Turning traditional

[Knife-Nutty]

I have reservations about slipjoints, but damn that knife is pretty.[/QUOTE]

You mite be suprised just how stout some of these well made slipjoints can feel. I have a case full size yellow cv trapper and when its open it feels like id have to give it a decent wack on the back of the blade to have it accedently close. I also have a mini copperlock which is great except it is SS

 

[Thalestin]

The possibility of the blade turning on my fingers kind of worries me. There is a reason why the lock-back and other locks developed. Of course the accident might be entirely my own fault, but still. Had that happen with a swiss army knife.

The thing with this is that you learned from the mistake. You even mention you wouldn't do this again most likely. The mistake taught you proper use of the knife. Problem with a solid lock is that you can do these stupid type things with a knife but much more dangerous because more force is involved. If the lock fails, then a actually very serious injury can occur. As far as traditionals go I have only read of more surface cuts. Some stitches at worst. However, in my years here I have seen quite a few people really hurt them selves with these so called safe locks. Serious tenden injuries and such. Always learn to trust yourself over equipment not the other way around. I hope that you can one day try out a slip joint. I don't think you'll regret it welcome to these forums

Mark

 

[HFinn]

I hope that you can one day try out a slip joint. I don't think you'll regret it welcome to these forums

Mark

Thank you. I must say that people here are most civilized and helpfull. You never know, you might be able to talk me in to a slip joint fan.

"All we are saying is give slipjoint a chance..."

 

[jackknife]

The thing with this is that you learned from the mistake. You even mention you wouldn't do this again most likely. The mistake taught you proper use of the knife. Problem with a solid lock is that you can do these stupid type things with a knife but much more dangerous because more force is involved. If the lock fails, then a actually very serious injury can occur. As far as traditionals go I have only read of more surface cuts. Some stitches at worst. However, in my years here I have seen quite a few people really hurt them selves with these so called safe locks. Serious tenden injuries and such. Always learn to trust yourself over equipment not the other way around. I hope that you can one day try out a slip joint. I don't think you'll regret it welcome to these forums

Mark

Thalestin, your words are so very true! The absolutely worst injury I have ever seen in the realm of self inflicted wounds from mis-use pf a knife was with a lock blade folder. A young man where I used to work was mis using a Buck 110. He was warned by the older guys who saw him doing this, but he was sure of the fact that the blade had a lock on it, that he was safe. Just after lunch, he leaned on his knife, and the lock gave away for some reason. Perhaps he put more foot pounds of force on the lock than the spring on the lockbar could deal with. To make a long story short, he amputated his right index finger at the first joint. The shop foreman had the quick thinking to rush upstairs to the cafeteria to get a styrofoam cup of ice to put the finger in while the EMT's were loading him into an ambulance.

The finger was reattached, and his medical bills were covered by the health plan, but he was fired for safety violations. His faith in his Buck knife lock cost him a great deal of pain, and ultimatly his job. A knife with a lock, is still a folding knife with a small margin of safety built in, but it is not fail safe. It is not a fixed blade. But it can be a builder of bad knife handling habits. A slip joint knife is not dangerous if it is used with an understanding of how the tool works. In fact, it is my private opinion that a slip joint knife is actually safer than a locking knife because you know the blade will fold if you do something dumb. If you have the knowledge that your knife will fold over, then you will not be tempted to push the limit. It's a cutting tool, use it as such and there will be no problem. Our grandfathers and thier grandfathers before them did very well inlife with the common two blade jackknife that was the knife of their era. I do not recall seeing many old men with fingers missing when I was growing up in an era that was well before the Buck 110 was brought out.

Carl.

 

[HFinn]

The finger was reattached, and his medical bills were covered by the health plan, but he was fired for safety violations. His faith in his Buck knife lock cost him a great deal of pain, and ultimatly his job. A knife with a lock, is still a folding knife with a small margin of safety built in, but it is not fail safe. It is not a fixed blade. But it can be a builder of bad knife handling habits. A slip joint knife is not dangerous if it is used with an understanding of how the tool works. In fact, it is my private opinion that a slip joint knife is actually safer than a locking knife because you know the blade will fold if you do something dumb. If you have the knowledge that your knife will fold over, then you will not be tempted to push the limit. It's a cutting tool, use it as such and there will be no problem. Our grandfathers and thier grandfathers before them did very well inlife with the common two blade jackknife that was the knife of their era. I do not recall seeing many old men with fingers missing when I was growing up in an era that was well before the Buck 110 was brought out.

