w&t smoothness

fatcorgi

fatcorgi

Joined
Nov 12, 2011
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658
I've heard people talk of older classic knives as being in a different class for smoothness of walk and talk, I'm thinking of the old Robesons and pre-Frost Hen and Roosters. They are described as clicking open smoothly as if mounted on ballbearings. I was wondering how true this is, what are the smoothest knives that people own? are there any modern manufactured trad knives that compare?
 
Chambriard le compact, very,very smooth opening, tough to close (as it should be).

GEC Conductor, this glides open as it has no half-stop spoiling the action. I've heard a lot of praise for the old Bertrams, but never been lucky enough to try one for myself.
 
My GEC trapper in 440C is my most buttery action. Does anyone think the steel makes a difference?

ElkTrapperMark.jpg~original
 
The old Bertram that i picked up almost 40 years ago, was the smoothest opening knife I had ever felt. It was that way when it was new, and after all this time, it's just gotten better. It has the best action of any knife I own.

9284475935_7405886e62_c.jpg
 
@Jackknife, very classy knife, I was looking at a similar Bertram to buy, and its precisely that that inspired me to pose this question, to see if there really is something special about the older knives that the newer manufacturers haven't captured yet.

Probably cannot be reduced to any one quality - e.g. the steel type or liner metal, a whole lot of subtle factors in construction play a role.
 
No, it really can't bereduced to just one quality. Some of those older knives were just something special. When you picked it up, and first handled it, it had a undefinable feel that let you know that you were handling something different. I've handled all kinds of knives, customs included, and those old Bertram made made knives were some of the finest pocket knives ever made. Just an almost sensual pleasure to take out and pull open. And they took the blade profile down thin, like the old Schrade Old Timers. They took and held a very sharp edge.

If you have the opportunity to get one of the old Bertram's, do it. They don't come down the road too often.

Carl.
 
those do look like some fine knives. I went and got myself one, so look forward to experiencing what this is like for myself.
 
Don't know how I missed this thread, but was going back through the pages and found it.

How do today's makers of today's traditional folders compare to the better makers of yesteryear? Do any come close or equal it? On a scale of 1 to 10 where are the makers of today in comparison? For example in my limited knowledge as a new guy here it appears that GEC and Northfields in particular seem to receive high praise, do they compare at all to the classic makers of the past?
 
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If the GECs are still around 100+ years from now in the same kind of shape as something from an old Connecticut firm is today then we'll have an answer. ;)
 
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