will come of it. Where I live, as long as it's not an auto open it's legal. Heck, I feel naked if I leave the house without a pistol on my hip. I can't imagine not even being able to carry a knife.

 

[jackknife]

First off, I want to say both thank you and you're welcome to RR for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the stories I posted for the forum.

And yes, there is something intangible about the traditional pocket knives. I've tried the moderns, and had a few of them given to me when I had a thumb operated on some years ago. They just don't fill some need. I've never really figured it out, unsure if it's the materials, the construction, the style, or a combination of all of the above. But no other knife feels the same as a traditional. When I handle the modern knife, it feels soulless in my hand, with no more character than a crowbar or wrench.

There is of course, the memories of a grandfather or father suing this type of knife. Memories of a time when society was very different than today, and a man's handshake and his word was more important than a paper drawn up by some lawyer. Once upon a time, a herd of 20 thousand cattle or many thousands acres of land was exchanged with a piece of paper from some wrapper and a signature and a handshake. Now ten pages of contract is needed. Famiy was more important than anything, and a mans personal honor was worth fighting for. Fathers taught son's how to fish and hunt, and live. Grandparents were esteemed elders of the family, not a burden to be shunted off to a nursing home.

To me, looking at a cattle knife or stockman, I can't help but see the tough cowhands that pushed thousands of head of cattle to railheads so the hungry people in American could eat beef for supper. Or look at a harness jack and see some freight wagon driver. Different knives mean a lot of different people earning their salt in many different ways, some dangerous, some not. Knives are man's second oldest tool, and they mean many things.

I'm in danger of getting too high on my soap box, so I'll quit now, before I embarrass myself. But the traditional knife has a history that resonates with many people, either because of personal connections, or some genetic memory in our DNA of times very long passed.

Again, thank you for the kind words.

 

[RaptureRaptor]

First off, I want to say both thank you and you're welcome to RR for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the stories I posted for the forum.

And yes, there is something intangible about the traditional pocket knives. I've tried the moderns, and had a few of them given to me when I had a thumb operated on some years ago. They just don't fill some need. I've never really figured it out, unsure if it's the materials, the construction, the style, or a combination of all of the above. But no other knife feels the same as a traditional. When I handle the modern knife, it feels soulless in my hand, with no more character than a crowbar or wrench.

There is of course, the memories of a grandfather or father suing this type of knife. Memories of a time when society was very different than today, and a man's handshake and his word was more important than a paper drawn up by some lawyer. Once upon a time, a herd of 20 thousand cattle or many thousands acres of land was exchanged with a piece of paper from some wrapper and a signature and a handshake. Now ten pages of contract is needed. Famiy was more important than anything, and a mans personal honor was worth fighting for. Fathers taught son's how to fish and hunt, and live. Grandparents were esteemed elders of the family, not a burden to be shunted off to a nursing home.

To me, looking at a cattle knife or stockman, I can't help but see the tough cowhands that pushed thousands of head of cattle to railheads so the hungry people in American could eat beef for supper. Or look at a harness jack and see some freight wagon driver. Different knives mean a lot of different people earning their salt in many different ways, some dangerous, some not. Knives are man's second oldest tool, and they mean many things.

I'm in danger of getting too high on my soap box, so I'll quit now, before I embarrass myself. But the traditional knife has a history that resonates with many people, either because of personal connections, or some genetic memory in our DNA of times very long passed.

Again, thank you for the kind words.

A message from the man himself! I'm honoured. What you say is true and I got the feeling from your stories we were on the same page. Thankyou for taking the time out to respond and I look forward to reading the next of your tales!

 

[harronek]

Here in Aussie the laws are a bit fuzzy .
I carry a large folder , a Leatherman Surge and often a small Pen knife everyday of the week . If you can justify and have a reason to be carrying them you are OK . I work outside and do many manual tasks , as far as the law is concerned I'm allowed to carry a knife . If I lived in a big city and worked in an office then it would be different , but even then I could justify having a small Multitool on me . Going out at night to public events and bars and things is a different matter , I personally don't go to many things like that so it doesn't worry me .
I'm in Queensland maybe its different here .

Good to see other Aussies here with Traditional interests :thumbup:


Ken

 

[RaptureRaptor]

Here in Aussie the laws are a bit fuzzy .
I carry a large folder , a Leatherman Surge and often a small Pen knife everyday of the week . If you can justify and have a reason to be carrying them you are OK . I work outside and do many manual tasks , as far as the law is concerned I'm allowed to carry a knife . If I lived in a big city and worked in an office then it would be different , but even then I could justify having a small Multitool on me . Going out at night to public events and bars and things is a different matter , I personally don't go to many things like that so it doesn't worry me .
I'm in Queensland maybe its different here .

Good to see other Aussies here with Traditional interests :thumbup:


Ken

Yeah when I get back out in the wheat belt I'll be happy, then I'll be able to carry whatever I want. Working in the Perth CBD over here in WA means I'm surrounded by dreaded "non knife people" even my fellow guards. We have tags and cable ties to cut every day, they have to run up to the office and then fiddle around with a pair of scissors in sometimes very tight spots. I once asked a fellow guard why he didn't carry a small knife and showed him my stag peanut and he said "but it's a weapon!" I almost face palmed myself into unconsciousness.