Carl.

That accident was horrible and yes, a knife with a lock is still dangerous if you do something really stupid.

What you said reminds of my first longsword fencing lesson. Our teacher showed us a fencing mask that was totally bashed in and said to pupils: "your companion's life and health are in your hands, so act accordingly". What he meant was that controll is most important.

I agree that also with knives controll and knowing what you are doing is everything, lock is not a sustitute to those. Still lock can give a measure of safety. Like a mask protects you from those small lapses in controll, but does not if there is no controll.

 

[weaponkid]

interesting idea and over 45 replies in 4 minutes?!

 

[HFinn]

interesting idea and over 45 replies in 4 minutes?!

Are you sure your comment is in the right thread?

Just got the e-mail that my Case has been posted. Will get it next week. Luckily I also got rid of those tacticals that I had started to dislike, so things are proceeding well!

 

[HFinn]

I finally got the Case Copperlock mini. The quality of the knife is very good. No blade play, fit and finish is excellent. The blade is sharp right out of box but not really shawing sharp, so I will strop it slighly. It is small, but that is what I wanted. Blue bone is partly darker than I expected, almost black. Still the whole knife is aesthetically very pleasing, a gentlemans knife so I am happy with this purchase. Sorry for the cellphone pictures, I will take better ones later.

This knife cries out for a leather sheath, I will make one myself.

A larger Case knife will surely be in order later, maybe a Trapperlock?

 

[Jack Black]

Nice looking knife :thumbup:

 

[HFinn]

I gave it a short strop. Now it is almost a scalpel.

 

[pertinux]

Beautiful knife, HFinn. Thanks for the additional pictures as well.

That pattern, in that color, looks grand. :thumbup:

~ P.

 

[TLARbb]

traditional folders are the reason I joined this forum. I'm only 24 years old but have carried most 'styles' of knives, I had to try it all before deciding what I liked best. My first pocket knife was a traditional folder (great grandpa's knife given to me by my grandma, still got it) and now I've come full circle and there's no going back.

Welcome to the home of traditional pocket knives on the internet. If there is a better site for traditionals, I haven't found it and don't see a need to look any further.

Enjoy your stay and visit often.

Ed J

 

[TLARbb]

I finally got the Case Copperlock mini. The quality of the knife is very good. No blade play, fit and finish is excellent. The blade is sharp right out of box but not really shawing sharp, so I will strop it slighly. It is small, but that is what I wanted. Blue bone is partly darker than I expected, almost black. Still the whole knife is aesthetically very pleasing, a gentlemans knife so I am happy with this purchase. Sorry for the cellphone pictures, I will take better ones later.

This knife cries out for a leather sheath, I will make one myself.

A larger Case knife will surely be in order later, maybe a Trapperlock?

That's a fine looking copperlock. They make a larger size as well. You may want to diversify to a different style, but if you are smitten, then the large copperlock might work out. It's the same size as the standard trapper pattern at 4-1/4" closed.

You've done well.

Ed J

 

[akadave2]

The possibility of the blade turning on my fingers kind of worries me. There is a reason why the lock-back and other locks developed. Of course the accident might be entirely my own fault, but still. Had that happen with a swiss army knife.

Be gentle boys...dont scare him away!

 

[Knife Crazied]

Just think if it closes on you, it will probably leave a reminder for next time.

 

[HFinn]

Just think if it closes on you, it will probably leave a reminder for next time.

So it is like when the wife or girlfriend snaps at you, it leaves a memory not to do something stupid again?

Made a pocket sheath.

I might wet the leather and make some decorations to it.

 

[HFinn]

I made a small test with all traditional folding knives I own (old Opinel nr 10, Buck 112, Case mini copperlock). Of these knives the Opinel excells at food preparation. Cutting onions, vegetables in general and meat is a breeze. The blade is easy to get into shaving sharpness. The copperlock is so-so in food prep, it is too small. It is a gentleman's knife for small tasks. Buck feels clumsy, heavy and overbuilt in general food prep.

Whittling wood: with it's sturdier blade the Buck is the best of these, but the grind of the blade is not optimal. Buck's comfortable handle and sturdy construction helps. The Opinel is still nice in this, the flat grind works well also in this use but binds when cutting deep in to wood. Also I have reservations how it might hold out in longer and harder woodworking sessions. Copperlock cuts wood nicely, but the size makes it difficult to handle and anyway this is not why I bought it.

Cutting cord, rope and other tasks: with rope the Buck is the best, followed closely by Opinel. The difference is not great. The sharpness of the Case is a great help in these tasks, but size does matter. When making the sheats for my knives the Case worked nicely, cutting leather was accurate and easy.

So of all of these I find the Opinel most usefull in those tasks I mostly use a knife. It is light and comfortable to handle. I intend to get a scandi grind folder in near future for general summer cottage and hiking tasks, I am thinking of Eka Swede 8 or Enzo PK 70.My mind is divided about between EKA and and Enzo as what to get next, both look nice and no doupt they are both good knives, but the Finnish Enzo leads because as a native Finn I would like to get a first class Finnish folder in my small collection. Also the user reports have been good, I know very little of EKA's.

Of course this small report is very subjective and other users might have other opinions, but this is what I found out. Buck still has it's place, no doupt many find it a good EDC knife. Still I have found I like lighter knives more. The size of the Buck is optimal for many tasks and that is a big plus. Carrying it in a sheath I made is quite comfortable but in pocket, without the sheath, I have found it now slightly awkward. So Buck needs a sheath because of the weight. I have used the same sheath with the Opinel and it fits, allthough it is quite a bit longer. Carrying the Copperlock in my suit pocket in it's sheath is easy, you really don't notice it.

 

[Thalestin]

I made a small test with all traditional folding knives I own (old Opinel nr 10, Buck 112, Case mini copperlock). Of these knives the Opinel excells at food preparation. Cutting onions, vegetables in general and meat is a breeze. The blade is easy to get into shaving sharpness. The copperlock is so-so in food prep, it is too small. It is a gentleman's knife for small tasks. Buck feels clumsy, heavy and overbuilt in general food prep.

Whittling wood: with it's sturdier blade the Buck is the best of these, but the grind of the blade is not optimal. Buck's comfortable handle and sturdy construction helps. The Opinel is still nice in this, the flat grind works well also in this use but binds when cutting deep in to wood. Also I have reservations how it might hold out in longer and harder woodworking sessions. Copperlock cuts wood nicely, but the size makes it difficult to handle and anyway this is not why I bought it.

Cutting cord, rope and other tasks: with rope the Buck is the best, followed closely by Opinel. The difference is not great. The sharpness of the Case is a great help in these tasks, but size does matter. When making the sheats for my knives the Case worked nicely, cutting leather was accurate and easy.

So of all of these I find the Opinel most usefull in those tasks I mostly use a knife. It is light and comfortable to handle. I intend to get a scandi grind folder in near future for general summer cottage and hiking tasks, I am thinking of Eka Swede 8 or Enzo PK 70.My mind is divided about between EKA and and Enzo as what to get next, both look nice and no doupt they are both good knives, but the Finnish Enzo leads because as a native Finn I would like to get a first class Finnish folder in my small collection. Also the user reports have been good, I know very little of EKA's.

Of course this small report is very subjective and other users might have other opinions, but this is what I found out. Buck still has it's place, no doupt many find it a good EDC knife. Still I have found I like lighter knives more. The size of the Buck is optimal for many tasks and that is a big plus. Carrying it in a sheath I made is quite comfortable but in pocket, without the sheath, I have found it now slightly awkward. So Buck needs a sheath because of the weight. I have used the same sheath with the Opinel and it fits, allthough it is quite a bit longer. Carrying the Copperlock in my suit pocket in it's sheath is easy, you really don't notice it.

Nice little review Finn. I agree with you completely. There is a reason why the optimal is so liked in these parts. It really is a cheap and effective cutting tool. I really like your new copper lock, it looks like a fun little knife. The long pull looks really nice.

 

[Simmonsknife74]

You might want to check out great eastern knives i think you will like them.And check out the trapper lock. i would go with a cv version.

 

[HFinn]

You might want to check out great eastern knives i think you will like them.And check out the trapper lock. i would go with a cv version.

Trapperlock is on my wish list. I know some might have mixed feelings about how traditional it is, but it does not matter to me, I like this knife with bolsters and trad. blade shape.

Does anyone have experiences about Fox knives, Italy products? I have one that was not that great. They have some nice looking and reasonably priced lockbacks, like these: